This bill proposes significant changes to Minnesota's campaign finance laws, primarily by repealing the public subsidy program for candidates. It amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes, removing references to the public subsidy program and related spending limits, which were previously contingent upon candidates signing agreements to limit their campaign expenditures. The bill also includes provisions for transferring remaining balances in the state elections campaign account to the general fund and repeals numerous sections pertaining to the public subsidy program. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, aiming to streamline campaign finance regulations by eliminating public funding mechanisms and adjusting compliance requirements for candidates and political parties.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments that focus on the interactions between candidates and independent expenditure committees, stipulating that if a candidate's principal campaign committee contributes to an independent expenditure committee after January 1 of the election year, that committee is prohibited from making independent expenditures for that candidate. It allows candidates in contested primary races who receive fewer than twice the votes of any opponent to exceed expenditure limits by 20% under certain conditions. The bill also outlines the process for candidates to be released from expenditure limits if their opponents exceed specified thresholds and mandates that campaign advertisements include closed captioning for accessibility, with penalties for non-compliance. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign financing while ensuring accessibility in campaign communications.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 10A.022, 10A.15, 10A.20, 10A.275, 10A.28, 10A.322, 290.06