Louisiana AI laws for political campaigns

Citation

La. R.S. 18:1463(A), (F), (G), (H), (I); definition of electioneering communication at R.S. 18:1483(33); AI definition at R.S. 14:73.14

Enacted

June 9, 2026

Effective

August 1, 2026

When it applies

anytime (the 2026 act repealed the old 60-day electioneering communication definition; timing near an election is now one factor in deciding whether a communication is electioneering)

Media covered

any printed, digital, or broadcast electioneering communication that portrays a candidate or an elected official subject to recall and is created, altered, or digitally manipulated using AI (image, likeness, or voice)

Who it covers

any person who makes or causes to be made the electioneering communication. Media entities (broadcasters, cable, streaming, newspapers, billboard companies, ad agencies, media platforms, ISPs, news websites) that run paid content they had no input in or control over are exempt.

Rule

ban unless disclosed

Intent required

Criminal penalty applies to violations made with intent to injure the reputation of a candidate or elected official subject to recall, or to otherwise deceive a voter. The content must be AI-made in a manner that would falsely appear to a reasonable observer to be an authentic record of the candidate's actual speech or conduct (the enrolled text also refers to falsely replacing an individual's likeness with the candidate's).

Disclaimer format

A clear and understandable disclosure on the communication that it was created using AI, in a form consistent with R.S. 18:1463(E): clear and understandable on written and digital material; in visual and oral ads, audible and visible for not less than three seconds; in digital ads, in text at least as large as the smallest text or in a visually distinct heading, with reasonable color contrast.

Exemptions

• media entities that broadcast or publish paid political content they had no input in or control over
• federal candidates (President, Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House) and party offices are excluded by the R.S. 18:1483 definition of candidate

Criminal penalty

Fine of not more than $2,000, or imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both (R.S. 18:1463(H)), when the violation is made with intent to injure a candidate's or recall target's reputation or to deceive a voter

Court challenges

None found.

Notes

No set disclosure wording; "This communication was created using artificial intelligence" style language tracks the statute. The act also rewrote campaign finance rules for electioneering communications and coordinated expenditures (outside groups spending over $1,000 on electioneering communications must report). The House rejected a proposed $10,000 fine. Veto history: HB 154 (2024, deepfakes of candidates) and SB 97 (2024) were vetoed by Gov. Landry in June 2024. Bill history confirms: sent to the Governor 2026-06-04, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry 2026-06-09 (Act 806), effective 2026-08-01. The criminal penalty is the relettered R.S. 18:1463(H) and applies to any violation of Section 1463 made with the stated intent.

Read the official text

Citation

La. R.S. 45:810 to 45:817 (core rules at 45:811 to 45:813)

When it applies

statute: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, no Sundays or state holidays (the LPSC order exempts political and polling calls from the hours rule)

Media covered

recorded messages delivered by automatic dialing and announcing devices

Who it covers

anyone using ADAD equipment or live operators for sales, polls, or soliciting information; the LPSC permit and bond apply to any company or individual using ADAD equipment to call Louisiana numbers

Rule

ban unless disclosed

Disclaimer format

Consent per call, obtained by a live operator who states the intent to play a recorded message or by a consent feature in the device. Name and phone number of the caller within the first 25 seconds and at the end; that number must be answered personally during business hours.

Notes

Statute text for 45:811 to 45:813 read from FindLaw because legis.la.gov refused connections on 2026-10-05. Penalty sections not confirmed. Whether pure persuasion or GOTV recorded calls fall within the statute's listed purposes (sales, polls, soliciting information) is not settled, but the LPSC order applies its ADAD terms to political activity calls.

Read the official text

Citation

LPSC General Order dated 2021-03-10 (R-35852), implementing R.S. 45:844.11 to 45:844.15

Enacted

February 17, 2021

When it applies

no calls Sundays, legal holidays, or 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., except political and polling calls are exempt from this hours rule

Media covered

telephone calls, including ADAD recorded-message calls

Who it covers

all persons using phone lines for residential telephonic solicitation, including callers in the exempt categories such as political activity and polling

Disclaimer format

ADAD: consent before any message (live operator intro or press-to-consent, per call); immediately after answer, state the name, phone number, and firm making or paying for the call and on whose behalf; repeat at the end; inform and get permission if the response will be recorded; callback number staffed; equipment attended; disconnect within 10 seconds; no random or sequential dialing; no calls to hospitals, nursing homes, police, fire, emergency providers, or to cell, pager, or other charged numbers without the recipient's consent.

Exemptions

• political activity calls and polling calls are exempt from the Do Not Call list and the calling-hours rule, but not from the ADAD terms

Notes

Political activity is defined as calls made for the sole purpose of urging support for or opposition to a candidate or ballot issue (if callers identify themselves), conducting political polls, or soliciting opinions, ideas, or votes.

Read the official text