Reporting thresholds increased, deadlines and filing periods clarified, conforming changes for local candidates made, and technical changes made.

A bill for an act

relating to campaign finance; increasing certain reporting thresholds; clarifying

certain deadlines and filing periods; making conforming changes for local

candidates; making technical changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections

10A.01, subdivision 24; 10A.07, subdivisions 1, 2; 10A.09, subdivisions 2, 5a,

6a; 10A.16; 10A.175, subdivisions 2, 3, 5; 10A.20, subdivisions 2, 2a, 3, 4; 10A.25,

subdivision 10; 10A.27, subdivision 17; 10A.275, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes

2025 Supplement, section 10A.09, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.01, subdivision 24, is amended to read:

Subd. 24.

Metropolitan governmental unit.

"Metropolitan governmental unit" means
deleted text begin

any of the seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined in section
473.121, subdivision

2
,
deleted text end
a regional railroad authority established by
deleted text begin
one or more of those counties under section

398A.03
, a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county metropolitan

area,
deleted text end
new text begin
a county in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
new text end
the

Metropolitan Council
deleted text begin
, or a metropolitan agency as defined in section
473.121, subdivision

5a
deleted text end
new text begin
; the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission; the Metropolitan Airports

Commission; or the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority
new text end
.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure of potential conflicts.

(a) A public official or a local official

elected to or appointed by a metropolitan governmental unit
new text begin
, by any of the seven counties

in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, or by a city with a population of over

50,000 located in the seven-county metropolitan area,
new text end
who in the discharge of official duties

would be required to take an action or make a decision that would substantially affect the

official's financial interests or those of an associated business, unless the effect on the official

is no greater than on other members of the official's business classification, profession, or

occupation, must take the following actions:

(1) prepare a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and

the nature of the potential conflict of interest;

(2) deliver copies of the statement to the official's immediate superior, if any; and

(3) if a member of the legislature or of the governing body of a
deleted text begin
metropolitan governmental

unit
deleted text end
new text begin
political subdivision
new text end
, deliver a copy of the statement to the presiding officer of the body

of service.

If a potential conflict of interest presents itself and there is insufficient time to comply

with clauses (1) to (3), the public or local official must orally inform the superior or the

official body of service or committee of the body of the potential conflict.

(b) For purposes of this section, "financial interest" means any ownership or control in

an asset that has the potential to produce a monetary return.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Required actions.

(a) If the official is not a member of the legislature or of the

governing body of a
deleted text begin
metropolitan governmental unit
deleted text end
new text begin
political subdivision
new text end
, the superior must

assign the matter, if possible, to another employee who does not have a potential conflict

of interest.

(b) If there is no immediate superior, the official must abstain, if possible, by assigning

the matter to a subordinate for disposition or requesting the appointing authority to designate

another to determine the matter. The official shall not chair a meeting, participate in any

vote, or offer any motion or discussion on the matter giving rise to the potential conflict of

interest.

(c) If the official is a member of the legislature, the house of service may, at the member's

request, excuse the member from taking part in the action or decision in question.

(d) If an official is not permitted or is otherwise unable to abstain from action in

connection with the matter, the official must file a statement describing the potential conflict

and the action taken. A public official must file the statement with the board and a local

official must file the statement with the governing body of the official's political subdivision.

The statement must be filed within a week of the action taken.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 10A.09, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Time for filing.

An individual must file a statement of economic interest:

(1) within 60 days of accepting employment as a public official or a local official in a

metropolitan governmental unit
new text begin
, any of the seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined

in section 473.121, or a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county

metropolitan area
new text end
;

(2) within 60 days of assuming office as a district court judge, appeals court judge,

supreme court justice, or county commissioner;

(3) within 14 days after the end of the filing period for a candidate who filed an affidavit

of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot for an elective state constitutional or

legislative office or an elective local office in
deleted text begin
a metropolitan governmental unit
deleted text end
new text begin
any of the

seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121
new text end
other than county

commissioner
new text begin
, or in a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county

metropolitan area
new text end
;

(4) in the case of a public official requiring the advice and consent of the senate, within

14 days after undertaking the duties of office; or

(5) in the case of members of the Minnesota Racing Commission, the director of the

Minnesota Racing Commission, chief of security, medical officer, inspector of pari-mutuels,

and stewards employed or approved by the commission or persons who fulfill those duties

under contract, within 60 days of accepting or assuming duties.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Notice to board.

new text begin
Notwithstanding section 204B.06, subdivision 1b,
new text end
the secretary

of state or the appropriate county auditor, upon receiving an affidavit of candidacy or petition

to appear on the ballot from an individual required by this section to file a statement of

economic interest, and any official who nominates or employs a public official required by

this section to file a statement of economic interest, must notify the board of the name
new text begin
,

mailing address, phone number, and email address
new text end
of the individual required to file a

statement and the date of the affidavit, petition, or nomination.
new text begin
Data provided to the board

under this subdivision retains its classification.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

Subd. 5a.

Original statement; reporting period.

(a) An original statement of economic

interest required under subdivision 1, clause (1), must cover the calendar month before the

month in which the individual accepted employment as a public official or a local official

in a
deleted text begin
metropolitan governmental unit
deleted text end
new text begin
political subdivision
new text end
.

(b) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clauses (2),

(4), and (5), must cover the calendar month before the month in which the individual assumed

or undertook the duties of office.

(c) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clause (3),

must cover the calendar month before the month in which the candidate filed the affidavit

of candidacy.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Place of filing.

A public official required to file a statement under this section

must file it with the board. A local official required to file a statement under this section

must file it with the governing body of the official's political subdivision. The governing

body must maintain statements filed with it under this subdivision as public data. If an

official position is defined as both a public official and as a local official of a
deleted text begin
metropolitan

governmental unit
deleted text end
new text begin
political subdivision
new text end
under this chapter, the official must file the statement

with the board.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.16, is amended to read:

10A.16 EARMARKING CONTRIBUTIONS PROHIBITED.

An individual, political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or

party unit may not solicit or accept a contribution from any source with the express or

implied condition that the contribution or any part of it be directed to a particular candidate
new text begin

or local candidate
new text end
other than the initial recipient. An individual, political committee, political

fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit that knowingly accepts any earmarked

contribution is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $3,000. Knowingly

accepting any earmarked contribution is a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Agent.

"Agent" means a person serving during an election segment as a

candidate's
new text begin
or local candidate's
new text end
chairperson, deputy chairperson, treasurer, deputy treasurer,

or any other person whose actions are coordinated.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Candidate.

"Candidate" means a candidate
new text begin
or local candidate
new text end
as defined in

section
10A.01
,
deleted text begin
subdivision
deleted text end
new text begin
subdivisions
new text end
10
new text begin
and 10d
new text end
,
deleted text begin
the candidate's
deleted text end
new text begin
a
new text end
principal campaign

committee, or the candidate's
new text begin
or local candidate's
new text end
agent.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Coordinated.

"Coordinated" means with the authorization or expressed or

implied consent of, or in cooperation or in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of

the candidate
new text begin
or local candidate
new text end
. A coordinated expenditure is an approved expenditure

under section
10A.01
, subdivision 4.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Time for filing.

(a) The reports must be filed with the board on or before

January 31 of each year and additional reports must be filed as required and in accordance

with paragraphs (b) to (f).

(b) In each year in which the name of a candidate for legislative or district court judicial

office is on the ballot, the report of the principal campaign committee must be filed 15 days

before a primary election and ten days before a general election, seven days before a special

primary election and seven days before a special general election, and ten days after a special

election cycle.
new text begin
Notwithstanding the deadlines, if a special primary election is held on the

second Tuesday in August, the report of the principal campaign committee must be filed

15 days before the special primary election, and if a special general election is held on the

first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the report of the principal campaign

committee must be filed ten days before the special general election. If the committee

received contributions or made expenditures or noncampaign disbursements prior to the

start of the special election cycle, the principal campaign committee of a special election

candidate must file a report seven days after the close of the filing period to be on the ballot

for the special election for which the candidate filed.
new text end

(c) In each general election year, a political committee, a political fund, a state party

committee, and a party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within a

house of the legislature must file reports on the following schedule:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due

April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a pre-primary-election report due 15 days before a primary election;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the general election; and

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a general election.

(d) In each general election year, a party unit not included in paragraph (c) must file

reports 15 days before a primary election and ten days before a general election.

(e) In each year in which a constitutional office or appellate court judicial seat is on the

ballot, the principal campaign committee of a candidate for that office or seat must file

reports on the following schedule:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due

April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a pre-primary-election report due 15 days before a primary election;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the general election;

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a general election; and

(6) for a special election, a constitutional office candidate whose name is on the ballot

must file reports seven days before a special primary election, seven days before a special

general election, and ten days after a special election cycle.

(f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (e):

(1) the principal campaign committee of a candidate who did not file for office is not

required to file the report due June 14, the report due 15 days before the primary election,

or the report due
deleted text begin
seven days
deleted text end
before a special primary election; and

(2) the principal campaign committee of a candidate whose name will not be on the

general election ballot is not required to file the report due 42 days before the general

election, the report due ten days before a general election, or the report due
deleted text begin
seven days
deleted text end

before a special general election.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Local election reports.

(a) This subdivision applies to a political committee,

political fund, or political party unit that during a non-general election year:

(1) spends in aggregate more than $200 to influence the nomination or election of local

candidates;

(2) spends in aggregate more than $200 to make independent expenditures on behalf of

local candidates;
deleted text begin
or
deleted text end

(3) spends in aggregate more than $200 to promote or defeat ballot questions defined

in section
10A.01, subdivision 7
, clause (2)
deleted text begin
, (3), or (4).
deleted text end
new text begin
; or
new text end

new text begin

(4) makes in aggregate more than $200 in donations in kind consisting of (i) independent

expenditures advocating the election or defeat of local candidates, or (ii) expenditures to

promote or defeat ballot questions as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 7, clause (2).

new text end

(b) In addition to the reports required by subdivision 2, the entities listed in paragraph

(a) must file the following reports in each non-general election year:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due

April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a July report due 15 days before the local primary election date specified in section

205.065
;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the local general election; and

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a local general election.

The reporting obligations in this paragraph
new text begin
and subdivision 5
new text end
begin with the first report

due after the reporting period in which the entity reaches the spending threshold specified

in paragraph (a). The July report required under clause (3) is required for all entities required

to report under paragraph (a), regardless of whether the candidate or issue is on the primary

ballot or a primary is not conducted.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Contents of report.

(a) The report required by this section must include each

of the items listed in paragraphs (b) to (q) that are applicable to the filer. The board shall

prescribe forms based on filer type indicating which of those items must be included on the

filer's report.

(b) The report must disclose the amount of liquid assets on hand at the beginning of the

reporting period.

(c) The report must disclose the name
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
new text begin
;
new text end
address
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
new text begin
;
new text end
employer
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
or occupation if

self-employed
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
new text begin
;
new text end
and registration number
new text begin
,
new text end
if registered with the board, of each individual or

association that has made one or more contributions to the reporting entity, including the

purchase of tickets for a fundraising effort, that in aggregate within the year exceed $200
deleted text begin

for legislative or statewide candidates
deleted text end
new text begin
,
new text end
or
deleted text begin
more than
deleted text end
$500
deleted text begin
for
deleted text end
new text begin
if the reporting entity is a
new text end

ballot
deleted text begin
questions, together with
deleted text end

new text begin
question political committee or fund. For individuals or

associations exceeding the aggregate threshold,
new text end
the amount and date of each contribution,

and the aggregate amount of contributions within the year from
deleted text begin
each
deleted text end

new text begin
that
new text end
source
deleted text begin
so
deleted text end

new text begin
must

be
new text end
disclosed
new text begin
in the report
new text end
. A donation in kind must be disclosed at its fair market value. An

approved expenditure must be listed as a donation in kind. A donation in kind is considered

consumed in the reporting period in which it is received. The names of contributors must

be listed in alphabetical order. Contributions from the same contributor must be listed under

the same name. When a contribution received from a contributor in a reporting period is

added to previously reported unitemized contributions from the same contributor and the

aggregate exceeds the disclosure threshold of this paragraph, the name, address, and

employer, or occupation if self-employed, of the contributor must then be listed on the

report.

(d) The report must disclose the sum of contributions to the reporting entity during the

reporting period.

(e) The report must disclose each loan made or received by the reporting entity within

the year in aggregate in excess of $200,
new text begin
or $500 if the reporting entity is a ballot question

political committee or fund,
new text end
continuously reported until repaid or forgiven, together with

the name, address, occupation, principal place of business, if any, and registration number

if registered with the board of the lender and any endorser and the date and amount of the

loan. If a loan
deleted text begin
made to the principal campaign committee of a candidate
deleted text end
is forgiven or is

repaid by an entity other than
deleted text begin
that principal campaign committee
deleted text end
new text begin
the borrower
new text end
, it must be

reported as a contribution for the year in which the loan was made.

(f) The report must disclose each receipt over $200
new text begin
, or $500 if the reporting entity is a

ballot question political committee or fund,
new text end
during the reporting period not otherwise listed

under paragraphs (c) to (e).

(g) The report must disclose the sum of all receipts of the reporting entity during the

reporting period.

(h) The report must disclose the name, address, and registration number if registered

with the board of each individual or association to whom aggregate expenditures, approved

expenditures, independent expenditures, and ballot question expenditures have been made

by or on behalf of the reporting entity within the year in excess of $200, together with the

amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure, including an explanation of how the

expenditure was used, and the name and address of, and office sought by, each candidate

or local candidate on whose behalf the expenditure was made, identification of the ballot

question that the expenditure was intended to promote or defeat and an indication of whether

the expenditure was to promote or to defeat the ballot question, and in the case of independent

expenditures made in
new text begin
support of or
new text end
opposition to a candidate or local candidate, the

candidate's or local candidate's name, address, and office sought. A reporting entity making

an expenditure on behalf of more than one candidate or local candidate must allocate the

expenditure among the candidates and local candidates on a reasonable cost basis and report

the allocation for each candidate or local candidate. The report must list on separate schedules

any independent expenditures made on behalf of local candidates and any expenditures

made for ballot questions as defined in section
10A.01, subdivision 7
, clause (2)
deleted text begin
, (3), or

(4)
deleted text end
.

(i) The report must disclose the sum of all expenditures made by or on behalf of the

reporting entity during the reporting period.

(j)
new text begin
If the advance of credit was required to be itemized as an expenditure in the period

in which it was incurred,
new text end
the report must disclose the amount and nature of an advance of

credit incurred by the reporting entity, continuously reported until paid or forgiven. If an

advance of credit
deleted text begin
incurred by the principal campaign committee of a candidate
deleted text end
is forgiven

by the creditor or paid by an entity other than
deleted text begin
that principal campaign committee
deleted text end
new text begin
the debtor
new text end
,

it must be reported as a donation in kind for the year in which the advance of credit was

made.

(k) The report must disclose the name, address, and registration number if registered

with the board of each political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee,

local candidate, or party unit to which contributions have been made that aggregate in excess

of $200 within the year and the amount and date of each contribution. The report must list

on separate schedules any contributions made to state candidates' principal campaign

committees and any contributions made to local candidates.

(l) The report must disclose the sum of all contributions made by the reporting entity

during the reporting period and must separately disclose the sum of all contributions made

to local candidates by the reporting entity during the reporting period.

(m) The report
new text begin
of a principal campaign committee
new text end
must disclose the name, address, and

registration number if registered with the board of each individual or association to whom

noncampaign disbursements have been made that aggregate in excess of $200 within the

year by or on behalf of the reporting entity and the amount, date, and purpose of each

noncampaign disbursement, including an explanation of how the expenditure was used.

(n) The report
new text begin
of a principal campaign committee
new text end
must disclose the sum of all

noncampaign disbursements made within the year by or on behalf of the reporting entity.

(o) The report must disclose the name and address of a nonprofit corporation that provides

administrative assistance to a political committee or political fund as authorized by section

211B.15, subdivision 17
, the type of administrative assistance provided, and the aggregate

fair market value of each type of assistance provided to the political committee or political

fund during the reporting period.

(p)
deleted text begin
Legislative, statewide, and judicial candidates, party units, and political committees

and funds must itemize
deleted text end
Contributions that in aggregate within the year exceed $200
deleted text begin
for

legislative or statewide candidates
deleted text end
new text begin
,
new text end
or
deleted text begin
more than
deleted text end
$500
deleted text begin
for
deleted text end
new text begin
if the reporting entity is a
new text end
ballot
deleted text begin

questions
deleted text end
new text begin
question political committee or fund, must be itemized
new text end
on reports submitted to

the board. The itemization must include the date on which the contribution was received,

the individual or association that provided the contribution, and the address of the contributor.

Additionally, the itemization for a donation in kind must provide a description of the item

or service received. Contributions that are less than the itemization amount must be reported

as an aggregate total.

(q)
deleted text begin
Legislative, statewide, and judicial candidates, party units, political committees and

funds, and committees to promote or defeat a ballot question must itemize
deleted text end
Expenditures

and noncampaign disbursements that in aggregate exceed $200 in a calendar year
new text begin
must be

itemized
new text end
on reports submitted to the board. The itemization must include the date on which

the committee made or became obligated to make the expenditure or disbursement, the

name and address of the vendor that provided the service or item purchased, and a description

of the service or item purchased, including an explanation of how the expenditure was used.

Expenditures and noncampaign disbursements must be listed on the report alphabetically

by vendor.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Period of report.

new text begin
(a)
new text end
A report must cover the period from January 1 of the

reporting year to seven days before the
new text begin
report
new text end
filing date, except that the report due on

January 31 must cover the period from January 1 to December 31 of the reporting year.

new text begin

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the report of the principal campaign committee of a

special election candidate due seven days after the close of the filing period to be on the

ballot must cover the period from January 1 of the reporting year to the day prior to the start

of the special election cycle.

new text end

new text begin

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the reports of the principal campaign committee of

a special election candidate due seven days before a special primary election and seven days

before a special general election must cover the period from the start of the special election

cycle to seven days before the report filing date.

new text end

new text begin

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the report of the principal campaign committee of a

special election candidate due ten days after a special election cycle must cover the period

from the start of the special election cycle to the end of the special election cycle.

new text end

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.25, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Effect of opponent's conduct.

(a) After the deadline for filing a spending

limit agreement under section
10A.322
, a candidate who has agreed to be bound by the

expenditure limits imposed by this section as a condition of receiving a public subsidy for

the candidate's campaign may choose to be released from the expenditure limits but remain

eligible to receive a public subsidy if the candidate has an opponent who has not agreed to

be bound by the limits and has received contributions or made or become obligated to make

expenditures during that election cycle in excess of the following limits:

(1) up to the close of the reporting period before the primary election, receipts or

expenditures equal to 20 percent of the election segment expenditure limit for that office

as set forth in subdivision 2; or

(2) after the close of the reporting period before the primary election, cumulative receipts

or expenditures during that election cycle equal to 50 percent of the election cycle expenditure

limit for that office as set forth in subdivision 2.

Before the primary election, a candidate's "opponents" are only those who will appear

on the ballot of the same party in the primary election.

(b) A candidate who has not agreed to be bound by expenditure limits, or the candidate's

principal campaign committee, must file written notice with the board and provide written

notice to any opponent of the candidate for the same office within 24 hours of exceeding

the limits in paragraph (a). The notice must state only that the candidate or candidate's

principal campaign committee has received contributions or made or become obligated to

make campaign expenditures in excess of the limits in paragraph (a).

(c) Upon receipt of the notice, a candidate who had agreed to be bound by the limits

may file with the board a notice that the candidate chooses to be no longer bound by the

expenditure limits.
new text begin
A candidate who had agreed to be bound by the limits may also file a

notice with the board that the candidate chooses to be no longer bound by the expenditure

limits if an opponent that did not agree to be bound by the expenditure limits files a report

of receipts and expenditures required under section 10A.20 that discloses that the candidate

has reached one of the thresholds in paragraph (a).
new text end
A notice of a candidate's choice not to

be bound by the expenditure limits that is based on the conduct of an opponent in the state

primary election may not be filed more than one day after the State Canvassing Board has

declared the results of the state primary.

(d) A candidate who has agreed to be bound by the expenditure limits imposed by this

section and whose opponent in the general election has chosen, as provided in paragraph

(c), not to be bound by the expenditure limits because of the conduct of an opponent in the

primary election is no longer bound by the limits but remains eligible to receive a public

subsidy.

new text begin

(e) A candidate who fails to provide the notice required in paragraph (b) within the time

specified is subject to a late filing fee of $100 per day, not to exceed $1,000, commencing

on the day after the notice was due.

new text end

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.27, subdivision 17, is amended to read:

Subd. 17.

Penalty.

(a) An association that makes a contribution under subdivision 15

and fails to provide the required statement within the time specified is subject to a late filing

fee of $100 a day not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the statement was due.

The board must send notice by certified mail that the individual or association may be

subject to a civil penalty for failure to file the statement. An association that fails to provide

the required statement within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board

is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the contribution, but not to

exceed $25,000.

(b) An independent expenditure political committee or
deleted text begin
an independent expenditure

political
deleted text end
fund
new text begin
or ballot question political committee or fund
new text end
that files a report without

including the statement required under subdivision 15 is subject to a late filing fee of $100

a day not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the report was due. The board must

send notice by certified mail that the independent expenditure political committee or
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independent expenditure
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fund
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or ballot question political committee or fund
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may be subject

to a civil penalty for failure to file the statement. An association that fails to provide the

required statement within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board

is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the contribution for which

disclosure was not filed, but not to exceed $25,000.

(c) If an independent expenditure political committee or
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an independent expenditure

political
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fund
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or ballot question political committee or fund
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has been assessed a late filing

fee under this subdivision during the prior four years, the board may impose a late filing

fee of up to twice the amount otherwise authorized by this subdivision. If an independent

expenditure political committee or
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an independent expenditure political
deleted text end
fund
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or ballot

question political committee or fund
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has been assessed a late filing fee under this subdivision

more than two times during the prior four years, the board may impose a late filing fee of

up to three times the amount otherwise authorized by this subdivision.

(d) No other penalty provided in law may be imposed for conduct that is subject to a

civil penalty under this section.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.275, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Exceptions.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, the

following expenditures by a party unit, or two or more party units acting together are not

considered contributions to or expenditures on behalf of a candidate
new text begin
or local candidate
new text end
for

the purposes of section
10A.25

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or
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new text begin
,
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10A.27
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, or 211A.12,
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and must not be allocated to

candidates
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or local candidates
new text end
under section
10A.20, subdivision 3
, paragraph (h)
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, (k), or

(l)
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:

(1) expenditures on behalf of candidates
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or local candidates
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of that party generally

without referring to any of them specifically in a published, posted, or broadcast

advertisement;

(2) expenditures for the preparation, display, mailing, or other distribution of an official

party sample ballot listing the names of three or more individuals whose names are to appear

on the ballot;

(3) expenditures for a telephone call, voice mail, text message, multimedia message,

Internet chat message, or email when the communication includes the names of three or

more individuals whose names are to appear on the ballot;

(4) expenditures for a booth at a community event, county fair, or state fair that benefits

three or more individuals whose names are to appear on the ballot;

(5) expenditures for a political party fundraising effort on behalf of three or more

candidates
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or local candidates
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; or

(6) expenditures for party committee staff services that benefit three or more candidates
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or local candidates
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.