Signed by Governor Peter Shumlin

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends campaign finance laws.

Highlights:

• Increases the amount of contributions a candidate can receive from a “single source” or a political committee in an election cycle as follows (Sec. 2941):
• From $200 to $1,000 for a candidate for state representative or local office;
• From $300 to $1,500 for a candidate for state senate or county office; and
• From $400 to $4,000 for a candidate for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, auditor of accounts, or attorney general.

• Defines “single source” as an individual, partnership, corporation, association, labor union, or any other organization that is not a political committee or political party (Sec. 2901).

• Authorizes a candidate for state representative, local office, state senate, county office, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, auditor of accounts, or attorney general to accept unlimited contributions from a political party (Sec. 2941).

• Prohibits a political party from accepting contributions totaling more than the following amounts (Sec. 2941):
• $10,000 from a single source;
• $10,000 from a political committee; or
• $60,000 from a political party.

• Prohibits a political committee from accepting contributions totaling more than $4,000 from a single source, a political committee, or a political party (Sec. 2941).

• Prohibits a single source from contributing a total amount more than $40,000 to candidates and $40,000 to political committees (Sec. 2941).

• Requires a political party established under Vermont law to be considered separate from the party’s national affiliate party for the purposes of contribution limits (Sec. 2901).

• Increases the amount of publicly financed campaign grants a candidate for governor and lieutenant governor may receive as follows (Sec. 2985): 
• From $75,000 to $150,000 for a candidate for governor in a primary election;
• From $225,000 to $450,000 for a candidate for governor in a general election;
• From $25,000 to $50,000 for a candidate for lieutenant governor in a primary election; and 
• From $75,000 to $150,000 for a candidate for lieutenant governor in a general election.

• Requires the Secretary of State to develop and continually update an online campaign database that discloses certain information for candidates in each election including, but not limited to, the following information (Sec. 2906):
• The amount of each grant awarded to a candidate who receives publicly financed grants;
• The link to the campaign finance reports for a candidate for federal office; and
• The photographs, biographical sketches, and position statements that may be submitted by a candidate for statewide or federal office. 

• Requires a candidate for a state office, the general assembly, or a 2 year term county office and certain political committees and political parties to file campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State by the following dates (Sec. 2964):
• On July 15 in the first year of a 2 general election cycle;
• On March 15 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On July 15 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On August 15 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On September 1 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On October 1 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On October 15 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle;
• On November 1 in the second year of a 2 year general election cycle; and
• 2 weeks after the general election. 

• Requires a political committee or political party to file campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State by the following dates if the committee or party has accepted contributions or made expenditures of at least $1,000 for the purpose of influencing a local election or supporting or opposing 1 or more candidates in a local election (Sec. 2964):
• 30 days before the local election;
• 10 days before a local election; and
• 2 weeks after the election.

• Requires an individual to file a mass media report with the Secretary of State and send a copy to each candidate whose name or likeness is included without the candidate’s knowledge if the individual makes an expenditure of at least $500 for a “mass media activity” within 45 days of a primary, general, county, or local election (Sec. 2971).

• Defines “mass media activity” as certain activity that includes the name or likeness of a clearly identified candidate for office including, but not limited to, the following activities (Sec. 2901):
• A television or radio commercial;
• A mass electronic or digital communication;
• A newspaper or periodical advertisement;
• A robotic phone call; or
• A telephone bank.

• Requires an independent expenditure-only political committee to file a mass media report with the Secretary of State and send a copy to each candidate whose name or likeness is included without the candidate’s knowledge within 24 hours of the activity or expenditure, whichever comes first, if the committee makes an expenditure of more than $5,000 for  mass media activity within 45 days of a primary, general, county, or local election (Sec. 2971).

• Requires a mass media report filed by an independent expenditure-only political committee to include the names of contributors, dates of contributions, and amounts of contributions in excess of $100 since the committee’s last submitted report (Sec. 2971). 

• Requires the Secretary of State to the adjust contribution limitation amounts for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index after 2 2-year general election cycles, beginning after the general election held in 2016 (Secs. 2905 & 2943).

Full Bill Text