Substitute Senate Bill No. 1405 seeks to amend existing campaign finance laws to enhance transparency and oversight in political contributions and expenditures. Key provisions include the repeal of subdivisions (25) and (26) of section 9-601, which are replaced with new definitions for "organization expenditure" and "solicit." The updated definition of "organization expenditure" now includes electronic sharing of candidate-related content and personal email lists for fundraising, while "solicit" is broadened to cover various fundraising activities, excluding mere attendance at events. The bill also modifies disclaimer requirements for campaign communications, mandating that disclaimers include the responsible party's name and address, and introduces specific rules for text messages and video advertisements.

Additionally, the bill reduces the percentage of candidate committees subject to random audits from 50% to 20% and establishes a legislative review process for guidance documents issued by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). It raises the maximum contribution limits for certain events and clarifies the handling of non-qualifying contributions, requiring candidates to return such contributions to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The bill also mandates that SEEC meetings be livestreamed and introduces a process for appointing the executive director of the SEEC, requiring legislative approval every four years. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline campaign finance regulations while ensuring that they reflect current economic conditions and enhance accountability in the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-7b
GOS Joint Favorable: 9-7b
File No. 489: 9-7b