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House passes election-misinformation bill with amendments after floor debate
Summary
House Bill 5093, aimed at prohibiting materially deceptive AI-generated election communications within 90 days before an election, was passed to be engrossed after floor debate and multiple failed amendments; final roll-call was 153-3 in favor.
The Massachusetts House ordered House Bill 5093, ‘‘to protect against election misinformation,’’ passed to be engrossed after extended floor debate, the consideration of several amendments, and recorded roll-call votes.
Representative Hunter of Boston opened floor debate, saying H.5093 focuses on ‘‘definitions around synthetic media’’ and would prohibit materially deceptive AI-generated audio or visual material within 90 days before an election. Supporters argued the bill targets deliberate, election-specific deception rather than ordinary political speech.
On the floor, Representative Sweezy of Duxbury proposed an amendment to change statutory language on primary dates (seeking to move primaries earlier so they fall outside the 90-day window). That amendment was defeated (roll call 123: 25 yes, 131 no). Representative Gasky of Carver offered Amendment 3 to narrow the bill’s reach, arguing the bill could burden low-budget challengers and grassroots groups and risk First Amendment consequences for political speech; Representative Bouvier of Pittsfield replied that the statute targets ‘‘material misinformation,’’ includes an actual-malice/intent standard, and is meant to address voter suppression and infrastructure-targeting falsehoods. The Gasky amendment was defeated (roll call 124: 12 yes, 145 no).
After the floor votes, the clerk displayed the tally for final passage to be engrossed as 153 in favor and 3 opposed (roll call 125). The House therefore advanced H.5093 for engrossment.
The floor record shows substantive disagreement about breadth and constitutional risk: opponents warned of chilling effects on small political actors, while proponents emphasized intent and the materiality standard and said the measure protects the integrity of elections. The engrossed bill text—rather than the floor summary—will contain the precise definitions, enforcement mechanisms, sanctions (if any), and effective dates.
Next steps include formal engrossment and further legislative steps before any enactment; the floor transcript did not specify enforcement penalties or administrative processes to implement the law.
