Senate Votes to Close Loopholes, Increase Campaign Finance Transparency and Accountability

March 28, 2019

Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD—Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed SB 106 and SB 156, closing loopholes in election law that will increase transparency and accountability. SB 106 revises the definition of political expenditure and political advocacy organization to require those that make expenditures, relating to a particular candidate, within 60 days before a primary or general election, to disclose who they are, where the money comes from, and what the money is being spent on. SB 156 closes the LLC contribution loophole and requires that a political contribution by a limited liability company be allocated to members for the purposes of determining whether a member has exceeded the contribution limits.

Senator Dan Feltes (D-Concord), prime sponsor of SB 106 and SB 156, released the following statement after the votes:

“When it comes to funding for political candidate campaigns, New Hampshire voters deserve to know where the money is coming from. SB 106 and SB 156 are two critical pieces of the puzzle that will increase transparency and accountability in our elections.

Disclosure and transparency should be a bipartisan issue. By requiring political advocacy organizations that exceed a certain threshold to disclose who they are, where the money comes from, and what the money is being spent on, SB 106 ensures the public knows who is responsible for the political advertisements they see.

Nothing in current law prohibits multiple LLCs controlled by the same individual to donate on behalf of each LLC, making it easy for wealthy donors to exceed the statutory limits and evade the purpose of our campaign finance laws. It’s time to close the LLC loophole and that’s exactly what SB 156 will do.”