The bill, H.B. No. 142, introduces new regulations regarding political advertising that utilizes altered media, specifically targeting the use of images, audio, or video recordings that misrepresent an officeholder's or candidate's actual appearance, speech, or conduct. It establishes that individuals who are officeholders, candidates, or political committees and who spend over $100 on political advertising must disclose if the media has been altered, particularly if generative artificial intelligence technology was used. The bill outlines specific conditions under which altered media can be used, including the requirement for a clear disclosure indicating that the content did not occur in reality.

Additionally, the bill creates a criminal offense for violations of these disclosure requirements, classifying such offenses as Class A misdemeanors. It also specifies that certain entities, such as interactive computer services and broadcasters, are not liable for political advertising published or distributed by others. The Texas commission is tasked with prescribing the format for the required disclosures to ensure consistency with existing political advertising regulations. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

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