RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
SB 1173 requires noncandidate committees - groups not running for office but spending money on elections - to pay a fee based on their total independent expenditures during election periods. This fee applies to spending like ads or mailers aimed at influencing elections, directly affecting organizations like advocacy groups or unions that fund such activities. The bill takes effect on April 23, 2057, and the fee amount is tied to the total spending level. It does not change campaign contribution limits or alter candidate fundraising rules.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 17, 2025
Last action Feb 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
SB1173
→
SB1173_SD1
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reformatted from a draft document into a formal legislative system file (SD1), with substantive changes to the effective date and application timeline. The most significant policy change is that the fee provisions now apply to elections held on or after January 1, 2028, rather than immediately upon approval. Additionally, the effective date of the Act was changed from immediate approval to April 23, 2057, creating a multi-year implementation period.
Scope change
The bill's applicability was extended to future elections, with the fee provisions applying to elections held on or after January 1, 2028, instead of being immediately effective upon passage.
TIMELINE
The Act's effective date was changed from immediate approval to April 23, 2057, significantly delaying when the law becomes operational.
The fee provisions now apply to elections held on or after January 1, 2028, rather than all elections held after the Act's approval.
TECHNICAL
The document was converted from a draft Word document format into a structured legislative system file with metadata headers and standardized formatting.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 157) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to JDC, WAM.
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced.
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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