Vermont legislation · 2025-2026 Session
Vermont S23: An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections
Status: Signed into law, March 11, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections. (S.23) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
From the chaptered text, March 5, 2026:
An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections. (S.23) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 17 V.S.A. chapter 35, subchapter 4 is added to read: Subchapter 4. Use of Synthetic Media in Elections § 2031. DEFINITIONS As used in this subchapter: (1) "Deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media" means synthetic media that appears to a reasonable person to be a realistic representation of: (A) a political candidate that injures the reputation of a political candidate; or (B) an individual that attempts to unduly influence the outcome of an election, including a public question, by providing materially false information to voters. (2) "Synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been created or intentionally manipulated with the use of digital technology, including artificial intelligence. § 2032. DISCLOSURE OF DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT SYNTHETIC MEDIA (a) Disclosure. A person shall not, within 90 days before an election in Vermont, publish, communicate, or otherwise distribute synthetic media that VT LEG #387741 v.1 No. 75 Page 2 of 8 the person knows is deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media unless the person includes a disclosure in the synthetic media stating: "This media has been manipulated or generated by digital technology and depicts …
Sponsors
- Ruth Hardy (D, Addison District) · primary sponsor
- Alison Clarkson (D, Windsor District)
- Brian Collamore (R, Rutland District)
- Robert Norris (R, Franklin District)
- Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Chittenden-Central District)
- Anne Watson (D, Washington District)
- Rebecca White (D, Windsor District)
Latest actions
- : Senate Message: Signed by Governor [March 5, 2026]
- : Signed by Governor on [March 5, 2026]
- : Delivered to Governor on [February 27, 2026]
- : Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
- : As passed by Senate and House
- : Committee of Conference report adopted
- : Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator [Collamore] for Committee, text
- : Committee of Conference report
- : Committee of Conference report
- : Entered on Notice Calendar
Common questions
- What is S23?
- S23 is a bill in the Vermont Legislature (2025-2026 Session): An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections.
- What does S23 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections. (S.23) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont.
- What is the status of S23?
- Signed into law as of March 11, 2026. Latest action: Senate Message: Signed by Governor [March 5, 2026] (March 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored S23?
- Ruth Hardy (D, Addison District), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S23?
- On the Vermont Legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.23
Source: official Vermont record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.