Committee pauses vote on bill requiring disclosure of synthetic media in elections

The Government Operations & Military Affairs committee paused consideration of S.20, a bill that would require disclosure when synthetic or manipulated media is used to influence an election during the 90 days before a contest, after members debated constitutional risk, enforcement mechanisms and litigation underway in other states.

Committee members said the subject is already affecting campaigns and voters and that early action may be needed, while others urged caution given pending or recent legal challenges in other states. Legislative Counsel advised the committee the bill’s current draft incorporates language adapted from other states and includes edits intended to respond to judicial concerns.

"Those changes were made to address some of what the courts have said. Can't make it perfect, but that was my attempt to say, look. We're trying to be as careful as we can," said Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council, explaining edits in draft 3.2. The counsel also told members enforcement…