HB 540 — ELECTION OFFENSES: Provides for disclosures required in certain digital political communications

HLSENROLLED 26RS-111 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

540 BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX ELECTIONAN OFFENSES:ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

Provides for disclosures required in certain digital political communications AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

Page(b) 1If the communication or material is paid for by other persons, but authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of 3a CODING:candidate, or its agents, it shall clearly state that the communication or material is paid for by such other persons and authorized by such candidate or authorized political committee.

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HLS 26RS-111 REENGROSSED HB NO.

540 (b)ENROLLED IfThe name of the communicationcandidate or material is paid for by other persons, but authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, it shall clearlybe stategiven thatin thefull communication or material is paid for by such other persons and authorizedno byacronyms suchshall candidatebe orused. authorized political committee.

The name of the candidate or authorized political committee shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

* * * DIGESTSPEAKER ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeOF Services.THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

ItPage constitutes2 nopart of the2 legislativeCODING: instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 540 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Knox Abstract:

Requires certain digital materials to contain the same disclosures required of electioneering communications.

Present law provides for disclosures required on electioneering communications whenever anyperson,politicalcommittee,entityororganizationmakesadisbursementforthepurpose of the financing the electioneering communication.

Proposed law retains present law and requiresthe same disclosures on digital materials that refer to a legallyqualified candidate for electedofficeand that arebroadcastwithin 60 days before any election in which the candidate is on the ballot and financed through a disbursement from any person, political committee, entity or organization.

Presentlawprovidesthatifthecommunicationispaidforandauthorizedbyacandidate,an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, it shall clearly state that the communication has been paid for by such authorized political committee.

The name of the political committee paying for the communication shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

Proposed law retains present law and applies the same to digital materials that refer to a legallyqualifiedcandidateforelectedofficeandthatarebroadcastwithin60daysbeforeany election in which the candidate is on the ballot.

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Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-111 REENGROSSED HB NO.

540 Present law provides that if the communication is paid for by other persons, but authorized byacandidate,anauthorizedpoliticalcommitteeofacandidate,oritsagents,itshallclearly state that the communication is paid for by such other persons and authorized by such authorized political committee.

The name of the authorized political committee shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

Proposed law retains present law and applies the same to digital materials that refer to a legallyqualifiedcandidateforelectedofficeandthatarebroadcastwithin60daysbeforeany election in which the candidate is on the ballot.

Present law provides that if the communication is not authorized bya candidate, a political committeeofacandidate,oritsagents,itshallclearlystatethe(i)name,(ii)physicaladdress (notpostofficebox),and(iii)telephonenumberandtheworld-widewebaddressifavailable of the person, committee, entity or organization who paid for the communication and state that the communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

The name of the payer shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

Proposed law retains present law and applies the same to digital materials that refer to a legallyqualifiedcandidateforelectedofficeandthatarebroadcastwithin60daysbeforeany election in which such candidate is on the ballot.

Present law defines "electioneering communication" as any broadcast, cable, or satellite communicationthatrefersto alegallyqualifiedcandidateforelectedofficeandisbroadcast within 60 days before any election in which such candidate is on the ballot.

Proposed law retains present law.

Present law defines "digital material" as any material or communication that, for a fee, is placed or promoted on a public facing website, web application, or digital application, including a social network, advertising network, or search engine.

Proposed law retains present law.

Present law provides that an affected candidate or voter shall be entitled to an injunction to restrain future violations of present law.

Proposed law retains present law and applies the same to proposed law.

Present law provides that whoever violates any provision of present law shall be fined not morethan$2,000 orbeimprisoned,with orwithout hardlabor,fornotmorethantwoyears, or both.

Proposed law retains present law and applies the same penalties to a violation of proposed law.

(Amends R.S.

18:1463(C)(2)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:

1.

Specify that proposed law applies to digital communications that refer to a legally qualified candidate for elected office and that are broadcast within 60 days before any election in which the candidate is on the ballot.