HB 1365 Summary

• Prohibits persons under investigation by the Commission on Ethics with probable cause findings from qualifying as candidates for state, district, county, or municipal office until investigation completion or dismissal.

• Prohibits persons owing fines for late campaign finance report filings under section 106.07(8) from qualifying as candidates until fines are paid; requires filing officers to notify elections officials to enforce the prohibition.

• Requires qualifying fee checks to contain only campaign-related information and prohibits manual alteration; checks may not include names of unrelated entities or previous campaigns.

• Requires checks for campaign accounts to exclude names of unrelated entities or prior campaigns.

• Establishes fine structure of $50 per day for first 3 days late and $500 per day thereafter for late campaign finance reports, with $500 per day for reports immediately preceding elections, capped at 25 percent of total receipts or expenditures.

• Effective July 1, 2021.