*LRB10420019SPS33470b**LRB10420019SPS35160a* SB2996 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois and 2026 SB2996 Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen.

Mary Edly-Allen SYNOPSISFiled: AS INTRODUCED:

ILCS3/5/2026 5/9-9.610400SB2996sam001 newLRB104 Amends20019 theSPS Election35160 Code.a AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2996 AMENDMENT NO.

Provides______. that, if a person, committee, or other entity creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, the qualified political advertisement shall include, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a statement that the qualified political advertisement was generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence.

ProvidesAmend forSenate exemptionsBill from2996 theby requirementreplacing andeverything forafter civilthe penalties,enacting injunctiveclause relief,with attorney'sthe fees,following: and costs for violations.

LRB104"Section 200195. SPS 33470 b A BILL FOR SB2996 LRB104 20019 SPS 33470 b AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5.

"Artificial intelligence" meanshas athe machine-basedmeaning systemset thatforth can,in forSection a2-101 given set of human-definedthe objectives,Illinois makeHuman predictions,Rights recommendations,Act. or decisions influencing real or virtual environments and that uses machine and human-based inputs to do all of the following:

(1)"Distribution perceiveplatform" realincludes, but is not limited to, a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an Internet publication or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and virtualcommentary environments;of general interest.

(2)10400SB2996sam001 abstract-2- suchLRB104 perceptions20019 intoSPS models35160 througha analysis"Qualified political advertisement" means any paid advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements, issue advertisements, messaging service advertisements, mobile application advertisements, and sponsorships, relating to a candidate for federal, State, or local office in anthis automatedState, manner;any election to federal, State, or local office in this State, or a ballot question, that contains any image, audio, or video that (i) is generated in whole or substantially with the use of artificial intelligence and (ii) may reasonably lead to voter interference, coercion, or intimidation if the use of artificial intelligence is not disclosed to voters.

and(b) (3)If usea modelperson, inferencecommittee, or other entity creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement within 120 days before an election or up to formulate60 optionsdays forafter informationan election, the qualified political advertisement shall include, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a statement that the qualified political advertisement was generated in whole or action.substantially by artificial intelligence as follows:

"Distribution platform" includes, but is not limited to, a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an Internet publication or electronic publication, that routinely carries SB2996 - 2 - LRB104 20019 SPS 33470 b news and commentary of general interest.

"Qualified political advertisement" means any paid advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements, issue advertisements, messaging service advertisements, mobile application advertisements, and sponsorships, relating to a candidate for federal, State, or local office in this State, any election to federal, State, or local office in this State, or a ballot question that contains any image, audio, or video that is generated in whole or substantially with the use of artificial intelligence.

(b) If a person, committee, or other entity creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, the qualified political advertisement shall include, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a statement that the qualified political advertisement was generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence as follows:

10400SB2996sam001 -3- LRB104 20019 SPS 35160 a (2) if the qualified political advertisement is an audio communication, the statement shall be spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the communication, shall last at least 3 seconds, and SB2996shall - 3 - LRB104 20019 SPS 33470 b be in the same language as the language used in the audio communication;

and (3) if the qualified political advertisement is a video communication that also includes audio, thatthe statement shall:

(A) appear for at least 4 seconds in letters at least as large as the majority of any text communication,communication oror, if there is no other text communication, in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer;

10400SB2996sam001 -4- LRB104 20019 SPS 35160 a Each qualified political advertisement that is distributed or aired to the public that violates this Section is a separate violation.

SB2996 - 4 - LRB104 20019 SPS 33470 b (1) a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producerproducer, streaming service, or mobile application of one of the entities described in this paragraph that broadcasts a qualified political advertisement or a communication generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence as part of a bona fide newscast, news interview, news documentary, or on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events, if the broadcast clearly acknowledges through content or a disclosure, in a manner that can be easily heard or read by the average listener or viewer, that thethere qualifiedare politicalquestions advertisementabout or communication generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence does not accurately represent the speechauthenticity or conduct of the depictedcommunication; individual;

(2) a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, streaming service, or mobile application of one of the entities described in this paragraph when the stationentity is paid to broadcast qualified political advertisements;advertisements if the entity does not intentionally remove or modify any disclaimer provided by the creator or sponsor of the election communication;

(3) a distribution platform that publishes qualified 10400SB2996sam001 -5- LRB104 20019 SPS 35160 a political advertisements prohibited under this Section, if the distribution platform has a clearly stated written policy, provided to any person, committee, or other entity that creates, seeks to publish, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, that the qualified political advertisement shall include a statement consistent with subsection (b);

SB2996 - 5 - LRB104 20019 SPS 33470 b (4) a qualified political advertisement that constitutes satire or parody;

(f) If a person, committee, or other entity violates subsection (b) by creating, publishing, or disclosing a qualified political advertisement that features another candidate and that does not includesatisfy the statementrequirements requiredof underthis subsectionSection, (b), then the featured candidate may petition the circuit court for injunctive relief to prohibit publication or disclosure of the qualified political advertisement.

A 10400SB2996sam001 -6- LRB104 20019 SPS 35160 a featured candidate that prevails in circuit court under this subsection (f) may recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.costs.".