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PA HB542
Bill
Status
2/10/2025
Primary Sponsor
Joseph Webster
Click for details
AI Summary
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Establishes campaign contribution limits: $1,500 per election from individuals to state legislative/local candidates, $5,000 to statewide candidates, $10,000 from PACs to any candidate, and $25,000 annual aggregate limit for individual contributions to all candidates and committees
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Prohibits "foreign-influenced corporations" (those with 5%+ single foreign ownership or 20%+ combined foreign ownership) from making independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or contributions to independent expenditure PACs
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Requires corporations spending $10,000+ on political activities to obtain annual shareholder approval by majority vote before making such expenditures, with quarterly disclosure reports to shareholders and the Department of State
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Increases transparency requirements including lowering the contribution disclosure threshold from $250 to $100, requiring itemized credit card statements in reports, and mandating "paid for by" disclaimers with top five contributors listed on political advertisements
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Raises late filing fees from $10 to $20 per day with no maximum cap, prohibits campaign funds from being used for personal purposes, and requires the Department of State to create a searchable public database for campaign finance information
Legislative Description
In the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary ofthe Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further providing for definitions, for organization of political committees, treasurer and assistant treasurer and records of candidate and committees, for registration and for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons, providing for limitations on certain contributions, further providing for residual funds, for late filing fee and certificate of filing, for contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations, for advertising and for reports by business entities and publication by Secretary of the Commonwealth and providing for independent expenditures and for independent expenditure evaluation; and providing for corporate political accountability.
Last Action
Referred to State Government
2/10/2025