Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

August 7, 2025

Banning AI Misuse from Political Ads

Imagine running for a local office, such as a township supervisor or borough council position.

Perhaps a current board member has announced they are retiring, and you feel compelled to serve your neighbors in this way.

You familiarize yourself with the election procedure and deadlines, visit the Westmoreland County Election Bureau, and begin speaking with your friends and neighbors. One of them informs you that they are familiar with someone else who is seeking the position.

Expecting that there will be some competition, you’re more than ready to run a fair campaign, take your message to the community and hope to be successful.

Then a video is shared on Facebook by the opposing candidate. The text of the post reads “They want to be on council but can’t follow the speed limit?” The video is of your car driving down the street, a loud engine is heard, as is the sound of tires screeching. A digital speed sign shows 78 miles per hour on a two-lane road.

You know the video isn’t real. But will voters?

In keeping with my commitment to election integrity, I recently joined my fellow House lawmakers in the unanimous passage of legislation that would outlaw the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to misrepresent a candidate in political campaign advertisements.

The trustworthiness of our elections is of utmost importance.

When a candidate is seeking to serve their community, how they seek to win the respect and support of voters is a determination of what kind of servant they will be. The reality is that the valuable tools of AI can be used for dishonest reasons and voters should have confidence that information put in front of them has not been doctored. 

House Bill 811 would ban AI impersonation in any form of media, including text, image, video and sound “that appears to establish, resemble or represent an individual in a way that did not occur in reality” for campaign advertisements without their consent. It also would establish fines for those who violate the law.

The bill is now being considered in the Senate and if enacted, Pennsylvania would join at least 14 other states that have taken action related to AI use in campaigns. It would be the second action taken by Harrisburg to target the misuse of AI.

I recently supported Act 35 of 2025, a law that will classify deepfakes and other forms of digital impersonation as digital forgeries. Under the new law, if someone creates a digital representation of a real person without their consent and distributes it as genuine, with the intent to defraud or injure, they would be subject to penalties. The law targets harmful impersonations while safeguarding legitimate artistic, journalistic and expressive works.

When used ethically, AI holds immense potential for Pennsylvania’s economy. Last month, a summit in Pittsburgh highlighted how new data centers could drive growth in technology and energy sectors. Yet, AI’s ability to produce convincing fakes—indistinguishable from reality—poses risks. From financial scams to reputational damage, these forgeries threaten not just individuals but the fairness of our elections.

By passing these laws, we’re protecting democracy while fostering AI’s responsible use, ensuring Pennsylvania remains a leader in both innovation and integrity.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Agriculture Summit Planned for Next Week - The topics will be all things agriculture! Sit down for breakfast with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman at the More than Pigs, Chicken and Cattle Agriculture Summit. It will occur at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds Show Arena, Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 8-9:30 a.m. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. RSVP to Alaina Adams at aadams@pahousegop.com. 

DMAP Permits Available Starting Monday - The third round of antlerless deer license sales kicks off at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, which also marks the first opportunity for hunters to pick up their Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits.
 
DMAP permits are used to harvest an antlerless deer on the specific property for which the permit is issued. For some properties, DMAP permits are available to purchase directly, online or at an issuing agent, and hunters may purchase up to two permits per property. For other properties, a hunter must first obtain between one and four coupons from the landowner, then redeem them to purchase their DMAP permits. Each DMAP permit costs $10.97 for residents and $35.97 for nonresidents.
 
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, antlerless deer licenses also remain available in most WMUs. When the third round of sales begins Monday, hunters who already have bought two antlerless licenses can pick up a third, or hunters who have not yet gotten a license can purchase up to three.

For more information, visit pa.gov/agencies/pgc. 

A Last Hurrah for Summer! - With students soon set to return to the classroom, many families are looking to squeeze in one more vacation, long weekend or day trip. Fortunately, Pennsylvania has a lot of fun options close to home or within a few hours’ drive!
 
Check out the Visitpa.com website for an array of travel ideas, from outdoor adventures and historic sites to arts and culture destinations, amusement attractions and other must-visit places, Pennsylvania has something for everyone and every budget. 


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper