IndianaSB 233Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)SenateWALLET

Powers and duties of the election commission.

Sponsored By: Mike Gaskill (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Separates out the procedures for how a county election board and the Indiana election commission (commission) may administratively disband certain committees into two different sections of the Indiana Code. Allows the commission to administratively disband a committee if: (1) the committee has not filed a report of expenditures during the previous calendar year; (2) the committee has never filed a report of expenditures or the last report filed reported cash on hand that did not exceed $1,000; and (3) the election division has attempted to contact the committee but the communication was returned or otherwise undeliverable. Removes the discretion of the commission with respect to certain civil penalties that may be imposed and instead requires the commission to impose the civil penalties. Requires the commission to assess a civil penalty of $1,000 or $500, plus investigative costs, for certain violations. Provides that a $500 civil penalty shall be assessed for a violation of certain electronic filing requirements.

electionstax and fiscal policythe houseelections and apportionment

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.

County boards can close inactive campaign committees

Effective upon passage, county election boards have exclusive authority to close eligible county-filed local candidate, school board, political action, and party committees. A committee must have filed no expenditure report during the prior three calendar years. If it filed a report, its last reported cash balance must be $1,000 or less. Boards must send certified-mail notice, find the committee no longer functions, and protect contracts and debt or judgment collection. County boards must finish the annual process by January's last Friday. After closure, boards can waive civil penalties when further collection would be wasteful or unjust. Remaining money can go to party or candidate committees, the election division, tax-exempt organizations, or contributors in proportion to their gifts. Other uses allowed by existing law remain available; closure and transfers do not erase liability for earlier violations.

State commission can close inactive campaign committees

The Indiana Election Commission has exclusive authority to close eligible state-filed candidate, legislative caucus, political action, and party committees. A committee must have filed no expenditure report during the prior calendar year. It must never have filed such a report, or its last report must show $1,000 or less. Deadline notices sent during that year must have been returned because of an unknown or insufficient mailing address, or an undeliverable email. The annual January review requires certified-mail notice, written findings, and published closure orders. The commission must find the committee no longer functions and protect contracts, debt collection, judgments, and criminal prosecutions. Closure orders take effect immediately unless they specify otherwise. Chairs and treasurers can also voluntarily disband committees and transfer remaining money to the same recipients allowed for county closures; neither closure nor transfers erase prior civil or criminal liability.

Campaign filers face required filing penalties

An amended campaign report or organization statement is due by noon on the fifth day after notice. Missing that deadline triggers $10 per late day, capped at $100 per report, plus documented investigation costs. Delinquent reports or statements carry $50 per day, capped at $1,000 per report, plus investigation costs. Failure to meet the filing requirement tied to manual data entry carries a required, fixed $500 penalty. That fixed amount replaces a discretionary penalty based on manual data-entry costs.

Campaign violations bring mandatory fixed fines

Listed campaign-finance violations now require a $1,000 penalty per violation, plus documented investigation costs. These include specified unlawful contributions, spending, and improper handling or use of committee money. Violations of IC 3-9-3-5 and specified treasurer eligibility rules require $500 penalties, plus documented investigation costs. Those $500 penalties require every commission member to agree and replace discretionary fines of up to $500. The commission assesses penalties through Indiana's administrative hearing process, and collections go to the state's Campaign Finance Enforcement Account. These penalties do not replace other civil or criminal liability.

Unclear campaign disclaimers trigger $1,000 fines

Covered people publishing or circulating campaign messages with unclear disclaimers must pay $1,000 per communication, plus documented investigation costs. The penalty applies once per communication, not once per copy. It excludes people whose only role is preparing, printing, distributing, or broadcasting the message in their normal business.

Unlawful campaign contributions trigger multiplied penalties

Corporations and labor organizations exceeding campaign contribution limits must face a penalty of up to three times the excess. Failing to designate contributions as required carries a penalty equal to twice the undesignated amount or $1,000, whichever is greater. Other contribution violations covered by IC 3-9-2-12 carry twice the contribution or $1,000, whichever is greater. Documented investigation costs are added to these penalties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Gaskill

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Daryl Schmitt

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyle Pierce

    Republican • House

  • Timothy Wesco

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 136 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/26/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 47

    3/3/2026Senate
  2. Signed by the Governor

    3/3/2026Senate
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/26/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the Speaker

    2/25/2026House
  5. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/24/2026Senate
  6. Returned to the Senate without amendments

    2/20/2026House
  7. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 291: yeas 92, nays 0

    2/19/2026House
  8. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/18/2026House
  9. Representative Wesco added as cosponsor

    2/18/2026House
  10. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    2/12/2026House
  11. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment

    1/28/2026House
  12. Referred to the House

    1/27/2026Senate
  13. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 80: yeas 44, nays 0

    1/26/2026Senate
  14. House sponsor: Representative Pierce K

    1/26/2026Senate
  15. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    1/22/2026Senate
  16. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    1/20/2026Senate
  17. Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy

    1/13/2026Senate
  18. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/13/2026Senate
  19. Senator Schmitt added as second author

    1/12/2026Senate
  20. Authored by Senator Gaskill

    1/8/2026Senate
  21. First reading: referred to Committee on Elections

    1/8/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (H)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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