Pennsylvania HB 486: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in primary and election expenses, further providing for advertising.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 470
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 486
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HEFFLEY, JAMES AND PICKETT, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in primary and election expenses, further
providing for advertising.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1638(b)(3) of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
amended and subsections (a) and (b) are amended by adding
paragraphs to read:
Section 1638. Advertising.--
(a) Whenever any person makes an expenditure for the purpose
of financing communications expressly advocating the election or
defeat of a candidate, or ballot questions, through any
broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising
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facility, direct mailing, or any other type of general public
political advertising, such communication:
* * *
(3) May not utilize artificially generated facsimiles of a
human voice.
(b) * * *
(3) Any person, firm or corporation, political committee or
party or member thereof, violating any of the provisions of this
section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars ($1,000), or to undergo an imprisonment of not
less than one (1) month nor more than two (2) years, or both, in
the discretion of the court. A fine issued for a conviction of a
violation of subsection (a)(3) is the personal liability of the
candidate or treasurer of a committee or party and cannot be
paid from contributions to the candidate, committee or party.
(4) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall publish a list
of all candidates and treasurers of committees and parties who
have been convicted of a violation of subsection (a)(3) on the
Department of State's publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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