Maine LD 2000: An Act To Update The Campaign Finance Laws

Bill Text

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STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
S.P. 814 - L.D. 2000
An Act to Update the Campaign Finance Laws
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the changes in this legislation may directly impact statewide campaigns
during the 2026 election; and
Whereas, it is necessary to amend the requirements of certain campaign finance laws
as soon as possible to avoid undue burdens and confusion; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323, §7, is
further amended to read:
D. If the candidate has an opponent who is on the ballot or who is a declared write-in
candidate, any single contribution of $1,000 $10,000 or more received or any single
expenditure of $1,000 $10,000 or more made after the 14th day before the election and
more than 24 48 hours before 11:59 p.m. on the day of the election must be reported
within 24 48 hours of that contribution or expenditure. The candidate or treasurer is
not required to include in this report expenditures for overhead expenses or
compensation paid to an employee or other member of the campaign staff who has
received payments at regular intervals that have been disclosed in previously filed
campaign finance reports. As used in this paragraph, "overhead expenses" includes,
but is not limited to, rent, utility payments, taxes, insurance premiums or similar
administrative expenses.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§3-A, ¶C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323, §8, is
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
APPROVED
APRIL 3, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
600
PUBLIC LAW

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C. If the candidate has an opponent who is on the ballot or who is a declared write-in
candidate, any single contribution received or any single expenditure made after the
14th day before any election and more than 48 hours before 11:59 p.m. on the day of
any election that is equal to or greater than the following thresholds must be reported
within 48 hours of that contribution or expenditure:
(1) For a candidate for State Senator, $5,000;
(2) For a candidate for county office, $2,500;
(3) For a candidate for State Representative, $1,500; and
(4) For a candidate for municipal office, $1,500.
The candidate or treasurer is not required to include in this report expenditures for
overhead expenses or compensation paid to an employee or other member of the
campaign staff who has received payments at regular intervals that have been disclosed
in previously filed campaign finance reports. As used in this paragraph, "overhead
expenses" includes, but is not limited to, rent, utility payments, taxes, insurance
premiums or similar administrative expenses.
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323, §11, is
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
2. Expenditures to influence campaign. A party committee shall report all
expenditures made to influence a campaign, as defined in section 1052, subsection 1. For
each expenditure, the party committee shall report:
A. The candidate or ballot measure for which the expenditure was made;
B. For a candidate, the office sought by the candidate and the district that the candidate
seeks to represent;
C. The date and amount of each expenditure;
D. The purpose of each expenditure, including whether the expenditure was made to
support or oppose the candidate or ballot measure; and
E. The name and address of each payee.
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-A, ¶E, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323,
§12, is further amended to read:
E. If a state party committee is required to file a report 11 days before an election
pursuant to paragraph B or C, the committee shall report any single contribution of
$5,000 $10,000 or more received or any single expenditure of $1,000 $2,500 or more
made after the 14th day before the election and more than 24 hours before 5:00 p.m.
on the day of the election within 24 hours of that contribution or expenditure. The
committee is not required to include in this report expenditures for overhead expenses
or compensation paid to an employee or other member of the campaign staff who has
received payments at regular intervals that have been disclosed in previously filed
campaign finance reports. As used in this paragraph, "overhead expenses" includes, but
is not limited to, rent, utility payments, taxes, insurance premiums or similar
administrative expenses.

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Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-B, ¶C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323,
§13, is further amended to read:
C. A committee shall report a