VirginiaHB24792025 Regular SessionHouse

Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.

Sponsored By: Mark D. Sickles (Democratic)

Failed

Summary

Elections; political campaign advertisements; synthetic media; penalty. Prohibits electioneering communications containing synthetic media, as those terms are defined in the bill, from being published or broadcast without containing the following conspicuously displayed statement: "This message contains synthetic media that has been altered from its original source or artificially generated and may present conduct or speech that did not occur." The bill creates a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 for a violation of such prohibition and, for a willful violation, a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill permits any registered voter who receives an electioneering communication in violation of this requirement to institute an action for preventative relief to prohibit the publication or dissemination of such electioneering communication, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction. This bill is identical to SB 775.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark D. Sickles

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 307 • No: 177

Senate vote • 2/22/2025

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 23 • No: 17

House vote • 2/22/2025

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 76 • No: 22

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

Senate insisted on substitute

Yes: 38 • No: 2

House vote • 2/18/2025

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 0 • No: 96

Senate vote • 2/14/2025

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 23 • No: 13

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/11/2025

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute

Yes: 8 • No: 7

House vote • 2/4/2025

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 80 • No: 18

House vote • 1/31/2025

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 19 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. House sustained Governor's veto

    4/2/2025House
  2. Vetoed by Governor

    3/24/2025Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

    3/11/2025Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025

    3/11/2025House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2479)

    3/10/2025House
  6. Signed by President

    3/10/2025Senate
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2479ER)

    3/7/2025House
  8. Enrolled

    3/7/2025House
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2479)

    2/24/2025House
  11. Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N)

    2/22/2025Senate
  12. Conference substitute printed 25108005D-H1

    2/22/2025House
  13. Amended by conference committee

    2/22/2025
  14. Conference report agreed to by House (76-Y 22-N)

    2/22/2025House
  15. Passed by temporarily

    2/22/2025Senate
  16. Senators: Surovell, VanValkenburg, Suetterlein

    2/20/2025Senate
  17. Delegates: Sickles, Simon, Ballard

    2/20/2025House
  18. Conferees appointed by House

    2/20/2025House
  19. Conferees appointed by Senate

    2/20/2025Senate
  20. House acceded to request

    2/20/2025House
  21. Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 2-N)

    2/19/2025Senate
  22. Senate requested conference committee

    2/19/2025Senate
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2479)

    2/18/2025House
  24. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N)

    2/18/2025House
  25. Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 13-N)

    2/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

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