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Senate committee advances original-source disclosure bill aimed at dark-money transparency
Summary
Senate File 905 would require major outside spenders to disclose original funding sources; the committee recommended the bill to pass by roll call (8–1) and referred it to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
The Senate Elections Committee voted to recommend passage of Senate File 905, a bill to require "original source" disclosure for major outside spending entities, and referred the measure to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee after a roll-call vote of 8–1 on March 27.
Senator Port, the bill author, said the proposal would help Minnesota voters identify the true sources behind large, often opaque campaign expenditures and independent spending. The bill would require covered entities that make independent expenditures or electioneering communications above statutory thresholds to disclose the original sources of funds that financed their work and to identify top sources in ad disclaimers.
Supporters including Clean Elections Minnesota, volunteer advisor David Fisher, and Campaign Legal Center legal counsel Elizabeth Schimek testified that the measure would increase transparency, deter corruption or its appearance, and provide voters information needed to assess the motivations behind large outside spending. Fisher cited the Minnesota Constitution's provisions on disclosure and the historical role of disclosure as a check on concentrated political power.
Witnesses and senators discussed administrative implications. Committee staff from the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board estimated adding significant reporting and hosting needs; senators sought and discussed fiscal implications and how the bill would trace funds through multiple intermediary entities. The author said the requirement places the trace-and-disclose burden on the spending entities and their upstream layers.
Senator Port moved the committee recommendation; a roll-call vote followed. The committee recorded eight ayes and one nay and recommended passage and referral to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
