Idaho campaign rules would limit contributions and require spending reports

People covered by the bill would face limits on certain campaign contributions and a ban on foreign national campaign support. The rules cover candidates for Idaho state and local offices and foreign nationals, including certain foreign governments, parties, and organizations. Foreign nationals could not contribute to candidates, political action committees, or ballot measures, or pay for specified campaign messages or independent spending. Contribution limits would apply separately to primary and general elections; political party committees are excluded from the candidate limits, and candidates may not accept general-election contributions until winning their primary. The bill says it would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.

Candidates, political groups, and some other spenders would report campaign money and spending to the secretary of state. The provisions cover candidates, political action committees, party committees and caucuses, other people making specified campaign communications or spending, and people paying to gather initiative or referendum signatures. People other than candidates and political action committees would report election ads or independent spending once the total reaches $100. Some reports must identify donors who gave at least $1,000 for the reported activity. People paying at least $100 to gather petition signatures would report monthly payments; payments totaling at least $1,000 also require notice within 48 hours. The text sets monthly petition payment reports due by the 20th of the following month while payments continue. It says the bill would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted; existing registrants would have until their next annual report is due to comply.

A candidate could ask a court to stop certain false campaign audio or video, or sue its creator for damages. This applies to realistic but false audio or video about a candidate used in an election ad, candidate expenditure, or independent expenditure. The media must realistically but falsely portray the candidate's speech or conduct in a covered campaign communication or expenditure, creating a fundamentally different impression. A clear disclosure that the audio or video was manipulated is a defense if it meets the text's placement and format rules. The candidate must prove use of synthetic media with clear and convincing evidence. The bill says this provision would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.