Bureau of Ethics seeks $3M for new campaign finance filing system

The Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Appropriations Subcommittee meeting on April 9, 2025, focused on the urgent need for an upgrade to the Bureau of Ethics in Campaign Finance's online filing system. The current system, in use for nearly 30 years, is outdated and lacks modern functionalities that could streamline operations for elected officials and candidates.

During the meeting, a representative from the Bureau highlighted the limitations of the existing system, emphasizing the need for improvements that would allow users to upload data directly from popular software like Excel, Quicken, or Intuit. This change aims to reduce the time and effort required for data entry, making the filing process more efficient.

The Bureau has conducted interviews with various vendors nationwide and estimates that a new system would cost approximately $3 million. This investment is seen as essential to modernizing the Bureau's operations and enhancing the overall efficiency of campaign finance reporting in Tennessee.

The discussion underscored the importance of updating technological infrastructure to meet current needs and improve transparency in campaign finance. The committee's support for this initiative could lead to significant advancements in how campaign finance data is managed in the state.