House Bill No. 6320 seeks to enhance campaign finance regulations by prohibiting lobbyist contributions to legislators or state officers running for municipal office during legislative sessions. The bill amends section 9-610 of the general statutes, clarifying the definition of "municipal office" to include only elective positions for which voters from a specific town, city, borough, or political subdivision can vote, explicitly excluding state senator or representative roles. It establishes a ban on contributions from lobbyists and their associated political committees to candidates for the General Assembly, state offices, or municipal offices during regular, special, and veto sessions.

Additionally, the bill modifies section 9-608 concerning exploratory committees, mandating that the treasurer file a notice of intent to dissolve within fifteen days of a candidate's declaration of intent to seek nomination or election. It ensures that any surplus from exploratory committees for municipal office is managed according to the new provisions, requiring the return or appropriate distribution of lobbyist contributions made during the prohibited periods. The bill also includes technical changes, such as inserting definitions for "investment services firm" and "state office," while deleting previous wording that specified these meanings. Overall, the bill aims to improve transparency and mitigate conflicts of interest in campaign financing, with no anticipated fiscal impact on state or municipal finances, and is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-608
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-608