General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7089 proposes significant reforms to campaign finance laws, primarily based on recommendations from the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The bill replaces the term "solicitor" with "collector" to redefine the role of individuals appointed by a committee's treasurer to receive funds. It introduces new sanctions for intentional violations of campaign finance laws, including the removal of a collector and barring them from future service. Additionally, the bill specifies that contributions can only be made to the committee's treasurer, a collector, or an exempt candidate, while also clarifying collectors' responsibilities in reporting contributions and prohibiting them from disbursing funds. Other amendments include changing "chairman" to "chairperson" and redefining "organization expenditure" to include specific expenditures made by party committees for candidates.

The bill further updates regulations surrounding campaign-related vendors and contributions, prohibiting solicitation and acceptance of contributions by individuals in authority, and imposing penalties for vendors engaging in prohibited activities. It establishes new documentation requirements for vendors receiving significant payments and modifies the adjustment schedule for contribution limits based on the consumer price index, with specific deadlines set for 2025 and 2029. The contribution cap for state senator and representative elections will be adjusted based on the consumer price index, and candidates changing party status after applying for grants will be ineligible for additional funds. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2028, ensuring that campaign finance practices are more transparent and accountable.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-622