Bill No.: HB0187 Drafter: LGC
LSO No.: 13LSO-0288 Effective Date: 1/1/2015
Enrolled Act No.: HEA0106
Chapter No.: CH0189
Prime Sponsor: Representative Stubson
Catch Title: Campaign finance.
Subject: Amending limitations on campaign contributions.
Summary/Major Elements:
· This act increases limitations on individual campaign contributions from $1,000 to $2,500 for candidates for statewide office and to $1,500 for candidates for non-statewide office.
· The act increases total individual political contributions from $25,000 per two-year period to $50,000 per two-year period.
· The act limits campaign contributions from political action committees to $7,500 to candidates for statewide office and to $3,000 for candidates for non-statewide office. Contributions to a candidate’s campaign committee are considered contributions to the candidate. Contributions from political action committees are not currently limited.
· The act amends civil penalties for violations of the contribution limits from $10,000 per occurrence to $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for subsequent violations.
· The act changes the criminal penalty for filing a false report by a political action committee or candidate’s campaign committee from a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years, to a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year.
Comments:
· Contains delayed effective date: The act is effective January 1, 2015.