H.R. 989House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 10:38 PM UTC

The Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to require large online platforms that sell political ads to show a clear notice identifying who paid for each ad. The notice must stay visible even when a user shares the ad on the same platform. This rule applies to platforms with at least 50 million U.S. visitors per month and to ads that promote candidates or discuss national political issues, affecting advertisers, platforms, and viewers of political content.

Key Provisions

Online platforms meeting the size threshold must display a visible sponsor identification notice with every qualified political advertisement, or a notice that the ad is sponsored by someone other than the platform if a direct label isn’t practical.
The sponsor notice must remain attached to the ad when it is shared by users on the same platform.
Defines “online platform” as any public‑facing website, web or digital app that sells political ads and has 50 million or more unique monthly U.S. visitors for most months in the past year.
Defines “qualified political advertisement” as any ad made by or for a candidate, or that addresses a national political matter such as federal elections or major legislative issues.
The labeling requirements take effect 120 days after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 11, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 11, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 11, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 11, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 989

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 11, 2021

Mr. Golden introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require certain online platforms which display political advertisements to display with the advertisement a notice identifying the sponsor of the advertisement and to ensure that the notice will continue to be presented in the advertisement if a viewer of the advertisement shares the advertisement with others on that platform.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act.

Requiring online platforms to display notices identifying sponsors of political advertisements and to ensure notices continue to be present when advertisements are shared

(a)

Requirement

Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(j)

Ensuring display and sharing of sponsor identification in online political advertisements

(1)

Requirement

An online platform displaying a qualified political advertisement shall—

(A)

display with the advertisement a visible notice identifying the sponsor of the advertisement (or, if it is not practical for the platform to display such a notice, a notice that the advertisement is sponsored by a person other than the platform); and

(B)

ensure that the notice will continue to be displayed if a viewer of the advertisement shares the advertisement with others on that platform.

(2)

Definitions

(A)

Online platform

For purposes of this subsection, the term online platform means any public-facing website, web application, or digital application (including a social network, ad network, or search engine) which—

(i)

sells qualified political advertisements; and

(ii)

has 50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States visitors or users for a majority of months during the preceding 12 months.

(B)

Qualified political advertisement

For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified political advertisement means any advertisement (including search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements, and sponsorships) that—

(i)

is made by or on behalf of a candidate; or

(ii)

communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including—

(I)

a candidate;

(II)

any election to Federal office; or

(III)

a national legislative issue of public importance.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to advertisements displayed on or after the 120-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.