House Bill No. 648, introduced by Representative Beaullieu, aims to increase candidate qualifying fees for elections and allocate the additional funds to a newly established Campaign Sign Recycling Fund. The bill amends existing laws to impose an additional qualifying fee of $25 for candidates, excluding those running for school board or political party committees, effective August 1, 2025. The funds collected from this fee will be deposited into the Campaign Sign Recycling Fund, which is created as a special fund in the state treasury. The state treasurer is tasked with managing the fund, including investing its resources similarly to the state general fund, with any interest earned also going to the general fund.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the secretary of state regarding the recycling of political campaign signs, allowing for the appropriation of funds from the Campaign Sign Recycling Fund for this purpose. Additionally, the secretary is authorized to create rules for the implementation of the recycling program. The provisions of the bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated time for gubernatorial action, with specific sections becoming effective when a related act from the 2024 First Extraordinary Session is enacted.

Statutes affected:
HB648 Original: 18:1254(A), 18:22(A)
HB648 Engrossed: 18:1254(A), 18:22(A)