SB 1051 Summary

• Creates the Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act to enhance transparency and accountability in campaign financing and prevent anonymous entities from influencing elections.

• Requires any organization paying for campaign expenditures (mailers, advertisements, election communications) to submit to the Ethics Commission within five business days the name, address, and contact information of its president/CEO and treasurer/CFO.

• Prohibits campaign expenditures through fictitious names, unregistered entities, or LLCs/corporations designed to conceal identity; entities using rented post office boxes must disclose the renter and all beneficial owners.

• Authorizes the Attorney General to subpoena records related to post office boxes, bank records, LLC registrations, and service providers to identify anonymous campaign expenditure entities.

• Imposes civil penalties up to $25,000 and criminal fines up to $10,000 for violations; requires reimbursement of investigative costs; bars repeat violators from making campaign expenditures for five years; requires Ethics Commission to maintain a publicly accessible disclosure database.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2025, with emergency declaration for immediate effect upon passage and approval.