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.
(1)(a)–(c) The following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (a) "Campaign materialsCampaign materials"Campaign materials" include any materials designed to influence voters for or against any candidate, party or measure to be voted on at any election, or containing information about any candidate, party or measure paid for by a candidate, political committee or independent expenditure which requires disclosure under campaign finance laws.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(a)" include any materials designed to influence voters for or against any candidate, party or measure to be voted on at any election, or containing information about any candidate, party or measure paid for by a candidate, political committee or independent expenditure which requires disclosure under campaign finance laws. (b) "PublishPublish"Publish" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materials or any other means of distribution.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(b)" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materialsPrinted material"Printed material" shall include, but not be limited to, any notice, placard, bill, poster, dodger, pamphlet, advertisement, sign or any other form of printed publication, except notices, posters and the like, which simply announce a speaking date and invite attendance thereon.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(c) or any other means of distribution. (c) "Printed materialPrinted material"Printed material" shall include, but not be limited to, any notice, placard, bill, poster, dodger, pamphlet, advertisement, sign or any other form of printed publication, except notices, posters and the like, which simply announce a speaking date and invite attendance thereon.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(c)" shall include, but not be limited to, any notice, placard, bill, poster, dodger, pamphlet, advertisement, sign or any other form of printed publication, except notices, posters and the like, which simply announce a speaking date and invite attendance thereon.
(1)(d) "Qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d)" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e); and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.
(1)(e) "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e)" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e) systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.
Subsection (1) establishes the definitions used throughout the section. The bill adds two new defined terms — qualified political advertisement and artificial intelligence — to the existing definitions of campaign materials, publish, and printed material. The qualified political advertisement definition is the operative scope trigger for the AI disclosure obligations in subsections (4) and (5): it captures any political advertisement containing AI-generated image, audio, or video made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee, or other person.
(2) No candidate, political committee or other person shall publishPublish"Publish" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materials or any other means of distribution.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(b), or knowingly cause to be published, any campaign materialsCampaign materials"Campaign materials" include any materials designed to influence voters for or against any candidate, party or measure to be voted on at any election, or containing information about any candidate, party or measure paid for by a candidate, political committee or independent expenditure which requires disclosure under campaign finance laws.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(a) unless it contains the following information: (a) The name of the candidate along with a statement that the message is approved by the candidate; or (b) If the message has not been approved by a specific candidate, the name of the person, political committee or organization paying for the publication of the message; or (c) If the message has not been approved by the candidate and no person, political committee or organization is identified as having paid for the publication, the entity producing the campaign materialsCampaign materials"Campaign materials" include any materials designed to influence voters for or against any candidate, party or measure to be voted on at any election, or containing information about any candidate, party or measure paid for by a candidate, political committee or independent expenditure which requires disclosure under campaign finance laws.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(a) must be identified.
(3) Publication of campaign materialsCampaign materials"Campaign materials" include any materials designed to influence voters for or against any candidate, party or measure to be voted on at any election, or containing information about any candidate, party or measure paid for by a candidate, political committee or independent expenditure which requires disclosure under campaign finance laws.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(a) through an electronic platform shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section if the home page of the candidate or political committee provides the information required by subsection (2) of this section, and each electronic publication provides a link to that home page.
Subsections (2) and (3) contain the pre-existing campaign materials attribution requirements — requiring candidate approval statements, paying-entity identification, or producer identification on all campaign materials. These provisions are not new to this bill and do not impose AI-specific obligations. The bill makes only a minor conforming edit to subsection (3).
(4) 1 A prerecorded telephone message that in express terms advocates for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot question, must bear an identification that contains the name of the candidate and a statement that the message is approved by the candidate, or the identification of the person, political committee or organization paying for the publication of the message. Except as otherwise required by law, a prerecorded telephone message subject to this subsection is not required to contain a disclaimer. If the prerecorded telephone message is generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e), the prerecorded telephone message must contain the following disclaimer: "This message was generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e)."
Subsection (4) requires that prerecorded telephone messages advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate, or on a ballot question, bear standard attribution (candidate approval or paying-entity identification). Critically, if the message is generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence, it must include a verbatim disclaimer: "This message was generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence." This is a format-specific obligation distinct from the broader qualified political advertisement disclosure in subsection (5).
(5)(a)–(d) 2 If a person, committee or other entity creates, originally publishesPublish"Publish" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materials or any other means of distribution.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(b) or originally distributes a qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d), the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) must include, when applicable, a clear and conspicuous statement indicating the following: (a) Whether the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) was generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e). (b) If the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) is a text or graphic communication that was generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e), include a disclaimer that: (i) Indicates what information was produced by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e); (ii) Appears in letters at least as large as the majority of the text in the graphic communication; and (iii) Is in the same language as the language used in the graphic communication. (c) If the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) is an audio communication that has been generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e), include a disclaimer that: (i) Is spoken in an audible, clear and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the communication; (ii) Lasts at least three (3) seconds; and (iii) Is stated in the same language as the language used in the audio communication. (d) If the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) is a video communication that also includes audio, the advertisement must include a disclaimer that includes all of the following: (i) A message that appears for at least four (4) seconds in letters at least as large as the majority of any text communication, or if there is no other text communication, in a size that is easily readable by the average and reasonable viewer; (ii) A spoken message in an audible, clear and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the communication, that lasts for at least three (3) seconds; and (iii) The disclaiming message must be in the same language as the language used in the video communication.
Subsection (5) is the core AI disclosure obligation. Any person, committee, or other entity that creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement must include a clear and conspicuous statement disclosing that AI was used. The subsection prescribes format-specific disclaimer requirements: text/graphic communications must identify what was AI-produced in matching-size and matching-language text; audio communications must include a spoken disclaimer at least three seconds long at the beginning or end; and video-with-audio communications must include both a visual message displayed for at least four seconds and a spoken disclaimer of at least three seconds, all in the same language as the communication.
(6)(a)–(e) Subsections (4) and (5) of this section do not apply to any of the following: (a) A radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer or producer that broadcasts a qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) or communication generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e) as part of a bona fide newscast, news interview, news documentary or on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events, if the broadcast clearly acknowledges through content or a disclosure, in a manner that can be easily heard or read by the average and reasonable listener or viewer, that the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) or communication was generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e) and does not accurately represent the speech or conduct of the depicted individual. (b) A radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer or producer, streaming service, mobile application, or online platform when the station is paid to broadcast qualified political advertisementsQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d). (c) A distribution platform, including, but not limited to, a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine or other periodical of general circulation, including an internet or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest, and that publishesPublish"Publish" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materials or any other means of distribution.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(b) qualified political advertisementsQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) prohibited under this section, if the distribution platform has a clearly written and accessible policy that: (i) Is provided to any person, committee or other entity that creates, seeks to publishPublish"Publish" means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by mail, telephone, electronic communications platforms, internet, software applications, printed materials or any other means of distribution.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(b) or originally distributes a qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d); (ii) States the qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) must include a statement consistent with the disclaimers outlined in subsection (5) of this section; (d) A qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) that constitutes satire or parody; or (e) A distribution platform, if the platform can show that they provided notice of the platform's prohibitions related to a lack of disclosure of content created in whole or in part by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" 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. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(e) in a qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) or prerecorded telephone message, in compliance with subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
Subsection (6) carves out several categories of actors from the subsection (4) and (5) disclosure obligations. Broadcasters covering AI-generated political content as part of bona fide news are exempt if they acknowledge the AI origin. Broadcasters, streaming services, mobile apps, and online platforms paid to air qualified political advertisements are exempt. Distribution platforms with written policies requiring submitters to comply with the disclaimer requirements are exempt. Satire and parody are exempt. Distribution platforms that can show they provided notice of their prohibition on non-compliant AI content are also exempt. These exemptions do not create independent compliance obligations; they modify the scope of the subsection (4)–(5) duties.
(7) A person other than a committee who violates subsections (4) and (5) of this section, is subject to the following penalties: (a) For a first violation, the person is responsible for a state civil penalty and shall be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). (b) For a second or subsequent violation, the person is responsible for a state civil penalty and shall be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation.
(8) A committee that violates the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) of this section shall be responsible for a civil penalty and shall be ordered to pay a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation.
(9) Each qualified political advertisementQualified political advertisement"Qualified political advertisement" means any advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements and sponsorships involving a candidate for federal, state or local office in this state, any election to a federal, state or local office in this state or a ballot question that does both of the following: (i) Contains any image, audio or video that is generated in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence; and (ii) Is made by or on behalf of a candidate, committee or other person.Miss. Code § 23-15-897(1)(d) that is distributed, published, printed or aired to the public that violates any of the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) of this section shall be considered a separate violation each time the advertisement is shown or transmitted, and shall be subject to the penalties as listed in subsections (7) and (8) of this section.
(10) The attorney general or a candidate for office who has been injured or is likely to be injured by a violation of this section may apply to any of the following courts for injunctive relief against a candidate, committee or other person for violations of subsections (4) and (5) of this section: (a) The Seventh Circuit Court District of Hinds County; (b) The circuit court for the county in which a party to the alleged violation committed the act or where said person resides; or (c) The circuit court for the county in which the violation of this section could deceive or influence voters in an upcoming election.
Subsections (7) through (10) establish the civil penalty structure and enforcement mechanism. Non-committee persons face a civil fine of up to $250 for a first violation and up to $1,000 per violation for subsequent violations. Committees face up to $1,000 per violation regardless of whether it is a first offense. Each distribution, publication, printing, or airing of a non-compliant advertisement constitutes a separate violation. The Attorney General or an injured candidate may seek injunctive relief in circuit court — either in Hinds County, the county where the violation occurred or the violator resides, or the county where the violation could deceive or influence voters.
This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
Section 2 provides that the act takes effect on July 1, 2026.