New Hampshire Campaign Finance Changes Effective Soon

The Office of Secretary of State recently updated their list of 2024 election law changes. Changes include mandating all political committees other than candidate committees to file reports electronically as of November 27. Effective January 1, 2025, corporations and individuals are permitted to contribute $15,000 to candidates and $30,000 to PACs or political parties per election cycle. An election cycle begins on the 22nd day after a state general election and goes through 21 days after the next state general election. Previously, contribution limits were per election phase.

The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) will hold a live training on October 30 at 1 p.m. to provide an overview of the responsible party regulatory amendments and a review of the changes in COELIG’s Lobbying Application.

Beginning on December 1, amended regulations regarding who is responsible for the submission, completeness, and truthfulness of filings by a lobbyist or client will take effect.

Submission of lobbyist filings will require a responsible party to attest to the accuracy of the filing.

If a lobbyist or client is an organization, the responsible party must have legal authority to bind the lobbyist or client.

The rulemaking clarifies only the responsible party can submit a lobbying filing and attest to its truthfulness.

A person or entity who is hired or employed by a lobbyist or client to prepare lobbying filings can still prepare and save the filings for the lobbyist or client but may no longer submit or attest to the truthfulness of those filings.

Only the responsible party may submit or attest to the truthfulness of the filings.

Gov. Sununu signed a bill amending lobbyist reporting requirements.

House Bill 1666 requires lobbyists to register and file statements through an online filling system to be developed by the Office of Secretary of State.

Lobbyist statements will be due on January 31, May 31, and September 30.

Currently, the statements are due quarterly.

These changes do not go into effect until January 1, 2027.

The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its formal session August 1.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed a bill relating to housing bonds but left many bills without final action, including various political contribution bills.

The Legislature will continue to meet in informal sessions where non-controversial issues may be considered and approved.

The Delaware General Assembly adjourned on June 30.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 316, which prohibits the distribution of deep fakes of candidates within 90 days of an election without the consent of the depicted individual, if the distributor knows or reasonably should have known they are distributing a deep fake.

Gov. Carney has 10 days to act on the legislation, and the bill goes into effect upon approval.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) announced inflation adjustments to contribution limits for 2025.

The contribution limit to gubernatorial candidates has risen from $4,900 in 2021 to $5,800 for the 2025 gubernatorial election.

ELEC will also be applying inflation adjustments to limits, fines, and reporting thresholds for non-gubernatorial candidates and committees.

For example, the penalty for a first time reporting violation increased from $9,800 to $11,600.

On June 14, the Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned.

Lawmakers passed bills to simplify language used on ballot questions and to no longer require unaffiliated primary voters to affiliate with the party holding the primary.

While bills affecting lobbying were introduced, none passed.

The New York General Assembly adjourned on June 8.

Lawmakers introduced various bills on the use of materially deceptive media or synthetic media in political communications.

Of these bills, only Senate Bill 9678B passed, which contains technical changes to better align state law with federal law on use of materially deceptive media in political communications.

The Vermont General Assembly adjourned sine die on Saturday, May 10.

During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 875, which overhauls the Vermont ethics laws.

The bill grants the Ethics Commission the power to perform investigations and hearings.

Additionally, the bill creates a uniform Municipal Code of Ethics and repeals redundant municipal ethics laws.

If approved by the governor, sections of the bill will take effect on passage; January 1, 2025; or January 1, 2026.

On May 9, a New York appellate court unanimously upheld a lower court decision finding the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) unconstitutional.

The court found COELIG violates the governor’s ability to enforce ethics laws as many members of the commission are not appointed by the governor.

The commission will continue to promote compliance with ethics and lobbying laws and may continue to process ethics disclosures and lobbyist filings.

COELIG stated they will seek an appeal and a stay to continue enforcing ethics and lobbying laws during the appeals process.

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 8.

During the session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 253 concerning foreign political spending.

The bill prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures and individuals from receiving contributions from foreign nationals.

Additionally, it requires certification on independent expenditure reports that the person making the expenditure is not a foreign national.

If signed by the governor, Senate Bill 253 becomes effective from passage.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

The monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due June 10.

The second regular session of the 131st Legislature statutorily adjourned on April 17.

The Legislature reconvenes May 10 for a veto session before adjourning sine die.

The general effective date for nonemergency laws passed is August 9.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

A registered lobbyist who anticipates no further lobbying for a client may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.