This bill proposes significant revisions to Montana's campaign finance laws, allowing candidates to receive compensation from their primary campaign depository equivalent to the wage of the office they are seeking. It establishes specific timeframes for when candidates can receive this compensation, including periods from the filing deadline to the primary election, from the primary election to the general election, and from the general election until the candidate is sworn into office. Furthermore, candidates must report any expenditures made for their compensation as required by existing law, and they are prohibited from using surplus campaign funds for compensation after their closing campaign report is filed.

In addition to these provisions, the bill amends Section 13-1-101 of the Montana Code Annotated to introduce new definitions and clarify existing ones related to campaign finance and election terminology, particularly concerning school elections and voting systems. It expands the definition of "expenditure" to include candidate compensation from their primary campaign depository. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign financing while providing candidates with necessary financial support during their campaigns. A codification instruction is included to ensure that these new definitions and provisions are integrated into the existing legal framework governing elections in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-101