Committee holds HB 112 after questions about boosted posts, multi-payer disclosures and enforcement

Representative Sahara Hayes presented House Bill 112 to expand disclosure requirements for political advertising to include social media, require notice when multiple entities pay for a single advertisement, and create a tiered fine schedule so first-time omissions are civil fines rather than misdemeanors.

Hayes said the change is intended to bring social-media advertising into current campaign-disclosure rules and to spare inadvertent offenders from misdemeanor prosecutions: “I’m really not doing that to give you fines. I’m doing it to save people from misdemeanors.”

Committee members questioned how the bill treats boosted posts and whether third-party boosting or independent expenditure activity would trigger disclosure. Legal counsel and lieutenant governor’s staff clarified that the rule follows the money: if an entity pays for a boost or pays postage for a mailer, that payer must be disclosed. The lieutenant governor’s office said it plans to replace the current BallotTracks system with a new Total Vote/Vista 2 platform in 2027 and expects the platform to support notification features contemplated in other bills.

County clerk Erin Davidson supported stronger enforcement but asked for clearer due-process language on how fines are imposed and contested. The lieutenant governor’s office explained that the bill contemplates investigation by the county attorney (for local matters) and imposition of fines by the election officer with jurisdiction (county clerk at the county level; lieutenant governor at the state level).

Representative Stoddard moved to hold HB112 so sponsors could clarify enforcement mechanics and language; the motion passed by roll call. The sponsor agreed to work with clerks and lieutenant governor’s staff to refine enforcement and disclosure mechanics.