Senate Bill 262 (sSB262 File No. 210) introduces amendments to the general statutes concerning municipal campaign finance filings, with an effective date of January 1, 2026. The bill requires various political committees, including those for municipal candidates, referendum questions in a single municipality, and slates of candidates for justice of the peace, to file financial disclosure statements or exemption certifications with the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) instead of town clerks. It also mandates the use of a web-based program (eCRIS) for all municipal campaign financial disclosure statements and registration statements. The bill includes technical changes, such as removing the requirement for SEEC to provide campaign financial disclosure forms to town clerks and eliminating a fee paid to unsalaried town clerks. Additionally, the bill narrows an exemption from the requirement to reregister with SEEC for certain political committees.

The bill also requires electronic filing via eCRIS for municipal campaign financial disclosure statements for candidate and exploratory committees, certificates of exemptions from registration, and all registration statements, consistent with existing requirements for state offices and committees. SEEC may waive the electronic filing requirement for good cause. The bill received a Joint Favorable outcome from the Government Administration and Elections Committee with a vote of 14 to 5 on March 15, 2024. The fiscal note indicates additional costs to SEEC for staff to manage the increased workload, estimated at $163,403, with additional fringe benefits costs of $67,403 in FY 26, and potential minimal savings for municipalities by shifting filing requirements from local to state level.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
File No. 210: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675