House Bill No. 7093 introduces comprehensive amendments to Connecticut's campaign finance laws, particularly focusing on independent expenditure political committees (IE-only PACs) and their operations. The bill defines an "independent expenditure political committee" and expands the definition of a "political committee" to include these entities, while removing references to candidate committees. It allows for unlimited independent expenditures and covered transfers, requiring those exceeding $1,000 to file detailed reports that include the purpose of expenditures and the candidates or referendum questions involved. The bill emphasizes transparency by mandating that individuals affirm the independence of their expenditures and includes new disclosure requirements for those receiving significant covered transfers. Additionally, it increases penalties for late filings and false statements, aiming to enhance accountability in campaign financing.

The bill also modifies contribution limits for candidates, establishing new maximum amounts for various offices and repealing previous limits. It introduces stricter regulations on contributions from business entities, allowing them to form only one political committee and imposing specific contribution limits. Furthermore, it revises the process for handling complaints related to election violations, lowering the standard from "probable cause" to "reason to believe," and streamlining the complaint resolution process. Overall, HB7093 seeks to improve the integrity and transparency of campaign financing in Connecticut while adapting to current electoral dynamics.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-601, 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620
GOS Joint Favorable: 9-601, 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620
File No. 516: 9-601, 9-601c, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-615, 9-620