Mississippi HB 159: Campaign finance reports; require candidates for county, county district and municipal offices to file with Secretary of State.

Bill Text

H. B. No. 159 *HR31/R30* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Apportionment and
Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2022

By: Representatives Zuber, Williamson

HOUSE BILL NO. 159

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-805, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY, COUNTY DISTRICT AND MUNICIPAL 2
OFFICES, AND THEIR POLITICAL COMMITTEES, TO FILE ALL REPORTS OF 3
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES WITH THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF 4
STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-815, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 5
CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-805, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
23-15-805. (a) Candidates for state, state district, and 10
legislative district offices, and every political committee, which 11
makes reportable contributions to or expenditures in support of or 12
in opposition to a candidate for any such office or makes 13
reportable contributions to or expenditures in support of or in 14
opposition to a statewide ballot measure, shall file all reports 15
required under this article with the Office of the Secretary of 16
State. 17
(b) Candidates for county or county district office, and 18
every political committee which makes reportable contributions to 19
or expenditures in support of or in opposition to a candidate for 20

H. B. No. 159 *HR31/R30* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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such office or makes reportable contributions to or expenditures 21
in support of or in opposition to a countywide ballot measure or a 22
ballot measure affecting part of a county, excepting a municipal 23
ballot measure, shall file all reports required by this 24
section * * * directly to the Office of the Secretary of State via 25
facsimile, electronic mail, postal mail or hand delivery. * * * 26
(c) Candidates for municipal office, and every political 27
committee which makes reportable contributions to or expenditures 28
in support of or in opposition to a candidate for such office, or 29
makes reportable contributions to or expenditures in support of or 30
in opposition to a municipal ballot measure shall file all reports 31
required by this article * * * directly to the Office of the 32
Secretary of State via facsimile, electronic mail, postal mail or 33
hand delivery. * * * 34
(d) The Secretary of State * * * shall make all reports 35
received under this subsection available for public inspection and 36
copying and shall preserve the reports for a period of five (5) 37
years. 38
SECTION 2. Section 23-15-815, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 39
amended as follows: 40
23-15-815. (a) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and 41
make available forms and promulgate rules and regulations 42
necessary to implement this article. 43
(b) The Secretary of State * * * shall, within forty-eight 44
(48) hours after the time of the receipt * * * of reports and 45

H. B. No. 159 *HR31/R30* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Campaign finance reports; require
candidates for county, county district and
municipal offices to file with Secretary of
State.
statements filed with it, make them available for public 46
inspection, and copying at the expense of the person requesting 47
such copying, and keep such designations, reports and statements 48
for a period of three (3) years from the date of receipt. 49
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 50
and after July 1, 2022. 51