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

HB540 Original → HB540 Act 652 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legal definition of 'electioneering communication' to explicitly include digital materials, such as online ads and social media posts, alongside traditional broadcast media. By aligning the disclosure rules for digital content with those for broadcast content, the law now requires online political ads to clearly state who paid for them and whether they are authorized by a candidate. This change closes a regulatory gap, ensuring that voters receive the same transparency regarding political spending regardless of whether the ad appears on television or the internet.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the law from covering only broadcast communications (TV, radio, cable) to also covering digital communications, including websites, web applications, and social media platforms.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'electioneering communication' was updated to include digital materials that refer to a legally qualified candidate and are broadcast within 60 days before an election.

The previous definition of 'digital material' as a standalone category was removed because it is now subsumed under the broader 'electioneering communication' definition.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that digital political communications must display the same disclosure information as broadcast ads, including the full name of the payer and authorization status.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicability of disclosure rules was extended to include online political advertisements that were previously not explicitly covered under the electioneering communication statute.

HB540 Enrolled → HB540 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands existing disclosure laws for political ads to include digital materials like social media posts and online videos, ensuring they carry the same transparency requirements as traditional broadcast ads. The change matters because it closes a loophole where digital political content could previously avoid mandatory funding disclosures. It requires clear labeling of who paid for and authorized the content, including full names and contact details, to prevent misleading voters about the source of political messaging.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from covering only broadcast, cable, and satellite 'electioneering communications' to also include 'digital materials' such as website posts, web applications, and social network content.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'digital material' to cover content placed or promoted on public-facing websites, web applications, digital apps, social networks, advertising networks, and search engines.

REQUIREMENT

Extended existing disclosure requirements to digital materials, mandating that they clearly state who paid for and authorized the content.

Updated the specific disclosure rules to apply to digital materials, requiring full names (no acronyms) and contact information for payers and authorized candidates or committees.

Added a specific requirement for digital materials not authorized by a candidate to display the payer's full name, physical address, phone number, and website address.

HB540 Reengrossed → HB540 Enrolled · 3 edits · May 27, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized into its enrolled version, removing the reengrossed header and digest while retaining the core text. The substantive policy content regarding disclosure requirements for digital political communications remains unchanged from the reengrossed version.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'REENGROSSED' header and the legislative digest/abstract, which are procedural documents explaining the bill but are not part of the final law.

Added the 'ENROLLED' header and signatures from the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and Governor, indicating the bill has passed all legislative stages and is ready to be signed into law.

Adjusted line numbers and page numbering to reflect the final enrolled version (e.g., changing page count from 3 to 2).

HB540 Engrossed → HB540 Reengrossed · 2 edits · May 26, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to clarify that digital material disclosures apply specifically to content referring to legally qualified candidates and broadcast within 60 days of an election, rather than all digital material. This change narrows the scope of the law to align digital material rules more closely with existing broadcast electioneering communication standards.

Scope change

The scope of the bill was narrowed to apply only to digital materials that refer to a legally qualified candidate for elected office and are broadcast within sixty days before an election, removing the requirement for all digital materials to comply with these disclosure rules.

SCOPE

Added specific criteria requiring digital materials to refer to a legally qualified candidate and be broadcast within sixty days of an election to trigger disclosure requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the abstract and digest to reflect that the proposed law now includes specific conditions for digital material applicability, ensuring consistency with the main text.

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

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