MA S401

Bill

MA S401

Relative to corporations, shareholders, and political expenditures

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/22/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation relative to corporations, shareholders, and political expenditures. Election Laws.

AI Summary

This bill aims to regulate corporate political expenditures in elections. It requires corporations to obtain shareholder approval before using corporate funds for independent expenditures, contributions, gifts, or other political activities related to candidate, party, or ballot question campaigns. The bill also imposes reporting requirements on corporations making such expenditures and allows the Secretary of the Commonwealth to revoke a corporation's charter or business license if the corporation or its directors/managers are found liable for violating the state's campaign finance or election laws or the provisions of this bill. The bill is intended to limit the ability of corporations to influence elections using corporate resources without shareholder approval.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (6)

Sonia Chang-Díaz (D), Mike Connolly (D), Michelle DuBois (D), Jamie Eldridge (D), Denise Provost (D), Becca Rausch (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see S2544 (on 02/18/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S401

(8 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S401
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S401.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H640	To limit political spending by foreign-influenced corporations	Accompanied a study order, see H4403	Similar To
H85	Proposal for a Legislative Amendment to the Constitution to Declare that Corporations are Not People, Money is Not Speech	Proposal for Constitutional Amendment reported adversely by committee and placed on file	Similar To
S1775	Relative to extending single sales factor apportionment to all corporations	Accompanied a study order, see H5040	Similar To
S2544	Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Election Laws to make an investigation and study of certain current Senate documents relative to election laws issues	Reported (in part) by S416	Replaced by
S393	Limiting political spending by foreign-influenced corporations	Accompanied a study order, see S2544	Similar To
S418	To limit political spending by foreign-influenced corporations	Accompanied a study order, see S2544	Similar To
S544	Relative to transparency of dental benefits corporations	Accompanied a study order, see S2543	Similar To
S545	Relative to financial services contracts for dental benefits corporations	Accompanied a study order, see S2543	Similar To

Bill > S401

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Official Document

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