Signed by Governor Greg Gianforte

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes joint fundraising committees to solicit large campaign donations.

Highlights:

• Defines a ‘joint fundraising committee’ as a coming together or one or more candidates for a statewide office and political committees to establish a joint fundraising committee to act as a fundraising representative for all participants (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits participants in joint fundraising committees from being part of or from corporations or unions (Sec. 1).

• Requires the joint fundraising committee to (Sec. 1): 

• Appoint a campaign treasurer and certify an organization statement;

• Designate one separate campaign depository to be used solely for the receipt of all contributions received and the disbursement of all expenditures made by the joint fundraising; and

• Keep records.

• Requires the joint fundraising committee to include the following information in each solicitation for contributions to the committee (Sec. 1): 

• The name of each participant in the joint fundraising committee;

• The allocation formula to be used for distributing joint fundraising proceeds;

• A statement informing contributors that, despite the state allocation formula, they may designate their contributions for particular participants;

• A statement informing contributors that the allocation formula may change if a contributor makes a contribution that would exceed the amount that a contributor may give to a participant or if a participant is otherwise prohibited from receiving contributions; and

•  If one or more participants engage in the joint fundraising activity solely to satisfy outstanding debts, a statement informing contributors that the allocation formula may change if a participant receives sufficient funds to pay its outstanding debts.

• Requires the joint fundraising committee to (Sec. 1):

• Allocate total gross contributions received by the joint fundraising committee to the participants; 

• Inform each participant of the participant's gross contribution total;

• Make the joint fundraising committee's contribution and expenditure records available to each participant; and

• Pay fundraising expenses and distribute each participant's allocated net contributions.

• Specifies that a joint fundraising committee is not a political committee (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text