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Committee sends bill to modernize political contribution refund system to tax committee
Summary
House File 1168, which would allow electronic receipts and online filing for Minnesota’s political contribution refund (PCR) program and classify some receipt data as nonpublic, was re-referred to the Tax Committee after proponents described efficiency and transparency benefits.
The Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee re-referred House File 1168 to the Tax Committee after sponsor testimony that the bill would modernize Minnesota’s political contribution refund (PCR) program by enabling electronic receipts and online filing.
Representative Bonner described the measure as moving the largely paper-based PCR process online. Under the proposal, enhanced Campaign Finance Board reporting systems would generate electronic receipts with unique identifiers; donors would use the receipt (paper or electronic) to claim refunds directly through the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s website. Representative Bonner said the bill also includes data-classification language (section 1) designating certain data as nonpublic and creates penalties for issuing receipts or refunds improperly.
David Fisher of Clean Elections Minnesota testified in support, describing the proposal as a way to broaden small-donor participation and reduce reliance on large donors by making the refund process easier and more accessible. Sponsor testimony said the bill had bipartisan support and had been considered in the Elections Committee previously.
Committee chairs moved the bill to the Tax Committee for further action.
