Local Campaign Finance Reporting Study and Pilot Project

• Purpose: The bill tasks the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board with exploring whether local candidates can use the board’s campaign finance reporting software to organize and track contributions, expenditures, and other data needed to file reports under Minnesota Statutes chapter 211A. It also preserves the current requirement that candidates file with the local filing officer and does not give the board new jurisdiction over candidate activities or compliance.

• Main provisions:

  • Feasibility study: The board must study the feasibility of permitting local office candidates to use its reporting software for organizing and tracking required campaign finance data, while assuming the candidate’s existing filing obligations with the local filing officer remain unchanged and that the board will not regulate candidate activities or compliance.
  • Pilot project: As part of the study, the board must run a pilot project allowing candidates in at least four local jurisdictions that are holding general elections in 2026 to use the software. The jurisdictions must include at least one county election, one city election, and one school district election, and at least half of the jurisdictions must be located outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
  • Required report: The board must prepare and submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections describing the study results and any recommendations by March 15, 2027.

• Significant changes to existing law:

  • Introduction of a formal feasibility study and a mandatory pilot project to test local eligibility for using the board’s reporting software.
  • Formal reporting requirement to key legislative committee leaders with findings and recommendations by a set date.

• Effects on stakeholders:

  • Local candidates could gain access to a standardized software tool for organizing campaign data, potentially simplifying reporting, though the board’s authority over candidate activities remains unchanged.
  • Local filing officers’ responsibilities and requirements stay as currently configured; the pilot does not shift jurisdiction to the board.

• Timeline highlights:

  • Pilot elections: 2026 general elections in selected jurisdictions.
  • Final report due: March 15, 2027.

• Key entities involved:

  • Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board
  • Local candidates (in participating jurisdictions)
  • Local filing officers
  • Legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections

• Scope note:

  • The study and pilot focus specifically on the feasibility of using the board’s reporting software for local campaign finance reporting as described, not on altering statewide reporting requirements or enforcement.

Relevant Terms - Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board - feasibility study - pilot project - local office candidates - campaign finance reporting software - contributions - expenditures - Minnesota Statutes chapter 211A - local filing officer - general election in 2026 - county election - city election - school district election - seven-county metropolitan area - March 15, 2027 - chairs and ranking minority members - legislative committees with jurisdiction over elections