1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2561 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 812
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Mike Connolly
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to transparent political campaigning.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mike Connolly26th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2561 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 812
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 812) of
Mike Connolly relative to transparent political campaigning. Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 672 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to transparent political campaigning.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 55 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking
2the definition of “Electioneering communication” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
3 ''Electioneering communication'', any broadcast, cable, mail, satellite, print, SMS text
4message, MMS text message or other text message communication that: (1) refers to a clearly
5identified candidate; and (2) is publicly distributed within 90 days before an election in which
6the candidate is seeking election or reelection; provided, however, that ''electioneering
7communication'' shall not include the following communications: (1) a communication that is
8disseminated through a means other than a broadcast station, radio station, cable television
9system or satellite system, newspaper, magazine, periodical, billboard advertisement, SMS text
10message, MMS text message, other text message or mail; (2) a communication to less than 100 2 of 3
11recipients; (3) a news story, commentary, letter to the editor, news release, column, op-ed or
12editorial broadcast by a television station, radio station, cable television system or satellite
13system, or printed in a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical in general circulation; (4)
14expenditures or independent expenditures or contributions that must otherwise be reported under
15this chapter; (5) a communication from a membership organization exclusively to its members
16and their families, otherwise known as a membership communication; (6) bonafide candidate
17debates or forums and advertising or promotion of the same; (7) email communications; and (8)
18internet communications which are not paid advertisements.
19 SECTION 2. Section 18G of chapter 55 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
20inserting a new paragraph after the second paragraph that states the following:
21 An independent expenditure or electioneering communication made by an individual,
22corporation, group, association, labor union or other entity which is transmitted through SMS
23text message, MMS text message or other text message shall include within the message a
24written statement disclosing the identity of the individual, corporation, group, association, labor
25union or other entity paying for the communication and the words ''Top Contributors'' and a
26written statement that lists the 5 persons or entities or if fewer than 5 persons or entities, all
27persons or entities that made the largest contributions to that entity, regardless of the purpose for
28which the funds were given; provided, however, that only contributions in excess of $1,000
29reportable pursuant to this chapter during the 12–month period before the date of the
30advertisement or communication shall be listed. If no such contribution is received by the entity
31making an independent expenditure or electioneering communication, the advertisement or
32communication may exclude the statement. The communication shall also include a written
33statement, as specified by the director, at the bottom of the communication that directs viewers to 3 of 3
34the official web address of the office of campaign and political finance. This paragraph shall also
35apply to communications purchased to influence or affect the vote on a question submitted to the
36voters.