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Senate committee approves bill to require refunds and clearer handling when candidates switch races
Summary
The Senate State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs Committee passed SB138, which requires campaigns to return contributions pro rata when a candidate withdraws from one race and later seeks another office, clarifies SFI filing timing and removes a struck two‑year fundraising limit; members debated requiring bank details on public filings.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang (sponsor) told the Senate State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs Committee that SB138 aims to clear up what happens to campaign money when a candidate withdraws or changes the office they seek. "What happens to those campaign funds?" he said, arguing the bill would require return of funds from the original campaign with the option to resolicit those donors.
The bill responds to a recent court decision that struck down a two‑year fundraising limitation and implements recommendations from the Ethics Commission, Director Graham Sloane said. Sloane told the committee the commission "keeps a file" of needed clarifications and that the proposed language follows the commission's guidance on refunds and reporting.
Why it matters: SB138…
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