351—4.38(68A) Political attribution statement.
- 4.38(1) Required content. Published material that expressly advocates for or against a clearly identified candidate or ballot issue shall contain a statement identifying the person paying for the published material. This statement is referred to as the “attribution statement.”
- 4.38(2) Registered committee. If the person paying for the published material is a committee that has filed a statement of organization, the words “paid for by” and the name of the committee shall appear on the material. An independent expenditure committee is not a registered committee.
- 4.38(3) Individual, married couple, or unregistered candidate’s committee. If the person paying for the published material is an individual, the words “paid for by” and the name and address of the individual shall appear on the material. Published material that is jointly paid for by a married couple shall include the words “paid for by” and the name and address of one member of the married couple. For purposes of this rule, “individual” includes a candidate who has not filed a statement of organization to register a committee.
- 4.38(4) Multiple individuals. If more than one individual paid for the published material, the words “paid for by” and the names and addresses of the individuals shall be included.
- 4.38(5) Organization or unregistered political committee. If the person paying for the published material is an organization, the words “paid for by,” the name and address of the organization, and the name of one officer of the organization shall appear on the material. For purposes of this rule, “organization” includes an organization advocating the passage or defeat of a ballot issue but that has not filed a statement of organization to register a political committee.
- 4.38(6) Corporations. If the person paying for the published material is a corporation, the words “paid for by,” the name and address of the corporation, and the name and title of the corporation’s chief executive officer shall appear on the material.
- 4.38(7) Independent expenditures. A person, including a sole individual, making an independent expenditure shall provide the attribution statement according to the appropriate category under this rule. The attribution statement shall also include a statement that the published material was not authorized by any candidate, candidate’s committee, or ballot issue committee.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 68A.405.
[ARC 0235D, IAB 4/29/26, effective 6/3/26]