SB 1038 -- CAMPAIGN FINANCE

SPONSOR:  Shields (Cox)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 4 to 2.

This bill changes the laws regarding campaign finance.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Repeals campaign contribution limits for certain candidates
running for office;

(2)  Limits individual contributions to a candidate for statewide
elected office, judge, member of the General Assembly, or certain
municipal office to $325 as it relates to the exemption to filing
requirements.  The filing of a statement of organization or
disclosure reports is not required if contributions and
expenditures for a single election are less than $500 and no one
person makes a contribution of more than $325;

(3)  Requires individuals and committees to file electronic
campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission
within 48 hours of receiving a contribution exceeding $5,000;

(4)  Requires legislative and senatorial district committees to
retain a single address in their district for receipt of
contributions and requires campaign treasurers to reside in the
district or county where the committee sits;

(5)  Requires out-of-state committees that make contributions
involving Missouri candidates or election issues to report the
names of their contributors even if contributions to the out-of-
state committee were not made for the purpose of influencing any
particular election; and

(6)  Changes the penalty for improperly reporting campaign
contributions and expenditures to the commission from twice the
amount of the incorrect contribution or expenditure up to $5,000
to a penalty equal to the amount of the improperly reported
contribution or expenditure with no maximum cap.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill reinstates the
elimination of campaign contribution limits enacted by HB 1900 in
2006.  Repealing campaign contribution limits is constitutional
under Trout v. Missouri, and the bill does not re-enact the
unconstitutional time limits on contributions that were struck
down.  The bill also creates greater transparency for campaign
donations so that large donations are easily tracked.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Shields.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that greater
transparency into the political process is an improvement.

Testifying on the bill was Missouri Farm Bureau.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:13 pm