Bill > HB2667

This bill amends Arizona campaign finance law to modify the process for handling campaign finance complaints. Under the new provisions, if a filing officer (such as the secretary of state, county, or city filing officer) does not resolve or rule on a complaint within 180 days and does not extend the deadline, the complaint will be automatically dismissed. The bill clarifies the investigative process for campaign finance violations, specifying that filing officers can initiate investigations based on third-party complaints but have limited powers before establishing "reasonable cause." Once reasonable cause is determined, the filing officer must refer the matter to an enforcement officer (like the attorney general or county attorney), who can then conduct a more comprehensive investigation, issue notices of violation, and impose civil penalties. The bill maintains existing provisions that allow alleged violators to take corrective action within 20 days to avoid penalties and provides a process for appealing penalties through the superior court, where the enforcement officer must prove violations by a preponderance of the evidence. This legislation aims to streamline and standardize the resolution of campaign finance complaint procedures across Arizona.

Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82536