US EditionTexas House of Representatives passes bill to criminalise political memes, offenders risk jail term
- The Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 366 on April 30, 2025, criminalizing political memes without government disclaimers.
- The bill, authored by former House Speaker Dade Phelan and driven by concerns over AI-altered media, seeks to protect voters from manipulated political ads.
- The law requires disclosure for substantially altered images, audio, or video in political ads spending over $100 and applies to candidates, officeholders, and committees.
- Violators face a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000, while critics warn it risks suppressing free speech.
- The bill has sparked widespread backlash over free speech concerns and uncertain Senate support, reflecting a contentious shift in election ethics rules.
14 Articles
14 Articles
4/30/25 You Could Go to Jail for Memes
– Texas House Approves Former Speaker Dade Phelan’s Meme Regulation Bill – Will Senators Revive Proposed Ban on Lawmakers’ Children Benefiting From School Choice Funds? – Harris County Sues Trump Administration Over Federal Workforce Cuts The post 4/30/25 You Could Go to Jail for Memes appeared first on Texas Scorecard.
Reworked Phelan Meme Ban to END Texas Politics
Many people are saying the Texas House passing Dade Phelan’s meme ban will end political memes, but will there be unintended consequences? It’s the slippery slope, of course, but it also gives Representatives the opportunity to leave their legacy as someone who chipped away at free speech in their own little way. Regarding sharing memes, the latest version of the Meme Ban appears to only apply to officeholders, candidates, and PACs. This will me…
GOP-Led State House Passes Legislation To Criminalize Political Memes!
Free speech advocates criticized the Texas House of Representatives for approving legislation that reportedly requires a government-approved disclaimer for altered political media, including memes, videos, or audio recordings. HB 366 reads: A person may not, with the intent to influence an election, knowingly cause to be published, distributed, or broadcast political advertising that includes an image, audio recording, or video recording of an o…
GOP-Led State House Passes Legislation To Criminalize Political Memes! * 100PercentFedUp.com * by Danielle
Texas lawmakers are igniting a fierce debate over free speech with a controversial bill that could criminalize political memes. Discover how this legislation aims to regulate altered media—and why critics warn it threatens the very essence of political expression.
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