WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
(5)(a) 1 Published material generated through the use of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b) and designed to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or the passage or defeat of a ballot issue must contain a disclosure on the published material that the published material was generated using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b). The disclosure must include the words "this material was generated using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b)".
(5)(b) For purposes of this subsection, "artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b)" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
(5)(c) 2 The board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
This new subsection requires that any published material generated through the use of artificial intelligence and designed to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or the passage or defeat of a ballot issue must contain a disclosure stating "this material was generated using artificial intelligence." The provision defines artificial intelligence broadly as a machine-based system that can make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board is directed to adopt rules implementing this subsection.
3 A person shall not publish published material, as defined in section 68A.405, that includes an endorsement of a candidate or ballot measure by a representation of a person that has been generated using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b), as defined in section 68A.405.
This new section prohibits any person from publishing published material (as defined in § 68A.405) that includes an endorsement of a candidate or ballot measure by a representation of a person that has been generated using artificial intelligence. This is a categorical prohibition — unlike § 68A.405(5), which requires disclosure, this provision bans AI-fabricated endorsements outright. Because the section is placed within Code chapter 68A, willful violations carry criminal serious-misdemeanor penalties by operation of existing law.
(1) For the purposes of this section: a. "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b)" means the same as defined in section 68A.405. b. "Political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b)" means the same as defined in section 68A.102. c. "State statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c)" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.
(2) 4 A candidate, candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), public official, or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) shall not use artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b) to depict a candidate or public official engaging in behavior that the candidate or public official would be unlikely to engage in or that would likely diminish the public perception of the candidate or public official.
(3) 5 A candidate, that candidate's committee, or a public official shall not use artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b) to depict the candidate or public official in an event or situation that did not occur.
(4) 6 A public official shall not use artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b) to manipulate depictions of events of statewide or national importance that a reasonable person would conclude was intended to influence public opinion about a defined group or influence the outcome of an election or the passage or defeat of legislation.
(5) 7 A candidate, candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), public official, or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) shall not knowingly share material generated by a third party using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b). A candidate, candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), public official, or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) does not violate this subsection if the candidate, candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), public official, or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) makes a good-faith effort to remove material that the candidate, candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), public official, or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) discovers was generated using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b) and informs the public that the material was generated using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 68A.405(5)(b).
(6)(a)–(c) a. The board may impose a fine of up to five thousand dollars on a candidate or public official for a first violation of this section and a fine of up to one and one-half times the previous fine for each subsequent violation of this section. b. The board may impose a fine of up to fifty thousand dollars on a candidate's committee, political committeePolitical committee"Political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(b), or state statutory political committeeState statutory political committee"State statutory political committee" means the same as defined in section 68A.102.Iowa Code § 68B.40(1)(c) for a first violation of this section and a fine of up to two times the previous fine for each subsequent violation of this section. c. A fine collected by the board pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund of the state.
This new section imposes four distinct prohibitions on candidates, their committees, political committees, public officials, and state statutory political committees. Subsection 2 prohibits using AI to depict a candidate or public official engaging in behavior the person would be unlikely to engage in or that would diminish their public perception. Subsection 3 prohibits candidates and public officials from using AI to depict themselves in events that did not occur. Subsection 4 prohibits public officials from using AI to manipulate depictions of statewide or national events to influence public opinion or election outcomes. Subsection 5 prohibits knowingly sharing third-party AI-generated material, subject to a good-faith removal and public disclosure safe harbor.
Subsection 6 establishes a tiered penalty structure: the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board may impose fines up to $5,000 on individuals and up to $50,000 on committees for first violations, with escalating multipliers for subsequent violations. Fines are deposited in the state general fund.