Bill > SB279

This bill amends Kansas campaign finance and governmental ethics laws to make several significant changes. The bill limits the Governmental Ethics Commission's authority by stipulating that if there are multiple reasonable interpretations of a law, it should be construed to maximize constitutional rights like free speech and freedom of assembly. The commission is prohibited from making law through adjudicative decisions and is restricted in issuing precedential advisory opinions, which can now only be used to establish compliance presumptions or ensure consistency in penalties. The bill increases reporting thresholds for campaign contributions and expenditures from $50 to $150, modifies disclosure requirements for political advertising across various media platforms, and eliminates previous restrictions on candidates' eligibility for office due to unpaid fines. The bill also changes subpoena rules by adding a six-month expiration date for subpoenas issued by the commission and requires that any subpoenas issued before July 1, 2025, are automatically invalidated. Additionally, the bill removes previous limitations on commission members' political activities and clarifies definitions related to campaign finance and political committees. These changes aim to provide more flexibility in campaign finance regulations while maintaining transparency and ethical standards in political communications and fundraising.

Government Affairs

Federal and State Affairs (Senate)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb279/