Texas House passes bill for transparency in political ads amid AI concerns

State legislatures in Texas and Maine are advancing bills that would require political advertisements using altered or AI-generated media to carry clear disclosures, aiming to address growing concerns about deepfakes and manipulated content in elections. Texas' bill, authored by former House Speaker Dade Phelan, mandates disclosures for substantially altered media in political ads, with enforcement by the Texas Ethics Commission and criminal penalties for violators; it faced some opposition over free speech concerns but passed the House with a strong majority. Maine's proposed legislation similarly requires disclosure statements on political communications featuring manipulated audio, video, or images, with exceptions for satire and parody, and is designed to avoid constitutional issues by focusing on transparency rather than outright bans. Both measures reflect broader national efforts as over two dozen states have enacted laws regulating AI in political messaging, balancing the need for voter awareness with First Amendment considerations. Supporters argue these laws are necessary to maintain public trust in elections, while critics caution against government overreach and potential impacts on political speech.