H.B. 475
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mar 23, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH30151-LU-9A
Short Title: Revise Certain Ballot & 48-Hour Report Reqs. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Blackwell.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT PARTY DESIGNATIONS ON OFFICIAL BALLOTS BE
3 PRINTED IN BOLD AND TWELVE-POINT FONT SIZE, TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD
4 AMOUNT THAT TRIGGERS THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR REPORT, WITH
5 AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION, UNDER CAMPAIGN FINANCE
6 LAWS, AND TO WAIVE THE FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR REPORTING REQUIREMENT
7 FOR CANDIDATES WHO ARE UNOPPOSED DURING A PRIMARY ELECTION.
8 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
9 SECTION 1. G.S. 163-165.5(a) reads as rewritten:
10 "(a) Except as provided in this section, each official ballot shall contain all the following
11 elements:
12 …
13 (4) Party designations in partisan ballot items. Party designations shall be printed
14 in (i) bold and (ii) a font no less than 12-point in size.
15 …."
16 SECTION 2. G.S. 163-278.9(a)(2) reads as rewritten:
17 "(2) 48-Hour Report. – A political committee, political party or affiliated party
18 committee that receives a contribution or transfer of funds shall disclose
19 within 48 hours of receipt a contribution or transfer of one two thousand
20 dollars ($1,000) ($2,000) or more received before an election but after the
21 period covered by the last report due before that election. The disclosure shall
22 be by report to the State Board identifying the source and amount of the funds.
23 The State Board shall specify the form and manner of making the report,
24 including the reporting of in-kind contributions. Effective for each
25 odd-numbered calendar year beginning in 2025, the dollar amount of the
26 reporting threshold established by this subdivision shall be increased based on
27 the Consumer Price Index as provided in G.S. 163-278.13(b). The revised
28 amount shall remain in effect for two calendar years until the next adjustment
29 is made. The State Board shall publish the revised amount in the North
30 Carolina Register and shall notify the Revisor of Statutes who shall adjust the
31 dollar amount in this subdivision. However, the requirements of this
32 subdivision shall not apply to any candidate campaign committee, as defined
33 by G.S. 163-278.38Z, in a primary election in which the candidate is
34 unopposed on that ballot."
35 SECTION 3. G.S. 163-278.9A(a)(3) reads as rewritten:
*DRH30151-LU-9A*
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 "(3) 48-Hour Report. – A referendum committee that receives a contribution or
2 transfer of funds shall disclose within 48 hours of receipt a contribution or
3 transfer of one two thousand dollars ($1,000) ($2,000) or more received before
4 a referendum but after the period covered by the last report due before that
5 referendum. The disclosure shall be by report to the State Board of Elections
6 identifying the source and amount of such funds. The State Board of Elections
7 shall specify the form and manner of making the report, including the
8 reporting of in-kind contributions. Effective for each odd-numbered calendar
9 year beginning in 2025, the dollar amount of the reporting threshold
10 established by this subdivision shall be increased based on the Consumer Price
11 Index as provided in G.S. 163-278.13(b). The revised amount shall remain in
12 effect for two calendar years until the next adjustment is made. The State
13 Board shall publish the revised amount in the North Carolina Register and
14 shall notify the Revisor of Statutes who shall adjust the dollar amount in this
15 subdivision."
16 SECTION 4. The waiver of the reporting requirement under Section 2 of this act is
17 effective for candidates unopposed in primary elections held on or after January 1, 2023. The
18 remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after
19 that date.
Page 2 DRH30151-LU-9A
Statutes affected: Filed: 163-165.5, 163-278.9, 163-278.9A
Edition 1: 163-165.5, 163-278.9, 163-278.9A
Edition 2: 163-165.5, 163-278.9, 163-278.9A