HB 759: Revise campaign finance laws - Montana

HB0759_X(11).pdf → HB0759_X(12).pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill clarifies the rules for who can donate money to political candidates from business entities. It removes the ability for partnerships to donate as the entity itself if they are taxed as partnerships, requiring all such contributions to be reported under the name of the individual member or partner. Additionally, it eliminates the prohibition on individuals making separate contributions alongside their entity's contribution.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of eligible donors by restricting entity-level donations from partnerships taxed as partnerships and clarifies that individual members must be the reported donors.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the ability for partnerships taxed as partnerships to make contributions in the name of the partnership; contributions must now be made and reported by the individual member or partner.

Clarified that members or partners cannot make a separate individual contribution in addition to the contribution made through their entity.

REQUIREMENT

Updated reporting requirements to ensure contributions from LLCs or partnerships are attributed to the specific individual member or partner rather than the business entity.

HB0759_1(9).pdf → HB0759_X(6).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reorganized and formatted to reflect its status as an enrolled bill, adding certification signatures and page headers. Substantively, the bill clarifies that only LLCs and partnerships taxed as sole proprietorships or partnerships can make campaign contributions, and these contributions must be reported under the individual member's name rather than the entity's name.

Scope change

The scope of eligibility for making contributions remains unchanged, but the reporting requirements are explicitly clarified to require disclosure under the individual member's name.

TECHNICAL

The document structure was updated from a draft introduction to an enrolled bill, adding certification signatures for the Chief Clerk, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.

REQUIREMENT

The text was restructured to explicitly state that contributions from qualifying entities must be reported under the name of the individual member or partner, preventing the entity from making a separate individual contribution.

HB0759_2(16).pdf → HB0759_1(9).pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from HB 759.2 to HB 759.1 and significantly simplified the rules for campaign contributions by LLCs and partnerships. The changes remove redundant and confusing phrasing regarding tax classifications, clarifying that only entities taxed as partnerships (not sole proprietorships) can contribute, and streamlining the reporting and contribution limit requirements.

Scope change

The scope of eligible contributing entities was narrowed by removing 'sole proprietorship' from the list of qualifying tax classifications, restricting contributions to only those LLCs and partnerships taxed as partnerships for federal purposes.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed 'sole proprietorship' as a qualifying tax classification for entities making campaign contributions, limiting eligibility to only those taxed as partnerships.

REQUIREMENT

Simplified and clarified the reporting requirements, ensuring contributions are reported under the member or partner's name to prevent separate individual contributions.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill numbering and formatting, changing the version from HB 759.2 to HB 759.1.

HB0759_X(5).pdf → HB0759_2(16).pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted to include a formal bill number (HB0759.2) and a clearer title structure, while the substantive legal language regarding campaign finance contributions remains identical. The core rules limiting contributions from LLCs and partnerships taxed as sole proprietorships or partnerships, and requiring those contributions to be reported under the member's name, were not altered.

Scope change

No change in the scope or applicability of the bill; the changes are purely cosmetic and formatting-related.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to include the version number 'HB0759.2' and restructured the title for clarity, but the actual legal provisions and policy content remain exactly the same.

HB0759_2(15).pdf → HB0759_X(4).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify that only limited liability companies (LLCs) and partnerships taxed as sole proprietorships or partnerships can make campaign contributions. It mandates that these contributions be reported under the name of the individual member or partner making the gift, while prohibiting the individual from making a separate, duplicate contribution. The text was also updated to reflect the bill's final enrolled status.

Scope change

The scope of eligible contributors remains focused on pass-through entities (sole proprietorships and partnerships), but the rules for reporting and preventing double-dipping contributions were clarified and tightened.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that contributions are restricted to LLCs and partnerships classified as sole proprietorships or partnerships for federal tax purposes, explicitly excluding C and S corporations.

REQUIREMENT

Updated reporting requirements to ensure contributions are listed under the specific name of the member or partner, not the entity itself.

Added a prohibition preventing individuals from making separate personal contributions in addition to contributions made through their LLC or partnership.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from a draft version to an enrolled bill, indicating it has been signed into law.

HB0759_X(3).pdf → HB0759_2(11).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted to include a new section number (HB0759.2) and updated the title to explicitly state that the act is 'Introduced by R. Gregg, S. Fitzpatrick.' The substantive legal content regarding campaign finance rules for LLCs and partnerships remains unchanged. The formatting also corrected a line break in the codification instruction section.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was updated to include the sponsors' names and a new section identifier (HB0759.2) was added.

Line breaks and spacing were adjusted in the title and the codification instruction section to improve readability.

HB0759_2(10).pdf → HB0759_X.pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was finalized and enrolled for signature, moving from a draft version to an official legislative text. The core policy content remains focused on restricting campaign contributions to only those business entities taxed as sole proprietorships or partnerships, while requiring contributions to be reported by the individual members or partners.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding campaign finance rules remains unchanged; the document format shifted from a draft to an enrolled bill ready for the governor's signature.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was updated to reflect its final enrolled status, including the addition of certification signatures for the House and Senate and the removal of draft headers.

HB0759_2(3).pdf → HB0759_2(4).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered to align with a new codification structure, moving the primary content to a new section intended for Title 13, Chapter 37. Additionally, a specific rule was added clarifying that members or partners of a limited liability company or partnership cannot make separate individual contributions if they are already reported as contributing through the entity, ensuring they only count toward individual contribution limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope was technically adjusted by renumbering sections to fit a new codification instruction, while the substantive scope regarding contribution rules was expanded with a new clarification on entity versus individual contributions.

TECHNICAL

Section numbers were updated and a codification instruction was added to integrate the bill into Title 13, Chapter 37.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision was added stating that members or partners of an LLC or partnership cannot make separate individual contributions if already reported as contributing through the entity, limiting them to individual contribution caps.

HB0759_1(8).pdf → HB0759_2.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the types of business entities eligible to make political contributions. Originally, only partnerships taxed as partnerships were allowed, but the new version now includes sole proprietorships and partnerships taxed as partnerships. This change broadens the pool of eligible contributors while maintaining the requirement that contributions be reported under the name of the individual member or partner.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include sole proprietorships as eligible contributors, whereas the previous version excluded them.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible contributor types were changed from only 'partnerships taxed as partnerships' to include 'sole proprietorships or partnerships taxed as partnerships'.

REQUIREMENT

The reporting requirement was updated to reflect the new eligible entity types, ensuring contributions from sole proprietorships are reported under the individual's name.

The codification instruction was updated to reference the new Section 1 title, which now includes 'Sole Proprietorship' in its description.

TECHNICAL

A citation error in the contribution limitations section was corrected, changing the reference from '13-37-219 13-37-216' to the correct single section '13-37-216'.

LC0599.pdf → HB0759_1.pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The document was updated from a legislative committee version (LC 0599) to the official House Bill number (HB 759), indicating it has been formally introduced in the legislature. The substantive text of the bill regarding campaign finance laws remains unchanged, with the only modifications being the header information and the authorization print version label.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill identifier from LC 0599 to HB 759 and added the names of the primary sponsors, R. Gregg and S. Fitzpatrick, to the header.

Revise campaign finance laws

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