House Bill 5452 (sHB5452 File No. 489) introduces a series of amendments to campaign finance laws, with an emphasis on the authorization and reporting of financial obligations by committees. The bill mandates that treasurers must provide written authorization for any financial obligations incurred by a committee and sets conditions for the reimbursement of expenditures paid from personal funds by candidates or committee workers. It defines illegal campaign finance practices, establishes penalties, and specifies that treasurers are not liable for unauthorized financial obligations. The bill also renumbers existing clauses to accommodate new insertions, such as the prohibition on the Governor or Lieutenant Governor's chief of staff from soliciting contributions, and deletes outdated legal language.

Furthermore, the bill adjusts contribution limits for legislative caucus committees and legislative leadership committees, setting separate limits for primaries and elections, and allows for authorized fund transfers between these committees of the same political party and house. It also updates the timeline for the State Elections Enforcement Commission to adjust campaign finance figures based on the consumer price index, with a new base period starting December 1, 2016. The bill repeals and replaces certain subsections to reflect these changes, with effective dates ranging from July 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025. It also outlines minimal fiscal impacts and expands a class D felony for illegal campaign finance activities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-607, 9-622
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 9-607, 9-622
File No. 489: 9-607, 9-622