CO SB061

Raises the disclosure and registration threshold for issue committees from $200 to $5,000 in contributions or expenditures, exempting smaller committees from campaign finance reporting requirements.

Requires issue committees that accept or make contributions or expenditures exceeding $5,000 to register with the appropriate officer within 10 calendar days and report all contributions and expenditures made after crossing the threshold.

Responds to federal court rulings, particularly Coalition for Secular Gov't v. Gessler, which found that disclosure requirements for small advocacy organizations unconstitutionally burden First Amendment associational rights.

Establishes a bright-line standard to eliminate legal uncertainty for small advocacy groups about whether their activities trigger disclosure requirements, reducing potential First Amendment chilling effects.

Applies to election cycles and calendar years beginning on or after the effective date of the act.