CT HB05511

Establishes "independent expenditure political committees" as a new category of political committees that may only make independent expenditures and are prohibited from contributing to candidates or other committees except other independent expenditure political committees.

Defines "coordinated spender" to include persons formed at the request of a candidate, those on whose behalf candidates solicit funds, those managed by candidate advisors or family members, and those engaged in substantive discussions about campaign strategy, advertising, or polling with candidates.

Requires persons making independent expenditures exceeding $1,000 to file long-form and short-form reports with the State Elections Enforcement Commission within 24 hours, identifying the source of covered transfers of $5,000 or more received in the prior 12 months.

Creates rebuttable presumptions that expenditures are not independent if made in cooperation with candidates, based on candidate-prepared materials, using candidate campaign information, by individuals in executive committee positions, or involving shared consultants or vendors after January 1 of the election year.

Requires persons making communications that identify candidates to disclose the five largest sources of covered transfers received by any person named in the communication disclaimer during the 12-month period preceding the transfer.