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House amends bill to require disclaimers on large campaign ads but exempts small items
Summary
House Bill 232, which would require disclaimers on large-scale candidate advertising so sponsors are identifiable, was amended to exempt small items such as lawn signs, bumper stickers and buttons; the amended bill passed 59–2 and proceeds to the senate.
Representative Jordan Tanner presented House Bill 232 to require disclaimers on candidate advertising (billboards, newspapers and other large-scale ads) so rival candidates and the public can identify who paid for an advertisement. During floor debate Representative Jones offered an amendment (pink sheet) to exempt small incidental items — lawn signs, bumper stickers, pins, buttons and pens — where printing a disclaimer is impractical or ineffectual. Sponsors called the amendment friendly but warned some large lawn signs could still be used for negative anonymous campaigning; members discussed that risk and the practical scope of the exemption.
The record shows questions about how the bill treats third-party-funded ads; sponsors said the text would require identification of who is paying for the advertisement. Representative Jack Errington and others noted that lawn signs vary in size, and members agreed to monitor implementation. The amendment was adopted on the floor, and the clerk announced that House Bill 232 as amended received 59 yes votes and 2 no votes; it will be sent to the senate.
