The proposed bill revises Montana's campaign finance laws by allowing candidates to receive compensation from their primary campaign depository equivalent to the wage of the office they are seeking. This compensation is restricted to specific timeframes: from the filing deadline until the primary election day for primary candidates, from the primary election day until the general election for non-primary candidates, and from the general election day until the candidate is sworn into office for those elected. Furthermore, candidates must report any expenditures made for their compensation, and they are prohibited from using surplus campaign funds for compensation after filing their closing campaign report.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 13-1-101 of the Montana Code Annotated to introduce new definitions and clarify existing ones related to campaign finance, particularly concerning school elections and voting systems. It defines terms such as "school election," "signature envelope," and "voting system," among others, to enhance clarity regarding election processes and requirements. The bill also includes a codification instruction to ensure that these new definitions and provisions are integrated into Title 13, chapter 37, part 2 of the current law, thereby officially recognizing them within the existing legal framework governing elections.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-101