Senate committee advances bill to modernize political contribution refund receipts

Senate File 9, a bipartisan bill to modernize Minnesota's political contribution refund (PCR) process, cleared the Senate Elections Committee on Jan. 23, 2025, and was recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

The bill, carried in committee by Senator Rest and coauthored by Senators Curran and Westlund, would require the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to generate electronic PCR receipts and provide a validation feed to the Department of Revenue for contributors seeking refunds. Senator Rest said the change "is to modernize the way in which we, produce and issue, PCR, refunds" and set an effective date for electronic processing beginning Jan. 1, 2027, to allow for development and testing.

Why it matters: supporters said an electronic system will make the refund program easier to use and increase participation in Minnesota's public financing mechanisms. Mary Hartnett of Clean…