SB 1276 - Campaign Financing Summary

• Lowers the threshold for electioneering communications organizations to file statements of organization from $5,000 to $500 in expenditures.

• Requires corporate and business entities making political expenditures exceeding $500 per calendar year to file statements of information with detailed ownership, control, and decision-maker disclosures.

• Establishes new reporting requirements for corporate and business entities making independent expenditures, including disclosure of government contracts valued over $5,000 and registered lobbyist information.

• Creates an electronic searchable campaign finance database maintained by the Division of Elections with searchable categories for contributions, expenditures, fund transfers, and business records.

• Requires candidates to provide written authorization for non-independent electioneering communications made on their behalf, and requires persons making independent electioneering communications to provide written statements indicating no candidate approval.