January 6, 2023 •
Contribution Limits Increased in British Columbia
Campaign contribution limits increased in British Columbia for 2023 to $1,401.40 for contributions to registered political parties, including their candidates, nomination contestants and registered constituency associations. Additionally, individuals can also contribute up to $1,401.40 to independent candidates and leadership contestants, […]
Campaign contribution limits increased in British Columbia for 2023 to $1,401.40 for contributions to registered political parties, including their candidates, nomination contestants and registered constituency associations.
Additionally, individuals can also contribute up to $1,401.40 to independent candidates and leadership contestants, if a leadership contest is called in 2023. The previous limits from 2022 were $1,309.09.
Also increased to $400 is the limit of a fee paid to attend a leadership convention or other convention of a political party without counting toward the $1,401.40 contribution limit.
These contribution amounts are adjusted at the start of each calendar year.
October 3, 2022 •
New Jersey Campaign Contribution Ban on Banks Does Not Apply to Trade Associations
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit issued a ruling allowing trade associations representing banks to make campaign contributions. The New Jersey state law prohibits banks from providing financial support to candidates, but the court found there is […]
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit issued a ruling allowing trade associations representing banks to make campaign contributions.
The New Jersey state law prohibits banks from providing financial support to candidates, but the court found there is less risk of corruption when industry trade associations make the contribution because the member banks have varying interests.
The plaintiff in the case lacked standing to sue on behalf of individual banks, and the plaintiff’s First Amendment challenge to the law was rejected.
As a result, while banks cannot make political contributions to candidates in New Jersey, trade associations are now permitted to make such contributions.
July 6, 2022 •
Missouri Passes Law Permitting Campaign Contributions by LLCs and Shielding Nonprofit Donor Identities
Missouri Gov. Parson signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2400 permitting certain limited liability companies (LLCs) to make campaign contributions to political committees. To qualify, the LLC must elect not to be classified as a corporation under federal law; be […]
Missouri Gov. Parson signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2400 permitting certain limited liability companies (LLCs) to make campaign contributions to political committees.
To qualify, the LLC must elect not to be classified as a corporation under federal law; be in existence for at least one year prior to making contributions; and must submit a form to the Missouri Ethics Commission indicating the LLC is a legitimate business and not created for the sole purpose of making campaign contributions.
The bill also bars public agencies from requiring nonprofits to share the identities of donors, volunteers or supporters.
The bill is effective August 28, 2022.
May 5, 2022 •
Cincinnati Publishes Rules for Developer Contribution Restrictions
Interim City Manager of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Curp, approved rules and regulations for the solicitation ban passed by City Council last year. Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits councilmembers from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest before council, created the […]
Interim City Manager of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Curp, approved rules and regulations for the solicitation ban passed by City Council last year.
Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits councilmembers from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest before council, created the Office of Ethics & Good Government, and authorized the city manager to establish rules and begin enforcement.
The new rules require all persons or entities who request or apply for city business to disclose financially interested persons by filing a form with the Office of Ethics & Good Government.
The office will maintain a City Business List and a Financially Interested Persons List on their website.
A financially interested person is a person or entity who has a financial interest in city business, including anyone who owns or controls 20% or more of the entity.
Campaigns are prohibited from accepting campaign contributions from a person on the temporary prohibition list.
The new rules and regulations will go into effect May 26.
Two training sessions for elected officials, business leaders, and the public are scheduled for May 20 at 1:30 p.m. and May 23 at 11 a.m. in Room 115 of City Hall.
April 20, 2022 •
Super PACs Must Report LLC Attributions
“Going forward,” the Federal Election Commission (FEC) will require disclosure requirements for contributions received from limited liability companies (LLCs) be applied to independent expenditure-only political committees (i.e., Super PACs) in the same manner in which they are applied to all […]
“Going forward,” the Federal Election Commission (FEC) will require disclosure requirements for contributions received from limited liability companies (LLCs) be applied to independent expenditure-only political committees (i.e., Super PACs) in the same manner in which they are applied to all other political committees.
On April 15, four of the six commissioners issued a “Statement of Reasons” for their conclusion of a closeout of a complaint. In the statement, which refers to Matters Under Review (MUR) 7454, Chairman Allen Dickerson, Vice Chair Steven T. Walther, Commissioner Shana M. Broussard, and Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub assert, “contributions from LLCs to committees must be attributed pursuant to Commission regulations, and those regulations apply to all committees, including [Super PACs]. The Commission will apply that understanding going forward, and may seek civil penalties in appropriate future cases.”
In MUR 7454, the Super PAC in question had not obtained the required attribution information for two contributions made by LLCs. The Super PAC attributed the contributions only to the LLCs. Regulations require committees to report certain attribution information for contributions from LLCs.
An LLC that has a single natural-person member and is not taxed as a corporation must be attributed only to the natural person member, and not the LLC. A contribution by an LLC that is disregarded for tax purposes and does not have a single natural-person member is treated as a partnership contribution; and, a partnership contribution must be attributed to both the partnership and each partner, either in proportion to his or her share of the partnership profits or by agreement among the partners.
In prior cases premised on similar facts, the FEC could not agree whether, following the Citizens United and SpeechNow.org v. FEC court decisions, LLC reporting rules and conduit contribution rules applied to contributions made to the newly formed Super PACs authorized by those judicial rulings. The commissioners determined that “with the passage of time, [Super PACs] have become a regular part of the campaign finance landscape, and…there is no longer a lack of clarity concerning the application of LLC reporting rules and conduit contribution rules in these circumstances.”
Because the FEC has not previously made this conclusion under similar cases, they did not seek a civil penalty against the Super PAC.
January 19, 2022 •
Bill to Limit Campaign Contributions Dies in Committee
The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee has rejected a proposal to cap what are currently unlimited campaign contributions to state candidates. Senate Bill 44 would have limited the amount someone can give a candidate to $20,000 per election.
The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee has rejected a proposal to cap what are currently unlimited campaign contributions to state candidates.
Senate Bill 44 would have limited the amount someone can give a candidate to $20,000 per election.
January 14, 2022 •
Oregon Advocacy Groups Seek to Limit Campaign Contributions
Advocacy groups have filed three ballot measure proposals with the Office of Oregon Secretary of State, focusing on limiting campaign contributions and increasing donor disclosure requirements. For the proposals to be placed on the 2022 ballot, each proposal would need […]
Advocacy groups have filed three ballot measure proposals with the Office of Oregon Secretary of State, focusing on limiting campaign contributions and increasing donor disclosure requirements.
For the proposals to be placed on the 2022 ballot, each proposal would need to gather 112,020 signatures by July 8, four months before the general election.
December 23, 2021 •
Cambridge City Council Passes Pay-to-Play Ordinance
Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council passed an ordinance limiting campaign contributions to municipal candidates and their committees from certain business entities to $200 annually. Business entities seeking a city contract will be required to disclose all campaign contributions made to candidates […]
Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council passed an ordinance limiting campaign contributions to municipal candidates and their committees from certain business entities to $200 annually.
Business entities seeking a city contract will be required to disclose all campaign contributions made to candidates and their PACs in the preceding 12 months.
Business entities exceeding the $200 contribution limit will not be eligible for city contracts or other city action, including the receipt of special permits, zoning changes, or community development or other forms of financial assistance.
The definition of business entity is expansive and includes individuals as well as corporations and their officers.
The definition of business entity does not, however, include labor unions.
The ordinance is expected to take effect in 2022.
October 28, 2021 •
Cincinnati City Council Passes Ethics Reforms
Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to approve two ordinances addressing corruption in city government. Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits City Council members from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest in any ordinance before the council. The ordinance will be […]
Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to approve two ordinances addressing corruption in city government.
Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits City Council members from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest in any ordinance before the council.
The ordinance will be effective when council appropriates funding to establish the administrative staffing and enforcement needs imposed by the ordinance.
Emergency Ordinance 0413-2021 is effective immediately and establishes a new position of ethics and good government counselor within the Department of Law to support ethics, election, and campaign finance transparency.
The ordinance transferred $375,000 from the general reserve for weather-related events to fund the position and to buy software to implement a program to make campaign finance disclosures more transparent.
February 24, 2021 •
Fair Political Practices Commission Updates Regulations on Local Contribution Limits
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) updated their regulations regarding local campaign contribution limits due to Assembly 571. The updates will add language to the regulations regarding candidates for elective city or county offices subject to the state contribution limits. […]
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) updated their regulations regarding local campaign contribution limits due to Assembly 571.
The updates will add language to the regulations regarding candidates for elective city or county offices subject to the state contribution limits.
Those local candidates and their committees will now be subject to the regulations regarding reporting of contributions and expenditures, establishing campaign accounts, solicitation of funds, loans, terminations, and other regulations related to campaign finance.
These regulations do not apply to candidates for an elective city or county office or the candidate’s controlled committee prior to January 1, 2021.
January 29, 2021 •
Ethic Commission Disallow Cryptocurrency Contributions
The South Carolina Ethics Commission issued an opinion finding candidates for public office may not accept campaign contributions in the form of digital cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. Advisory Opinion 2021-001 references and adopts the reasoning of a similar opinion issued in […]
The South Carolina Ethics Commission issued an opinion finding candidates for public office may not accept campaign contributions in the form of digital cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Advisory Opinion 2021-001 references and adopts the reasoning of a similar opinion issued in 2018 by the South Carolina House Ethics Committee.
The opinions found cryptocurrencies do not meet the definitions of a “thing of value” or “contribution” as defined under current state law.
Both opinions state the decision to permit such contributions should be done through an act of the Legislature rather than through an advisory opinion.
September 16, 2020 •
Fort Collins City Council Approves LLC Contribution Amendments for Final Passage
Two Fort Collins City Council campaign finance ordinances were approved for final passage on September 15. Ordinance 109-2020 will allow unexpended campaign contributions to a candidate committee to be contributed to a candidate committee established by the same candidate for […]
Two Fort Collins City Council campaign finance ordinances were approved for final passage on September 15.
Ordinance 109-2020 will allow unexpended campaign contributions to a candidate committee to be contributed to a candidate committee established by the same candidate for a subsequent campaign in a city election or to a candidate committee established after January 1, 2021.
The ordinance will also reduce the penalty for certain lower-level campaign finance violations from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil penalty.
Ordinance 112-2020 requires donations from LLCs to include statements that attribute the donation to specific LLC members.
The donations attributed through an LLC will then count toward individual donation limits.
Ordinance 112-2020 will also place a $100 cap on donations to political committees.
Both ordinances will become effective 10 days from the date of final passage on September 25.
July 2, 2020 •
San Jose Council Approves Ballot Measure Barring Contributions and Gifts from Lobbyists
The City Council approved a November ballot measure relating to contributions and gifts from lobbyists. The proposed measure would bar lobbyists from making campaign contributions. The mayor, council members, and senior administrators would also be barred from accepting gifts from […]
The City Council approved a November ballot measure relating to contributions and gifts from lobbyists.
The proposed measure would bar lobbyists from making campaign contributions.
The mayor, council members, and senior administrators would also be barred from accepting gifts from lobbyists or city contractors.
The mayor and council members would also be required to sit out of any vote involving a person or entity contributing to their campaign or other cause in the last 12 months and the three months following the vote.
The proposed initiative would also give the mayor the power to hire and fire the city manager and department heads starting January 1, 2023.
The measure also includes a provision to align San Jose’s mayoral races with the presidential election cycle in an effort to increase voter turnout.
The City Council will hold a special meeting on July 28 where they will review the proposed ballot language before sending it off to the county Registrar of Voters.
June 19, 2020 •
Illinois Board of Elections Announces Amnesty Period for Late Contribution Reports
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Board of Elections announced an amnesty period for late filers of the March 2020 quarterly report of campaign contributions and expenditures, due on April 15. No penalties will be assessed for reports filed […]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Board of Elections announced an amnesty period for late filers of the March 2020 quarterly report of campaign contributions and expenditures, due on April 15.
No penalties will be assessed for reports filed on or before June 30.
Similarly, no penalties will be assessed for late Schedule A-1 reports of contributions of $1,000 or more, due between March 18 and June 30, as long as they are filed on or before June 30.
Late reports (Quarterly or A-1) filed after June 30 will be subject to statutorily mandated penalties.
The Board’s one-time amnesty will not apply to the upcoming June 2020 Quarterly Report, which is due no later than July 15.
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