SB288 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Campaign finance reports, deadline for final pre-election report revised, Sec. 17-5-8 am'd.

Summary

SB288 revises the deadline for the last pre-election campaign finance report and updates the overall reporting schedule for campaign finance in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

Requires electronic, publicly searchable filings maintained by the Secretary of State. Establishes a structured filing timetable: monthly reports due by the second business day of the month starting 12 months before an election; weekly reports due on Mondays in the four weeks before an election; and additional daily pre-election reports on the eighth through second day before certain elections if the committee spends or receives $5,000 or more that day, with those daily reports due by the end of the preceding day (11:59 p.m.). Revises the deadline for the last pre-election report to 11:59 p.m. on the day before the election if activity triggers the daily reporting requirement. Maintains annual reporting for active committees (due January 31 of the following year) and notes exemptions for certain entities; the act becomes effective August 21, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Political committees and candidates (principal campaign committees and PACs) and their treasurers/filing agents, who must follow the new electronic filing rules and the monthly/weekly/daily reporting schedule and meet the revised last pre-election deadline.

Key Provisions

• All filings must be electronic and publicly searchable on the Secretary of State's website.
• Monthly reports are due by the second business day of each month, beginning 12 months before the date of any election that could be influenced.
• Weekly reports are required on Mondays during the four weeks before an election, covering the prior week's activities.
• Additional daily pre-election reports are required on the eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second day before a legislative, statewide primary, special, runoff, or general election if on that day a PAC or principal campaign committee spends or receives $5,000 or more, with the report due by 11:59 p.m. on the preceding day and including all activity since the most recent prior report.
• The deadline for the last pre-election report is revised to 11:59 p.m. on the day before the election if the spending/receipts trigger occurs.
• Annual reports of contributions and expenditures remain due by January 31 of the following year for active committees; exemptions apply for certain appointments.
• Churches are exempt from most disclosures unless expenditures are used to influence an election; other limited exemptions for certain electioneering communications remain.
• Effective date: August 21, 2023.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Campaign Finances