SB114 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Arthur OrrTom Butler

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Electioneering communications and paid political advertising, disclosure of source of funding required, exceptions, contributions by political committees further provided for, Secs. 17-5-2, 17-5-8, 17-5-12 am'd.; Act 2009-751, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

SB114 would require electioneering communications and paid political ads to disclose funding sources and identify paying entities, with labeling and reporting requirements and certain exemptions.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would require electioneering communications and paid political advertisements funded by organizations to disclose the names of their funding sources. Ads would need to clearly identify the payor and funders, with specific labeling and identification requirements for print and broadcast media. It also tightens and standardizes campaign finance reporting (donors, contributions, expenditures, loans, etc.) for principal campaign committees and political action committees, and imposes notices for paid ads; some exemptions for churches and certain non-electoral communications remain.

Who It Affects

• Organizations or entities that pay for or authorize electioneering communications or paid political advertisements must disclose funding sources.
• Principal campaign committees, political action committees, and elected officials, who would file detailed campaign finance reports before elections and annually, including donor and expenditure information.
• Print and broadcast media and advertisers, which would have to display notices identifying paid political advertisements and the paying entity.
• Churches and some members-only or non-electoral communications may be exempt from certain disclosure requirements.

Key Provisions

• Amends sections 17-5-2, 17-5-8, and 17-5-12 to require disclosure of the funding sources for electioneering communications and paid political advertisements paid by organizations or entities.
• Defines terms (e.g., candidate, contribution, expenditure, electioneering communication) and updates thresholds for when someone becomes a candidate.
• Requires the payor to disclose full name and address; the advertisement must identify the paying entity and funding sources in accordance with the new provisions.
• Section 17-5-12 requires paid advertisements and electioneering communications to be clearly identified as paid and to provide the identifying information of the payer, with print ads needing a minimum 10-point bold font at the bottom for identification.
• Prohibits broadcasting, publishing, or circulating campaign literature or electioneering communications without a clear notice of who paid for them.
• Specifies reporting timelines for principal campaign committees and political action committees (pre-election and annual reports) and detailed disclosure requirements (donors over thresholds, loans, expenditures, etc.).
• Includes exemptions for churches (no requirement to disclose members' donations) and certain non-electoral communications; outlines when expenses are not considered expenditures.
• Effective date: July 1, 2010.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections