Substitute House Bill No. 7221 seeks to amend Connecticut's campaign finance laws by centralizing the filing of campaign finance statements with the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). The bill repeals and replaces Section 9-603, which previously allowed political committees and candidates to file statements with local town clerks, now requiring all statements—including those from party committees and political committees for referendums—to be submitted to SEEC. Additionally, it removes the obligation for political committees formed solely for municipal referendums to file with local clerks, thereby streamlining the reporting process. The bill also modifies Section 9-604, mandating that candidates designate a treasurer and a depository institution for their committee's funds, and introduces exemptions for candidates who finance their campaigns entirely from personal funds or do not exceed $1,000 in expenditures.

The bill further establishes new deadlines and procedures for filing registration and financial disclosure statements, requiring electronic submissions for candidates and political committees that raise or spend $1,000 or more. It introduces penalties for late filings, including fines ranging from $200 to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, and allows SEEC to waive late fees under certain circumstances. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of treasurers and candidates, including the requirement for treasurers to file supplemental statements with SEEC and the need for candidates to submit an affidavit regarding their compliance with expenditure limits. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign finance practices, with all changes taking effect on January 1, 2029.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675
File No. 649: 9-603, 9-604, 9-624, 9-675