The bill amends Louisiana's campaign finance laws, focusing on contributions, expenditures, and electioneering communications. It redefines "contribution" to include gifts made directly or through joint fundraising agreements, establishing a new threshold of $1,000 for recognized political parties. The threshold for in-kind contributions and expenditures is raised from $50 to $200, increasing reporting requirements for smaller donations. New provisions for electioneering communications mandate clear disclosures about funding sources, particularly in digital formats. Additionally, the bill changes the due date for annual reports from February 28 to March 15 and requires committees to file supplemental reports if they show a deficit or surplus.

Further amendments include changes to the election code, such as raising the reporting threshold for individual contributions from $50 to $200 and clarifying exemptions for leadership committees and the elected governor. The bill allows designated committees to report contributions collectively and specifies that surplus campaign funds can be maintained in a segregated fund for future political activities. It also introduces civil penalties for campaign finance violations, with penalties set at a maximum of $2,500 for daily infractions and $500 for other violations. The effective date for the new regulations is established as January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
SB495 Original: 18:1463(C), 18:1483(3), 18:1483(6), 18:1(A), 18:2(A)(3), 18:5(B)(2), 18:6(D)(1), 18:6(E), 18:6(E)(1), 18:7(B)(4), 18:9(C)(2), 18:3(B)(2), 18:4(C)(1), 18:4(E), 18:4(E)(1), 18:5(B)(5), 18:1(C), 18:3(C), 18:2(B)(2), 18:2(H)(2), 18:2(I)(1), 18:2(I)(2), 18:2(I)(5), 18:2(7), 18:2(K), 18:2(L)(2), 18:2(L)(5), 18:2(M)(5), 18:2(O)(1), 18:1(A)(1), 18:1463(C)(5)
SB495 Engrossed: 18:1463(C), 18:1483(7), 18:1583(21), 18:5(B)(2), 18:6(D)(1), 18:6(E), 18:7(B)(4), 18:3(B)(2), 18:4(D)(1), 18:4(E), 18:5(B)(5), 18:3(C), 18:2(B)(2), 18:2(H)(3), 18:2(I)(1), 18:1(A)(1)
SB495 Reengrossed: 18:1463(C), 18:1483(7), 18:1583(21), 18:5(B)(2), 18:6(D)(1), 18:6(E), 18:7(B)(4), 18:3(B)(2), 18:4(D)(1), 18:4(E), 18:5(B)(5), 18:3(C), 18:2(B)(2), 18:2(H)(3), 18:2(I)(1), 18:1(A)(1)
SB495 Enrolled: 18:1463(C), 18:1483(7), 18:1483(21), 18:5(B)(2), 18:6(D)(1), 18:6(E), 18:7(B)(4), 18:9(C)(2), 18:3(B)(2), 18:4(D)(1), 18:4(E), 18:5(B)(5), 18:3(C), 18:2(B)(2), 18:2(I)(1), 18:1(A)(1), 18:4(A)(2), 18:5(B)(1), 18:7(B)(22)
SB495 Act : 18:1463(C), 18:1483(7), 18:1483(21), 18:5(B)(2), 18:6(D)(1), 18:6(E), 18:7(B)(4), 18:9(C)(2), 18:3(B)(2), 18:4(D)(1), 18:4(E), 18:5(B)(5), 18:3(C), 18:2(B)(2), 18:2(I)(1), 18:1(A)(1), 18:4(A)(2), 18:5(B)(1), 18:7(B)(22)