Marc Berman Introduces Bill to Fine Undisclosed Political Influencers

California Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman introduced legislation to penalize content creators and political committees that fail to disclose paid political advertisements. The bill seeks to address the difficulty of enforcing a similar 2023 California law by granting the Fair Political Practices Commission the authority to bypass court processes and levy fines of up to $5,000 per violation.

The move responds to the growing trend of political campaigns employing both major influencers and micro-creators to target specific audiences. While California and Texas currently maintain disclosure policies, the New York Legislature is considering similar requirements. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer previously paid content creators to promote his campaign, highlighting the practice's prevalence.

Parallel efforts are occurring at the federal level, where California Senator Adam Schiff introduced legislation regarding disclosure that has not yet been voted upon. Additionally, advocacy groups are urging the Federal Election Commission to establish its own independent rules for content creators.