# 119-hr-5272: Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act

119-hr-5272, Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5272
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5272
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-17

## Summary

**Bans knowingly distributing materially deceptive AI audio or video about federal candidates to influence elections or solicit funds.** This measure defines what counts as AI-generated deceptive media and creates federal civil liability for distributors while carving out narrow exceptions for news and satire. - Candidates: Can sue for injunctions and damages when AI-made audio or video would make a reasonable person wrongly believe the candidate said or did something. Violations are treated as defamation per se in related suits. - Distributors and political actors: Any person, political committee, or entity that knowingly distributes such material with intent to influence a Federal election or solicit funds faces injunctive relief, damages, and potential recovery of attorney's fees if the plaintiff prevails. Civil claims require proof by clear and convincing evidence. - News outlets and parody creators: Radio and television broadcasters, streaming services, regularly published newspapers or magazines, and satire are exempt when they include a clear, prominent disclosure that authenticity is in question or the content is parody.

## Cosponsors (10)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23] (R-TX), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] (R-MO), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on fake AI about candidates: benefit, high. If enacted, this would ban people, campaigns, and groups from knowingly sharing fake AI audio or video about a federal candidate to sway an election or raise money. The media must be AI-made and likely to mislead a reasonable person about the candidate's words or actions. The rule would cover conte…
- Rest of bill stays if parts fail: benefit, low. If enacted, if a court strikes one part of this bill, the rest would still stand. Other rules would keep working for other people and situations.
- Lawsuits and penalties for AI fakes: mixed, low. If passed, a federal candidate shown in deceptive AI media could sue the distributor for money. The candidate could also ask a court to quickly stop the sharing. A court could award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the winner. The candidate would need to prove the case by clear and convincin…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-1329: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5272 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5272)

## Related
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-1329: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1329)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5272 (as of 2026-10-17).