LobbyComply Blog

The 2026 legislature adjourned sine die on March 6. Lawmakers passed a campaign finance reform bill to modify the timeline of certain campaign finance regulations passed during the previous 2024 legislative session. House Bill 4018 makes certain technical fixes to definitions within the previous 2024 bill. It also pushes back the implementation date for a contribution tracking system from 2028 to 2032. The contribution limits remain unchanged and are set to go into effect next year. State officials have recognized the law still needs extensive work and have also passed Senate Bill 1502, which directs the secretary of state to prefile proposed legislation next year setting forth recommendations for changes to the campaign finance limitation presently being implemented. Both bills have been sent to Gov. Tina Kotek. If signed, House Bill 4018 is effective immediately and Senate Bill 1502 becomes effective June 5.

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The City of Austin, Texas increased campaign contribution limits for candidates for mayor and city council from $450 to $500 per contributor per election. The aggregate contribution limit to candidates from donors outside of Austin increased to $48,000 per election, and $32,000 per runoff election.

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On October 27,  Attorney General Doug Downey announced comprehensive proposals to change Ontario’s dates of elections, increase its political contribution limits, eliminate pre-writ spending limits for third parties, and alter other provincial campaign finance laws.

The reforms, announced in a news release by the government of Ontario, would eliminate “American-style fixed election dates” in favor of provincial elections taking place on a date determined by the lieutenant governor on the advice of the premier, but within the five-year maximum limit mandated by the province’s constitution.

Beginning in 2026, individuals’ contribution limits to a political party would be raised from $3,400 to $5,000. Future increases would be indexed to the rate of inflation.

In addition to eliminating third party and political party pre-writ spending limits, the government proposes establishing new financial penalties for those not in compliance with the Election Finances Act.

The amendments to the law would also provide new investigative powers to the Chief Electoral Officer to request information from third parties to ensure they are in compliance with political advertising rules. The proposed changes to the law also include requiring third parties to provide proof of registration status to broadcasters and publishers before placing political advertisements during an election period. 

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