Bill > HB568

This bill expands the Public Financing Act to allow candidates for State Senator and member of the House of Delegates to receive public funding from the Fair Campaign Financing Fund, which is a pool of money administered by the Comptroller and used to finance campaigns. To qualify for this public funding, these candidates, like gubernatorial candidates, must meet specific requirements, including collecting a certain number of "eligible private contributions" (monetary donations from state residents up to $250 per election cycle, accompanied by a signed contribution card) and reaching a minimum aggregate amount in private donations. The bill also clarifies that "eligible candidates" now include these legislative candidates, not just gubernatorial tickets, and outlines the matching ratios for public contributions based on eligible private contributions, with caps on the total public funding a candidate can receive. Furthermore, it sets forth rules for how these public funds can be spent and requires any unspent funds to be repaid to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.

Government Affairs

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0568?ys=2026RS