HB 366 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to required disclosures on certain political advertising that contains altered media; creating a criminal offense.

HB 366 requires political advertisements containing altered media - such as fake videos, audio, or images of candidates created using generative AI - to include a clear disclosure stating the content did not occur in reality. It directly affects political campaigns, advertisers, and groups running election-related ads. The bill mandates that the Texas Election Commission set the format for these disclosures (including font and size), and violations are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 3, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted and expanded to add exemptions for certain entities and clarify the scope of prohibited content. The original version broadly prohibited altered media in political advertising, while the new version adds specific exceptions for minor edits and provides immunity for platforms, ISPs, broadcasters, and sign owners who merely distribute the content.

Scope change

The bill now applies only to persons who make expenditures exceeding $100 for political advertising or publish altered content for consideration, and excludes certain intermediaries from liability.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility criteria requiring the person to either make expenditures over $100 for political advertising or publish altered content for consideration.

REQUIREMENT

Added an exception allowing superficial edits like changes to saturation, brightness, contrast, or color without requiring disclosure.

Modified the disclosure requirement to allow disclosure from the person or on whose behalf the advertising is published, rather than strictly from the creator.

ENFORCEMENT

Added immunity provisions exempting interactive computer services, ISPs, broadcasters, and commercial sign owners from liability when they distribute content created by others.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

104–39

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 145

Apr 29, 2025

D Democratic60

58 Yea 1 Nay 1

96% Yea

R Republican85

46 Yea 38 Nay 1

54% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed as amended

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Amended

Amendment fails of adoption

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors