MaineLD 517132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act Regarding Synthetic Media in Campaign Advertising

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Large fines for synthetic media violations

If you pay for a political ad that breaks the disclosure rules, you can be fined up to 100% of what you spent. If the violation is of the synthetic media rule, the fine can be up to 500% of the spending. The commission may waive a fine if you fix the problem within 10 days after notice, but this does not apply to synthetic media violations. Penalties are civil and can consider how widely the ad ran, intent, vendor errors, and whether the ad hid who paid for it.

Clear labels on AI altered campaign ads

The law requires a clear warning on political ads that use synthetic media. Any ad that already needs a disclosure must add this exact line if it includes such content: "THIS COMMUNICATION CONTAINS AUDIO, VIDEO AND/OR IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED OR ALTERED." The commission sets the size and placement rules. Synthetic media covers manipulated depictions of a candidate likely to mislead; simple clarity edits and satire or parody are excluded. Broadcasters and newspapers must include required disclosures, but they are liable only if they actually know a paid ad contains synthetic media, and third‑party claims are not enough. The Attorney General can sue violators and recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Amy Kuhn
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 93 • No: 79

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 14

House vote • 3/10/2026

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 73 • No: 65

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 593
3/23/2026
PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
3/19/2026Senate
PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/18/2026House
COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-837), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.
3/17/2026Senate
Reports READOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 759 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-837) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.
3/12/2026Senate
Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 641(Yeas 73 - Nays 65 - Absent 11 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-837) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-837). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/10/2026House
Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
6/25/2025House
Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
3/21/2025House
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 7, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
2/7/2025House

Bill Text

Amendment C-A (H-837), adopted by House & Senate
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Enacted
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Introduced
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