HF 53 (LSB 1630YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 53

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to independent expenditures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 68A.404, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  As used in this section, “independent expenditure” means one or more expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars in the aggregate for a communication that expressly advocates the nomination, election, or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or the passage or defeat of a ballot issue that is made without the prior approval or coordination with a candidate, candidate’s committee, a political party as defined in section 43.2, or a ballot issue committee.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill changes the definition of “independent expenditure” for purposes of campaign finance to include one or more expenditures in excess of $1,000 in the aggregate for a communication that expressly advocates the nomination, election, or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or the passage or defeat of a ballot issue that is made without the prior approval or coordination with a political party. Under current law, persons making independent expenditures are subject to certain reporting requirements.