House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise donor privacy laws concerning political contributions, specifically focusing on contributions of less than $1,000 made to organizations recognized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill introduces a new definition for "C4 donor," which refers to individuals contributing to these tax-exempt organizations. It mandates that the identity of C4 donors remains confidential for contributions below the $1,000 threshold, thereby enhancing privacy protections for smaller donations. The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these changes, including the definitions and rules surrounding donor privacy.

In addition to establishing donor confidentiality, the bill modifies reporting requirements for candidates, political committees, and incidental committees. It specifies that contributions from C4 donors under $1,000 do not need to be disclosed, aligning with the new privacy provisions. The amendments also clarify the information that must be reported regarding contributions and expenditures, ensuring that the reporting process remains transparent while respecting donor privacy for smaller contributions. Overall, the bill seeks to balance the need for transparency in political financing with the protection of individual donor identities for lower-value contributions.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-37-101, 13-37-114, 13-37-229, 13-37-232
HB0673_1(1): 13-37-101, 13-37-114, 13-37-229, 13-37-232
HB0673_1(2): 13-37-101, 13-37-114, 13-37-229, 13-37-232
HB0673_1: 13-37-101, 13-37-114, 13-37-229, 13-37-232