Tex. Codes » Election Code · TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS · CHAPTER 255. REGULATING POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS
Texas Codes

Tex. Elec. Code § 255.004 (2026)

True Source Of Communication

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 255.004. TRUE SOURCE OF COMMUNICATION. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election, the person enters into a contract or other agreement to print, publish, or broadcast political advertising that purports to emanate from a source other than its true source.

(b) A person commits an offense if, with intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election, the person knowingly represents in a campaign communication that the communication emanates from a source other than its true source.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) A person commits an offense if the person, with intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election:

(1) creates a deep fake video; and

(2) causes the deep fake video to be published or distributed within 30 days of an election.

(e) In this section, "deep fake video" means a video, created with the intent to deceive, that appears to depict a real person performing an action that did not occur in reality.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1339 (S.B. 751), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 2003–2025 · leading case: Doe v. State, 112 S.W.3d 532 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
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Doe v. State, 112 S.W.3d 532 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “Texas Election Code § 255.004 provides that it is an offense to agree to publish a political advertisement that "purports to emanate from a source other than its true source.”
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). · cites it 3× “Using the statute’s plain language and legislative history as an aid, the State argues the § 255.”
Ex Parte: John Morgan Stafford v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024). · cites it 3× “Using the statute’s plain language and legislative history as an aid, the State argues the § 255.”
Todd Gallaher v. Denton Media Co., Inc. D/B/A Denton Record Chronicle (Tex. App. 2022). “Tex. Elec. Code § 255.004 – 255.005. The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by the Texas Legislature to “administer and enforce” Title 15 of the Election Code.”
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). “” TEX. ELECTION CODE §§ 255.004(b), (c). “Campaign communication” is defined as “a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.”
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). ““Campaign 1 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.004(b) (emphasis added).”
Ex Parte: John Morgan Stafford v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024). “” TEX. ELECTION CODE §§ 255.004(b), (c). “Campaign communication” is defined as “a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.”
Ex Parte: John Morgan Stafford v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024). ““Campaign 1 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.004(b) (emphasis added).”
Charette, Ex Parte Robbie Gail v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). “2 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.004. 3 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.”
Charette, Ex Parte Robbie Gail v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2025). “2 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.004. 3 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.”
— Tex. Elec. Code § 255.004(b) — 6 cases
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). “Using the statute’s plain language and legislative history as an aid, the State argues the § 255.”
Ex Parte: John Morgan Stafford v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024). “Using the statute’s plain language and legislative history as an aid, the State argues the § 255.”
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). “” TEX. ELECTION CODE §§ 255.004(b), (c). “Campaign communication” is defined as “a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.”
Stafford, Ex Parte John Morgan v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2024). ““Campaign 1 TEX. ELEC. CODE § 255.004(b) (emphasis added).”
Ex Parte: John Morgan Stafford v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024). “” TEX. ELECTION CODE §§ 255.004(b), (c). “Campaign communication” is defined as “a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.”
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