Senate Bill 252 (sSB252 File No. 482) proposes significant amendments to campaign finance laws, with a focus on independent expenditures, political committees, and the reporting and enforcement of campaign contributions. The bill defines new terms such as "independent expenditure political committee," "consultant," and "subvendor," and increases the threshold for reporting independent expenditures from $1,000 to $5,000. It also specifies the details required in long-form reports for such expenditures and outlines the reporting schedule and filing methods, emphasizing electronic filing. The bill expands reporting requirements to include referenda proposing constitutional changes and introduces new requirements for reporting independent expenditures related to referenda. It also details the disclosure requirements for covered transfers and allows for the establishment of dedicated independent expenditure accounts.

Additionally, the bill revises penalties for failing to file reports, with increased fines for violations occurring close to primary, election, or referendum dates. It revises registration statement requirements for committees, clarifies the lawful purposes of various committee types, and specifies new rules for the distribution of surplus funds by political committees. The bill adjusts individual contribution limits to political candidates and entities, removes aggregate contribution limits, and sets restrictions on contributions by individuals under eighteen. It also introduces provisions for independent expenditure political committees organized by business entities and specifies that organizations must form their own political committees for certain contributions or expenditures. The bill includes changes to the procedures for handling complaints related to state election laws and modifies campaign contribution limits for various political offices. It also introduces new requirements for consultants involved in political campaigns and establishes a new category of political committee known as "independent expenditure political committee" (IE-only PAC). The bill includes minor, technical, and conforming changes and is effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620, 9-622
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620, 9-622
File No. 482: 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620, 9-622