House passes bill limiting campaign spending by entities receiving state funds, targets "dark money" loophole

The Minnesota House passed House File 72 on Feb. 26, a measure the sponsor described as closing a ‘‘dark money loophole’’ by restricting certain campaign expenditures by entities that receive state funding and increasing transparency about outside spending in elections.

Representative Cedric Engin, the bill’s author, told the chamber that nonprofits and other entities that receive state appropriations should not use funds to make political expenditures. ‘‘This is a dark money loophole,’’ Representative Engin said on the floor. He framed the bill as a step toward returning political influence ‘‘back to the Minnesota voters’’ by preventing organizations that benefit from public funds from spending in elections.

Engin offered a floor amendment (coded A25008) that he said preserves the bill’s intent while clarifying transparency around funds on hand and separating raised…