House Bill No. introduced by E. Tilleman and K. Walsh seeks to revise Montana's campaign finance laws by updating the definition of "political committee" and clarifying the signing authority for incidental committee reports. The bill amends Sections 13-1-101 and 13-37-232 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifying that a political committee is not formed when individuals make election communications or independent expenditures of $250 or less, or when candidates collaborate on their own campaign communications. Additionally, it introduces a new definition for "incidental committee," which is a political committee not primarily organized to support or oppose candidates or ballot issues but may become one through contributions or expenditures, with the primary purpose determined by the commissioner based on specific criteria.

The bill also revises definitions related to elections, including "special election" and "special purpose district," and clarifies terms such as "support or oppose" and "valid vote." It updates disclosure requirements for incidental committees, detailing the information that must be reported regarding contributions and expenditures. A significant provision allows non-residents to sign incidental committee reports if the committee is located outside Montana. Furthermore, the bill appropriates $1,000 from the general fund to the commissioner of political practices for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to assist in updating and administering campaign finance reporting requirements.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-101, 13-37-226, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(1): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(2): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1: 13-1-101, 13-37-232