HB0716 Summary

• Creates the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force to study the feasibility of implementing a public financing system for judicial candidates (Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and Circuit Court) in exchange for voluntary expenditure limitations.

• Task Force composition includes 11 members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, President and Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Attorney General.

• Task Force must study funding sources including fines, voluntary contributions, lobbying surcharges, and whistleblower funds, and must consider historical fundraising data, disparities between political parties, and relevant case law by June 30, 2023.

• Amends the Election Code to prohibit judicial campaign committees from accepting contributions from entities that don't disclose contributors or from out-of-state persons, and caps contributions to self-funded judicial campaigns and independent expenditure committees at $500,000 per election cycle.

• Task Force is repealed July 1, 2024 and must report findings to the Governor and General Assembly; members serve without compensation and receive administrative support from the State Board of Elections.