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Secretary of State, AG draft language to make self‑funded political spending more transparent
Summary
Committee members heard proposed H.474 campaign finance changes intended to require disclosure of large self‑funded expenditures and to clarify reporting duties for individuals and small groups.
The Senate Committee on Government Operations reviewed proposed campaign finance language tied to H.474 intended to clarify reporting for self‑funded political activity and to close a perceived reporting gap for independent expenditure activity.
Sean Sheehan, elections director, and Deputy Secretary Lauren Hibbert said the draft language would replace the existing “independent expenditure only political committee” terminology with a phrase the Attorney General’s Office helped craft: a “self‑funded person acting alone on a public question” (or “self‑funded person acting alone unaffiliated with the candidate”). Hibbert said the change is meant to make clear who must disclose spending and under what thresholds.
The proposed framework would require disclosure when an individual or entity spends $1,000 or more to influence a public question or an election, Sheehan said; candidates currently face a $500 reporting threshold. Committee members questioned why the thresholds differ and several senators said they would support aligning reporting thresholds to increase transparency.
Hibbert and Sheehan also described how the campaign finance sections (identified in the discussion as Title 17 sections 2901, 2970 and 2971) interact: 29-01 contains definitions; 29-70 covers financial reporting (ledgers and contribution/expenditure reporting); and 29-71 addresses mass media reporting (shorter‑notice disclosure to opponents and public). The office said mass media reporting is intended as a timely notice and is not the same ledger entry required in the candidate financial report, though some expenditures will require both filings.
Why it matters: committee members raised concerns about so‑called “dark money” and local groups that may not realize coordinated small donations constitute PAC activity. The changes aim to increase disclosure from unaffiliated individuals or groups that spend substantial sums without registering as committees.
Process and next steps: Hibbert said the Secretary of State’s Office has been coordinating with the Attorney General’s Office on clearer, enforceable language and that she expected further refined drafts to be circulated to committee members before formal action. Several senators urged lowering the $1,000 threshold to $500 to match candidate reporting.
Ending: No vote or formal adoption occurred; the draft language is expected to be revised based on AG input and committee feedback.
