House File 36HOUSE FILE BY HUSER and RAECKER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to political campaigns by limiting campaign 2 contributions for statewide and legislative elections and 3 making penalties applicable. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1186YH 82 6 jr/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 68A.506 CONTRIBUTIONS == 1 2 LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS. 1 3 1. As used in this section, "cash" includes but is not 1 4 limited to a check, money order, or other negotiable 1 5 instrument. 1 6 2. The aggregate amount of a contribution made to a 1 7 candidate or a candidate's committee by a committee or person 1 8 other than the candidate shall not exceed the following 1 9 amounts: 1 10 a. For the office of member of the house of 1 11 representatives, five hundred dollars in cash and an 1 12 additional five hundred dollars of in=kind contributions for 1 13 each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of a 1 14 political party, and an equal amount for each general 1 15 election. 1 16 b. For the office of state senator, one thousand dollars 1 17 in cash and an additional one thousand dollars of in=kind 1 18 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a 1 19 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each 1 20 general election. 1 21 c. For the office of a statewide elected official, as 1 22 defined in section 68B.2, ten thousand dollars in cash and an 1 23 additional ten thousand dollars of in=kind contributions for 1 24 each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of a 1 25 political party, and an equal amount for each general 1 26 election. The limits set out in this paragraph apply to the 1 27 governor and lieutenant governor together, as if the two 1 28 offices were one and the same. 1 29 3. The aggregate amount of a contribution made to a 1 30 candidate or a candidate's committee by a political party or 1 31 political organization, as defined in section 43.2, shall not 1 32 exceed the following amounts: 1 33 a. For the office of member of the house of 1 34 representatives, one thousand five hundred dollars in cash and 1 35 an additional four thousand five hundred dollars of in=kind 2 1 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a 2 2 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each 2 3 general election. 2 4 b. For the office of state senator, three thousand dollars 2 5 in cash and an additional nine thousand dollars of in=kind 2 6 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a 2 7 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each 2 8 general election. 2 9 c. For the office of a statewide elected official, as 2 10 defined in section 68B.2, thirty thousand dollars in cash and 2 11 an additional ninety thousand dollars of in=kind contributions 2 12 for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of 2 13 a political party, and an equal amount for each general 2 14 election. The limits set out in this paragraph apply to the 2 15 governor and lieutenant governor together, as if the two 2 16 offices were one and the same. 2 17 4. A political party or political organization may 2 18 establish no more than one fund to provide contributions to a 2 19 candidate or a candidate's committee for the office of member 2 20 of the house of representatives or state senator or office of 2 21 a statewide elected official. 2 22 EXPLANATION 2 23 This bill relates to political campaigns and campaign 2 24 finance and disclosure, containing limitations on certain 2 25 contributions to candidates for statewide office or the 2 26 general assembly. 2 27 The bill limits contributions by a committee or any person 2 28 other than the candidate. The term "person" includes any 2 29 individual, corporation, government or governmental 2 30 subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, 2 31 partnership or association, labor union, or any other legal 2 32 entity. 2 33 As provided in Code section 68A.701, willful violation of 2 34 these limitations is a serious misdemeanor punishable by 2 35 confinement for up to one year and a fine of at least $315 but 3 1 not more than $1,875. A variety of civil remedies are also 3 2 available in Code section 68B.32D, ranging from a reprimand to 3 3 a civil penalty of not more than $2,000. 3 4 LSB 1186YH 82 3 5 jr:rj/je/5