HB1464: Doctored media regarding candidates.

Legislative Summary

Doctored media regarding candidates. Provides that: (1) if a communication contains media depicting a candidate for office that is doctored in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the candidate is conveying a message that the candidate has not conveyed (doctored media); and (2) the doctored media is used in a communication with the purpose of influencing the outcome of the election in which the candidate is seeking elected office or influencing legislative or other public policy; the communication must include a disclaimer. Specifies requirements for the content, placement, and duration of the disclaimer based on the format of the communication. Provides that a person that creates a communication that: (1) contains doctored media but does not include a disclaimer as required; and (2) is disseminated; commits a Class A infraction. Provides that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior unrelated adjudication or conviction for the offense. Provides that the secretary of state may: (1) issue an order requiring a person to cease and desist dissemination of a communication that contains doctored media without including a required disclaimer; and (2) bring a civil action to enjoin further dissemination of the communication by the person.