The Ohio Anti-Corruption Act proposes significant amendments to the state's campaign finance laws, focusing on enhancing transparency and accountability in political contributions and expenditures. Key changes include a redefinition of "political party," which now requires a group of voters to either poll at least three percent in the most recent election or file a party formation petition. The bill also clarifies definitions for terms such as "campaign committee," "candidate," and "contribution," while introducing new provisions for handling contributions from political contributing entities. Notably, the bill removes the definition of "continuing association" and excludes certain organizations from the definition of "political action committee," thereby streamlining the regulatory framework.

Additionally, the bill establishes detailed reporting requirements for campaign committees, political action committees, and political parties, including deadlines for filing statements and specific conditions for contributions exceeding $100. It mandates that all monetary contributions be deposited into separate accounts and emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate records. The legislation also prohibits contributions from foreign nationals and imposes stricter regulations on state and county political parties regarding their financial activities. Overall, the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act aims to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process by tightening regulations around campaign financing and ensuring that all financial activities are transparent and accountable.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3517.01, 3517.08, 3517.10, 3517.102, 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.107, 3517.13, 3599.03, 3921.22, 4503.03