Purpose

• The bill aims to prohibit major political parties, their committees, and certain outside groups from soliciting or accepting contributions during the legislative session, and to block contributions from lobbyists and similar entities to candidates, parties, or party-affiliated committees during that same session.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on solicitations and accepts during regular session

  • A candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office, the candidate’s principal campaign committee, a political party, or a political committee or party unit established by all or part of the party organization within a house of the legislature must not solicit or accept a contribution from:
  • a registered lobbyist
  • a political committee
  • a political fund
  • an association not registered with the board
  • This applies during a regular session of the legislature.

• Prohibition on making contributions during regular session

  • A registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or an association not registered with the board must not make a contribution to:
  • a candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office
  • the candidate’s principal campaign committee
  • a political party
  • a political committee or party unit established by all or part of the party organization within a house of the legislature
  • This restriction applies during a regular session.

• Prohibition related to events during the session

  • Regardless of when made, a contribution made by a lobbyist or political committee or political fund to attend an event that occurs during a regular session and is held by the candidate’s principal campaign committee or by a political party organization within the legislature is a violation.

• Prohibition related to membership or facility access during the session

  • Regardless of when made, a contribution from a lobbyist or political committee or political fund for membership or access to a facility operated during the regular session by the candidate’s principal campaign committee or by a political party organization within the legislature is a violation.

Scope and Timing

• Applies only to contributions during the regular session of the legislature.
• Addresses both money given to campaigns/parties and money given to attend events or to gain facility access during the session.

Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 10A.273 subdivision 1 to add explicit prohibitions on during-session contributions to and from candidates, campaigns, parties, and party units, as well as to prohibit certain in-session activities (events and facility access) funded by restricted sources.

Practical Implications

• If enacted, lobbyists and related fundraising entities would be barred from giving money to legislators, candidates, or parties during the legislative session.
• Legislators, campaigns, and party organizations would be barred from accepting such contributions during the session.
• The rules would tighten the fundraising environment during sessions and could affect how events are funded and how members or parties engage with outside groups during those times.

Potential Considerations

• Enforcement would likely involve existing campaign finance oversight processes, with violations labeled as breaches of this section.
• The bill does not specify penalties in the text provided, but violations would fall under the section’s restrictions during regular sessions.

Relevant Terms - contributions - solicit or accept - regular session - registered lobbyist - political committee - political fund - association not registered with the board - candidate for the legislature - constitutional office - principal campaign committee - political party - party unit - lobbyist - event - membership - access to a facility - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 10A.273 subdivision 1