Kentucky Amends Campaign Finance Laws

Kevin Newman, Esq.
Research Associate

On March 27, 2017, Gov. Matt Bevin approved Senate Bill 75, amending the state’s campaign finance laws. The measure increases campaign contribution limits for individuals and PACs, schedules limit increases every two years, and increases transparency by requiring an additional pre-election report. A single reporting threshold of $3,000 is also created for candidates, slates of candidates, and political issue committees.

When Senate Bill 75 takes effect on June 28, 2017, the state will see its first increase in contribution limits since 1993. The limit for individuals and PACs giving to candidates will increase from $1,000 to $2,000 per candidate or slate of candidates per election. A $1,500 aggregate limit on contributions to PACs and contributing organizations has been eliminated and is replaced with a $2,000 limit per group per year. The limit on contributions to caucus campaign committees and state executive committees of a political party will also increase from $2,500 to $5,000. The bill creates a new provision applying the same $5,000 limit to a subdivision or affiliate of a state political party. These contribution limits will be indexed for inflation every odd-numbered year, based on the consumer price index, and rounded to the nearest hundred.

Seeking to increase transparency in the political process, lawmakers created an additional report prior to elections. Candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, political issue committees, and registered fundraisers must now file a report on the 60th day before an election, accounting for all previous contributions and expenditures. Previously existing pre-election reports are now due on the 30th and 15th days before the election. The 30-day post-election report remains intact.

Additional revisions include increasing the limit on anonymous and cash contributions from $50 to $100, allowing married couples to write one check for the amount of their combined limits, and allowing a state executive committee to establish a building fund account. This account may be used for expenditures related to purchasing or constructing a headquarters facility. Corporations, despite a ban on giving contributions, will be permitted to give a monetary contribution to a state executive committee’s building fund.

[The details for this article have been updated on our website in the Contribution and Reporting sections of the Political Contributions Compliance Laws for Kentucky.]

Summary of Changes UPDATE
Note Recent Changes to Compliance Regulations 

Michael Beckett, Esq., Research Manager

COLORADO: Gov. John Hickenlooper recently signed House Bill 17-1051, modernizing the Colorado Procurement Code. Among other changes, the bill exempts grants from the state bidding requirements and makes the Procurement Code of Ethics and Guidelines applicable to state procurement officials, end users, vendors, contractors, and interested third parties. The bill will be effective 90 days following the adjournment of the Legislature.

DALLAS, TEXAS: City Council voted unanimously to overhaul the city’s ethics laws after months of work to tighten rules on lobbying and reduce political influence in City Hall. The new ethics rules bar successful campaign managers from lobbying city officials for one year after a campaign; require association leaders and attorneys and law firms representing clients to register as lobbyists; lower the gift disclosure threshold from $500 to $250; and broaden the scope of those covered by the law to include city board and commission appointees. The ordinance is effective July 1, 2017.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA: Commissioners approved a measure banning text messages and other electronic communications with lobbyists during County Commission meetings. Although the initial proposal only placed restrictions and obligations on lobbyists, two amendments were approved to create responsibilities for commissioners as well. Commissioners, like lobbyists, must disclose to the lobbyist registration manager any unavoidable communications and will be subject to fines for violations.

NEW MEXICO: A bill creating an independent ethics commission was approved by the Legislature. House Joint Resolution 8 seeks to amend the New Mexico Constitution and establish a state ethics commission. The commission would oversee complaints against public officials, both in the legislative and executive branches, as well as lobbyists and government contractors. The proposed amendment will be placed on the 2018 general election ballot for voter approval.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22. Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials from lobbying in the two-year period after termination of service in state government. House Bill 1073 sets a $100 annual cap on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials. House Bill 1073 defines "gift" to exclude food, beverages, and entertainment. Daugaard also signed House Bill 1076, establishing the Government Accountability Board.

Legislation We Are Tracking

At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in State and Federal Communications' online compliance publications for lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying. They can be found on a jurisdiction's home page.

Summaries of major bills are also included in the monthly Summary of Changes email update sent to all clients. The chart below shows the number of bills we are tracking in regard to lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.

ASK THE EXPERTS

State and Federal Communications’ Experts Answer Your Questions

Here is your chance to “Ask the Experts” at State and Federal Communications, Inc. Send your questions to experts@stateandfed.com. (Of course, we have always been available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or email us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies are not legal advice, just our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.

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State and Federal participated in the ACES Conference in St. Petersburg, FL.
ACES, the Society for Editors, is an international members' alliance of editors.. The conference provides editors in a wide range of industries quality training from recognized experts in the field.  Attendees are editorial professionals and others who believe editing is a craft vital to clear writing.
Attending were Joe May, Manager, Client Analytics; Megan Huber-Kovachik, Marketing Communications Associate; Jon Spontarelli, Social Media Specialist, and Lisa Stutzman, Research Assistant.

Attending an ACES session - Jon Spontarelli, Social Media Specialist, and Lisa Stutzman, Research Assistant.     Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, with Judith Zimomra, City Manager of The City of Sanibel, Florida SGAC National Summit, New Orleans, LA James Carville gave the opening keynote at the Summit. Pictured are Elizabeth Bartz, James Carville, and Christopher Badgely, from Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.     YouToo Social Media Conference The State and Federal Communications Team at the 2017 YouToo Social Media Conference as the Presenting Sponsor. Our hope is to always support the leaders of tomorrow. From left to right: Jim Sedor, Editor, News You Can Use, Joe May, Manager, Client Analytics, Jennifer Kramer, Director pf Public Relations and Marketing Communications at Kent State University, Jon Spontarelli, Social Media Specialist; Anthony Didion, Marketing and Sales Assistant, and Megan Huber-Kovachik, Marketing Communications Associate.

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