Senate committee sends campaign finance recodification RS32772 to print

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on Wednesday voted to send RS32772, a campaign finance recodification and amendment, to print.

Senator Kelly Anthon introduced the measure as a package of campaign-finance changes and a statutory recodification. "This RS is a campaign finance bill," Anthon said, summarizing that the proposal would increase donor reporting, require more frequent reporting by some political committees, tighten disclosure of electioneering communications and raise contribution limits for candidates. He said the candidate contribution limit would increase from $1,000 to $1,500 and that statewide limits would move from $5,000 to $6,000 per election.

The measure also proposes higher fines for late filings and reorganization of existing law. Phil McGrane, Idaho's secretary of state, told the committee the RS is largely a recodification of long-standing provisions that originate with Idaho's Sunshine Laws. "This is the campaign finance side of it. This is a recodification," McGrane said, adding that the RS moves provisions from Title 67 into a reorganized Title 74 and that some text appears new only because of drafting changes.

Committee members asked about the timing and substance of the changes. Senator Wintrow expressed hesitation about printing a large bill late in the session but noted the sponsor's summary of substantive changes. After brief discussion the committee approved a motion to send RS32772 to print; the chair announced the motion carried and the RS will be printed for further consideration.

The RS is presented as a print hearing item; further hearings or amendments could follow in the legislative process.