A bill writing generative AI into the election misrepresentation rules - and widening them beyond candidates (H.R.9985)
H.R.9985, the AI Ads Act, would clarify that the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibitions on fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority and fraudulent solicitation of funds include misrepresentation through content generated with AI, and would widen who and what they cover. It was referred to the House Committee on House Administration on 30 July 2026.
Bill overview (primary data)
- Bill numberH.R. 9985
- TypeHouse Bill
- Congress119th Congress
- Latest actionReferred to the House Committee on House Administration.（2026-07-30）
Key points
- The bill states that the prohibitions on fraudulent misrepresentation and solicitation include content generated with AI.
- It creates no new prohibition, inserting words into ones that already exist.
- Section 3 strikes the limitation to candidates and their employees or agents, so any person is covered.
- It widens the object to political committees and organizations, real or fictitious, and removes the damage element.
- Raising funds while posing as a fictitious political organization comes squarely within the prohibition.
- A bill of the same name has been introduced in the Senate; following only one can mislead about progress.
1Adding words to a prohibition that already exists
The bill creates no new prohibition; it inserts words into one that exists. The Federal Election Campaign Act already prohibits fraudulently misrepresenting campaign authority and soliciting funds through it. Section 2 adds that this includes doing so through content generated in whole or in part with AI.
The technology is new; the act of misrepresentation is already regulated. The bill starts from that premise and closes off doubt about application.
2Widening both who and what
Section 3 makes a separate amendment. The prohibition originally reached acts by a candidate for federal office or an employee or agent of such a candidate; that limitation is struck.
- 1Strike the limit on whoIt reaches any person, not only candidates and campaigns
- 2Widen what is coveredPolitical committees and organizations join candidates and parties
- 3Include fictitious bodiesImpersonating a political committee or organization that does not exist is covered
- 4Remove the damage elementThe limitation to matters damaging to them falls away
The amendment brings within regulation a third party outside any campaign raising funds while posing as a fictitious political organization. It reads as an amendment written against a situation in which generative AI has lowered the cost of producing output that looks like a body that does not exist.
3The same title appears in both chambers
A bill of the same name has been introduced in the Senate, and this site holds that record too. The same title appearing in both chambers is not unusual, and several such pairs exist among the records this site holds. Following only one of a pair can mislead about how deliberation is progressing.
Of the 120 congressional bills this site holds as of 2026-09-02, 70 are House bills and 50 Senate bills. This one is at committee referral, to the House Committee on House Administration.
Why it matters
For anyone handling election advertising or distribution, AI-generated content being written explicitly into existing misrepresentation rules bears on verification procedures. With the limitation to candidates removed, output from third parties outside any campaign also falls within scope, so judgement is required more often on the publishing and distribution side. Identifying output posing as a political organization that does not exist becomes the practical focus.
FAQ
What new conduct does the bill prohibit?
How does coverage change?
Is there a Senate version?
Sources (primary)
Source: Congress.gov (Library of Congress; U.S. legislative materials, public domain). Links go to the official site.
- Congress.gov (bill page, original)
- H.R. 9985（119th Congress）