Bill > HB2509

This bill modifies existing Arizona law regarding campaign finance contributions made by corporations, limited liability companies, and labor organizations. Specifically, it introduces new requirements for these entities to register and report certain contributions made to political action committees or other similar organizations when attempting to influence candidate elections. These reporting obligations are triggered when contributions reach specific aggregate amounts: $5,000 or more in statewide races, $2,500 or more in legislative races, or $1,000 or more in local races within a single county, city, or town. The bill mandates that such entities must register with the appropriate filing officer (the Secretary of State for statewide and legislative races, and local officials for local races) within one day of making a contribution that meets these thresholds, and also notify the filing officer of any subsequent contributions exceeding these amounts. The registration must include the entity's name and address, and the name, title, email, and phone number of the person authorizing the contribution. Notifications must detail the contributor, recipient, contribution amount, candidate and race involved, and the date. A crucial provision requires a notarized sworn statement within five days of the initial threshold contribution to verify the authority of the person making the contribution, otherwise the filing is considered unverified and delinquent. Failure to comply with these registration and reporting requirements can result in a civil penalty of up to three times the total amount of the contributions, and knowingly making a false filing is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also defines "local election" to include elections for counties, cities, towns, school districts, and special districts.

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https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84289