Connecticut 2017 Regular Session Status: Passed House

HB 5589 — AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

Last action — FILE NO. 806

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

24 added · 50 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 5589 introduce several definitions and procedural changes related to campaign financing and independent expenditures. Notably, it clarifies the term "candidate" to include those who enter a race later in an election cycle and establishes new requirements for entities involved in campaign-related disbursements over a specified amount, which must include prior board approval and public disclosure. These changes impact how campaign finance activities are reported and managed, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability in political contributions.

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General Assembly   Committee Bill No.
General Assembly   Substitute Bill No.
5589 January Session, 2017   LCO No.
5589 January Session, 2017   *_____HB05589GAE___032817____* AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
5625   *05625HB05589GAE* Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS   Introduced by:
  (GAE)   AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
(b) As used in this section, (1) "candidate" includes any person who, during an election cycle, becomes a candidate later in such election cycle and benefits from any expenditure (A) made by a coordinated spender, or (B) that is not an independent expenditure, (2) "election cycle" means, with respect to an office to which a person seeks nomination or election, the period beginning the day after the previous regular election for such office and ending the day of the immediately following regular election for such office, and (3) "member of the family" means (A) the spouse of the candidate, (B) any sibling, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle of the candidate, (C) any sibling parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle of the spouse of the candidate, or (D) the spouse of any child of any such individual described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of this subdivision.
(b) As used in this section, (1) "candidate" includes any person who, during an election cycle, becomes a candidate later in such election cycle and benefits from any expenditure (A) made by a coordinated spender, or (B) that is not an independent expenditure, (2) "election cycle" means, with respect to an office to which a person seeks nomination or election, the period beginning the day after the previous regular election for such office and ending the day of the immediately following regular election for such office, and (3) "member of the family" means (A) the spouse of the candidate, (B) any sibling, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle of the candidate, (C) any sibling, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle of the spouse of the candidate, or (D) the spouse of any child of any such individual described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of this subdivision.
(1) Any person directly or indirectly formed, controlled or established in an election cycle or the one immediately preceding by, at the request or suggestion of or with the encouragement or approval of the candidate, committee or any agent of the candidate or committee;
(1) Any person directly or indirectly formed, controlled or established in an election cycle or the one immediately preceding by, at the request or suggestion of, or with the encouragement or approval of, the candidate, committee or any agent of the candidate or committee;
(3) Any person established, directed or managed by any other person who during an election cycle (A) served in such election cycle as a political, media or fund-raising advisor or consultant for the candidate, committee or any entity controlled by the candidate or committee, or (B) held in such election cycle a formal position with a title for the candidate or committee;
(3) Any person established, directed or managed by any other person, which other person during an election cycle (A) served in such election cycle as a political, media or fund-raising advisor or consultant for the candidate, committee or any entity controlled by the candidate or committee, or (B) held in such election cycle a formal position with a title for the candidate or committee;
(d) Any expenditure made by a coordinated spender, as described in subsection (c) of this section, shall be deemed to have been made with the consent, coordination or consultation of the candidate, committee or any agent of the candidate of committee.
(d) Any expenditure made by a coordinated spender, as described in subsection (c) of this section, shall be deemed to have been made with the consent, coordination or consultation of the candidate, committee or any agent of the candidate or committee.
(5) An expenditure made by a person or an entity on or after January first in the year of an election in which a candidate is seeking public office that benefits such candidate when such person or entity has hired an individual as an employee or consultant and such individual was an employee of or consultant to such candidate, such candidate's candidate committee or such candidate's opponent's candidate committee during [any part of the eighteen-month period preceding such expenditure] an election cycle or the one immediately preceding;
(5) An expenditure made by a person or an entity, on or after January first in the year of an election in which a candidate is seeking public office, that benefits such candidate when such person or entity has hired an individual as an employee or consultant and such individual was an employee of or consultant to such candidate, such candidate's candidate committee or such candidate's opponent's candidate committee during [any part of the eighteen-month period preceding such expenditure] an election cycle or the one immediately preceding;
(4) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection, each contributor who is the recipient of any covered transfer and who makes a contribution to an independent expenditure political committee that separately, or in the aggregate, exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars per calendar year shall provide with the contribution a statement signed under penalty of false statement, which certification shall include:
(4) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection, each contributor who is the recipient of any covered transfer and who makes a contribution to an independent expenditure political committee that separately, or in the aggregate, exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars per calendar year shall provide with the contribution a statement signed under penalty of false statement, which statement shall include:
The limits imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and elections and contributions by any such committee to candidates designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary thereto.
The limits imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and elections, and contributions by any such committee to candidates designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary thereto.
(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply separately to primaries and elections and no such committee shall make contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and primary preliminary thereto.
(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply separately to primaries and elections, and no such committee shall make contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and primary preliminary thereto.
Except as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, no political committee formed for a single election or primary shall, with respect to such election or primary, make a contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political committee, provided no such political committee shall make a contribution in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee.
Except as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, no political committee formed for a single election or primary shall, with respect to such election or primary, make a contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political committee, [provided] except that no such political committee shall make a contribution in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee.
(d) Notwithstanding this section, an independent expenditure political committee, as defined in section 2 of this act, formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question shall not make any contribution unless such contribution is made to another independent expenditure political committee.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an independent expenditure political committee, as defined in section 2 of this act, formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question shall not make any contribution unless such contribution is made to another independent expenditure political committee.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the board of governance, if any, for any entity incorporated, organized or operating in this state, shall vote for prior authorization for each payment or distribution of money in an amount more than four thousand dollars to be used as a campaign-related disbursement.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the board of governance, if any, for any entity incorporated, organized or operating in this state shall vote for prior authorization for each payment or distribution of money in an amount more than four thousand dollars to be used as a campaign-related disbursement.
Individual board member votes and the details of such expenditures shall be disclosed to the public on the entity's Internet web site not later than forty-eight hours after the vote and filed electronically with the State Elections Enforcement Commission under the provisions of section 9-612 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Individual board member votes and the details of such disbursements shall be disclosed to the public on the entity's Internet web site not later than forty-eight hours after the vote and filed electronically with the State Elections Enforcement Commission under the provisions of section 9-612 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(1) If the entity submits regular, periodic reports to its shareholders, members or donors, on the entity's finances or activities, include in each such report (A) the identity of the individual making any campaign-related disbursement and the business address of such individual, (B) the amount and date of each such disbursement and the identity of the individual to whom such disbursement was made, (C) the candidate or candidates or ballot issue to which such disbursements are related, and (D) the identity of any individual who made a donation in excess of one thousand dollars to the entity, for any campaign-related disbursements made by the entity during the period such report covers, or (2) provide on the entity's Internet web site a link to the entity's filed disclosure reports under said section 9-612.
(1) If the entity submits regular, periodic reports to its shareholders, members or donors on the entity's finances or activities, include in each such report (A) the identity of the individual making any campaign-related disbursement and the business address of such individual, (B) the amount and date of each such disbursement and the identity of the individual to whom such disbursement was made, (C) the candidate, candidates or ballot issue to which such disbursements are related, and (D) the identity of any individual who made a donation in excess of one thousand dollars to the entity for any campaign-related disbursements made by the entity during the period such report covers;
or (2) provide on the entity's Internet web site a link to the entity's filed disclosure reports under said section 9-612.
(4) If a person makes a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, and such person derives all funds of such covered transfer from a dedicated independent expenditure account that is segregated from all other accounts controlled by such person, such person shall provide to such maker of the independent expenditure the source and the amount of each donation, transfer or payment that is equal to or greater than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, to such dedicated independent expenditure account.
(4) (A) If a person makes a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, and such person derives all funds of such covered transfer from a dedicated independent expenditure account that is segregated from all other accounts controlled by such person, such person shall provide to such maker of the independent expenditure the source and the amount of each donation, transfer or payment that is equal to or greater than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, to such dedicated independent expenditure account.
(5) If a person makes a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, and such person derives any funds of such covered transfer from any source other than a dedicated independent expenditure account that is segregated from all other accounts controlled by such person, such person shall provide to such maker of the independent expenditure the source and the amount of each donation, transfer or payment to such person that is equal to or greater than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, during the twelve-month period prior to the primary or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure, for which such independent expenditure is made.
(B) If a person makes a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, and such person derives any funds of such covered transfer from any source other than a dedicated independent expenditure account that is segregated from all other accounts controlled by such person, such person shall provide to such maker of the independent expenditure the source and the amount of each donation, transfer or payment to such person that is equal to or greater than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, during the twelve-month period prior to the primary or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure, for which such independent expenditure is made.
(6) (A) A maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, shall not accept a covered transfer unless the information required to be disclosed under subdivision (3) of this subsection or provided under subdivision (4) or (5) of this subsection is so disclosed or provided.
(5) (A) A maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, shall not accept a covered transfer unless the information required to be disclosed under subdivision (3) of this subsection or provided under subdivision (4) of this subsection is so disclosed or provided.
(B) The recipient of a covered transfer shall not knowingly make a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, unless the information required to be provided under subdivision (4) or (5) of this subsection is so provided.
(B) The recipient of a covered transfer shall not knowingly make a covered transfer to the maker of an independent expenditure, including one who obligates to make an independent expenditure, unless the information required to be provided under subdivision (4) of this subsection is so provided.
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19 from passage 9-621(h) to (j) Statement of Purpose:
19 from passage 9-621(h) to (j) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
To (1) create bright lines between coordinated and independent spending, (2) address in statute independent expenditure political committees, (3) increase disclosure of sources of funds used for independent expenditures, (4) require board of governance authorization before certain entities make certain campaign-related disbursements of funds and disclosure of such disbursements to shareholders, (5) prohibit independent expenditures or covered transfers by foreign-influenced entities, and (6) impose limits on covered transfers.
In Section 3(c)(3), "who" was changed to "which other person" for clarity;
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
in Section 3(d), "candidate of committee" was changed to "candidate or committee" for accuracy;
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:
in Section 5(c)(4), "which certification" was changed to "which statement" for consistency;
REP.
in Section 12(a)(1), "provided no such" was changed to "[provided] except that no such" for accuracy;
ARESIMOWICZ, 30th Dist.;
in Section 13(d), "Notwithstanding this section" was changed to "Notwithstanding any other provision of this section" for clarity;
REP.
in Section 14(a), "such expenditures" was changed to "such disbursements" for consistency;
RITTER M., 1st Dist.
in Section 14(b), "candidate or candidates or ballot issue" was changed to "candidate, candidates or ballot issue" for clarity;
REP.
in Section 18(f), subdivisions (4), (5) and (6) were redesignated as subdivisions (4)(A), (4)(B) and (5), respectively, for proper form;
DILLON, 92nd Dist.;
and minor technical and conforming changes were made throughout.
REP.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
GODFREY, 110th Dist.
-LCO  
REP.
SERRA, 33rd Dist.;
REP.
RYAN, 139th Dist.
Show all 114 changed rows (74 more)
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Latest
REP.
ORANGE, 48th Dist.;
REP.
URBAN, 43rd Dist.
REP.
BERGER, 73rd Dist.;
REP.
GENTILE, 104th Dist.
REP.
HENNESSY, 127th Dist.;
REP.
MORIN, 28th Dist.
REP.
MORRIS, 140th Dist.;
REP.
ROJAS, 9th Dist.
REP.
JOHNSON, 49th Dist.;
REP.
LESSER, 100th Dist.
REP.
SANTIAGO, 130th Dist.;
REP.
BARAM, 15th Dist.
REP.
ROVERO, 51st Dist.;
REP.
HADDAD, 54th Dist.
REP.
LEMAR, 96th Dist.;
REP.
ROSE, 118th Dist.
REP.
ALBIS, 99th Dist.;
REP.
STALLWORTH, 126th Dist.
REP.
VARGAS, 6th Dist.;
REP.
RILEY, 46th Dist.
REP.
SANTIAGO, 84th Dist.;
REP.
D'AGOSTINO, 91st Dist.
REP.
ARCONTI, 109th Dist.;
REP.
MCCARTHY VAHEY, 133rd Dist.
REP.
ADAMS, 146th Dist.;
REP.
STAFSTROM, 129th Dist.
REP.
GRESKO, 121st Dist.;
REP.
WINKLER, 56th Dist.
REP.
ELLIOTT, 88th Dist.;
REP.
LINEHAN, 103rd Dist.
REP.
DIMASSA, 116th Dist.;
REP.
MUSHINSKY, 85th Dist.
REP.
ROSARIO, 128th Dist.;
REP.
REYES, 75th Dist.
REP.
MCGEE, 5th Dist.;
REP.
MILLER P., 145th Dist.
H.B.
5589
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 806

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 549

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. B

  5. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. I

  6. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. H

  7. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. G

  8. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. F

  9. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. E

  10. AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN HOUSE AMEND. SCH. D

  11. HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. C

  12. HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. B

  13. AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

  14. FILE NO. 577

  15. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 379

  16. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDER

  17. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  18. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/12/17

  19. FILED WITH LCO

  20. Joint Favorable

  21. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

  22. DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE

  23. Vote to Draft

  24. PUBLIC HEARING 0306

  25. Reserved for Subject Matter Public Hearing

  26. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

Sponsors

  • Mary M.' b'Mushinsky · Primary
  • Joe' b'Aresimowicz · Primary
  • Joseph P.' b'Gresko · Primary
  • Patricia Billie' b'Miller · Primary
  • Bob' b'Godfrey · Primary
  • Russell A.' b'Morin · Primary
  • Daniel J.' b'Fox · Primary
  • Charlie L.' b'Stallworth · Primary
  • Diana S.' b'Urban · Primary
  • Brandon L.' b'McGee · Primary
  • Joshua Malik' b'Hall · Primary
  • Liz' b'Linehan · Primary
  • Terry B.' b'Adams · Primary
  • Chris' b'Perone · Primary
  • Hilda E.' b'Santiago · Primary
  • Michael' b'Winkler · Primary
  • Michael A.' b'DiMassa · Primary
  • Dorinda' b'Borer · Primary
  • Jonathan' b'Steinberg · Primary
  • Linda A.' b'Orange · Primary
  • Matthew' b'Ritter · Primary
  • Chris' b'Soto · Primary
  • John "Jack" F.' b'Hennessy · Primary
  • Roland J.' b'Lemar · Primary
  • Joseph C.' b'Serra · Primary
  • Emmett D.' b'Riley · Primary
  • Linda M.' b'Gentile · Primary
  • Steven J.' b'Stafstrom · Primary
  • Christopher' b'Rosario · Primary
  • Daniel S.' b'Rovero · Primary
  • Cristin' b'McCarthy Vahey · Primary
  • Jason' b'Rojas · Primary
  • Kim' b'Rose · Primary
  • Gregory' b'Haddad · Primary
  • Bruce V.' b'Morris · Primary
  • Juan R.' b'Candelaria · Primary
  • Geraldo C.' b'Reyes · Primary
  • Susan M.' b'Johnson · Primary
  • Edwin' b'Vargas · Primary
  • James M.' b'Albis · Primary
  • Josh' b'Elliott · Primary
  • Jeffrey J.' b'Berger · Primary
  • Matthew' b'Lesser · Primary
  • Patricia A.' b'Dillon · Primary
  • Ezequiel' b'Santiago · Primary
  • David' b'Arconti · Primary
  • Kevin' b'Ryan · Primary
  • Michael" b"D'Agostino · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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48 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 139 not signed on

Sponsors (48)

  • b'Mushinsky, Mary M.'
  • b'Aresimowicz, Joe'
  • b'Gresko, Joseph P.'
  • b'Miller, Patricia Billie'
  • b'Godfrey, Bob'
  • b'Morin, Russell A.'
  • b'Fox, Daniel J.'
  • b'Stallworth, Charlie L.'
  • b'Urban, Diana S.'
  • b'McGee, Brandon L.'
  • b'Hall, Joshua Malik'
  • b'Linehan, Liz'
  • b'Adams, Terry B.'
  • b'Perone, Chris'
  • b'Santiago, Hilda E.'
  • b'Winkler, Michael'
  • b'DiMassa, Michael A.'
  • b'Borer, Dorinda'
  • b'Steinberg, Jonathan'
  • b'Orange, Linda A.'
  • b'Ritter, Matthew'
  • b'Soto, Chris'
  • b'Hennessy, John "Jack" F.'
  • b'Lemar, Roland J.'
  • b'Serra, Joseph C.'
  • b'Riley, Emmett D.'
  • b'Gentile, Linda M.'
  • b'Stafstrom, Steven J.'
  • b'Rosario, Christopher'
  • b'Rovero, Daniel S.'
  • b'McCarthy Vahey, Cristin'
  • b'Rojas, Jason'
  • b'Rose, Kim'
  • b'Haddad, Gregory'
  • b'Morris, Bruce V.'
  • b'Candelaria, Juan R.'
  • b'Reyes, Geraldo C.'
  • b'Johnson, Susan M.'
  • b'Vargas, Edwin'
  • b'Albis, James M.'
  • b'Elliott, Josh'
  • b'Berger, Jeffrey J.'
  • b'Lesser, Matthew'
  • b'Dillon, Patricia A.'
  • b'Santiago, Ezequiel'
  • b'Arconti, David'
  • b'Ryan, Kevin'
  • b"D'Agostino, Michael"

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (139)

139 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 139 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5589?
HB 5589 is sponsored by b'Mushinsky, Mary M.', b'Aresimowicz, Joe', b'Gresko, Joseph P.', b'Miller, Patricia Billie', b'Godfrey, Bob', b'Morin, Russell A.', b'Fox, Daniel J.', b'Stallworth, Charlie L.', b'Urban, Diana S.', b'McGee, Brandon L.', b'Hall, Joshua Malik', b'Linehan, Liz', b'Adams, Terry B.', b'Perone, Chris', b'Santiago, Hilda E.', b'Winkler, Michael', b'DiMassa, Michael A.', b'Borer, Dorinda', b'Steinberg, Jonathan', b'Orange, Linda A.', b'Ritter, Matthew', b'Soto, Chris', b'Hennessy, John "Jack" F.', b'Lemar, Roland J.', b'Serra, Joseph C.', b'Riley, Emmett D.', b'Gentile, Linda M.', b'Stafstrom, Steven J.', b'Rosario, Christopher', b'Rovero, Daniel S.', b'McCarthy Vahey, Cristin', b'Rojas, Jason', b'Rose, Kim', b'Haddad, Gregory', b'Morris, Bruce V.', b'Candelaria, Juan R.', b'Reyes, Geraldo C.', b'Johnson, Susan M.', b'Vargas, Edwin', b'Albis, James M.', b'Elliott, Josh', b'Berger, Jeffrey J.', b'Lesser, Matthew', b'Dillon, Patricia A.', b'Santiago, Ezequiel', b'Arconti, David', b'Ryan, Kevin', and b"D'Agostino, Michael".
What is the current status of HB 5589?
This bill died with 2017 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 5589?
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