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SB176 • 2026

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
R. Mills
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
02/10/26: to Committee on Committees (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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AN ACT relating to campaign finance. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 121.180 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) (a) 1. Persons becoming a candidate as defined in KRS 121.015(8) or slate of 4
candidates as defined in KRS 121.015(9), or a political issues committee 5
as defined in KRS 121.015(3)(d), shall submit a form pr escribed and 6
furnished by the registry indicating whether they intend to raise or spend 7
in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, or 8
that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess of five 9
thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election. Candidates and slates 10
of candidates shall submit this form to the registry within five (5) days 11
of receiving contributions or making expenditures with a view to 12
bringing about his or her nomination or election to public office, or 13
within five (5) days of filing papers to run for public office, whichever is 14
sooner. Candidates and slates of candidates who advance to a regular 15
election following a primary shall submit this form to the registry within 16
five (5) days after the date of the primary. Political issues committees 17
shall submit the form to the registry within five (5) days of meeting the 18
definition of political issues committee in KRS 121.015(3)(d). 19
2. Each candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues committee 20
indicating that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess 21
of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election shall be exempt 22
from filing any campaign finance reports required by subsection (3) of 23
this section. 24
3. A separate form shall be required for each primary, regular, or special 25
election in which the candidate or slate of candidates participates or in 26
which the public question appears on the ballot. The form shall be 27
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submitted by means of electronic filing with the registry. 1
4. Any person acting as a candidate or slate of candidates by receiving 2
contributions or making expenditures with a view to bringing about his 3
or her nomination or election to public office, or filing papers to run for 4
public office, or group of persons acting as a political issues committee, 5
who fails to file this form as required, or who fails to remedy a 6
deficiency within five (5) days, may be fined by the registry an amount 7
not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per day, up to a maximu m 8
total fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000). 9
(b) For a primary, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file a request for 10
exemption not later than the deadline described in paragraph (a) of this 11
subsection for filing nomination papers and, except as p rovided in 12
subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its 13
terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty (30) days preceding 14
the primary. For a regular election, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file 15
or re scind in writing a request for exemption not later than sixty (60) days 16
preceding the regular election, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of 17
paragraph (c) of this subsection. For a special election, a candidate or slate of 18
candidates shall file a reque st for exemption not later than ten (10) days after 19
the candidate or slate of candidates is nominated for a special election and 20
shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty 21
(30) days preceding the special election. A political issues committee chair 22
shall file a request for exemption when the committee registers with the 23
registry and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not 24
later than thirty (30) days preceding the date the issue appears on the ballot. 25
(c) 1. A candidate or slate of candidates that revokes a request for exemption 26
in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate intending 27
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to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an 1
election. To revoke the request for an exemption, the candidate or slate 2
of candidates shall file the appropriate form with the registry not later 3
than the deadline for filing a revocation. 4
2. A candidate or slate of candidates that is exempted from campaign 5
finance reporting re quirements pursuant to paragraph (a) of this 6
subsection but who accepts contributions or makes expenditures in 7
excess of the exempted amount in an election, shall file all applicable 8
reports required for the remainder of that election, based upon the 9
amount of contributions or expenditures the candidate or slate of 10
candidates accepts or receives in that election. 11
(d) Any candidate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or August filing 12
deadline and that intends to execute a request for exemption s hall file the 13
appropriate request for exemption not later than the deadline described in 14
paragraph (a) of this subsection and, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of 15
paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its terms unless it is 16
rescinded in writing not later than sixty (60) days preceding the regular 17
election. A candidate or slate of candidates that is covered by this paragraph 18
shall have the same reversion rights as those provided in subparagraph 1. of 19
paragraph (c) of this subsection. 20
(e) Any candidate or slate of candidates that will appear on the ballot in a regular 21
election that has signed a request for exemption for that election may exercise 22
the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this 23
subsection if a candid ate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or 24
August filing deadline subsequently files in opposition to the candidate or 25
slate of candidates. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of 26
this subsection, a candidate or slate of cand idates covered by this paragraph 27
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shall comply with the deadline for rescission provided in subparagraph 1. of 1
paragraph (c) of this subsection. 2
(f) Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, any 3
candidate or slate of candida tes that has filed a request for exemption for a 4
regular election that later is opposed by a person who has filed a declaration 5
of intent to receive write -in votes may rescind the request for exemption and 6
exercise the reversion rights provided in subparag raph 1. of paragraph (c) of 7
this subsection. 8
(g) Any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption 9
may petition the registry to determine whether another person is campaigning 10
as a write -in candidate prior to having filed a declar ation of intent to receive 11
write-in votes, and, if the registry determines upon a preponderance of the 12
evidence that a person who may later be a write -in candidate is conducting a 13
campaign, the candidate or slate of candidates, except as provided in 14
subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, may petition the registry 15
to permit the candidate or slate of candidates to exercise the reversion rights 16
provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection. 17
(h) If the opponent of a candidate or slate of candidates is replaced due to his or 18
her withdrawal because of death, disability, or disqualification, the candidate 19
or slate of candidates, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) 20
of this subsection, may exercise the reversion righ ts provided in subparagraph 21
1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection not later than fifteen (15) days after the 22
party executive committee nominates a replacement for the withdrawn 23
candidate or slate of candidates. 24
(i) A person intending to be a write -in candidate for any office in a regular or 25
special election may execute a request for exemption under paragraph (a) of 26
this subsection and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing 27
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not later than fifteen (15) days preceding the regular or spe cial election. A 1
person intending to be a write -in candidate who revokes a request for 2
exemption in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate 3
intending to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an 4
election. Excep t as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this 5
subsection, a person intending to be a write -in candidate who revokes a 6
request for exemption shall file the appropriate form with the registry. 7
(j) Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragrap h (c) of this subsection, the 8
campaign committee of any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a 9
request for exemption or a political issues committee whose chair has filed a 10
request for exemption shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in a 11
timely manner. 12
(k) 1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this 13
subsection, any candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues 14
committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance reports pursuant 15
to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that accepts contributions 16
or makes expenditures, or whose campaign treasurer accepts 17
contributions or makes expenditures, in excess of the applicable limit in 18
any one (1) election without rescinding the request for exemption in a 19
timely manner shall comply with all applicable reporting requirements 20
and, in lieu of other penalties prescribed by law, pay a fine of not less 21
than five hundred dollars ($500). 22
2. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this 23
subsection, a candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, or 24
political issues committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance 25
reports pursuant to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that 26
knowingly accepts contributions or makes expenditures in ex cess of the 27
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applicable spending limit in any one (1) election without rescinding the 1
request for exemption in a timely manner shall comply with all 2
applicable reporting requirements and shall be guilty of a Class D 3
felony. 4
(l) 1. Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary 5
shall file a report described in subsection (4) of this section. 6
2. Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary 7
who advances to the regular election shall file for an additional 8
exemption under this section for the regular election or the candidate 9
shall no longer be exempt from the filing requirements. 10
3. In the event a candidate exempt from filing under this subsection is no 11
longer eligible for the exemption, he or she shall immediately f ile for a 12
revocation of the exemption under paragraph (c) of this subsection. 13
(2) (a) State and county executive committees, and caucus campaign committees 14
shall make a full report, upon a prescribed form, to the registry, of all money, 15
loans, or other thi ngs of value, received from any source, and expenditures 16
authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last report, including: 17
1. For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, 18
the name and business address of the permanent commi ttee, the date of 19
the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major 20
business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent 21
committee; 22
2. For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full 23
name, ad dress, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of the 24
contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and 25
occupation of each contributor. If the contributor is self -employed, the 26
name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed; 27
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3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting 1
period; and 2
4. A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made. 3
The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and 4
address of each person to w hom an expenditure is made in excess of 5
twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each 6
expenditure. 7
(b) In addition to the reporting requirements in paragraph (a) of this subsection, 8
the state executive committee of a political party that has established a 9
building fund account under KRS 121.172 shall make a full report, upon a 10
prescribed form, to the registry, of all contributions received from any source, 11
and expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last 12
report for the separate building fund account, including: 13
1. For each contribution of any amount made by a corporation, the name 14
and business address of the corporation, the date of the contribution, the 15
amount contributed, and a description of the major busin ess conducted 16
by the corporation; 17
2. For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full 18
name and address of the contributor, the date of the contribution, the 19
amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each 20
contributor. If the contributor is self -employed, the name under which 21
he or she is doing business shall be listed; 22
3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting 23
period; and 24
4. A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made. 25
The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and 26
address of each person to whom an expe nditure is made in excess of 27
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twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each 1
expenditure. 2
(c) The report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be made on a 3
semiannual basis if the committee has more than ten thousand dolla rs 4
($10,000) in its campaign fund account, and shall be received by the registry 5
by January 31 and by July 31. The January report shall cover the period from 6
July 1 to December 31. The July report shall cover the period from January 1 7
to June 30. If the committee has less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in its 8
campaign fund account the report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection 9
shall be made on an annual basis, and shall be received by the registry by 10
January 31. If an individual gives a report able contribution to a caucus 11
campaign committee or to a state or county executive committee with the 12
intention that the contribution or a portion of the contribution go to a 13
candidate or slate of candidates, the name of the contributor and the sum shall 14
be indicated on the committee report. The report required by paragraph (b) of 15
this subsection relating to a state executive committee's building fund account 16
shall be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the close of 17
each calendar quarter. The receipts and expenditures of funds remitted to each 18
political party under KRS 141.071 to 141.073 shall be separately accounted 19
for and reported to the registry in the manner required by KRS 121.230. The 20
separate report may be made a separate sect ion within the report required by 21
this subsection to be received by the registry by January 31. 22
(3) (a) Except for candidates or slates of candidates, campaign committees, or 23
political issues committees exempted from reporting requirements pursuant to 24
subsection (1) of this section, each campaign treasurer of a candidate, slate of 25
candidates, campaign committee, or political issues committee who accepts 26
contributions or expends, expects to accept contributions or expend, or 27
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contracts to expend more than fiv e thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) 1
election, and each fundraiser who secures contributions in excess of five 2
thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, shall make a full report to 3
the registry, on a form provided or using a format approved by the registry, of 4
all money, loans, or other things of value, received from any source, and 5
expenditures authorized, incurred, and made, since the date of the last report, 6
including: 7
1. For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, 8
the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of 9
the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major 10
business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent 11
committee; 12
2. For each contribution in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) made to 13
any candidate or campaign committee or a political issues committee, 14
the full name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of 15
the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and 16
occupation of each other contributor. If the contributor is self -employed, 17
the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed; 18
3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting 19
period; and 20
4. A complete statement of all ex penditures authorized, incurred, or made. 21
The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name, address, 22
and occupation of each person to whom an expenditure is made in 23
excess of twenty -five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose 24
of each expenditure. 25
(b) Reports of all candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, 26
independent expenditure -only committees, political issues committees, and 27
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registered fundraisers shall be made as follows: 1
1. a. Candidates seeking statewide office, sl ates of candidates, 2
campaign committees for candidates seeking statewide office and 3
for slates of candidates, independent expenditure-only committees, 4
political issues committees, and fundraisers which file the form 5
described in subsection (1)(a) of this s ection before the year of an 6
election in which the candidate, a slate of candidates, or public 7
question shall appear on the ballot, shall file financial reports with 8
the registry at the end of the first calendar quarter after persons 9
become statewide candi dates or slates of candidates, or following 10
registration of the committee or fundraiser, and each calendar 11
quarter thereafter, ending with the last calendar quarter of that 12
year. The provisions of this subparagraph shall be retroactive to 13
January 1, 2021; 14
b. All other candidates and campaign committees shall file annual 15
financial reports to be received by the registry on or before 16
December 1 for each year that a candidate is not yet on the ballot 17
but has filed a form as described in subsection (1)(a) of thi s 18
section with the registry for a future-year election; and 19
c. Candidates, slate of candidates, or committees shall make all 20
reports required by subparagraphs 2. to 5. of this paragraph during 21
the year in which the election takes place; 22
2. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent 23
expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered 24
fundraisers shall make reports on the sixtieth day preceding a regular 25
election, including all previous contributions and expenditures; 26
3. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent 27
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expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered 1
fundraisers shall make reports on the thirtieth day preceding an election, 2
including all previous contributions and expenditures; 3
4. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent 4
expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered 5
fundraisers shall make reports on the fifteenth day preceding the date of 6
the election; and 7
5. All reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity during the entire 8
reporting period and must be received by the registry within two (2) 9
business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed 10
timely filed. 11
(4) All candid ates, regardless of funds received or expended, campaign committees, 12
independent expenditure -only committees, political issues committees, and 13
registered fundraisers shall make post -election reports within thirty (30) days after 14
the election. All post -election reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity 15
during the entire reporting period and must be received by the registry within two 16
(2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed timely filed. 17
For candidates, slates of ca ndidates, and political issues committees otherwise 18
exempt under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the reporting period begins the day 19
the request for exemption is filed with the registry and continues through the 20
thirtieth day after the election. 21
(5) In making the preceding reports, the total gross receipts from each of the following 22
categories shall be listed: proceeds from the sale of tickets for events such as 23
testimonial affairs, dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events, mass 24
collections made at the events, and sales of items such as campaign pins, buttons, 25
hats, ties, literature, and similar materials. When any individual purchase or the 26
aggregate purchases of any item enumerated above from a candidate or slate of 27
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candidates for a s tatewide-elected state office or a campaign committee for a 1
candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide -elected state office exceeds one 2
hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall be identified by name, address, age, if 3
less than the legal voting age , occupation, and employer or, if the purchaser is self -4
employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and the amount of the 5
purchase. When any individual purchase or the aggregate purchases of any item 6
enumerated above from any candidate or c ampaign committee other than a 7
candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide -elected state office or campaign 8
committee for a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide -elected state office 9
exceeds one hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall b e identified by name, 10
address, age if less than the legal voting age, occupation, and employer or, if the 11
purchaser is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and 12
the amount of the purchase. The lists shall be maintained by the campaign treasurer, 13
political issues committee treasurer, registered fundraiser, or other sponsor for 14
inspection by the registry for six (6) years following the date of the election. 15
(6) Each permanent committee, except a federally registered political commit tee as 16
defined in 52 U.S.C. sec. 30101(4)(a), inaugural committee, or contributing 17
organization shall make a full report to the registry, on a form provided or using a 18
format approved by the registry, of all money, loans, or other things of value, 19
received by it from any source, and all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, 20
since the date of the last report, including: 21
(a) For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, the 22
name and business address of the permanent committee, the d ate of the 23
contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business, 24
social, or political interest represented by the permanent committee; 25
(b) For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full name, 26
address, age if under the legal voting age, the date of the contribution, the 27
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amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each 1
contributor. If the contributor is self -employed, the name under which he or 2
she is doing business shall be listed; 3
(c) An aggregate amount of cash contributions, the amount contributed by each 4
contributor, and the date of each contribution; and 5
(d) A complete statement of all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, 6
including independent expenditures. This report shall be made by a permanent 7
committee, inaugural committee, or contributing organization to the registry 8
on the last day of the first calendar quarter following the registration of the 9
committee with the registry and on the last day of each succeeding calendar 10
quarter until such time as the committee terminates. A contributing 11
organization shall file a report of contributions received and expenditures on a 12
form provided or using a format approved by the registry not later than the 13
last day of each calendar quarter in which contributions are received or 14
expenditures are made. All reports to the registry shall be received on or 15
before each filing deadline, and any report received by the registry within two 16
(2) business days after each filing deadline shall be deemed timely filed. 17
(7) If the final statement of a candidate, campaign committee, independent expenditure-18
only committee, or political issues committee shows an unexpended balance of 19
contributions, continuing debts and obligations, or an expenditure deficit, th e 20
campaign treasurer shall file with the registry a supplemental statement of 21
contributions and expenditures not more than thirty (30) days after the deadline for 22
filing the final statement. Subsequent supplemental statements shall be filed 23
annually, to be received by the registry by December 1 of each year, until the 24
account shows no unexpended balance, continuing debts and obligations, 25
expenditures, or deficit. All post -election reports to the registry shall cover 26
campaign activity during the entire repor ting period and must be received by the 27
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registry within two (2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be 1
deemed timely filed. All contributions shall be subject to KRS 121.150 as of the 2
date of the election in which the candidate appeared on the ballot. 3
(8) All reports filed under the provisions of this chapter shall be a matter of public 4
record open to inspection by any member of the public immediately upon receipt of 5
the report by the registry. 6
(9) A candidate or slate of candidates is relieved of the duty personally to file reports 7
and keep records of receipts and expenditures if the candidate or slate states in 8
writing or on forms provided by the registry that: 9
(a) Within five (5) business days after personally receiving any contributions, the 10
candidate or slate of candidates shall surrender possession of the contributions 11
to the treasurer of their campaign committee without expending any of the 12
proceeds thereof. No contributions shall be commingled with the candidate's 13
or slated candidates' personal funds or accounts. Contributions received by 14
check, money order, or other written instrument shall be endorsed directly to 15
the campaign committee and shall not be cashed or redeemed by the 16
candidate; 17
(b) The candidate or slate of candidates shall not make any un reimbursed 18
expenditure for the campaign, except that this paragraph does not preclude a 19
candidate or slate from making an expenditure from personal funds to the 20
designated campaign committee, which shall be reported by the committee as 21
a contribution received; and 22
(c) The waiver shall continue in effect as long as the candidate or slate of 23
candidates complies with the conditions under which it was granted. 24
(10) (a) No candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, independent 25
expenditure-only committee , political issues committee, or contributing 26
organization shall use or permit the use of contributions or funds solicited or 27
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received for the person or in support of or opposition to a public issue which 1
will appear on the ballot to: 2
1. Further the candid acy of the person for a different public office , except 3
that any member of the General Assembly who has a remaining 4
balance in his or her campaign account may elect to transfer those 5
funds to a campaign account to seek election to statewide 6
constitutional office; 7
2. Support or oppose a different public issue; or 8
3. Further the candidacy of any other person for public office. 9
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to prohibit a candidate or slate of 10
candidates from using funds in a campaign account t o contribute directly to 11
another candidate or slate of candidates for state or federal office, or to 12
purchase admission tickets for any fundraising event or testimonial affair for 13
another candidate or slate of candidates for state or federal office, if the 14
amount of the purchase or contribution does not exceed the individual 15
contribution limit contained in KRS 121.150(6) or 52 U.S.C. sec. 30116 in 16
any one (1) election. 17
(c) Any funds or contributions solicited or received by or on behalf of a 18
candidate, slate of candidates, or any committee, which has been organized in 19
whole or in part to further any candidacy for the same person or to support or 20
oppose the same public issue, shall be deemed to have been solicited or 21
received for the current candidacy or for the election on the public issue if the 22
funds or contributions are solicited or received at any time prior to the regular 23
election for which the candidate, slate of candidates, or public issue is on the 24
ballot. 25
(d) Any unexpended balance of funds not other wise obligated for the payment of 26
expenses incurred to further a political issue or the candidacy of a person 27
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shall, in whole or in part, at the election of the candidate or committee: 1
1. Escheat to the State Treasury; 2
2. Be returned pro rata to all contributors; 3
3. In the case of a partisan candidate, be transferred to: 4
a. A caucus campaign committee; or 5
b. The state or county executive committee of the political party of 6
which the candidate is a member; 7
4. Be retained to further the same public issue or t o seek election to the 8
same office, except that any member of the General Assembly who has 9
a remaining balance in his or her campaign account may elect to 10
transfer those funds to a campaign account to seek election to 11
statewide constitutional office; or 12
5. Be donated to any charitable, nonprofit, or educational institution 13
recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal 14
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto, from 15
which the candidate or committee receives no financial benefit. 16
(11) If adequate and appropriate agency funds are available to implement this 17
subsection, electronic reporting shall be made available by the registry to all 18
candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing organizations, registered 19
fundraisers, and persons making independent expenditures. The electronic report 20
submitted to the registry shall be the official campaign finance report for audit and 21
other legal purposes, whether mandated or filed by choice. 22
(12) The date that an electronic or on-line report shall be deemed to have been filed with 23
the registry shall be the date on which it is received by the registry. 24
(13) All electronic or online filers shall affirm, under penalty of perjury, that the report 25
filed with the registry is complete and accurate. 26
(14) Filers who submit electronic campaign finance reports which are not readable, or 27
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cannot be copied shall be deemed to not be in compliance with the requirements set 1
forth in this section. 2
(15) Beginning with the primary scheduled in calen dar year 2020, and for each 3
subsequent election scheduled thereafter, reports required to be submitted to the 4
registry involving candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing 5
organizations, and independent expenditures shall be reported electronically. 6
(16) (a) On each form that the registry supplies for the reports required under 7
subsections (2), (3), and (6) of this section, the registry shall include an entry 8
reading, "No change since last report." 9
(b) If a person or entity that is required to report under subsection (2), (3), or (6) 10
of this section has received no money, loans, or other things of value from any 11
source since the date of its last report and has not authorized, incurred, or 12
made any expend itures since that date, the person or entity may check or 13
otherwise designate the entry that reads, "No change since last report." A 14
person or entity designating this entry in a report shall state the balance 15
carried forward from the last report but need n ot specify receipts or 16
expenditures in further detail. 17