Substitute Senate Bill No. 1168 seeks to modernize and clarify the regulations surrounding political contributions and expenditures, particularly in the context of online fundraising. The bill introduces new definitions for "contribution" and "expenditure," and it exempts certain activities from being classified as contributions, such as nonpartisan voter registration campaigns, volunteer services, and donations of food or beverages for political events, as long as they do not exceed specified monetary limits. It repeals subsection (b) of section 9-601a and replaces it with a revised framework that includes the term "leadership" to clarify the role of legislative leadership committees in political contributions, while also setting limits on the cumulative value of certain donations and services.

Additionally, the bill addresses online fundraising by mandating that platforms obtain affirmative consent from contributors before enrolling them in automatically recurring contributions, ensuring that passive actions do not suffice for consent. It also clarifies that endorsements from unopposed candidates do not count as expenditures if the endorsed candidate has paid for the communication. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (b) of section 9-601b, maintaining exemptions for specific communications and volunteer services while specifying monetary limits on contributions and services. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign financing while adapting to the digital landscape of political fundraising.