Sponsors would identify paid messages and report paid protest participation

Organizations would have to identify themselves on certain public messages they pay for, produce, or authorize. This covers people and groups that pay for, produce, or authorize public messages meant to influence public opinion or participation in a political, social, or ideological cause. The message must advocate a political, social, or ideological position, or promote or organize protest activity. The notice must name the sponsoring organization and give its city and state. Audio or video notices must be spoken or shown at the beginning or end; online notices must be easy to see without extra steps. The rule excludes unpaid personal social media posts, independent news or editorial content, and messages shared only within an organization. The text says it does not restrict protected speech or allow government review of a message's content or viewpoint.

An organization that pays people to take part in a protest in Missouri would have to file an electronic report with the Missouri ethics commission. This applies to any person or group that pays someone to take part in an organized public demonstration, rally, march, or assembly in Missouri to express political, social, or ideological views. The report must give the organization's name and contact information, total spending, approximate number of people paid, the protest date and general location, and the name of any person or group hired to organize or manage it. Reports would be public. A person may complain to the commission, which may investigate and, after finding probable cause, proceed under the stated enforcement process. It may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day while a report remains missing or inaccurate. Knowingly hiding or misstating who paid would be a class A misdemeanor. People whose credible evidence leads to a confirmed violation would have protection from retaliation; their identity would remain confidential unless needed for enforcement. A report would be due within seven days after the paid protest. If total spending exceeds $5,000, it would be due within 48 hours.