Pennsylvania HB 542: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further providing for definitions, for organization of political committees, treasurer and assistant treasurer and records of candidate and committees, for registration and for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons, providing for limitations on certain contributions, further providing for residual funds, for late filing fee and certificate of filing, for contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations, for advertising and for reports by business entities and publication by Secretary of the Commonwealth and providing for independent expenditures and for independent expenditure evaluation; and providing for corporate political accountability.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 538
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 542
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, PIELLI, PROBST,
SANCHEZ, STEELE AND DAVIDSON, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further
providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further
providing for definitions, for organization of political
committees, treasurer and assistant treasurer and records of
candidate and committees, for registration and for reporting
by candidate and political committees and other persons,
providing for limitations on certain contributions, further
providing for residual funds, for late filing fee and
certificate of filing, for contributions or expenditures by
national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations,
for advertising and for reports by business entities and
publication by Secretary of the Commonwealth and providing
for independent expenditures and for independent expenditure
evaluation; and providing for corporate political
accountability.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) The Commonwealth has a compelling governmental
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

interest to protect the integrity of the government from
actual corruption or the appearance of corruption.
(2) When people, associations or other entities,
including foreign corporations and foreign-influenced
corporations, provide unlimited monetary support for elected
government officials or candidates who are seeking
governmental offices, there arises the appearance of
corruption.
(3) The appearance of corruption and actual corruption
can be prevented by requiring transparency and regulating the
contributions that can be made to elected government
officials and candidates who are seeking governmental
offices.
Section 2. Section 201 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
Section 201. Powers and Duties of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth.--The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall exercise
in the manner provided by this act all powers granted to him by
this act, and shall perform all the duties imposed upon him by
this act, which shall include the following:
* * *
(i) To biennially adjust the limitations on contributions
under section 1627.1(s).
Section 3. Section 1621(d), (e) and (f) of the act are
amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
Section 1621. Definitions.--As used in this article, the
following words have the following meanings:
* * *
20250HB0542PN0538 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(d) The word "expenditure" shall mean any of the following:
(1) The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money
or any valuable thing by a candidate, candidate committee,
political committee, political action committee, political party
committee or other person for the purpose of influencing the
outcome of a nomination or an election[;]: provided, however,
that the payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money or
any valuable thing shall be made only for expenses directly and
exclusively incurred for the campaign in which the candidate is
running in the contemporaneous election cycle and that no
expenditure of funds from campaign accounts shall be used for
any personal purpose.
(2) The payment, distribution, loan, advance or transfer of
money or other valuable thing between or among political
committees[;].
(3) The providing of a service or other valuable thing for
the purpose of influencing the outcome of a nomination or
election of any person to any public office to be voted for in
this Commonwealth[; or].
(4) The payment or providing of money or other valuable
thing by any person other than a candidate or political
committee, to compensate any person for services rendered to a
candidate or political committee.
(e) The words "independent expenditure" shall mean an
expenditure by a person, other than a political committee or
candidate, expressly advocating the election or defeat of a
clearly identified candidate for nomination or election or
promoting the success o