EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0550*
HOUSE BILL 550
G1 5lr2276
HB 769/24 – W&M
By: Delegate Feldmark
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Local Public Campaign Financing – Expansion to Additional Offices 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the governing body of a county to establish a system of 3
public campaign financing for certain offices after the governing body of the county 4
has implemented a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in the 5
executive or legislative branches of county government for at least one complete 6
election cycle; and generally relating to the expansion of local public campaign 7
financing. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Election Law 10
Section 13–505 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Election Law 16
13–505. 17
(a) In this section, “contested election committee” means a contested election 18
committee established under Title 12, Subtitle 3 of this article. 19
(b) (1) (I) Subject to the provisions of this section, the governing body of a 20
county may establish, by law, a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in 21
the executive or legislative branches of county government. 22
(II) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SECTION , AFTER THE 23 2 HOUSE BILL 550
GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY HAS IMPLEMENTED A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN 1
FINANCING ESTABLISHE D UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH FO R AT 2
LEAST ONE COMPLETE E LECTION CYCLE , THE GOVERNING BODY O F THE COUNTY 3
MAY ESTABLISH , BY LAW, A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC C AMPAIGN FINANC ING FOR ONE OR 4
MORE OF THE FOLLOWIN G OFFICES: 5
1. STATE’S ATTORNEY; 6
2. SHERIFF; 7
3. REGISTER OF WILLS ; 8
4. JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT; 9
5. CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT; 10
6. JUDGE OF THE ORPHANS ’ COURT; OR 11
7. AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF 12
EDUCATION. 13
(2) A system of public financing established under paragraph (1) of this 14
subsection may include public financing of a contested election committee. 15
(3) When establishing a system of public campaign financing for [elective 16
offices in the executive or legislative branches of county government] AN OFFICE UNDER 17
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , the governing body of a county shall: 18
(i) specify the criteria that are to be used to determine whether an 19
individual is eligible for public campaign financing; and 20
(ii) provide the funding and staff necessary for the operation, 21
administration, and auditing of the system of public campaign financing. 22
(c) A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (b) of this 23
section: 24
(1) shall provide for participation of candidates in public campaign 25
financing on a strictly voluntary basis; 26
(2) may not regulate candidates who choose not to participate in public 27
campaign financing; 28
(3) shall prohibit the use of public campaign financing for any campaign 29
except a campaign for [county] LOCAL elective office; 30 HOUSE BILL 550 3
(4) shall require a candidate who accepts public campaign financing to: 1
(i) establish a campaign finance entity solely for the campaign for 2
[county] LOCAL elective office; and 3
(ii) use funds from that campaign finance entity only for the 4
campaign for [county] LOCAL elective office; 5
(5) shall prohibit a candidate who accepts public campaign financing from 6
transferring funds: 7
(i) to the campaign finance entity established to finance the 8
campaign for [county] LOCAL elective office from any other campaign finance entity 9
established for the candidate; and 10
(ii) from the campaign finance entity established to finance the 11
campaign for [county] LOCAL elective office to any other campaign finance entity; 12
(6) shall provide for a public election fund for [county] LOCAL elective 13
offices that is administered by the chief financial officer of the county; and 14
(7) shall be subject to regulation and oversight by the State Board to ensure 15
conformity with State law and policy to the extent practicable. 16
(d) A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (b) of this 17
section may: 18
(1) provide for more stringent regulation of campaign finance activity by 19
candidates who choose to accept public campaign financing, including contributions, 20
expenditures, reporting, and campaign material, than is provided for by State law; 21
(2) provide for administrative penalties for violations, in accordance with § 22
10–202 of the Local Government Article; and 23
(3) allow a publicly financed candidate to transfer any amount of funds 24
from the candidate’s campaign finance entity to the candidate’s contested election 25
committee. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 27
1, 2025. 28