HF 2223 (LSB 6166YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2223

BY  ANDREWS

A BILL FOR

An Act limiting political contributions from out-of-state sources, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68A.507  Contributions from out-of-state sources —— limitations.
   1.  A candidate or candidate’s committee shall not accept contributions of greater than one dollar from a person not living in or incorporated or organized under the laws of this state.
   2.  The general assembly recognizes that persons who are not residents of Iowa have the right to free speech under the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States and may have a passing interest in elections in this state. However, the general assembly finds that it is in the best interest of the residents of Iowa for elections in this state to be influenced and funded by residents of Iowa.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits a candidate for public office or a candidate’s committee from accepting contributions of greater than $1 from a person not living in or incorporated or organized under the laws of this state. The bill states the general assembly’s recognition that persons who are not residents of Iowa have the right to free speech under the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States and may have a passing interest in elections in Iowa but that the general assembly finds that it is in the best interest of the residents of Iowa for elections in Iowa to be influenced and funded by residents of Iowa. By operation of law, a person who willfully violates a provision of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.