PRINTER'S NO. 556
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 555
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, FIEDLER, PROBST, OTTEN,
SANCHEZ, SAMUELSON, STEELE, WAXMAN, HADDOCK, HANBIDGE AND
PIELLI, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
2 "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
3 special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
4 primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
5 and defining membership of county boards of elections;
6 imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
7 courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
8 imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
9 revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10 repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11 elections," in primary and election expenses, further
12 providing for definitions and providing for limitations on
13 campaign contributions; and imposing duties on the Secretary
14 of the Commonwealth.
15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 hereby enacts as follows:
17 Section 1. The definition of "valuable thing" in section
18 1621(k) of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as
19 the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended to read:
20 Section 1621. Definitions.--As used in this article, the
21 following words have the following meanings:
22 * * *
23 (k) The words "valuable thing" shall mean all securities,
 1 goods, facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, advertising,
2 services, membership lists commonly offered or used commercially
3 or other in-kind contributions provided without compensation, or
4 at compensation which is below the usual and normal compensation
5 for the items. The dollar value of a contribution of a valuable
6 thing is the difference between the usual and normal charge for
7 goods or services at the time of the contribution and the amount
8 charged the candidate or political committee.
9 Any of the categories hereinafter excluded from the
10 definition of "valuable thing" shall not be deemed a
11 contribution or expenditure for purposes of reporting or record
12 keeping. The words "valuable thing" shall not include such de
13 minimus items as the following:
14 (1) Voluntary personal services provided by individuals who
15 volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a
16 candidate or political committee.
17 (2) The operation of a motor vehicle owned or leased by a
18 candidate or a member of his immediate family or for consumption
19 of food or beverages by a candidate or his immediate family.
20 (3) The use of real or personal property, including a
21 community room or a church used on a regular basis by members of
22 a community for noncommercial purposes, and the cost of
23 invitations, food and beverages voluntarily provided by an
24 individual to any candidate in rendering voluntary personal
25 services on the individual's residential premises or in the
26 church or community room for candidate related activities, to
27 the extent that the cumulative value of such invitations, food
28 and beverages provided by such individual on behalf of any
29 single candidate does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars
30 ($250), with respect to any single election.
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 1 (4) The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor other than
2 a corporation or unincorporated association for use in any
3 candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable
4 charge, if such charge is at least equal to the cost of such
5 food or beverage to the vendor to the extent that the cumulative
6 value of such reduced charge by such vendor on behalf of any
7 single candidate does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars
8 ($250) with respect to any single election.
9 (5) Any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by any
10 individual on behalf of any candidate to the extent that the
11 cumulative value of such travel activity by such individual on
12 behalf of any single candidate does not exceed two hundred fifty
13 dollars ($250) with respect to any single election.
14 (6) The use of the personal residence or the business or
15 office space of the candidate other than a corporation or
16 unincorporated association and the use of personal property
17 owned or leased by the candidate: Provided, however, That the
18 cumulative value of the use of such personal property does not
19 exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) with respect to any single
20 election.
21 (7) The use of the personal residence or the business or
22 office space of any volunteer, other than a corporation or
23 unincorporated association, and the use of personal property
24 owned or leased by a volunteer: Provided, however, That the
25 cumulative value of the use of such personal property does not
26 exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) with respect to any
27 single election. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
28 permit any matter prohibited in sections 1633 and 1843.
29 (8) Legal or accounting services rendered to or on behalf of
30 a political committee of a political party, an authorized
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 1 committee of a candidate or another political committee, if the
2 legal or accounting services are solely for the purpose of
3 ensuring compliance with this article.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
6 Section 1627.1. Limitations on Campaign Contributions.--
7 Aggregate contribution limits for a candidate may not exceed the
8 levels established under 52 U.S.C. § 30116 (relating to
9 limitations on contributions and expenditures) and regulations
10 promulgated by the Federal Election Commission in accordance
11 with 11 CFR 110 (relating to contribution and expenditure
12 limitations and prohibitions).
13 Section 3. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify
14 the calculation of the levels determined under section 1627.1 of
15 the act and shall transmit notice of the levels, including any
16 changes to the levels, to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
17 publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
18 Bulletin.
19 Section 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026, or
20 immediately, whichever is later.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0556: P.L.1333, No.320