H.F. 2534 Summary

• Modifies "expressly advocating" definition to include communications susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal for or against clearly identified candidates, in addition to those with explicit advocacy language.

• Creates new disclosure requirements for "electioneering communications" (communications referring to clearly identified candidates made within 30-60 days of elections and targeted to relevant electorates) with threshold of $1,500 in aggregate annual disbursements.

• Requires associations making electioneering communications aggregating over $1,500 annually to disclose within 24 hours: candidate names, disbursement amounts over $200, and contributor names/addresses for donors contributing over $200 to segregated accounts or over $5,000 to general treasury funding such communications.

• Establishes prorating method for attributing general treasury money to electioneering communications and independent expenditures, requiring associations to prorate total expenditures over all general treasury receipts during the calendar year.

• Imposes penalties including late filing fees up to $1,000, civil penalties up to $1,000 for failure to file disclosure statements, and additional civil penalties up to four times the disbursement amount for willful non-disclosure of required statements.