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S.23 (Act 75)

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Sen. Ruth Hardy , , Sen. Alison Clarkson , Sen. Brian Collamore , Sen. Robert Norris , Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky , Sen. Anne Watson , Sen. Rebecca White ,
3/11/2026 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor March 5, 2026
Sponsor(s)
Last Recorded Action
House 3/11/2026 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor March 5, 2026Opens in a new window
Bill/Resolution Text
Other Text

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An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Detailed Status

Regular Session 2025-2026
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An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Roll Call History

Regular Session 2025-2026
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Although procedurally bills and resolutions are assigned to only one committee at a time, other committees may review the bill or resolution. This page contains results from both the assigned committee as well as other committees.

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Meetings

Regular Session 2025-2026
Meeting Date Committee Actions

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026
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Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
3:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
1:15 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
2:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ilana Beller, Organizing Manager, Democracy Team, Public Citizen
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
2:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Sean Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Secretary of State's Office
Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Friday, February 7, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
2:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association
Nicholas Sherman, Government Relations Director, AT&T
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
1:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Paul Burns, Executive Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association
Chris Gilrein, Executive Director, Massachusetts and Northeast TechNet
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
3:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Julia Zimmerman, Doctoral Candidate, University of Vermont
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
3:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
3:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, March 14, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
1:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
2:15 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
10:35 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Introduction and walk-through

Sen. Brian Collamore, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
10:35 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Testimony

Sean Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Secretary of State's Office
Quinn Houston, Democracy Associate, Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
10:45 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Testimony

Leslie Welts, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Division, Attorney General's Office
Ilana Beller, Organizing Manager, Democracy Team, Public Citizen
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
9:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Testimony

Adam Kuckuk, Policy Associate, Elections and Redistricting, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Wendy Underhill, Director, Elections and Redistricting, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Vermont
Friday, April 25, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
11:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through of amendment

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
2:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through and discussion

Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
9:35 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through of draft 2.1 and testimony

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Leslie Welts, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Division, Attorney General's Office
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, May 9, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
1:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through of new draft and discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
10:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
11:00 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Discussion and possible vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
1:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Executive session

John Kidder, Director of Information Operations Research, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
Phil Susmann, President, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
Sherman Patrick, Vice President of Strategy, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
2:05 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Testimony

Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
9:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Discussion and vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
9:12 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Discussion and straw-poll of Waters Evans Amendment

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
1:30 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Chea Waters Evans, Ranking Member, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
Friday, January 16, 2026
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Government Operations,
2:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Chea Waters Evans, Ranking Member, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
10:05 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Witness testimony

Sen. Brian Collamore, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Operations
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Committee(s):
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs,
1:00 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Committee(s):
Committee of Conference,
8:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through and mark up

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
9:00 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Committee(s):
Committee of Conference,
11:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
12:10 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion and vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Witnesses Who Testified

Regular Session 2025-2026
Print Report Opens in a new window
Committee of Conference
  • Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
  • Ilana Beller, Organizing Manager, Democracy Team, Public Citizen
  • Sen. Brian Collamore, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Operations
  • Sen. Brian Collamore, Reporter, Senate Committee on Government Operations
  • Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  • Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  • Quinn Houston, Democracy Associate, Vermont Public Interest Research Group
  • John Kidder, Director of Information Operations Research, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
  • Adam Kuckuk, Policy Associate, Elections and Redistricting, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
  • Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
  • Sherman Patrick, Vice President of Strategy, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
  • Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Vermont
  • Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sean Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Secretary of State's Office
  • Phil Susmann, President, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes
  • Wendy Underhill, Director, Elections and Redistricting, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
  • Leslie Welts, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Division, Attorney General's Office
  • Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association
Senate Committee on Government Operations
  • Ilana Beller, Organizing Manager, Democracy Team, Public Citizen
  • Paul Burns, Executive Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group
  • Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  • Todd Daloz, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Attorney General's Office
  • Chris Gilrein, Executive Director, Massachusetts and Northeast TechNet
  • Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
  • Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  • Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
  • Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
  • Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale
  • Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sean Sheehan, Director of Elections and Campaign Finance, Secretary of State's Office
  • Nicholas Sherman, Government Relations Director, AT&T
  • Rep. Chea Waters Evans, Ranking Member, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
  • Julia Zimmerman, Doctoral Candidate, University of Vermont
  • Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner
  • Dylan Zwicky, Leonine Public Affairs, Partner, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association

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Fiscal notes and materials available on this web page are provided for informational purposes only, and may not comprise all materials received by the Vermont Legislature or the final fiscal information related to a specific bill.  The Legislature is not responsible for the accuracy of any information in these materials, and their posting does not constitute approval or endorsement by the Legislature.

No fiscal documents found for S.23 in the Regular Session 2025-2026.

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee of Conference Members

Regular Session 2025-2026
Print Report Opens in a new window

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee of Conference Meetings

Regular Session 2025-2026
Meeting Date Committee Time Actions

An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee of Conference Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026
Print Report Opens in a new window
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Committee(s):
Committee of Conference,
8:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Walk-through and mark up

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
9:00 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Committee(s):
Committee of Conference,
11:30 AM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee discussion

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
12:10 PM

S.23 - An act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections

Committee Discussion and vote

Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

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Staff & Other Information

Print Report Opens in a new window
Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel

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