SB 1533 — AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM.

Senate General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.

1533660 January Session, 2025 ANSubstitute ACTSenate CONCERNINGBill CHANGESNo. TO THE CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM.

1533 Senate, April 14, 2025 The Committee on Government Administration and Elections reported through SEN.

FLEXER of the 29th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM.

(i) The communication lists the name or names of candidates for election to public office, (ii) the communication is distributed through public advertising such as broadcast stations, cable television, newspapers or similarsSB1533 media,/ orFile through direct mail, telephone, electronic mail, publicly accessible sites on the Internet or personal delivery,and (iii) the communication is made to promote the success or defeat of any candidate or slate of candidates seeking the nomination for election, or election or for the purpose of aiding or promoting the success or defeat of any referendum question or the success or defeat of any political party, providedsuchcommunicationisnot asolicitationfor or onbehalf LCO 1 of 11 Substitute Bill No.

1533660 of1 asSB1533 candidateFile committee;No.

660 similar media, or through direct mail, telephone, electronic mail, publicly accessible sites on the Internet or personal delivery,and (iii) the communication is made to promote the success or defeat of any candidate or slate of candidates seeking the nomination for election, or election or for the purpose of aiding or promoting the success or defeat of any referendum question or the success or defeat of any political party, providedsuchcommunicationisnot asolicitationfor or onbehalf of a candidate committee;

(b) (1) (A) For elections for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor held in 2026, the aggregate contribution amounts in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall besSB1533 adjusted/ byFile theNo. State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than July 3, 2025, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December 31, 2024.

[(b)660 (1)] (B) For elections for the office of Governor or Lieutenant LCO 2 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.

1533660 Governor held in [2022] 2030, and thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts in subdivision (1) or (2) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than JanuaryJuly 15,3, [2022]2025, 2029, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first31, in2024. the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

[(b) (1)] (B) For elections for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor held in [2022] 2030, and thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts in subdivision (1) or (2) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2022] 2029, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

[(2)] (B) For elections for the office of Attorney General, State Comptroller,StateTreasurerorSecretaryoftheStateheldin [2018]2030, and thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2018] 2029, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during thesSB1533 period/ beginningFile onNo. January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

(3)660 (A) [Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, for] For elections for the office of state senator or state representative held in [2018, and thereafter] 2026, the aggregate contribution amounts LCO 3 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.

1533660 in subdivision (3) or (4) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than [January 15, 2018, and biennially thereafter] July 3, 2025, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on [DecemberDecember thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made]made. December 31, 2024.

(3) (A) [Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, for] For elections for the office of state senator or state representative held in [2018, and thereafter] 2026, the aggregate contribution amounts in subdivision (3) or (4) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than [January 15, 2018, and biennially thereafter] July 3, 2025, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on [December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made] December 31, 2024.

(c) (1) (A) For elections for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State held in 2026, the two-hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual contribution amount in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than July 3, 2025, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, BureausSB1533 of/ LaborFile Statistics,No. during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December 31, 2024.

[(c)660 (1)] (B) For elections for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State held in [2022] 2030, and thereafter, the two- hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual contribution amount in LCO 4 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.

1533660 subdivision (1) or (2) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2022] 2029, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first31, in2024. the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

[(c) (1)] (B) For elections for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State held in [2022] 2030, and thereafter, the two- hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual contribution amount in subdivision (1) or (2) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2022] 2029, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

[(2)] (B) For elections for the office of state senator or state representative held in [2020] 2028, and thereafter, the two-hundred- fifty-dollarmaximumindividualcontributionamountinsubdivision(3) or (4) [, as applicable,] of subsection (a) of this section, as applicable, shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2020] 2027, and biennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2017, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year insSB1533 which/ saidFile adjustmentNo. is to be made.

660 5 sSB1533 File No.

660 in which said adjustment is to be made.

(a) (1) (A) A participating major party candidate for nomination to LCOthe 5office of 11Governor Substitutein Bill[2026] No.2030, or thereafter, may apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a grant from the fund under the Citizens' Election Program for a convention campaign, beginning in January of the year preceding the election for said office and after such candidate files the affidavit under section 9-703 certifying such candidate's intent to abide by the expenditure limits under said program.

1533(B) A participating candidate for nomination to the office of Governorstate senator or state representative in [2026]2008, 2030,or thereafter, or the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, may apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a grant from the fundfundunder undertheCitizens' ElectionProgramforaprimary campaign,after the Citizens'close Electionof Programthe state convention of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking, if a conventionprimary campaign,is beginningrequired inunder Januarychapter 153, and (i) said party endorses the candidate for the office that the candidate is seeking, (ii) the candidate is seeking nomination to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the yearState precedingor the electiondistrict office of state senator or staterepresentative andreceivesat least fifteenper cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for saidthe office andthe aftercandidate suchis seeking, or (iii) the candidate filescirculates a petition and obtains the affidavitrequired undernumber sectionof 9-703signatures certifyingfor suchfiling candidate'sa intentcandidacy tofor abidenomination byfor (I) the expenditureoffice limitsof underGovernor, saidLieutenant program.Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or state sSB1533 / File No.

(B)660 A6 participatingsSB1533 candidateFile forNo. nomination to the office of state senator or state representative in 2008, or thereafter, or the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, may apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a grant from the fundunder theCitizens' ElectionProgramforaprimary campaign,after the close of the state convention of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking, if a primary is required under chapter 153, and (i) said party endorses the candidate for the office that the candidate is seeking, (ii) the candidate is seeking nomination to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or staterepresentative andreceivesat least fifteenper cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for the office the candidate is seeking, or (iii) the candidate circulates a petition and obtains the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination for (I) the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or state representative, pursuant to section 9-400, or (II) the municipal office of state senator or state representative, pursuant to section 9-406, whichever is applicable.

660 representative, pursuant to section 9-400, or (II) the municipal office of state senator or state representative, pursuant to section 9-406, whichever is applicable.

LCO(2) 6A participating candidate for nomination to the office of 11state Substitutesenator Billor No.state representative in 2008, or thereafter, or the office of Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, may apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a grant from the fund under the Citizens' Election Program for a general election campaign:

1533(A) (2)After Athe participatingclose candidateof the state or district convention or municipal caucus, convention or town committee meeting, whichever is applicable, of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination tofor the office that the candidate is seeking, if (i) said party endorses said candidate for the office that the candidate is seeking and no other candidate of statesaid senatorparty orfiles statea representativecandidacy with the Secretary of the State in 2008,accordance orwith thereafter,the provisions of section 9-400 or 9-406, whichever is applicable, (ii) the candidate is seeking election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or Statethe Treasurerdistrict inoffice 2010,of state senator or thereafter,state mayrepresentative applyand toreceives at least fifteen per cent of the Statevotes Electionsof Enforcementthe Commissionconvention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for the office the candidate is seeking, no other candidate for said office at such convention either receives the party endorsement or said percentage of saidvotesfor saidendorsement or filesacertificate ofendorsementwith the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9- 388 or a grantcandidacy fromwith the fundSecretary underof the Citizens'State Electionin Programaccordance with the provisions of section 9-400, and no other candidate for said office circulates a generalpetition electionand campaign:obtains the required number of signatures for sSB1533 / File No.

(A)660 After the close of the state or district convention or municipal caucus, convention or town committee meeting, whichever is applicable, of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking, if (i) said party endorses said candidate for the office that the candidate is seeking and no other candidate of said party files a candidacy with the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-400 or 9-406, whichever is applicable, (ii) the candidate is seeking election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or state representative and receives at least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for the office the candidate is seeking, no other candidate for said office at such convention either receives the party endorsement or said percentage of saidvotesfor saidendorsement or filesacertificate ofendorsementwith the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9- 388 or a candidacy with the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-400, and no other candidate for said office circulates a petition and obtains the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination for said office pursuant to section 9- 400, (iii) the candidate is seeking election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or state representative, circulates a petition and obtains the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination for said office pursuant to section 9-400 and no other candidate for said office at LCO 7 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.

1533660 filing a candidacy for nomination for said office pursuant to section 9- 400, (iii) the candidate is seeking election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or the district office of state senator or state representative, circulates a petition and obtains the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination for said office pursuant to section 9-400 and no other candidate for said office at the state or district convention either receives the party endorsement or said percentage of said votes for said endorsement or files a certificate of endorsement with the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-388 or a candidacy with the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-400, or (iv) the candidate is seeking election to the municipal office of state senator or state representative, circulates a petition and obtains the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination for the office the candidate is seeking pursuant to section 9-406 and no other candidate for said office at the caucus, convention or town committee meeting either receives the party endorsement or files a certification of endorsement with the town clerk in accordance with the provisions of section 9-391;

(3) A participating candidate for nomination to the office of state senator or state representative at a special election in 2008, or thereafter, may apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a grant from the fund under the Citizens' Election Program for a general electionsSB1533 campaign/ afterFile theNo. close of the district convention or municipal caucus, convention or town committee meeting of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking.

(4)660 Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, no participating candidate for nomination or election who LCO 8 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.

1533660 changeselection thecampaign candidate'safter statusthe asclose aof majorthe party,district minorconvention party or petitioningmunicipal partycaucus, candidateconvention or becomestown acommittee candidatemeeting of a different party, after filing the [affidavitcandidate's requiredparty underthat sectionis 9-703]called grant application under this section, shall be eligible to [apply for a grant] receive additional grant funds under the Citizens'purpose Electionof Programchoosing forcandidates such candidate's primary campaign for such nomination orfor generalthe electionoffice campaignthat forthe suchcandidate election.is seeking.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, no participating candidate for nomination or election who changes the candidate's status as a major party, minor party or petitioning party candidate or becomes a candidate of a different party, after filing the [affidavit required under section 9-703] grant application under this section, shall be eligible to [apply for a grant] receive additional grant funds under the Citizens' Election Program for such candidate's primary campaign for such nomination or general election campaign for such election.

(d) (1) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section,thecommissionshallreviewtheapplication,determinewhether [(1)] (A) the candidate committee for the applicant has received the required qualifying contributions, [(2)] (B) in the case of an application forsSB1533 a/ grantFile from the fund for a convention campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applyingforsuchgrantandcompliedwiththeprovisionsofsubsections (b)and(c)ofthissection, [(3)](C)in thecase ofanapplicationfor agrant from the fund for a primary campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applying for LCO 9 of 11 Substitute Bill No.

1533660 such9 grantsSB1533 andFile compliedNo. with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, [(4)] (D) in the case of an application for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applying for such grant and complied with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and [(5)] (E) in the case of an application by a minor party or petitioning party candidate for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant qualifies as an eligible minor party candidate or an eligible petitioning party candidate, whichever is applicable.

660 for a grant from the fund for a convention campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applyingforsuchgrantandcompliedwiththeprovisionsofsubsections (b)and(c)ofthissection, [(3)](C)in thecase ofanapplicationfor agrant from the fund for a primary campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applying for such grant and complied with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, [(4)] (D) in the case of an application for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant has met the applicable condition under subsection (a) of this section for applying for such grant and complied with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and [(5)] (E) in the case of an application by a minor party or petitioning party candidate for a grant from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant qualifies as an eligible minor party candidate or an eligible petitioning party candidate, whichever is applicable.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B)(i) of this subdivision, the candidate committee of an applicant who submits an application prior to July 3, 2025, shall only be approved by the commission to receive payment of the unadjusted amount described in saidsSB1533 subparagraph./ File No.

(C)660 If the timing of the commission's approval of the grant for a primary campaign or general election campaign in relation to the Secretary of the State's determination of ballot status is such that the commission cannot determine whether the qualified candidate LCO 10 ofsSB1533 11File Substitute Bill No.