House passes bill raising campaign contribution limits, removes limits for party committees

The House passed House Bill 2,054, a measure that increases certain campaign contribution limits and removes limits on contributions to party committees, the clerk announced after the roll call.

Representative Scott Hill, who explained his vote during the roll call, said he supports the First Amendment but opposed the bill because he believes removing limits will concentrate influence within parties and with major contributors. "HB 2,054 expands free speech and that it allows contributors to increase the amount of money they can give, which translates into speech for the candidate of their choice," Hill said. He added, "Removing limitations on political parties' access to financial resources does two negative things. First, it allows the voices controlling the party to essentially force their speech onto those that would disagree with them within the party in a limitless manner. Second, it allows major contributors of the party to control the voice of the party by their financial influence." Hill closed his explanation by stating his vote: "For those two reasons I vote no on HB 2,054, Scott Hill."

The clerk conducted and closed the roll call; after all changes were recorded, the clerk announced that 77 members voted in favor and 46 against, and declared the bill passed. The clerk also invited members to explain or change their votes during the roll call period; some members recorded changes before the roll was closed.

No amendments to HB 2,054 were recorded on the floor during the final action captured in the transcript. The bill was identified in the record as coming from the House Committee on Elections.