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Committee OKs amended bill to tighten municipal and county campaign reporting thresholds
Summary
The committee passed an amended House Bill 12‑43 to increase disclosure for local candidates: higher‑activity races would move to monthly reports during election years and annual reports otherwise; low‑activity campaigns remain on a lighter schedule.
The Senate committee approved an amended measure, House Bill 12‑43, that changes reporting thresholds and schedules for county and municipal campaign committees.
Representative Ken Underwood, the sponsor, told senators the bill addresses a gap where local candidates for some paid municipal offices did not have to file timely campaign‑finance reports until shortly before an election. Under the amendment adopted in committee, local committees that raise or spend $5,000 or more in an election year must file monthly reports; committees that raise or spend $500 or less remain on the less frequent schedule. In non‑election years, committees will file an annual report.
Underwood said the changes strike a balance between transparency and administrative burden. He said he coordinated the bill’s amendment with the municipal league and counties and adjusted language after related bills shifted reporting from county clerks to the Secretary of State’s office.
Senators asked about the number of committees affected and whether election administrators had been consulted; the sponsor said municipal and county stakeholder groups had reviewed the bill. No members of the public signed up to testify.
The committee passed the bill as amended on a voice vote.
