ConnecticutSB 014052025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT MODIFYING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND THE POWERS OF THE STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION.

Sponsored By: Government Oversight Committee

Signed by Governor

Summary

To make several changes concerning campaign finance laws and the State Elections Enforcement Commission, including redefining organization expenditure, solicit, contribution and expenditure, modifying what disclaimers are required to contain, reducing the number of required commission audits, restricting the timing of commission declaratory rulings, requiring legislative approval of guidance documents, amending provisions concerning the timing of contribution limits and procedures for rejected contributions and requiring legislative confirmation of the executive director of the commission.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Campaign treasurers gain audit record protections

Beginning January 1, 2026, the election commission must publish a detailed list of required campaign audit records. The list covers records that qualified candidate committee treasurers must keep and provide. Treasurers are not liable for failing to keep or provide records missing from the list. The list must also appear in public campaign funding guidance longer than 40 pages, or the equivalent without pages.

Higher limits for home campaign hosts

Effective on passage, the law excludes qualifying home-event invitations, food, and drinks from contributions up to $500 per single-host event. The event cap is $1,000 for two or more hosts, with at least one owning or living at the site. Each individual's annual or single-election cap rises from $800 to $1,000. Hosts must provide the items while volunteering at their residence or a community room in their residential facility. Beginning June 9, 2025, matching spending exclusions apply, raising the single-host event cap from $400 to $500.

More protections when campaign donations face rejection

Beginning July 1, 2025, election officials reviewing grant applications must explain why a donation does not qualify and cite the rule. Donor certification information is presumed true unless contrary proof rests on a prior commission investigative finding. Officials cannot reject a donation solely because billing and home addresses differ. They also cannot reject it solely because it followed an electronically shared fundraising link or event invitation.

Political donation limits track inflation

Beginning July 1, 2025, Connecticut adjusts specified contribution limits, including a $250 individual maximum, using the consumer price index. Adjustments apply to statewide elections in 2026 and every four years afterward, with a separate calculation schedule for 2030 onward. State House and Senate adjustments apply in 2026 and every two years afterward. Those adjustments begin no later than December 15, 2025, using specified index periods ending November 30. Beginning December 15, 2025, an adjustment cannot lower the maximum below its previous adjusted level.

Simpler disclosure rules for campaign ads

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered campaign texts can put required disclosures in the first message or link to them. Committee disclosures still identify the committee but no longer need the treasurer's name, including in covered printed referendum messages. Covered candidate television and internet videos must still show the candidate and a readable approval statement together for at least four seconds. The candidate's name and image must also appear before the video ends. The law removes requirements for a spoken personal approval statement and the candidate's voice in the narrative.

Campaign audits face caps and deadlines

Beginning July 1, 2025, random post-election or post-primary audits are capped at 20% of candidate committees, down from 50%. A publicly noticed weighted lottery considers district selections over the prior three regular elections; statewide candidate committees must all be audited. For covered general-election and primary committees, officials must give notice by May 31 following the election or cannot audit them. Audits and findings must be completed within 12 months after selection. Beginning January 1, 2026, the commission must report annually to lawmakers on late audits and explain the delays.

Election commission opens meetings, adds leadership checks

Beginning July 1, 2025, Connecticut's election commission must stream all formally noticed meetings live, except closed executive sessions. Viewers cannot be required to create accounts or reconnect after an executive session. The commission's director appointment also requires approval from both legislative chambers. The first nomination is due February 1, 2027, and appointment by March 1, 2027; appointments recur every four years. Directors serve at the commission's pleasure for up to four years unless reappointed, with interim appointments allowed outside regular legislative sessions.

New rules for committees sharing online

Beginning July 1, 2025, electronic sharing of candidate or party committee content counts as organization spending for specified committees. This covers party, legislative caucus, and legislative leadership committees, including personal email lists, existing email accounts, and similar small activities. The classification applies whether or not the activity involves fundraising. But these committees' electronic sharing of fundraising links or event invitations does not count as soliciting donations.

Tighter donation rules for campaign grants

Beginning July 1, 2025, committees seeking public campaign grants must reasonably try to return donations that do not qualify. These include specified contractor-principal donations, gifts under $5, excess out-of-state gifts, and gifts from children under 12. Gifts of at least $5 without the donor's full name and complete address must be returned when practical; otherwise, they go to the Citizens' Election Fund. Other nonqualifying funds follow return or donation procedures, while excess qualifying donations still go to that fund. Full general-election grants require qualifying donations before the 70th day before the election and itemized records supporting the required certification.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Government Oversight Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 171 • No: 62

Senate vote • 5/12/2025

APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)

Yes: 33 • No: 15

House vote • 3/18/2025

House Roll Call Vote 171 AS AMENDED

Yes: 92 • No: 46

Senate vote • 3/18/2025

Senate Roll Call Vote 205

Yes: 34 • No: 1