- Primary Sponsor
- Session
- Regular Session 2013
- Title
- Campaigns, Fair Campaign Practices Act, contribution amounts lowered, designated reporting, legislative session prohibtions modified to include legislative and statewide candidates, spending amounts allowed for certain fund raising events, clarified, certain Pac to Pac transfers clarified, legislative caucus organizations regulated, corporate contribution restrictions revised, Secs. 17-5-2, 17-5-5, 17-5-7, 17-5-8, 17-5-8.2, 17-5-9, 17-5-12, 17-5-14, 17-5-15, 17-5-15.1, 17-5-16, 17-5-19 am'd.; Secs. 17-5-5.1, 17-5-7.1, 17-5-14.1, 17-5-20 added; Secs. 10A-21-1.01 to 10A-21-1.04, inclusive, 17-5-18, 17-17-35 repealed
- Summary
SB445 overhauls Alabama's campaign finance rules by lowering candidate reporting thresholds, tightening and expanding reporting and enforcement, regulating legislative caucus groups, and reorganizing how filings and transfers are handled.
What This Bill Does
It lowers the thresholds that determine when someone becomes a reportable candidate, expanding who must file and when. It allows designated filing agents to file reports on behalf of candidates and committees, and creates new enforcement and filing provisions, including moving some enforcement to a specific chapter and requiring electronic filings for many reports. It adds rules for legislative caucus organizations, strengthens disclosure for electioneering communications, sets up rules for separate segregated funds, and tightens rules on PAC-to-PAC transfers and corporate contributions while repealing outdated sections.
Who It Affects
- Candidates and principal campaign committees: face LOWER reporting thresholds, new filing options via designated agents, and updated deadlines and reporting formats.
- Political action committees (PACs) and donors: face expanded reporting, transfer restrictions, refunds/returns procedures, and new rules on how funds can be moved or returned.
- Legislative caucus organizations: must register and are regulated to prevent election influence, with explicit rules for permissible support and administration.
- Corporations and private foundations: changes clarify allowed and restricted transfers, including PAC-to-PAC and cross-foundation donations, and move corporate contribution rules to the new framework.
- Municipal and statewide candidates: reporting requirements and fundraising rules are updated; some provisions specify municipal filing and deadlines.
Key Provisions
- 17-5-2: Lowered candidate reporting thresholds: $25,000+ for certain state offices, $5,000+ for other state offices excluding legislative, $10,000+ for Alabama Senate, $5,000+ for Alabama House, and $1,000+ for local offices.
- 17-5-20: Appointment of designated filing agents who can electronically submit reports on behalf of a candidate or committee; creates a rebuttable presumption of approval for the agent's filings.
- 17-5-5 and additions: Regulate legislative caucus organizations (registration, restrictions on influencing elections, and permissible administration-related donations).
- 17-5-7 and 17-5-7.1: Clarify permissible uses of campaign funds; establish the ability to return or refund contributions to donors (with timelines) and require reporting of such refunds.
- 17-5-14.1: Allow establishment of separate segregated funds by businesses or nonprofits for political purposes with strict disclosure and donor limitations.
- 17-5-15 and 17-5-15.1: Tighten PAC-to-PAC transfer rules and restrictions on corporate/527 transfers, with specific allowances and exceptions.
- 17-5-12: Require identification of the entity paying for paid advertisements and electioneering communications, enhancing transparency for voters.
- 17-5-8 and 17-5-8.2: Update reporting timelines (monthly, weekly, daily as election season dictates) and expand disclosure for electioneering communications, including required posting of payor information.
- 17-5-9 and 17-5-5.1: Clarify where and how reports are filed (Secretary of State or local judge of probate) and regulate venue for prosecutions, including penalties and enforcement.
- Section 3 and repeals: Move or repeal certain provisions (e.g., 10A-21 sections and 17-5-18, 17-17-35) to align with the revised framework and transfer corporate contribution rules to Title 17.
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
