SB-1250 Summary

• Creates the Fair Political Practices Commission as an autonomous entity within the Department of State to administer and enforce campaign finance laws, replacing the Secretary of State's previous role.

• Establishes the Commission with 6 members appointed by the Governor from lists submitted by state central committees of the two major political parties, with 4-year terms and limits on consecutive service.

• Transfers powers and duties related to campaign finance regulation from the Secretary of State to the Commission, including promulgating rules, issuing declaratory rulings, investigating complaints, and conducting hearings on alleged violations.

• Clarifies that complaint investigations and violation determinations proceed through informal conciliation methods first, with formal hearings and civil penalties only if violations cannot be resolved informally within 90 business days.

• Updates references throughout the campaign finance act from "Secretary of State" to "Commission" and makes conforming changes to terminology (e.g., "person" to "individual," "shall" to "must") without substantive changes to contribution limits or reporting requirements.