Bill would limit contributions to candidate committees

A person would be barred from giving more than $3,500 in total to one candidate committee during an election period, and the committee would have to return excess money. The rule would cover contributions from any person to a candidate committee, but not the candidate's own personal funds given to that committee. The committee would have to return an excess contribution within 10 days after receiving it. The committee would have to report the contribution and its return on later campaign statements, including the donor's name and address, amount, and receipt and return dates. The limit and refund duties would begin January 1, 2027, and an election period would mean the calendar year of the election.

The contribution limit would be adjusted for inflation every two years. The adjustment would apply to the contribution limit for candidate committees. The adjustment would use the cumulative change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers during the prior two years. The adjusted amount would be rounded to the nearest $100. The first adjustment would begin January 1, 2029, with another adjustment every two years after that.