HF 3559 Summary

• Allows corporations to make independent expenditures to promote or defeat candidates for statewide, legislative, judicial, and local offices through a registered political fund.

• Reduces the disclosure threshold for dues and membership fees deposited into political funds from $100 to $2,000 per year before treasurers must disclose member names.

• Requires unregistered associations contributing over $100 to provide written disclosure statements to political committees, with civil penalties up to $1,000 for non-compliance or up to four times the excess amount for accepting contributions without required documentation.

• Permits nonprofit corporations to provide administrative assistance (limited to accounting, clerical, legal services, and assistance under the Federal Elections Campaign Act) to affiliated political committees or funds registered with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

• Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 72A.12, subdivision 5, which previously prohibited insurance companies and associations from making political contributions.