General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1409 proposes significant amendments to municipal campaign finance laws, primarily shifting the responsibility for filing campaign finance statements from local town clerks to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The bill repeals Sections 9-603 and 9-604 of the general statutes and expands the definition of public office to include town committee members. It mandates that all party committees, political committees, and candidate committees submit their statements electronically to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, with specific provisions for candidates in primaries and those exempt from forming candidate committees based on funding sources or expenditure limits. The bill also introduces penalties for late filings and establishes a web-based program for electronic submissions, aiming to streamline compliance and enhance oversight.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles and responsibilities of treasurers for candidate and political committees, requiring timely reporting of organizational changes and the filing of financial statements under penalty of false statement. It updates the dissolution process for exploratory committees, necessitating that treasurers file a notice of intent to dissolve with the State Elections Enforcement Commission within specified timeframes. The legislation also introduces the term "nonparticipating candidate" for those opting out of the Citizens' Election Program and outlines the handling of surplus funds from candidate committees. These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2029, and aim to improve transparency and accountability in campaign financing.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
GOS Joint Favorable: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
File No. 493: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
APP Joint Favorable: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675