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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 144 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 506
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Julian Cyr
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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 dark money in local government.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Julian CyrCape and IslandsDylan A. FernandesPlymouth and Barnstable 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 144 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 506
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 506) of Julian Cyr and Dylan A.
Fernandes for legislation relative to dark money in local government. Election Laws.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to dark money in local government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 22A the following section:-
3 “SECTION 22B: Persons or corporations making contributions or expenditures to
4influence town warrant articles; filing reports with clerk; penalties.
5 (a) Terms used in this section shall be construed as follows unless a contrary intention
6clearly appears:-
7 “Article”, subjects to be acted upon at a town meeting as referenced in a warrant.
8 “Town Meeting”, an annual town meeting or special town meeting called pursuant to
9chapter 39, section .9
10 “Warrant”, the call of a town meeting pursuant to chapter 39, section 10. 2 of 2
11 (b) Any person, corporation, association, organization or other group of persons, which
12has given, paid, or expended, or promised to give, pay or expend, any money or other thing of
13value of $1,000 or more in the aggregate in order to influence or affect an article on a warrant or
14the vote on any article at a town meeting, shall file reports on a form as prescribed by the
15director. The form shall include the date each expenditure was made or liability incurred; the
16purpose of the expenditure or liability; the amount of the expenditure; the full name and address
17of the person to whom each expenditure was made or liability incurred; the full name and
18address of the person, corporation, association, organization or the members of other group of
19persons by whom such expenditure was made or liability incurred; and for each gift, payment or
20contribution received to make the expenditure or incur the liability (1) the date of receipt; (2) the
21amount; and (3) the full name and address from whom each gift, payment or contribution was
22received.
23 (c) Such reports shall be filed with the town clerk as follows: (i) on the fifth day of each
24month for any contributions received or expenditures made in the preceding month through the
25last day of the preceding month; (ii) on the fifth day preceding a town meeting complete as to the
26seventh day preceding the town meeting; and (iii) as a final report, on the thirtieth day following
27a town meeting.
28 (d) This section shall not prohibit any officer, employee or agent of the commonwealth or
29its subdivisions from acting in their official capacity or private capacity relative to an article on a
30warrant.
31 (e) Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not
32more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.