LCO 1 of 28
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1405
January Session, 2025
AN ACT MODIFYING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND THE POWERS
OF THE STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivisions (25) and (26) of section 9-601 of the general 1
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective July 1, 2025): 3
(25) "Organization expenditure" means an expenditure by a party 4
committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership 5
committee for the benefit of a candidate or candidate committee for: 6
(A) The preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a 7
party candidate listing, including the electronic sharing, posting or 8
forwarding of content created by a candidate committee or other 9
committee on behalf of a candidate, the use of a personal electronic mail 10
list or an existing electronic mail account for such purposes and other 11
similar de minimis activity that may or may not be related to 12
fundraising. As used in this subparagraph, "party candidate listing" 13
means any communication that meets the following criteria: (i) The 14
communication lists the name or names of candidates for election to 15
public office, (ii) the communication is distributed through public 16
advertising such as broadcast stations, cable television, newspapers or 17
similar media, or through direct mail, telephone, electronic mail, 18
publicly accessible sites on the Internet or personal delivery, and (iii) the 19 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 2 of 28
communication is made to promote the success or defeat of any 20
candidate or slate of candidates seeking the nomination for election, or 21
election or for the purpose of aiding or promoting the success or defeat 22
of any referendum question or the success or defeat of any political 23
party, provided such communication is not a solicitation for or on behalf 24
of a candidate committee; 25
(B) A document in printed or electronic form, including a party 26
platform, an electronic page providing merchant account services to be 27
used by a candidate for the collection of on-line contributions, a copy of 28
an issue paper, information pertaining to the requirements of this title, 29
a list of registered voters and voter identification information, which 30
document is created or maintained by a party committee, legislative 31
caucus committee or legislative leadership committee for the general 32
purposes of party or caucus building and is provided (i) to a candidate 33
who is a member of the party that has established such party committee, 34
or (ii) to a candidate who is a member of the party of the caucus or leader 35
who has established such legislative caucus committee or legislative 36
leadership committee, whichever is applicable; 37
(C) A campaign event at which campaign materials are present and 38
food or beverage may be provided, but at which no contribution shall 39
be received, solicited or bundled; or 40
(D) The retention of the services of an advisor or individual to 41
provide assistance relating to a candidate's campaign. 42
(26) "Solicit" means (A) requesting that a contribution be made, (B) 43
participating in any fundraising activities for a candidate committee, 44
exploratory committee, political committee or party committee, 45
including, but not limited to, forwarding tickets to potential 46
contributors, receiving contributions for transmission to any such 47
committee, serving on the committee that is hosting a fundraising event, 48
introducing the candidate or making other public remarks at a 49
fundraising event, being honored or otherwise recognized at a 50
fundraising event, or bundling contributions, (C) serving as 51 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 3 of 28
chairperson, treasurer or deputy treasurer of any such committee, or (D) 52
establishing a political committee for the sole purpose of soliciting or 53
receiving contributions for any committee. "Solicit" does not include (i) 54
making a contribution that is otherwise permitted under this chapter, 55
(ii) informing any person of a position taken by a candidate for public 56
office or a public official, (iii) notifying the person of any activities of, or 57
contact information for, any candidate for public office, (iv) serving as a 58
member in any party committee or as an officer of such committee that 59
is not otherwise prohibited in this subdivision, [or] (v) mere attendance 60
at a [fundraiser] fundraising event, or (vi) electronically sharing a link 61
to a fundraising Internet web site or an invitation to a fundraising event, 62
if shared by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or 63
legislative leadership committee. 64
Sec. 2. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 9-621 of the general 65
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 66
(Effective July 1, 2025): 67
(a) No individual shall make or incur any expenditure with the 68
consent of, in coordination with or in consultation with any candidate, 69
candidate committee or candidate's agent, no group of two or more 70
individuals acting together that receives funds or makes or incurs 71
expenditures not exceeding one thousand dollars in the aggregate and 72
has not formed a political committee shall make or incur any 73
expenditure, and no candidate or committee shall make or incur any 74
expenditure including an organization expenditure for a party 75
candidate listing, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (25) of 76
section 9-601, as amended by this act, for any written, typed or other 77
printed communication, [or] any web-based, written communication or 78
any text message communication, which promotes the success or defeat 79
of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election or 80
promotes or opposes any political party or solicits funds to benefit any 81
political party or committee unless such communication bears upon its 82
face as a disclaimer (1) the words "paid for by" and the following: (A) In 83
the case of such an individual, the name and address of such individual; 84
(B) [in the case of a committee other than a party committee, the name 85 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 4 of 28
of the committee and its treasurer; (C)] in the case of a [party] committee, 86
the name of the committee; or [(D)] (C) in the case of a group of two or 87
more individuals that receives funds or makes or incurs expenditures 88
not exceeding one thousand dollars in the aggregate and has not formed 89
a political committee, the name of the group and the name and address 90
of its agent, and (2) the words "approved by" and the following: (A) In 91
the case of an individual, group or committee other than a candidate 92
committee making or incurring an expenditure with the consent of, in 93
coordination with or in consultation with any candidate, candidate 94
committee or candidate's agent, the name of the candidate; or (B) in the 95
case of a candidate committee, the name of the candidate. For any text 96
message communication, the appearance of such a disclaimer in an 97
initial text message or the display of a link within the body of such 98
message to an Internet web site where such a disclaimer appears shall 99
be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. 100
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section: 101
(1) No candidate or candidate committee or exploratory committee 102
established by a candidate shall make or incur any expenditure for 103
television advertising or Internet video advertising, which promotes the 104
success of such candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or 105
election or the defeat of another candidate's campaign for nomination at 106
a primary or election, unless, as a disclaimer, (A) [at the end of] during 107
such advertising there appears simultaneously, for a period of not less 108
than four seconds, (i) a clearly identifiable photographic or similar 109
image of the candidate making such expenditure, and (ii) a clearly 110
readable printed statement identifying such candidate [,] and indicating 111
that such candidate has approved the advertising, [and (iii) a 112
simultaneous, personal audio message, in the following form: "I am .... 113
(candidate's name) and I approved this message",] and (B) the 114
candidate's name and image appear in [, and the candidate's voice is 115
contained in,] the narrative of the advertising, before the end of such 116
advertising; 117
(2) No candidate or candidate committee or exploratory committee 118 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 5 of 28
established by a candidate shall make or incur any expenditure for radio 119
advertising or Internet audio advertising, which promotes the success 120
of such candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election or 121
the defeat of another candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary 122
or election, unless, as a disclaimer, (A) the advertising ends with a 123
personal audio statement by the candidate making such expenditure (i) 124
identifying such candidate and the office such candidate is seeking, and 125
(ii) indicating that such candidate has approved the advertising in the 126
following form: "I am .... (candidate's name) and I approved this 127
message", and (B) the candidate's name and voice are contained in the 128
narrative of the advertising, before the end of such advertising; and 129
(3) No candidate or candidate committee or exploratory committee 130
established by a candidate shall make or incur any expenditure for 131
automated telephone calls which promote the success of such 132
candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election or the 133
defeat of another candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or 134
election, unless the candidate's name and voice are contained in the 135
narrative of the call, before the end of such call. 136
(c) No business entity, organization, association, committee, or group 137
of two or more individuals who have joined solely to promote the 138
success or defeat of a referendum question shall make or incur any 139
expenditure for any written, typed or other printed communication 140
which promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless 141
such communication bears upon its face, as a disclaimer, the words 142
"paid for by" and the following: (1) In the case of a business entity, 143
organization or association, the name of the business entity, 144
organization or association and the name of its chief executive officer or 145
equivalent, and in the case such communication is made during the 146
ninety-day period immediately prior to the referendum, such 147
communication shall also bear on its face the names of the five persons 148
who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to such business 149
entity, organization or association during the twelve-month period 150
immediately prior to such referendum. The communication shall also 151
state that additional information about the business entity, organization 152 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 6 of 28
or association making such communication may be found on the State 153
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site; (2) [in the case 154
of a political committee, the name of the committee and the name of its 155
treasurer; (3)] in the case of a political committee or a party committee, 156
the name of the committee; or [(4)] (3) in the case of such a group of two 157
or more individuals, the name of the group and the name and address 158
of its agent. 159
Sec. 3. Subsection (h) of section 9-621 of the general statutes is 160
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 161
2025): 162
(h) (1) No person shall make or incur an independent expenditure for 163
any written, typed or other printed communication, including on a 164
billboard, or any web-based, written communication, unless such 165
communication bears upon its face, as a disclaimer, the words "Paid for 166
by" and the name of such person and the following statement: "This 167
message was made independent of any candidate or political party.". In 168
the case of a person making or incurring such an independent 169
expenditure during the ninety-day period immediately prior to the 170
primary or election for which the independent expenditure is made, 171
such communication shall also bear upon its face the names of the five 172
persons who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to the 173
person making such communication during the twelve-month period 174
immediately prior to such primary or election, as applicable. The 175
communication shall also state that additional information about the 176
person making such communication may be found on the State 177
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site. 178
(2) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 179
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 180
for a video broadcast by television, satellite or Internet, unless at the end 181
of such advertising there appears for a period of not less than four 182
seconds as a disclaimer, the following as [an audio message and] a 183
written statement: "This message was paid for by (person making the 184
communication) and made independent of any candidate or political 185 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 7 of 28
party.". In the case of a person making or incurring such an independent 186
expenditure during the ninety-day period immediately prior to the 187
primary or election for which the independent expenditure is made, 188
such communication shall also list the names of the five persons who 189
made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to the person making 190
such communication during the twelve-month period immediately 191
prior to such primary or election, as applicable. The communication 192
shall also state that additional information about the person making 193
such communication may be found on the State Elections Enforcement 194
Commission's Internet web site. 195
(3) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 196
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 197
for an audio communication broadcast by radio, satellite or Internet, 198
unless the advertising ends with a disclaimer that is a personal audio 199
statement by such person's agent (A) identifying the person paying for 200
the expenditure, and (B) indicating that the message was made 201
independent of any candidate or political party, using the following 202
form: "I am .... (name of the person's agent), .... (title), of .... (the person). 203
This message was made independent of any candidate or political 204
party.". In the case of a person making or incurring such an independent 205
expenditure during the ninety-day period immediately prior to the 206
primary or election for which the independent expenditure is made, 207
such communication shall state the names of the five persons who made 208
the five largest aggregate covered transfers to the person making such 209
communication during the twelve-month period immediately prior to 210
such primary or election, as applicable. The communication shall also 211
state that additional information about the person making such 212
communication may be found on the State Elections Enforcement 213
Commission's Internet web site. 214
(4) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 215
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 216
for telephone calls, unless the narrative of the telephone call identifies 217
the person making the expenditure and during the ninety-day period 218
immediately prior to the primary or election for which the independent 219 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 8 of 28
expenditure is made, such communication shall state the names of the 220
five persons who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to 221
the person making such communication during the twelve-month 222
period immediately prior to such primary or election, as applicable. The 223
communication shall also state that additional information about the 224
person making such communication may be found on the State 225
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site. 226
Sec. 4. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 227
9-7b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 228
in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 229
(B) When conducting an audit after an election or primary, the 230
commission shall randomly audit not more than [fifty] twenty per cent 231
of candidate committees, which shall be selected through the process of 232
a weighted lottery conducted by the commission that takes into account 233
the selection frequency of a district served by the office of state senator 234
or state representative, as applicable, for the immediately preceding 235
three regular elections for such office and increases or decreases the 236
likelihood that such district will be selected for audit based on such 237
selection frequency, except that the commissioner shall audit all 238
candidate committees for candidates for a state-wide office. 239
Sec. 5. Subdivision (14) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b of the general 240
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 241
(Effective July 1, 2025): 242
(14) To (A) adopt and publish regulations and issue declaratory 243
rulings pursuant to chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of section 9-244
7a, as amended by this act, this section, and chapters 155 and 157, [; to] 245
(B) issue upon request and publish advisory opinions in the Connecticut 246
Law Journal upon the requirements of chapters 155 and 157, (C) subject 247
to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, issue and publish 248
guidance documents relating to the requirements of chapters 155 and 249
157, and [to] (D) make recommendations to the General Assembly 250
concerning suggested revisions of the election laws, except that the 251 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 9 of 28
commission shall not issue any declaratory ruling or advisory opinion 252
relating to the provisions of chapter 157 during the one-hundred-eighty-253
day period immediately preceding a state election, provided nothing in 254
this subdivision shall be construed to limit the commission's ability 255
during such period to provide general guidance and clarification 256
relating to the provisions of said chapter; 257
Sec. 6. Section 9-7b of the general statutes is amended by adding 258
subsection (c) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 259
(NEW) (c) On and after July 1, 2025, prior to the issuance and 260
publication of any new guidance document relating to the requirements 261
of chapters 155 and 157, or the revision of any such existing guidance 262
document, the commission shall submit such guidance document to the 263
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 264
matters relating to government oversight, which shall hold a public 265
hearing on such guidance document within thirty days after the date of 266
submittal to such committee. The commission shall include with the 267
guidance document a summary of the changes in the law the 268
commission is proposing to clarify through such guidance document. 269
Such committee may reject such guidance document by a majority vote. 270
If such committee fails to vote to approve or reject such guidance 271
document within thirty days after the date of submittal to such 272
committee, such guidance document shall be deemed approved and the 273
commission may issue and publish such guidance document. 274
Sec. 7. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 9-704 of the general 275
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 276
(Effective July 1, 2025): 277
(c) (1) [For] Subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this 278
subsection, for elections for the office of Governor, Lieutenant 279
Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or 280
Secretary of the State held in [2022] 2026, and thereafter, the two-281
hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual contribution amount in 282
subdivision (1) or (2) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as 283 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 10 of 28
applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement 284
Commission not later than [January 15, 2022] December 30, 2025, and 285
quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the 286
consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the 287
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during 288
the period beginning on [January 1, 2017] December 16, 2016, and 289
ending on December [thirty-first] fifteenth in [the year preceding] the 290
year in which said adjustment is to be made. 291
(2) [For] (A) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this 292
subsection, for elections for the office of state senator or state 293
representative held in 2020, and thereafter until December 31, 2025, the 294
two-hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual contribution amount in 295
subdivision (3) or (4) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as 296
applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement 297
Commission not later than January 15, 2020, and biennially thereafter, 298
in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban 299
consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, 300
Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 301
2017, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year 302
in which said adjustment is to be made. 303
(B) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection, for 304
elections for the office of state senator or state representative held in 305
2026, and thereafter, the two-hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual 306
contribution amount in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of this 307
section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections 308
Enforcement Commission not later than December 30, 2025, and 309
biennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer 310
price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States 311
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period 312
beginning on December 16, 2016, and ending on December fifteenth in 313
the year in which said adjustment is to be made. 314
(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, on 315
and after December 30, 2025, the maximum individual contribution 316 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 11 of 28
amount resulting from any adjustment made by the State Elections 317
Enforcement Commission, pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of this 318
subsection, as applicable, shall remain in effect until the immediately 319
following adjustment is made by the commission, at which time a new 320
maximum individual contribution amount shall take effect. 321
(B) In the event that any adjustment made by the State Elections 322
Enforcement Commission, pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of this 323
subsection, as applicable, results in a new maximum individual 324
contribution amount that would be less than the maximum individual 325
contribution amount that resulted from the immediately preceding 326
adjustment, (i) such new maximum individual contribution amount 327
shall not take effect, and (ii) the maximum individual contribution 328
amount that resulted from the immediately preceding adjustment shall 329
remain in effect until the next adjustment made by the commission 330
pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, as applicable. 331
(d) Each individual who makes a contribution of more than fifty 332
dollars to a candidate committee established to aid or promote the 333
success of a participating candidate for nomination or election shall 334
include with the contribution a certification that contains the same 335
information described in subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 9-336
608 and shall follow the same procedure prescribed in said subsection. 337
(e) (1) The following shall not be deemed to be qualifying 338
contributions under subsection (a) of this section and shall be returned 339
to the contributor by the treasurer of the candidate committee [to the 340
contributor or transmitted to] or by the State Elections Enforcement 341
Commission [for deposit in the Citizens' Election Fund] in accordance 342
with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 9-706, 343
as amended by this act: 344
[(1)] (A) A contribution from a principal of a state contractor or 345
prospective state contractor; 346
[(2)] (B) A contribution of less than five dollars; [, and a contribution 347
of five dollars or more from an individual who does not provide the full 348 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 12 of 28
name and complete address of the individual;] 349
[(3)] (C) A contribution under subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) 350
of this section from an individual who does not reside in the state, in 351
excess of the applicable limit on contributions from out-of-state 352
individuals in subsection (a) of this section; and 353
[(4)] (D) A contribution made by a youth who is less than twelve years 354
of age. 355
(2) A contribution of five dollars or more from an individual who 356
does not provide the full name and complete address of such individual 357
shall not be deemed to be a qualifying contribution under subsection (a) 358
of this section and shall be returned to the contributor by the treasurer 359
of the candidate committee, if practicable, or transmitted to the State 360
Elections Enforcement Commission for deposit in the Citizens' Election 361
Fund. 362
Sec. 8. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 9-706 of the general 363
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 364
(Effective July 1, 2025): 365
(b) The application shall include a written certification that: 366
(1) The candidate committee has received the required amount of 367
qualifying contributions; 368
(2) The candidate committee has repaid all moneys borrowed on 369
behalf of the campaign, as required by subsection (b) of section 9-710; 370
(3) The candidate committee has returned, whenever practicable, any 371
contribution of five dollars or more from an individual who does not 372
include the individual's name and address with the contribution; 373
(4) The candidate committee has [returned] taken reasonable efforts 374
to return all contributions or portions of contributions that do not meet 375
the criteria for qualifying contributions under section 9-704, as amended 376
by this act, and has transmitted all excess qualifying contributions to the 377 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 13 of 28
Citizens' Election Fund; 378
(5) The treasurer of the candidate committee will: (A) Comply with 379
the provisions of chapter 155 and this chapter, and (B) maintain and 380
furnish all records required pursuant to chapter 155 and this chapter 381
and any regulation adopted pursuant to such chapters; 382
(6) All moneys received from the Citizens' Election Fund will be 383
deposited upon receipt into the depository account of the candidate 384
committee; 385
(7) The treasurer of the candidate committee will expend all moneys 386
received from the fund in accordance with the provisions of subsection 387
(g) of section 9-607 and regulations adopted by the State Elections 388
Enforcement Commission under subsection (e) of this section; 389
(8) If the candidate withdraws from the campaign, becomes ineligible 390
or dies during the campaign, the candidate committee of the candidate 391
will return to the commission, for deposit in the fund, all moneys 392
received from the fund pursuant to sections 9-700 to 9-716, inclusive, 393
which said candidate committee has not spent as of the date of such 394
occurrence; 395
(9) All outstanding civil penalties or forfeitures assessed pursuant to 396
chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, against the current or any former 397
committee of the candidate have been paid, provided (A) in the case of 398
any candidate seeking nomination for or election to the office of 399
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, 400
Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, any such penalty or forfeiture 401
was assessed not later than twenty-four months prior to the submission 402
of an application pursuant to this section; or (B) in the case of any 403
candidate seeking nomination for or election to the office of state senator 404
or state representative, any such penalty or forfeiture was assessed not 405
later than twelve months prior to the submission of an application 406
pursuant to this section; 407
(10) The treasurer has paid any civil penalties or forfeitures assessed 408 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 14 of 28
pursuant to chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, and has not been convicted 409
of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, in a court of competent 410
jurisdiction, any (A) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 411
embezzlement or bribery, or (B) criminal offense under this title, unless 412
at least eight years have elapsed from the date of the conviction or plea 413
or the completion of any sentence, whichever date is later, without a 414
subsequent conviction of or plea to another such felony or offense; 415
(11) The candidate has not been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 416
contendere to, in a court of competent jurisdiction, a criminal offense 417
under this title unless at least eight years have elapsed from the date of 418
the conviction or plea or the completion of any sentence, whichever date 419
is later, without a subsequent conviction of or plea to another such 420
offense; and 421
(12) The candidate has never been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 422
contendere to, in a court of competent jurisdiction, a felony related to 423
the individual's public office, other than a criminal offense under this 424
title in accordance with subdivision (11) of this subsection. 425
(c) The application shall be accompanied by a cumulative itemized 426
accounting of all funds received, expenditures made and expenses 427
incurred but not yet paid by the candidate committee as of three days 428
preceding the day the application is filed. Such accounting shall be 429
sworn to under penalty of false statement by the treasurer of the 430
candidate committee. The commission shall prescribe the form of the 431
application and the cumulative itemized accounting. The form for such 432
accounting shall conform to the requirements of section 9-608. Both the 433
candidate and the treasurer of the candidate committee shall sign the 434
application. 435
(d) (1) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this 436
section, the commission shall review the application [,] and determine 437
whether [(1)] (A) the candidate committee for the applicant has received 438
the required qualifying contributions, [(2)] (B) in the case of an 439
application for a grant from the fund for a convention campaign, the 440 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 15 of 28
applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this 441
section for applying for such grant and complied with the provisions of 442
subsections (b) and (c) of this section, [(3)] (C) in the case of an 443
application for a grant from the fund for a primary campaign, the 444
applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this 445
section for applying for such grant and complied with the provisions of 446
subsections (b) and (c) of this section, [(4)] (D) in the case of an 447
application for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, 448
the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of 449
this section for applying for such grant and complied with the 450
provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and [(5)] (E) in the 451
case of an application by a minor party or petitioning party candidate 452
for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant 453
qualifies as an eligible minor party candidate or an eligible petitioning 454
party candidate, whichever is applicable. 455
(2) During such review of the application: 456
(A) If the commission deems a contribution received by the candidate 457
committee not to be a qualifying contribution, the commission shall 458
advise the treasurer of the candidate committee of such determination 459
and cite the applicable reason under subsection (e) of section 9-704, as 460
amended by this act, for such determination and shall return the 461
contribution to the contributor based on the information provided on 462
the applicable contribution certification form; 463
(B) There shall be a presumption that information provided on a 464
contribution certification form is true and correct, which presumption 465
may only be rebutted by proof otherwise based on a prior investigative 466
finding of the commission; and 467
(C) The commission shall not disqualify any contribution from being 468
counted as a qualifying contribution for reason that (i) the residential 469
address associated with such contribution does not match the billing 470
address associated with such contribution, or (ii) such contribution was 471
made in response to an electronically shared link to a fundraising 472 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 16 of 28
Internet web site or invitation to a fundraising event. 473
(3) If the commission approves an application, the commission shall 474
determine the amount of the grant payable to the candidate committee 475
for the applicant pursuant to section 9-705 from the fund, and notify the 476
State Comptroller and the candidate of such candidate committee of 477
such amount. In so notifying the State Comptroller, the commission 478
shall (A) ensure that the qualified candidate committee of an applicant 479
is entitled to a full grant for the general election campaign only if (i) the 480
applicant's written certification under subsection (b) of this section 481
affirms that such committee received the required qualifying 482
contributions under section 9-704, as amended by this act, prior to the 483
seventieth day before the election, and (ii) the cumulative itemized 484
accounting under subsection (c) of this section demonstrates that the 485
applicant reasonably believes such written certification to be true and 486
correct, and (B) advise the State Comptroller accordingly. If the timing 487
of the commission's approval of the grant for a primary campaign or 488
general election campaign in relation to the Secretary of the State's 489
determination of ballot status is such that the commission cannot 490
determine whether the qualified candidate committee is entitled to the 491
applicable full initial grant for the primary or election or the applicable 492
partial grant for the primary or election, as the case may be, the 493
commission shall approve the lesser applicable partial initial grant. The 494
commission shall then authorize the payment of the remaining portion 495
of the applicable primary campaign or general election campaign grant 496
after the commission has knowledge of the circumstances regarding the 497
ballot status of the opposing candidates in such primary or election. Not 498
later than thirty days following notification by the commission in the 499
case of a convention campaign grant, or not later than two business days 500
following notification by the commission in the case of any other grant, 501
the State Comptroller shall draw an order on the State Treasurer for 502
payment of any such approved amount to the qualified candidate 503
committee from the fund. 504
Sec. 9. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 9-7a of the general 505
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 506 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 17 of 28
(Effective July 1, 2025): 507
(b) (1) A vacancy in the commission shall not impair the right of the 508
remaining members to exercise all the powers of the commission, and 509
three members of said commission shall constitute a quorum. 510
(2) All meetings of the commission, noticed in accordance with the 511
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-512
200, shall be broadcast contemporaneously and continuously on an 513
Internet web site identified in such notice. Such Internet web site shall 514
not require that any member of the public (A) create an account to access 515
such Internet web site, or (B) affirmatively reconnect to such broadcast 516
after an interruption due to the commission holding an executive 517
session. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require the 518
broadcast of any portion of a meeting during which the commission is 519
holding an executive session. 520
(c) The commission shall at the close of each fiscal year report to the 521
General Assembly and the Governor concerning the action it has taken 522
including, but not limited to a list of all complaints investigated by the 523
commission and the disposition of each such complaint, by voting 524
districts, where the alleged violation occurred; the names, salaries and 525
duties of the individuals in its employ and the money it has disbursed; 526
and shall make such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction 527
and such recommendations for further legislation as may appear 528
desirable. 529
(d) [The] (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 530
the commission shall, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, employ 531
such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 532
section, section 9-7b, as amended by this act, and section 9-623, 533
including an executive director, and may apply to the Commissioner of 534
Emergency Services and Public Protection or to the Chief State's 535
Attorney for necessary investigatory personnel, which the same are 536
hereby authorized to provide. 537
(2) (A) On or before March 1, 2027, and quadrennially thereafter, the 538 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 18 of 28
commission shall, with the advice and consent of either house of the 539
General Assembly, appoint an executive director in the manner 540
prescribed in this subdivision, to serve at the pleasure of the commission 541
but not longer than four years after such appointment, unless 542
reappointed under the provisions of this subdivision. 543
(B) On or before February 1, 2027, and quadrennially thereafter, the 544
commission shall submit a nomination for executive director to either 545
house of the General Assembly. Such house shall immediately refer the 546
nomination to its committee on executive nominations, which shall 547
report thereon by resolution within fifteen calendar days from the date 548
of reference. Such house, by resolution, shall confirm or reject the 549
nomination. If confirmed, the nominee shall take office on the first day 550
of March in the year in which the appointment is submitted. If such 551
house rejects the nomination before the first day of March in the year in 552
which it is submitted, the procedure prescribed in subparagraph (C) of 553
this subdivision shall be followed. 554
(C) If a vacancy occurs in the office of executive director while the 555
General Assembly is in regular session, the commission shall, not later 556
than thirty days after the occurrence of the vacancy, submit its 557
nomination to fill the vacancy to either house of the General Assembly. 558
The house to which the nomination is submitted shall immediately refer 559
the nomination to its committee on executive nominations, which shall 560
report thereon by resolution within fifteen legislative days from the date 561
of reference. Such house shall confirm or reject such nomination. If such 562
house, by resolution, confirms the nomination within thirty calendar 563
days after it is submitted, the nominee shall forthwith take office to serve 564
at the pleasure of the commission but not longer than the original 565
appointee could have served under his or her appointment. If such 566
house rejects the nomination within thirty calendar days after it is 567
submitted, the commission shall, within thirty calendar days, submit 568
another nomination to either house of the General Assembly, provided, 569
if any nomination is submitted less than thirty calendar days before the 570
date established by the Constitution for adjournment of the General 571
Assembly, and the house to which it is submitted fails to confirm or 572 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 19 of 28
reject the nomination before such adjournment on said date, the 573
procedure prescribed in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision shall be 574
followed. 575
(D) If a vacancy occurs in the office of executive director while the 576
General Assembly is not in regular session, it shall be filled by the 577
commission until the sixth Wednesday of the next session of the General 578
Assembly. At the beginning of the next regular session of the General 579
Assembly, the commission shall submit the name of the vacancy 580
appointee to either house of the General Assembly as said commission 581
elects and the procedure prescribed in subparagraph (C) of this 582
subdivision shall be followed. 583
(E) No person who has been rejected by resolution of the house to 584
which his or her name has been submitted by the commission shall serve 585
in the office of executive director during the term of the house which 586
rejected him or her. 587
Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 9-601a of the general statutes is 588
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 589
passage): 590
(b) As used in this chapter and chapter 157, "contribution" does not 591
mean: 592
(1) A loan of money made in the ordinary course of business by a 593
national or state bank; 594
(2) Any communication made by a corporation, organization or 595
association solely to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or 596
administrative personnel, or their families; 597
(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by 598
any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, 599
owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their 600
families; 601
(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering 602 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 20 of 28
their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate 603
committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for 604
the benefit of nonparticipating and participating candidates under the 605
Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed travel expenses made 606
by an individual who volunteers the individual's personal services to 607
any such committee. For purposes of this subdivision, an individual is 608
a volunteer if such individual is not receiving compensation for such 609
services regardless of whether such individual received compensation 610
in the past or may receive compensation for similar services that may be 611
performed in the future; 612
(5) The use of real or personal property, a portion or all of the cost of 613
invitations and the cost of food or beverages, voluntarily provided by 614
an individual to a candidate, including a nonparticipating or 615
participating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or to a 616
party, political or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal 617
services at the individual's residential premises or a community room 618
in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative 619
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 620
behalf of any candidate or committee does not exceed [four] five 621
hundred dollars with respect to any single event or does not exceed 622
[eight hundred] one thousand dollars for any such event hosted by two 623
or more individuals, provided at least one such individual owns or 624
resides at the residential premises, and further provided the cumulative 625
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 626
behalf of any such candidate or committee does not exceed [eight 627
hundred] one thousand dollars with respect to a calendar year or single 628
election, as the case may be; 629
(6) The sale of food or beverage for use by a party, political, slate or 630
candidate committee, including those for a participating or 631
nonparticipating candidate, at a discount, if the charge is not less than 632
the cost to the vendor, to the extent that the cumulative value of the 633
discount given to or on behalf of any single candidate committee does 634
not exceed four hundred dollars with respect to any single primary or 635
election, or to or on behalf of any party, political or slate committee, does 636 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 21 of 28
not exceed six hundred dollars in a calendar year; 637
(7) The display of a lawn sign by a human being or on real property; 638
(8) The payment, by a party committee or slate committee of the costs 639
of preparation, display, mailing or other distribution incurred by the 640
committee or individual with respect to any printed slate card, sample 641
ballot or other printed list containing the names of three or more 642
candidates; 643
(9) The donation of any item of personal property by an individual to 644
a committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, or 645
the purchase by an individual of any such item at such an affair, to the 646
extent that the cumulative value donated or purchased does not exceed 647
one hundred dollars; 648
(10) (A) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the 649
purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair sponsored by the 650
candidate committee of a candidate for an office of a municipality, 651
provided the cumulative purchase of such space does not exceed two 652
hundred fifty dollars from any single such candidate or the candidate's 653
committee with respect to any single election campaign if the purchaser 654
is a business entity or fifty dollars for purchases by any other person; 655
(B) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the 656
purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-657
raising affair sponsored by a party committee or a political committee, 658
other than an exploratory committee, provided the cumulative purchase 659
of such space does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars from any single 660
party committee or a political committee, other than an exploratory 661
committee, in any calendar year if the purchaser is a business entity or 662
fifty dollars for purchases by any other person. Notwithstanding the 663
provisions of this subparagraph, the following may not purchase 664
advertising space in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a 665
fund-raising affair sponsored by a party committee or a political 666
committee, other than an exploratory committee: (i) A communicator 667
lobbyist, (ii) a member of the immediate family of a communicator 668 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 22 of 28
lobbyist, (iii) a state contractor, (iv) a prospective state contractor, or (v) 669
a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor. As used 670
in this subparagraph, "state contractor", "prospective state contractor" 671
and "principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor" have 672
the same meanings as provided in subsection (f) of section 9-612; 673
(11) The payment of money by a candidate to the candidate's 674
candidate committee, provided the committee is for a nonparticipating 675
candidate; 676
(12) The donation of goods or services by a business entity to a 677
committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, to 678
the extent that the cumulative value donated does not exceed two 679
hundred dollars; 680
(13) The advance of a security deposit by an individual to a telephone 681
company, as defined in section 16-1, for telecommunications service for 682
a committee or to another utility company, such as an electric 683
distribution company, provided the security deposit is refunded to the 684
individual; 685
(14) The provision of facilities, equipment, technical and managerial 686
support, and broadcast time by a community antenna television 687
company, as defined in section 16-1, for community access 688
programming pursuant to section 16-331a, unless (A) the major purpose 689
of providing such facilities, equipment, support and time is to influence 690
the nomination or election of a candidate, or (B) such facilities, 691
equipment, support and time are provided on behalf of a political party; 692
(15) The sale of food or beverage by a town committee to an 693
individual at a town fair, county fair, local festival or similar mass 694
gathering held within the state, to the extent that the cumulative 695
payment made by any one individual for such items does not exceed 696
fifty dollars; 697
(16) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative 698
caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; 699 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 23 of 28
(17) The donation of food or beverage by an individual for 700
consumption at a slate, candidate, political committee or party 701
committee meeting, event or activity that is not a fund-raising affair to 702
the extent that the cumulative value of the food or beverages donated 703
by an individual for a single meeting or event does not exceed fifty 704
dollars; 705
(18) The value associated with the de minimis activity on behalf of a 706
party committee, political committee, slate committee or candidate 707
committee, including for activities including, but not limited to, (A) the 708
creation of electronic or written communications or digital photos or 709
video as part of an electronic file created on a voluntary basis without 710
compensation, including, but not limited to, the creation and ongoing 711
content development and delivery of social media on the Internet or 712
telephone, including, but not limited to, the sending or receiving of 713
electronic mail or messages, (B) the posting or display of a candidate's 714
name or group of candidates' names at a town fair, county fair, local 715
festival or similar mass gathering by a party committee, (C) the use of 716
personal property or a service that is customarily attendant to the 717
occupancy of a residential dwelling, or the donation of an item or items 718
of personal property that are customarily used for campaign purposes, 719
by an individual, to a candidate committee, provided the cumulative 720
fair market value of such use of personal property or service or items of 721
personal property does not exceed one hundred dollars in the aggregate 722
for any single election or calendar year, as the case may be; 723
(19) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment 724
provided by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or 725
legislative leadership committee that serve as headquarters for or are 726
used by such party committee, legislative caucus committee or 727
legislative leadership committee; 728
(20) A communication, as described in subdivision (7) of subsection 729
(b) of section 9-601b, as amended by this act; 730
(21) An independent expenditure, as defined in section 9-601c; 731 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 24 of 28
(22) A communication containing an endorsement on behalf of a 732
candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, 733
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State 734
Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, 735
from a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 736
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney 737
General, state senator or state representative, provided the candidate 738
(A) making the endorsement is unopposed at the time of the 739
communication, and (B) being endorsed paid for such communication; 740
(23) A communication that is sent by mail to addresses in the district 741
for which a candidate being endorsed by another candidate pursuant to 742
this subdivision is seeking nomination or election to the office of state 743
senator or state representative, containing an endorsement on behalf of 744
such candidate for such nomination or election from a candidate for the 745
office of state senator or state representative, provided the candidate (A) 746
making the endorsement is not seeking election to the office of state 747
senator or state representative for a district that contains any 748
geographical area shared by the district for the office to which the 749
endorsed candidate is seeking nomination or election, and (B) being 750
endorsed paid for such communication; or 751
(24) Campaign training events provided to multiple individuals by a 752
legislative caucus committee and any associated materials, provided the 753
cumulative value of such events and materials does not exceed six 754
thousand dollars in the aggregate for a calendar year. 755
Sec. 11. Subsection (b) of section 9-601b of the general statutes is 756
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 757
passage): 758
(b) The term "expenditure" does not mean: 759
(1) A loan of money, made in the ordinary course of business, by a 760
state or national bank; 761
(2) A communication made by any corporation, organization or 762 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 25 of 28
association solely to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or 763
administrative personnel, or their families; 764
(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by 765
any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, 766
owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their 767
families; 768
(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering 769
their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate 770
committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for 771
the benefit of nonparticipating and participating candidates under the 772
Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed travel expenses made 773
by an individual who volunteers the individual's personal services to 774
any such committee. For purposes of this subdivision, an individual is 775
a volunteer if such individual is not receiving compensation for such 776
services regardless of whether such individual received compensation 777
in the past or may receive compensation for similar services that may be 778
performed in the future; 779
(5) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the 780
facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other 781
periodical, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political 782
party, committee or candidate; 783
(6) The use of real or personal property, a portion or all of the cost of 784
invitations and the cost of food or beverages, voluntarily provided by 785
an individual to a candidate, including a nonparticipating or 786
participating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or to a 787
party, political or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal 788
services at the individual's residential premises or a community room 789
in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative 790
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 791
behalf of any candidate or committee does not exceed [four] five 792
hundred dollars with respect to any single event or does not exceed 793
[eight hundred] one thousand dollars for any such event hosted by two 794 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 26 of 28
or more individuals, provided at least one such individual owns or 795
resides at the residential premises, and further provided the cumulative 796
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 797
behalf of any such candidate or committee does not exceed [eight 798
hundred] one thousand dollars with respect to a calendar year or single 799
election, as the case may be; 800
(7) A communication described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 801
this section that includes speech or expression made (A) prior to the 802
ninety-day period preceding the date of a primary or an election at 803
which the clearly identified candidate or candidates are seeking 804
nomination to public office or position, that is made for the purpose of 805
influencing any legislative or administrative action, as defined in section 806
1-91, or executive action, or (B) during a legislative session for the 807
purpose of influencing legislative action; 808
(8) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative 809
caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; 810
(9) A commercial advertisement that refers to an owner, director or 811
officer of a business entity who is also a candidate and that had 812
previously been broadcast or appeared when the owner, director or 813
officer was not a candidate; 814
(10) A communication containing an endorsement on behalf of a 815
candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, 816
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State 817
Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, 818
from a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 819
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney 820
General, state senator or state representative, shall not be an 821
expenditure attributable to the endorsing candidate, if the candidate 822
making the endorsement is unopposed at the time of the 823
communication; 824
(11) A communication that is sent by mail to addresses in the district 825
for which a candidate being endorsed by another candidate pursuant to 826 Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 27 of 28
the provisions of this subdivision is seeking nomination or election to 827
the office of state senator or state representative, containing an 828
endorsement on behalf of such candidate for such nomination or 829
election, from a candidate for the office of state senator or state 830
representative, shall not be an expenditure attributable to the endorsing 831
candidate, if the candidate making the endorsement is not seeking 832
election to the office of state senator or state representative for a district 833
that contains any geographical area shared by the district for the office 834
to which the endorsed candidate is seeking nomination or election; 835
(12) Campaign training events provided to multiple individuals by a 836
legislative caucus committee and any associated materials, provided the 837
cumulative value of such events and materials does not exceed six 838
thousand dollars in the aggregate for a calendar year; 839
(13) A lawful communication by any charitable organization which is 840
a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 841
Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal 842
revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended; 843
(14) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment 844
provided by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or 845
legislative leadership committee that serve as headquarters for or are 846
used by such party committee, legislative caucus committee or 847
legislative leadership committee; or 848
(15) An expense or expenses incurred by a human being acting alone 849
in an amount that is two hundred dollars or less, in the aggregate, that 850
benefits a candidate for a single election. 851
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 9-601(25) and (26)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 9-621(a) to (c)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 9-621(h)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 9-7b(a)(5)(B)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 9-7b(a)(14) Substitute Bill No. 1405
LCO 28 of 28
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 9-7b(c)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 9-704(c) to (e)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 9-706(b) to (d)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 9-7a(b) to (d)
Sec. 10 from passage 9-601a(b)
Sec. 11 from passage 9-601b(b)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(26)(D)(v), "fundraiser" was changed to "[fundraiser]
fundraising event" for consistency.
GOS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO