Substitute Bill No. 1409 proposes significant amendments to the existing municipal campaign finance laws, primarily focusing on the filing requirements for political and candidate committees. The bill repeals and replaces Section 9-603, mandating that all statements from party committees, political committees, and candidate committees be submitted to the State Elections Enforcement Commission rather than local town clerks. It broadens the scope of entities required to file these statements, including those formed to support or oppose candidates for public office. Additionally, it eliminates the previous requirement for certain political committees to file with local clerks, streamlining the process to a single state-level submission. The bill also modifies Section 9-604, requiring candidates to designate a treasurer and a depository institution for their committee's funds, and introduces exemptions for candidates meeting specific conditions regarding campaign financing.

Moreover, the bill updates various filing deadlines and procedures, ensuring timely submissions to the State Elections Enforcement Commission and introducing a late filing fee for treasurers or candidates who miss deadlines. It mandates electronic submission of financial disclosure statements for committees and candidates raising or spending over one thousand dollars, while also clarifying the responsibilities of treasurers and the process for designating successors. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign finance by modernizing the submission process and ensuring that all relevant filings are directed to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2029, and include amendments to several sections of the current law to reflect these updates.

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