Election Fundraising Amendments

SB 18 amends Utah's campaign finance rules to clarify restrictions on contributions during legislative sessions and veto periods. It exempts federal campaign contributions made by non-lobbyists for candidates running for federal office from the usual ban on contributions to state officials during these periods. The bill also makes it a crime to give federal contributions with the intent to influence or reward state officials (including legislators, the governor, or their campaigns) for official actions. These changes apply to all state officials and governors, with violations punishable as class A misdemeanors. The bill focuses on defining terms and tightening prohibitions around federal contributions used to influence state-level decisions.