Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 4 D · 2 R · 1 I cosponsors

S 23 — An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor March 5, 2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on March 11, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (4 D · 2 R · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

221 added · 109 removed

Plain-language change summary

The legislative amendment to Bill S.23 adds a new section focused on the use of synthetic media in elections. It defines "deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media" as any manipulated content that misrepresents an individual to harm a candidate's reputation or influence election outcomes. This change is important because it establishes clear guidelines to protect the integrity of elections from misleading information and manipulation, helping voters make more informed decisions.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 1 of 5 S.23 An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 1 of 9 S.23 Introduced by Senators Hardy, Clarkson, Collamore, Norris, Vyhovsky, Watson and White Referred to Committee on Government Operations Date:
January 22, 2025 Subject:
Elections;
offenses against the purity of elections;
synthetic media Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to require the disclosure of deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media within 90 days of an election.
An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 2 of 9 (A) appears to a reasonable person to represent an individual saying or doing something that did not occur;
or (B) provides a reasonable person with a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, speech, conduct, or environment that a reasonable person would have from an unaltered and original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording.
(2) “Synthetic media” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, conduct, or environment that has been created or intentionally manipulated with the use of digital technology, including artificial intelligence, in a manner that creates a realistic but false representation of the candidate.
§ 2032.
DISCLOSURE OF A DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT SYNTHETIC MEDIA (a) Disclosure.
A person shall not, within 90 days of an election at which a candidate for elective office will appear on the ballot, publish, communicate, or otherwise distribute a synthetic media message that the person knows or should have known is a deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media of a candidate on the ballot, unless the synthetic media includes a disclosure stating:
“This media has been created or intentionally manipulated by digital technology or artificial intelligence.” BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 3 of 9 (1) For deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media consisting of images and video recordings, the text of the disclosure shall appear in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer and not smaller than the largest font size of other text appearing in the visual media.
If the image or video recording does not include any other text, the disclosure shall appear in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer.
For video recordings, the disclosure shall appear for the full duration of the video recording.
(2) For deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media consisting of audio recordings only, the disclosure shall be read in a clearly spoken manner and in a pitch that can be easily heard by the average listener, at the beginning of the audio recording, at the end of the audio recording, and, if the audio is greater than two minutes in length, interspersed within the audio recording at intervals of not greater than two minutes each.
(b) Exceptions.
(1) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, that broadcasts deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media 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 there are questions about BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 4 of 9 the authenticity of the deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media, or in cases where federal law requires broadcasters to air advertisements from legally qualified candidates.
(2) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, when it is paid to broadcast deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media after making a good faith effort to establish that the representation is not deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media, or in cases where federal law requires broadcasters to air advertisements from legally qualified candidates.
(3) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to an internet website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an internet or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest, and that publishes deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media, if the publication clearly states that the deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media does not accurately represent the speech or conduct of the represented individual.
(4) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media that constitutes satire or parody.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 5 of 9 § 2033.
PENALTIES (a) A person that knowingly and intentionally violates a provision of this subchapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00, unless:
(1) the person commits the violation with the intent to cause violence or bodily harm, in which case the fine shall be not more than $5,000.00;
(2) the person commits the violation within five years after one or more prior convictions under this section, in which case the fine shall be not more than $10,000.00;
or (3) the person commits the violation with the intent to cause violence or bodily harm and the person commits the violation within five years after one or more prior convictions under this section, in which case the fine shall be not more than $15,000.00.
(b) A candidate whose appearance, speech, conduct, or environment is misrepresented through the use of deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media in violation of section 2032 of this title may seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the publication, communication, or other distribution of such deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media.
Sec.
2.
17 V.S.A.
chapter 35, subchapter 5 is added to read:
Subchapter 5.
Enforcement and Additional Remedies BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 6 of 9 § 2041.
INJUNCTIONS In addition to the other penalties provided in this chapter, a State’s Attorney or the Attorney General may institute any appropriate action, injunction, or other proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate any violation of this chapter.
Sec.
3.
EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on passage.
Sec.
1.
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17 V.S.A.
chapter 35, subchapter 4 is added to read:
Subchapter 4.
Use of Synthetic Media in Elections § 2031.
DEFINITIONS As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media” means synthetic media that creates a representation of an individual or individuals with the intent to injure the reputation of a candidate, to influence the outcome of an election, or to otherwise deceive a voter, in a manner that:
(2) “Synthetic media” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, conduct, or environment that has been created or intentionally manipulated with the use of digital VT LEG #381906 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 2 of 5 technology, including artificial intelligence, in a manner that creates a realistic but false representation of the candidate.
(2) “Synthetic media” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, conduct, or environment that has been created or intentionally manipulated with the use of digital technology, including artificial intelligence, in a manner that creates a realistic but false representation of the candidate.
A person shall not, within 90 days before an election at which a candidate for elective office will appear on the ballot, publish, communicate, or otherwise distribute a synthetic media message that the BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 7 of 9 person knows or should have known is a deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media of a candidate on the ballot, unless the person includes a disclosure in the synthetic media stating:
“This media has been created or intentionally manipulated by digital technology or artificial intelligence.” (a) Disclosure.
(2) For deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media consisting of audio recordings only, the disclosure shall be read in a clearly spoken manner and in a pitch and pace that can be easily heard by the average listener, at the beginning of the audio recording, at the end of the audio recording, and, if the VT LEG #381906 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 3 of 5 audio is greater than two minutes in length, interspersed within the audio recording at intervals of not greater than two minutes each.
(2) For deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media consisting of audio recordings only, the disclosure shall be read in a clearly spoken manner and in a pitch and pace that can be easily heard by the average listener, at the beginning of the audio recording, at the end of the audio recording, and, if the audio is greater than two minutes in length, interspersed within the audio recording at intervals of not greater than two minutes each.
(2) a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an internet or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest, and that publishes deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media, if the publication clearly states that the deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media does not accurately represent the speech or conduct of the represented individual;
(2) a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an internet or electronic BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 8 of 9 publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest, and that publishes deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media, if the publication clearly states that the deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media does not accurately represent the speech or conduct of the represented individual;
VT LEG #381906 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 4 of 5 (3) a person that produces deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media constituting satire or parody;
(3) a person that produces deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media constituting satire or parody;
(b) A candidate whose appearance, speech, conduct, or environment is misrepresented through the use of deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media in VT LEG #381906 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 5 of 5 violation of section 2032 of this title may seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the publication, communication, or other distribution of such deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media.
(b) A candidate whose appearance, speech, conduct, or environment is misrepresented through the use of deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media in violation of section 2032 of this title may seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the publication, communication, or other distribution of such deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media.
Sec.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.23 Page 9 of 9 Sec.
VT LEG #381906 v.1
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor March 5, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on March 5, 2026

  3. Delivered to Governor on February 27, 2026

  4. Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted

  5. As passed by Senate and House

  6. Committee of Conference report adopted

  7. Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Collamore for Committee, text

  8. Committee of Conference report

  9. Committee of Conference report

  10. Entered on Notice Calendar

  11. House message: House adopted Conference Committee report

  12. Committee of Conference report adopted (Senate bill)

  13. Action Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference

  14. Notice Calendar: Report of Committee of Conference

  15. Senate Message: Committee of Conference members appointed

  16. Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Collamore, Vyhovsky, and Morley

  17. House message: House refused to concur in Senate proposal of amendment & requested Conference Committee; House Conference Committee members appointed

  18. Speaker appointed Reps. Birong of Vergennes, Hango of Berkshire, and Waters Evans of Charlotte as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House

  19. Rep. Birong of Vergennes moved the House refuse to concur and asked for a Committee of Conference

  20. Action Calendar: Action postponed until Jan. 28, 2026

  21. Rep. Birong of Vergennes moved to postpone action until Jan. 28, 2026, which was agreed to

  22. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

  23. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment to House Proposal of Amendment

  24. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment thereto

  25. House proposal of amendment concurred in with further proposal of amendment by the Committtee on Government Operationsas amended

  26. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations amended as moved by Senator(s) Baruth

  27. Reported favorably by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations with proposal of amendment

  28. House proposal of amendment; text

  29. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Collamore on behalf of Committee on Government Operations

  30. House proposal of amendment

  31. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator Collamore on behalf of the committee on Government Operations

  32. House proposal of amendment

  33. Committed to Committee on Government Operations on motion of Senator Collamore

  34. House proposal of amendment

  35. House proposal of amendment

  36. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  37. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  38. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  39. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  40. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  41. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  42. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  43. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

  44. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  45. Third Reading ordered

  46. Report of Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, as amended, agreed to

  47. Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte moved to amend the report of the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, which was agreed to

  48. Rep. Waters Evans of Charlotte reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

  49. Read second time

  50. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  51. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  52. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

  53. Read 3rd time & passed

  54. Motion agreed to

  55. Consideration resumed

  56. Consideration interrupted by recess

  57. Pending third reading, motion to amend bill offered by Senator(s) Ram Hinsdale

  58. New Business/Third Reading

  59. 3rd reading ordered

  60. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations agreed to

  61. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations

  62. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  63. New Business/Second Reading

  64. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

  65. Second Reading

  66. Entered on Notice Calendar

  67. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 183 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections technology
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 23?
S 23 is sponsored by Rebecca "Becca" E White (Democrat), Anne E Watson (Democrat/Progressive), Tanya C Vyhovsky (Progressive/Democrat), Robert W Norris (Republican), Brian P Collamore (Republican), Alison Clarkson (Democrat), and Ruth E Hardy (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 23?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track S 23?
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