HB 542 — An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further providing for definitions, for organization of political committees, treasurer and assistant treasurer and records of candidate and committees, for registration and for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons, providing for limitations on certain contributions, further providing for residual funds, for late filing fee and certificate of filing, for contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations, for advertising and for reports by business entities and publication by Secretary of the Commonwealth and providing for independent expenditures and for independent expenditure evaluation; and providing for corporate political accountability.

PRINTER'S NO.   538

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 542
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, PIELLI, PROBST,
        SANCHEZ, STEELE AND DAVIDSON, FEBRUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
 2      "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
 3      special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
 4      primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
 5      and defining membership of county boards of elections;
 6      imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
 7      courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
 8      imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
 9      revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10      repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11      elections," in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further
12      providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the
13      Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further
14      providing for definitions, for organization of political
15      committees, treasurer and assistant treasurer and records of
16      candidate and committees, for registration and for reporting
17      by candidate and political committees and other persons,
18      providing for limitations on certain contributions, further
19      providing for residual funds, for late filing fee and
20      certificate of filing, for contributions or expenditures by
21      national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations,
22      for advertising and for reports by business entities and
23      publication by Secretary of the Commonwealth and providing
24      for independent expenditures and for independent expenditure
25      evaluation; and providing for corporate political
26      accountability.
27      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
28   hereby enacts as follows:
29      Section 1.    The General Assembly finds and declares that:
30          (1)   The Commonwealth has a compelling governmental
 1      interest to protect the integrity of the government from
 2      actual corruption or the appearance of corruption.
 3            (2)   When people, associations or other entities,
 4      including foreign corporations and foreign-influenced
 5      corporations, provide unlimited monetary support for elected
 6      government officials or candidates who are seeking
 7      governmental offices, there arises the appearance of
 8      corruption.
 9            (3)   The appearance of corruption and actual corruption
10      can be prevented by requiring transparency and regulating the
11      contributions that can be made to elected government
12      officials and candidates who are seeking governmental
13      offices.
14      Section 2.    Section 201 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
15   No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by
16   adding a subsection to read:
17      Section 201.    Powers and Duties of the Secretary of the
18   Commonwealth.--The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall exercise
19   in the manner provided by this act all powers granted to him by
20   this act, and shall perform all the duties imposed upon him by
21   this act, which shall include the following:
22      * * *
23      (i)   To biennially adjust the limitations on contributions
24   under section 1627.1(s).
25      Section 3.    Section 1621(d), (e) and (f) of the act are
26   amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
27   read:
28      Section 1621.    Definitions.--As used in this article, the
29   following words have the following meanings:
30      * * *

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 1      (d)   The word "expenditure" shall mean any of the following:
 2      (1)   The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money
 3   or any valuable thing by a candidate, candidate committee,
 4   political committee, political action committee, political party
 5   committee or other person for the purpose of influencing the
 6   outcome of a nomination or an election[;]: provided, however,
 7   that the payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money or
 8   any valuable thing shall be made only for expenses directly and
 9   exclusively incurred for the campaign in which the candidate is
10   running in the contemporaneous election cycle and that no
11   expenditure of funds from campaign accounts shall be used for
12   any personal purpose.
13      (2)   The payment, distribution, loan, advance or transfer of
14   money or other valuable thing between or among political
15   committees[;].
16      (3)   The providing of a service or other valuable thing for
17   the purpose of influencing the outcome of a nomination or
18   election of any person to any public office to be voted for in
19   this Commonwealth[; or].
20      (4)   The payment or providing of money or other valuable
21   thing by any person other than a candidate or political
22   committee, to compensate any person for services rendered to a
23   candidate or political committee.
24      (e)   The words "independent expenditure" shall mean an
25   expenditure by a person, other than a political committee or
26   candidate, expressly advocating the election or defeat of a
27   clearly identified candidate for nomination or election or
28   promoting the success or defeat of a clearly identified ballot
29   question appearing on the ballot in each election district in
30   this Commonwealth, made for the purpose of influencing an

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 1   election without cooperation or consultation with any candidate
 2   or any political committee authorized by that candidate and
 3   which is not made in concert with or at the request or
 4   suggestion of any candidate or political committee or agent
 5   thereof.
 6      (f)     The word "lobbyist" shall mean any person who is
 7   registered pursuant to the provisions of [the act of September
 8   30, 1961 (P.L.1778, No.712), known as the "Lobbying Registration
 9   and Regulation Act."] 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 13A (relating to lobbying
10   disclosure).
11      * * *
12      (n)     The word "affiliate" shall include:
13      (1)     Any committee established or authorized by a candidate
14   as part of his or her campaign for a specific campaign for a
15   designated office.
16      (2)     Any committee established, financed, maintained or
17   controlled by the same corporation, labor organization,
18   membership association, not-for-profit organization or trade or
19   professional association, person or group of persons, including
20   any parent, subsidiary, branch, division, department or local
21   unit of an entity under this paragraph. Local units may include,
22   in appropriate cases, a franchisee, licensee or regional
23   association.
24      (o)     The words "chief executive officer" shall mean the
25   highest ranking officer or decision-making individual with
26   authority over a corporation's affairs.
27      (p)     The words "clearly identified" shall mean:
28      (1)     with respect to a candidate, the name of the candidate
29   appears;
30      (2)     with respect to a candidate, a photograph, drawing or

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 1   other image of the candidate appears; or
 2      (3)     with respect to a candidate or ballot question, the
 3   identity of the candidate or ballot question is apparent by
 4   unambiguous reference.
 5      (q)     The words "electioneering communication" shall mean a
 6   broadcast, cable, mail, satellite, the Internet, social media or
 7   print communication by a person, other than a political
 8   committee or candidate, that refers to a clearly identified
 9   candidate or clearly identified ballot question appearing on the
10   ballot in each election district in this Commonwealth and is
11   publicly distributed within ninety (90) days before an election
12   in which the candidate is seeking election or reelection or the
13   ballot question appears on the ballot. The term does not include
14   any of the following communications:
15      (1)     A communication that is disseminated through a means
16   other than a broadcast station, radio station, cable television
17   system, telecommunications, Internet or satellite system,
18   newspaper, magazine, periodical, billboard advertisement or
19   mail.
20      (2)     A communication to less than one hundred (100)
21   recipients.
22      (3)     A news story, commentary, letter to the editor, news
23   release, column, op-ed or editorial broadcast by a television
24   station, radio station, cable television system or satellite
25   system or printed in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical
26   in general circulation.
27      (4)     Expenditures or independent expenditures or
28   contributions that must otherwise be reported under this
29   article.
30      (5)     A communication from a membership organization

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 1   exclusively to its members and their families, otherwise known
 2   as a membership communication.
 3      (6)   Bona fide candidate debates or forums and advertising or
 4   promotion of the same.
 5      (r)   The words "electioneering communication expenditure"
 6   shall mean any expenditure made by a person, other than a
 7   political committee or a candidate, as payment for an
 8   electioneering communication.
 9      (s)   The words "foreign-influenced corporation" shall mean a
10   corporation for which:
11      (1)   a foreign owner holds, owns, controls or otherwise has
12   directly or indirectly acquired beneficial ownership of equity
13   or voting shares in an amount that is equal to or greater than
14   five (5) per cent of the total equity or outstanding voting
15   shares; or
16      (2)   foreign owners hold, own, control or have directly or
17   indirectly acquired beneficial ownership of equity or voting
18   shares in an amount that is equal to or greater than twenty (20)
19   per cent of the total equity or outstanding voting shares.
20      (t)   The words "foreign national" shall mean:
21      (1)   a foreign principal; or
22      (2)   an individual who is not a citizen of the United States
23   or a national of the United States and who is not lawfully
24   admitted for permanent residence.
25      (u)   The words "foreign owner" shall mean a foreign national
26   or a corporation wherein a foreign national holds, owns,
27   controls or otherwise has directly or indirectly acquired
28   beneficial ownership of equity or voting shares in an amount
29   that is equal to or greater than fifty (50) per cent of the
30   total equity or outstanding voting shares.

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 1      (v)   The words "foreign principal" shall mean:
 2      (1)   a government of a foreign country;
 3      (2)   a foreign political party; or
 4      (3)   a partnership, association, corporation, organization or
 5   other combination of persons organized under the laws of or
 6   having its principal place of business in a foreign country.
 7      (w)   The words "independent expenditure political action
 8   committee" shall mean a political action committee that only
 9   receives contributions to make independent expenditures.
10      (x)   The words "in-kind contribution" shall mean a
11   contribution of goods, services, property or any valuable thing
12   offered free or at less than the fair market value for the
13   goods, property or services. The words shall not include any
14   legal or accounting services rendered to or on behalf of any
15   political committee of a political party, an authorized
16   committee of a candidate or any other political committee, if
17   the services are solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance
18   with this article. The legal or accounting services shall be
19   reported under section 1626.
20      (y)   The words "personal purpose" shall mean a purpose that,
21   by its nature, confers a personal benefit, including
22   expenditures such as a home mortgage, home rent, utility
23   payment, clothing purchase, noncampaign automobile expense,
24   country club membership, vacation or a trip of a noncampaign
25   nature, household food items, tuition payments, admission to a
26   sporting event, concert, theater or other form of entertainment
27   and other expenditures not specifically and directly necessary
28   for the conduct of the campaign.
29      (z)   The word "person" shall include any corporation,
30   partnership, limited liability company, business trust, other

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 1   association, government entity, other than the Commonwealth,
 2   estate, trust, foundation or natural person.
 3      Section 4.   Sections 1622(b) and 1624(b) of the act are
 4   amended to read:
 5      Section 1622.   Organization of Political Committees;
 6   Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer; Records of Candidate and
 7   Committees.--
 8      * * *
 9      (b)   Every candidate who authorizes a committee [or
10   committees], to receive and disburse funds on behalf of this
11   candidacy, shall name a sole treasurer[, irrespective of the
12   number of committees so authorized,] to receive and disburse all
13   funds [for] of said [committees. Nothing herein shall be
14   construed to prohibit a candidate from receiving or expending
15   moneys on his behalf or a treasurer of a political party
16   committee or a committee authorized to receive and distribute
17   funds on behalf of more than one (1) candidate from receiving or
18   expending moneys on behalf of said candidates, notwithstanding
19   the appointment of a sole treasurer. A sole treasurer may
20   delegate authority, in writing, to any number of assistant
21   treasurers to receive and disburse moneys collected on behalf of
22   a candidate for election. Nothing in this section shall prohibit
23   authorized individuals from selling tickets or soliciting funds
24   when funds are deposited in the campaign account of the
25   candidate.] committee.
26      * * *
27      Section 1624.   Registration.--
28      * * *
29      (b)   Each registration statement shall contain the following
30   information:

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 1      (1)   The name, addresses and phone numbers of the political
 2   committee.
 3      (2)   The name, address and phone number of the committee's
 4   treasurer.
 5      (3)   The name, address and phone number of the committee's
 6   chairman.
 7      (4)   The names, addresses and relationships of other
 8   affiliated or connected organizations.
 9      (5)   The candidates, if any, and their names and addresses.
10      (6)   The ballot question, if any, which the committee intends
11   to support or oppose.
12      (7)   The banks, safety deposit boxes or other repositories
13   and their addresses used by the committee.
14      (8)   The proposed period of operation of the committee.
15      (9)   A political committee which is established, financed,
16   maintained or controlled by a sponsoring organization such as a
17   corporation, labor organization, membership association, not-
18   for-profit organization or trade or professional association
19   shall include in its registered name the full name of its
20   sponsoring organization.
21      * * *
22      Section 5.   Section 1626(a), (b), (c), (d) and (g) of the act
23   are amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
24   read:
25      Section 1626.   Reporting by Candidate and Political
26   Committees and other Persons.--
27      (a)   Each treasurer of a political committee and each
28   candidate for election to public office shall file with the
29   appropriate supervisor reports of receipts and expenditures on
30   forms, designed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, if the

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 1   amount received or expended or liabilities incurred shall exceed
 2   the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). Should such an
 3   amount not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250), then the
 4   candidate or, in the case of a political committee, the
 5   treasurer of the committee shall file a sworn statement to that
 6   effect with the appropriate supervisor rather than the report
 7   required by this section[.]: provided, however, that if the
 8   amount received or expended by a candidate does not exceed two
 9   hundred fifty dollars ($250) he or she may comply with this
10   section by signing an affidavit to that effect on his or her
11   political committee's report or statement.
12      (b)   Each report shall include the following information:
13      (1)   The full name, mailing address, specific occupation and
14   specific name of the employer, if any, or the principal place of
15   business, if self-employed, of each person who has made one or
16   more contributions to or for such committee or candidate within
17   the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess
18   of [two hundred fifty dollars ($250)] one hundred dollars
19   ($100), together with the amount and date of such contributions.
20   The accuracy of the information furnished to the candidate or
21   committee shall be the responsibility of the contributor.
22      (2)   The full name and mailing address of each person [who]
23   and political committee that has made one or more contributions
24   to or for such committee or candidate within the reporting
25   period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of fifty
26   dollars ($50), together with the amount and date of such
27   contributions. The accuracy of the information furnished by the
28   contributor shall be the responsibility of the contributor.
29      (3)   The total sum of individual contributions made to or for
30   such committee or candidate during the reporting period and not

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 1   reported under clauses (1) and (2).
 2      (4)    Each and every expenditure, the date made, the full name
 3   and address of the person to whom made and the purpose for which
 4   such expenditure was made. If the creditor is a credit card
 5   company or similar instrumentality that is an intermediary for
 6   collecting payments due, it shall not be sufficient to list the
 7   name of the collecting organization. The report shall identify
 8   the credit card company and also the specific entities and
 9   payments being paid through the credit card company or like
10   entity. If the payment is being made by a committee to a
11   creditor for expenses on behalf of one or more candidates, the
12   amounts of payments and purposes of the payments shall be broken
13   down to identify each candidate's share of the incurred
14   expenses. The report shall include copies of the political
15   committee's or candidate's itemized credit card statements
16   displaying the reportable expenditures included in the report.
17      (5)    Any unpaid debts and liabilities, with the nature and
18   amount of each, the date incurred and the full name and address
19   of the person owed.
20      (6)    The account shall include any unexpended balance of
21   contributions or other receipts appearing from the last account
22   filed.
23      (7)    Identification of political committees as follows:
24      (i)    If the contributor is a political committee, the
25   official registration number of the committee must be included
26   on the contribution check or, in the case of an electronic
27   transfer, within the documentation sent to the candidate
28   providing notice to the electronic transfer of funds.
29      (ii)    The official registration number of the committee shall
30   be included on the disclosure report filed by the committee.

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 1      (iii)   The official committee registration number shall be
 2   included on each entry for that committee on a candidate's
 3   disclosure report.
 4      (c)   [Vouchers or copies of vouchers for all sums expended
 5   amounting to more than twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be
 6   retained by the candidate or the committee treasurer and shall
 7   be available for public inspection and copying as herein
 8   provided. Any person may inspect or copy such vouchers or copies
 9   thereof by filing a written request with the appropriate
10   supervisory office which shall notify the candidate or political
11   committee of such request. The candidate or political committee
12   shall have the option of either forwarding such vouchers or copy
13   of the same to the supervisor for such purpose or making the
14   vouchers or copy of the same available to the requesting person.
15   If a candidate or a treasurer of a political committee shall
16   fail to make said vouchers or copies thereof available for
17   inspection and copying when requested by the appropriate
18   supervisory officer, such officer shall direct the candidate or
19   political committee to promptly deliver the vouchers or copies
20   thereof to the supervisory office for purposes of inspection and
21   copying. Costs of copying and costs of delivery by the candidate
22   or treasurer of the requested vouchers or copies thereof shall
23   be borne by the person requesting same.] (1)   Vouchers or copies
24   of vouchers for all sums expended amounting to more than twenty-
25   five dollars ($25) shall be retained by the candidate or the
26   political committee treasurer for a period of three (3) years as
27   required under section 1622(c) and shall be available for public
28   inspection and copying.
29      (2)   Any person may inspect or copy such vouchers or copies
30   thereof by filing a written request with the appropriate

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 1   supervisory office which shall notify the candidate or political
 2   committee of the request. The candidate or political committee
 3   shall forward the vouchers or copy of the same to the supervisor
 4   for such purpose within fifteen (15) days of the date of the
 5   request. The supervisor shall make the vouchers or copies of the
 6   vouchers available to the requesting person for inspection and
 7   copying. Costs of copying and costs of delivery by the candidate
 8   or treasurer of the requested vouchers or copies shall be borne
 9   by the requesting person.
10      (3)    If a candidate or a treasurer of a political committee
11   fails to forward the vouchers or copies of the vouchers to the
12   supervisory office when requested, the supervisory office shall
13   provide written notice of the violation to the candidate or
14   political committee. If the violation is not corrected within
15   thirty (30) days after receipt of a notice, the department shall
16   issue a notice of violation and, after a hearing, make a
17   determination and may assess penalties against the candidate or
18   treasurer of the political committee for noncompliance under
19   this act.
20      (4)    An aggrieved candidate or treasurer of a political
21   committee or requesting person who was party to the department's
22   determination under paragraph (3) may file an action in court
23   seeking declaratory or injunctive relief. In an action under
24   this subsection, the court may allow the prevailing party
25   reasonable attorney fees, including litigation costs and
26   expenses. An action filed under this paragraph must be filed in
27   either:
28      (i)    Commonwealth Court in the case of any candidate or
29   treasurer of a candidate's political committee if the candidate
30   is running for a Statewide elected office or a legislative

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 1   office of the General Assembly; or
 2      (ii)    an appropriate court of common pleas in the case of all
 3   other candidates or treasurers of political committees.
 4      (5)    Prior to granting a request for inspection and copying
 5   vouchers, a candidate or political committee may require a
 6   requester to prepay an estimate of the fees authorized under
 7   this section if the costs of copying and costs of delivery
 8   required to fulfill the request are expected to exceed one
 9   hundred dollars ($100). If no prepayment is requested or made, a
10   candidate or political committee may require the requestor to
11   pay the actual costs of copying and costs of delivery prior to
12   the release of the requested documents.
13      (6)    The Attorney General shall have prosecutorial
14   jurisdiction over a violation committed under this section. The
15   district attorney of any county in which a violation occurred
16   has concurrent powers and responsibilities with the Attorney
17   General over the violations.
18      (7)    The supervisor of a candidate or political committee may
19   deny a requesting person access to a voucher or copies of the
20   vouchers if the requesting person has made repeated requests for
21   the same record more than twice and the repeated requests have
22   placed an unreasonable burden on the candidate or political
23   committee, which is substantiated by repeated responses to
24   substantively similar requests. A denial under this paragraph
25   shall not restrict the ability to request a different record.
26      (d)    Pre-election reports by candidates for offices to be
27   voted for by the electors of the State at large, candidates for
28   the office of Senator in the General Assembly, candidates for
29   the office of Representative in the General Assembly and all
30   political committees, which have expended money for the purpose

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 1   of influencing the election of such [candidate] candidates,
 2   shall be filed not later than the sixth Tuesday before and the
 3   second Friday before an election, provided that the initial pre-
 4   election report shall be complete as of fifty (50) days prior to
 5   the election and the subsequent pre-election report shall be
 6   complete as of fifteen (15) days prior to the election. Pre-
 7   election reports by all other candidates and political
 8   committees which have received contributions or made
 9   expenditures for the purpose of influencing an election shall be
10   filed not later than the second Friday before an election,
11   provided that such report be complete as of fifteen (15) days
12   prior to the election.
13      (d.1)   During nonelection years in which subsection (d) is
14   not operative, an elected official or announced candidate for
15   any elective office shall file quarterly reports if he or she
16   receives more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) during the
17   respective calendar quarter. Reports shall be due thirty (30)
18   days after the end of each calendar quarter and shall be
19   complete through the final day of the calendar quarter the
20   report covers.
21      * * *
22      (g)   [Every] Except as provided under section 1644, every
23   person, other than a political committee or candidate, who makes
24   independent expenditures expressly advocating the election or
25   defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or question appearing
26   on the ballot, other than by contribution to a political
27   committee or candidate, in an aggregate amount in excess of [one
28   hundred dollars ($100)] one thousand dollars ($1,000) during a
29   calendar year shall file with the appropriate supervisor, on a
30   form prepared by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, a report

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 1   which shall include the same information required of a candidate
 2   or political committee receiving such a contribution and,
 3   additionally, the name of the candidate or question supported or
 4   opposed. Reports required by this subsection shall be filed on
 5   dates on which reports by political committees making
 6   expenditures are required to report under this section.
 7      * * *
 8      (k)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
 9   shall have the following meanings:
10      The phrase "costs of copying" shall mean up to twenty-five
11   cents (25¢) per copy for black and white copies, and up to fifty
12   cents (50¢) per copy for color copies. If a CD or DVD is
13   provided, the cost of copying will be up to the actual cost of
14   the CD or DVD, not to exceed three dollars ($3) per disc. For a
15   flash drive, the cost of copying will be up to the actual cost
16   of the flash drive.
17      The phrase "costs of delivery" shall mean the cost of postage
18   or shipping of documents from the candidate or committee to the
19   requester. The allowable fee for postage or shipping will be up
20   to the actual cost of the United States Postal Service's first-
21   class postage.
22      The word "department" shall mean the Department of State of
23   the Commonwealth.
24      The word "voucher" shall mean a document that reasonably
25   describes the campaign expense.
26      Section 6.    The act is amended by adding a section to read:
27      Section 1627.1.    Limitations on Certain Contributions.--
28      (a)   Aggregate contributions, including in-kind
29   contributions, from any individual to any candidate for the
30   office of Senator or Representative in the General Assembly,

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 1   judge of a court of common pleas or a county or municipal
 2   office, or to the candidate's committee or agent, may not exceed
 3   one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for each election.
 4   For each election, a candidate and the candidate's committee or
 5   agent may not accept or receive more than one thousand five
 6   hundred dollars ($1,500) in aggregate contributions, including
 7   in-kind contributions from any individual for each election.
 8      (b)   Aggregate contributions, including in-kind
 9   contributions, from any individual to any candidate for
10   Statewide office, his or her authorized committee or agent, may
11   not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each election. For
12   each election, no candidate, his or her authorized committee or
13   agent may accept or receive more than five thousand dollars
14   ($5,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-kind
15   contributions from any individual for each election.
16      (c)   For each election, aggregate contributions, including
17   in-kind contributions, from a single political action committee,
18   its affiliate or agent or candidate's political committee, its
19   affiliate or agent to any candidate for Statewide office, the
20   office of Senator or Representative in the General Assembly,
21   judge of a court of common pleas or a county or municipal
22   office, his or her authorized committee or agent, may not exceed
23   ten thousand dollars ($10,000). For each election, no candidate
24   for the office, nor the candidate's committee or agent, may
25   accept or receive more than the applicable amount or amounts as
26   specified under this subsection in aggregate contributions,
27   including in-kind contributions, from a single political action
28   committee or agent or candidate's political committee. A donor
29   shall be an individual or a single committee regardless of the
30   number of contributions made by that individual or committee

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 1   during the election cycle.
 2      (d)   Contributions from political party committees to a
 3   political action committee, other party committee or other
 4   committee may not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each
 5   election.
 6      (e)   A candidate for the office of Senator or Representative
 7   in the General Assembly, judge of a court of common pleas or a
 8   county or municipal office, or the candidate's committee or
 9   agent may not accept in excess of two hundred and fifty thousand
10   dollars ($250,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-kind
11   contributions from all political party committees, affiliates or
12   agents. Contributions, in the aggregate, received by a
13   candidate, may not exceed the aggregate contributions made by
14   individuals per election.
15      (f)   Except for a candidate for the office of Governor, a
16   candidate for Statewide office, his or her authorized committee
17   or agent may not accept in excess of one million dollars
18   ($1,000,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-kind
19   contributions from all political party committees, affiliates or
20   agents. A candidate for Governor, his or her authorized
21   committee or agent may not accept in excess of five million
22   dollars ($5,000,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-
23   kind contributions from all political party committees,
24   affiliates or agents. Contributions in aggregate received by a
25   candidate may not exceed the aggregate contributions made by
26   individuals per election.
27      (g)   Aggregate contributions, including in-kind
28   contributions, from any person or single political action
29   committee, its affiliate or agent or any single candidate's
30   political committee, its affiliate or agent to a single

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 18 -
 1   political action committee, its affiliate or agent, may not
 2   exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) during any calendar year.
 3   For each election, no political action committee, its affiliate
 4   or agent may accept or receive more than ten thousand dollars
 5   ($10,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-kind
 6   contributions, from any individual person or a single political
 7   action committee, its affiliate or agent during any calendar
 8   year.
 9      (h)   Aggregate contributions from any individual, person or
10   single candidate's political committee, its affiliate or agent
11   or a single political action committee, its affiliate or agent
12   or any other political committee to a single political party
13   committee may not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in a
14   calendar year. A single political party committee may not accept
15   or receive more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate
16   contributions from any individual, person, single candidate's
17   political committee or agent or a single political action
18   committee, its affiliate or agent, any political committee or
19   other committee in a calendar year.
20      (i)   The following shall apply to annual aggregate limits:
21      (1)   No individual may make contributions to candidates,
22   political committees or other committees that have a combined
23   aggregate amount or value that exceeds twenty-five thousand
24   dollars ($25,000) in a calendar year.
25      (2)   No political action committee may make contributions to
26   candidates, political committees and party committees in an
27   aggregate amount or value that exceeds one hundred thousand
28   dollars ($100,000) in any calendar year.
29      (j)   A gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money
30   or anything of value to a candidate shall be considered a

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 19 -
 1   contribution both by the original source of the contribution and
 2   by any intermediary or conduit if the intermediary or conduit:
 3      (1)   exercises any direction over the making of the
 4   contribution; or
 5      (2)   solicits the contribution or arranges for the
 6   contribution to be made and directly or indirectly makes the
 7   candidate aware of the intermediary or conduit's role in
 8   soliciting or arranging the contribution for the candidate.
 9      (k)   For purposes of subsection (j), a contribution shall not
10   be considered to be a contribution by an intermediary or conduit
11   to the candidate if any of the following situations occurs:
12      (1)   The intermediary or conduit has been retained by the
13   candidate's committee for the purpose of fundraising and is
14   reimbursed for expenses incurred in soliciting contributions.
15      (2)   For an individual, the candidate has expressly
16   authorized the intermediary or conduit to engage in fundraising,
17   or the individual occupies a position within the candidate's
18   campaign organization and is authorized by the organization to
19   engage in fundraising.
20      (3)   For a political committee, the intermediary or conduit
21   is the authorized committee of the candidate.
22      (l)   The following shall apply to out-of-State contributions:
23      (1)   A candidate, candidate committee, party committee,
24   political action committee or political committee may not accept
25   a campaign contribution from an out-of-State political action
26   committee if the political action committee's home state has
27   less restrictive disclosure laws than this Commonwealth, except
28   as provided under paragraph (2).
29      (2)   A candidate, candidate committee, party committee,
30   political action committee or political committee may accept a

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 20 -
 1   campaign contribution from an out-of-State political action
 2   committee if that political action committee is registered in
 3   this Commonwealth with the Department of State and, by the
 4   registration, has affirmed that the contributor will comply with
 5   the contribution, expenditure and reporting requirements of this
 6   act, and the regulations relating to contributions, expenditures
 7   and reporting promulgated under this act by the Department of
 8   State and the State Ethics Commission.
 9      (3)   The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall list and certify
10   those states that have less restrictive disclosure laws than the
11   Commonwealth. The list shall be compiled and updated annually
12   and transmitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
13   publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
14   Bulletin not later than January 1, 2024, and each January 1
15   thereafter. The list shall be made available on the Department
16   of State's publicly accessible Internet website and provided in
17   hard copy in campaign committee packets prepared by the
18   Department of State.
19      (m)   This section shall apply to any contribution made for
20   the purpose of influencing an election to any public office in
21   this Commonwealth except Federal offices.
22      (n)   For purposes of this section, any contribution made to a
23   candidate in a year other than the calendar year in which the
24   election is held with respect to which the contribution is made
25   shall be considered to be made during the calendar year in which
26   the election is held.
27      (o)   For purposes of this section, contribution limits shall
28   apply to each election separately unless an annual limit or
29   other limit is specified.
30      (p)   A person who has a fiduciary contract for services with

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 21 -
 1   the General Assembly may not engage in campaign finance activity
 2   for candidates of the General Assembly, including making of
 3   contributions, fundraising activities or involvement in
 4   political action committees or candidate political committees.
 5      (q)   Nothing under this section shall prohibit a
 6   municipality, including a city of the first class, from
 7   instituting lower limitations on contributions to candidates for
 8   elected offices under the municipality's jurisdiction.
 9      (r)   A violation of the contribution limits under this
10   section shall subject the violator to a fine equal to three
11   times the amount of money that exceeds the limits. The penalty
12   shall apply to both the person making the contribution and the
13   person receiving it.
14      (s)   The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall biennially
15   adjust to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100) the limits in
16   subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) by the
17   percentage change in the Consumer Price Index and transmit the
18   new amounts to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication
19   in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. For
20   the purposes of this subsection, "Consumer Price Index" means
21   the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers that is
22   published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
23   Labor Statistics.
24      (t)   The limitations imposed under this section may not apply
25   to contributions from a candidate's personal resources to a
26   candidate committee, political committee or political action
27   committee acting on behalf of the candidate, except that, if the
28   contributions total one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or
29   more, regardless of the time period over which the contributions
30   are made, the contribution limits under this section shall

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 22 -
 1   quadruple.
 2      Section 7.     Sections 1630 and 1632(a) of the act are amended
 3   to read:
 4      Section 1630.     Residual Funds.--
 5      (a)     In the event that a candidate or political committee
 6   terminates its financial activity as such, then the disbursement
 7   of any residual funds remaining in such an account shall be made
 8   in the following manner:
 9      (1)     any such funds may be used for any expenditure as
10   defined by this article; [and]
11      (2)     may be returned, pro rata, to the contributors by the
12   candidate or treasurer of the political committee[. A final
13   report must be made by the next January 31 in accordance with
14   section 1627.]; or
15      (3)     may be donated to a nonprofit organization.
16      (b)     A final report must be made by the next January 31 in
17   accordance with section 1627.
18      (c)     For purposes of this section:
19      (1)     "Affiliated" means serving as an officer of, on the
20   board of directors of, as a paid employee of or a contractor of
21   a nonprofit organization.
22      (2)     "Family member" means a spouse or child.
23      (3)     "Nonprofit organization" means an organization that is
24   qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as meeting the
25   requirements of 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)(relating to exemption from
26   tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.) organized under the
27   laws of this Commonwealth and is not affiliated with a candidate
28   or the chairman or treasurer of a political committee, including
29   a family member of the candidate, chairman or treasurer.
30      Section 1632.     Late Filing Fee; Certificate of Filing.--

20250HB0542PN0538                    - 23 -
 1      (a)   A late filing fee for each report or statement of
 2   expenditures and contributions which is not filed within the
 3   prescribed period shall be imposed as follows. Such fee shall be
 4   [ten dollars ($10)] twenty dollars ($20) for each day or part of
 5   a day excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays that a report is
 6   overdue. An additional fee of ten dollars ($10) is due for each
 7   of the first six (6) days that a report is overdue. [The maximum
 8   fee payable with respect to a single report is two hundred fifty
 9   dollars ($250).] A supervisor shall receive an overdue report or
10   statement even if any late filing fee due has not been paid but
11   the report or statement shall not be considered filed until all
12   fees have been paid upon the receipt by the supervisor of an
13   overdue report. No further late filing fees shall be incurred
14   once the report or statement is filed notwithstanding the fact
15   that the report or statement is not considered filed. The late
16   filing fee is the personal liability of the candidate or
17   treasurer of a political committee and cannot be paid from
18   contributions to the candidate or committee, nor may such fee be
19   considered an expenditure. A report or statement of expenditures
20   and contributions shall be deemed to have been filed within the
21   prescribed time if the letter transmitting the report or
22   statement which is received by the supervisor is transmitted by
23   first class mail and is postmarked by the United States Postal
24   Service on the day prior to the final day on which the report or
25   statement is to be received: Provided, That this sentence shall
26   not be applicable to the reporting requirements contained in
27   section 1628. All Department of State filing and disclosure
28   requirements for prior campaign activity must have been met in
29   order for a candidate to obtain a place on the ballot.
30      * * *

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 24 -
 1      Section 8.    Section 1633(a) of the act is amended and the
 2   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 3      Section 1633.   Contributions or Expenditures by National
 4   Banks, Corporations or Unincorporated Associations.--(a)   It is
 5   unlawful for any National or State bank, partnership or any
 6   corporation, incorporated under the laws of this or any other
 7   state or any foreign country or any unincorporated association,
 8   except those corporations formed primarily for political
 9   purposes or as a political committee, to make a contribution or
10   expenditure in connection with the election of any candidate or
11   for any political purpose whatever except in connection with any
12   question to be voted on by the electors of this Commonwealth.
13   Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any candidate, political
14   committee, or other person to knowingly accept or receive any
15   contribution prohibited by this section, or for any officer or
16   any director of any corporation, bank, or any unincorporated
17   association to consent to any contribution or expenditure by the
18   corporation, bank or unincorporated association, as the case may
19   be, prohibited by this section. If any portion of this section
20   regarding bans on contributions or expenditures by National
21   banks, corporations or unincorporated associations is nullified
22   by a court decision, the contribution limits established for
23   individuals under section 1627.1 shall also be applied to the
24   entities currently covered under this section.
25      * * *
26      (e)   (1)   A foreign-influenced corporation may not make an
27   independent expenditure, an electioneering communication
28   expenditure or a contribution to an independent expenditure
29   political action committee.
30      (2)   A corporation that makes an independent expenditure, an

20250HB0542PN0538                   - 25 -
 1   electioneering communication expenditure or a contribution to an
 2   independent expenditure political action committee shall, within
 3   seven (7) business days after making the expenditure or
 4   contribution, file with the Department of State a statement of
 5   certification, signed by the chief executive officer under
 6   penalty of perjury, avowing that, after due inquiry, the
 7   corporation was not a foreign-influenced corporation on the date
 8   the expenditure or contribution was made.
 9      Section 9.    Section 1638 of the act is amended by adding a
10   subsection to read:
11      Section 1638.   Advertising.--
12      * * *
13      (c)   (1)   Unless the person making an independent expenditure
14   or electioneering communication, transmitted through paid radio,
15   television or Internet advertising, has received a statement of
16   certification as prescribed under section 1633(e) from each
17   contributing corporation that is among the top five (5)
18   contributors when ranked in order of amount of contribution made
19   to the person for the twelve-month period immediately preceding
20   the date of the communication, the advertisement shall include
21   the following statement:
22      Some of the funds used to pay for this message may have been
23      provided by foreign-influenced corporations.
24      (2)   The person making the independent expenditure or
25   electioneering communication under this section shall be
26   entitled to rely on the statement of certification provided by
27   the contributor unless the person has actual knowledge that the
28   certification is false.
29      Section 10.   Section 1641(a) of the act is amended and the
30   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

20250HB0542PN0538                   - 26 -
 1      Section 1641.   Reports by Business Entities; Publication by
 2   Secretary of the Commonwealth.--
 3      (a)   Any business entity including but not limited to a
 4   corporation, company, association, partnership or sole
 5   proprietorship, which has been awarded [non-bid] contracts or
 6   grants over fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the
 7   Commonwealth or its political subdivisions during the preceding
 8   [calendar year] two-year period, shall report by February 15 of
 9   each year to the Secretary of the Commonwealth a list including
10   the amount of the contract, description of the service provided
11   and location and an itemized list of all political contributions
12   known to the business entity by virtue of the knowledge
13   possessed by every officer, director, associate, partner,
14   limited partner or individual owner that has been made by:
15      (1)   any officer, director, associate, partner, limited
16   partner, individual owner or members of their immediate family
17   when the contributions exceed an aggregate of one thousand
18   dollars ($1,000) by any individual during the preceding year; or
19      (2)   any employe or members of his immediate family whose
20   aggregate political [contribution] contributions exceeded one
21   thousand dollars ($1,000) during the preceding year.
22   For the purposes of this subsection, "immediate family" [means a
23   person's spouse and any unemancipated child] shall have the same
24   meaning as in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to definitions).
25      * * *
26      (c)   The Department of State, in consultation with the
27   Department of General Services, shall publish a list of all
28   business entities, corporations, companies, associations,
29   partnerships or sole proprietorships receiving grants and
30   contracts in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 27 -
 1   Commonwealth not later than January 31 of each year for the
 2   preceding two-year period. The list shall be updated quarterly.
 3      Section 11.    The act is amended by adding sections to read:
 4      Section 1643.    Independent Expenditures.--
 5      (a)    Except as prohibited under section 1633(e)(1), a person
 6   may make independent expenditures.
 7      (b)    The following shall apply to expenditures made for a
 8   written, typed or other printed communication or an Internet-
 9   based, written communication which promotes the success or
10   defeat of a candidate's campaign for nomination or election or
11   the adoption or defeat of a ballot question or solicits funds to
12   benefit a political committee:
13      (1)    A person may not make, incur or contract for an
14   expenditure with the consent of, in coordination with or in
15   consultation with a candidate, candidate committee, political
16   committee or candidate's agent.
17      (2)    A group of two or more individuals acting together that
18   receives funds or makes or incurs expenditures not exceeding one
19   thousand dollars ($1,000) in the aggregate which have not formed
20   a political committee may not make or incur an independent
21   expenditure.
22      (c)    Communications under subsection (b) shall contain the
23   following language:
24      (1)    The words "paid for and approved by" and one of the
25   following:
26      (i)    For an individual, the name and address of the
27   individual.
28      (ii)    For a committee other than a party committee, the name
29   of the committee and its campaign treasurer.
30      (iii)     For a party committee, the name of the committee.

20250HB0542PN0538                    - 28 -
 1      (iv)   For a group of two or more individuals that received
 2   funds or makes or incurs expenditures not exceeding one thousand
 3   dollars ($1,000) in the aggregate which have not formed a
 4   political committee, the name of the group and the name and
 5   address of its agent.
 6      (2)    The words "approved by" and one of the following:
 7      (i)    For an individual, group or political committee other
 8   than a candidate committee making or incurring an expenditure
 9   with the consent of, in coordination with or in consultation
10   with a candidate committee or candidate's agent, the name of the
11   candidate.
12      (ii)   For a candidate committee, the name of the candidate.
13      (d)    The following shall apply to independent expenditures:
14      (1)    A person may not make or incur an independent
15   expenditure for a written, typed or other printed communication
16   or an Internet-based written communication which promotes the
17   success or defeat of a candidate for nomination or election or
18   promotes or opposes a political party or solicits funds to
19   benefit a political party or committee, unless the communication
20   bears upon its face the words "paid for and approved by" and the
21   name of the person, the name of its chief executive officer or
22   equivalent and its principal business address and the words
23   "This message was made independently of a candidate or political
24   party."
25      (2)    An entity which is a tax-exempt organization under 26
26   U.S.C. Ch. 1 Subch. F (relating to exempt organizations), making
27   or incurring an independent expenditure under clause (1), shall
28   also bear upon the face of the communication the words "Top Five
29   Contributors" followed by a list of the five (5)
30   persons making the largest contributions to the organization

20250HB0542PN0538                   - 29 -
 1   during the twelve-month period before the date of the
 2   communication.
 3      (3)    Disclosure requirements are as follows:
 4      (i)    In addition to the requirements of clauses (1) and (2),
 5   a person may not make or incur an independent expenditure for
 6   television advertising, radio or Internet video advertising or
 7   Internet radio advertising that promotes the success or defeat
 8   of a candidate for election or promotes or opposes a political
 9   party or solicits funds to benefit a political party or
10   committee, unless at the end of the advertisement there appears
11   or includes simultaneously for a period of no less than four
12   seconds a clear identifiable audio, video, photographic or
13   similar image of the person's chief executive officer or
14   equivalent and a personal audio message, in the following form:
15      I am . . . (name of person's chief executive officer or
16      equivalent),    . . . (title) of . . . (entity). This message
17      was made independently of any candidate, political committee
18      or political party, and I approve of its content.
19      (ii)   A tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. Ch. 1 Subch.
20   F, making or incurring an independent expenditure under
21   subclause (i), shall include on the advertisement an easily
22   readable written message in the following form:
23      "The Top Five Contributors to the organization for this
24      advertisement are" followed by a list of the five (5) persons
25      making the largest contributions to the organization during
26      the twelve-month period before the date of the communication.
27      Section 1644.   Independent Expenditure Evaluation.--
28      (a)    When the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and
29   Legislation audits and evaluates an expenditure that is included
30   in a report under section 1643 to determine whether the

20250HB0542PN0538                   - 30 -
 1   expenditure is an independent expenditure, there shall be a
 2   rebuttable presumption that the following expenditures are not
 3   independent expenditures:
 4      (1)   An expenditure made by a person in cooperation,
 5   consultation or concert with, at the request, suggestion or
 6   direction of or pursuant to a general or particular
 7   understanding with a candidate or political committee or other
 8   agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political committee.
 9      (2)   An expenditure made by a person for the production,
10   dissemination, distribution or publication, in whole or in
11   substantial part, of a broadcast or a written, graphic or other
12   form of political advertising or campaign communications
13   prepared by a candidate or political committee or a consultant
14   or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political
15   committee.
16      (3)   An expenditure made by a person based on information
17   about a candidate's or political committee's plans, projects or
18   needs, provided by a candidate or political committee or a
19   consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate or
20   political committee with the intent that the expenditure be
21   made.
22      (4)   An expenditure made by an individual who, in the same
23   election cycle, is serving or has served as the campaign
24   chairman, campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer of a political
25   committee benefiting from the expenditure, or another executive
26   or policymaking position, including as a member, employe,
27   fundraiser, consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a
28   candidate or political committee.
29      (5)   An expenditure made by a person whose officer, director,
30   member, employe, fundraiser, consultant or other agent who

20250HB0542PN0538                  - 31 -
 1   serves the person in an executive or policymaking position also
 2   serves as or has served in the same election cycle as the
 3   candidate or the campaign chairman, campaign treasurer or deputy
 4   treasurer of a candidate or political committee benefiting from
 5   the expenditure, or in another executive or policymaking
 6   position of the candidate or political committee.
 7      (6)    An expenditure made by a person for:
 8      (i)    fundraising activities with or for a candidate or
 9   political committee or a consultant or other agent acting on
10   behalf of a candidate or political committee; or
11      (ii)    the solicitation or receipt of contributions on behalf
12   of a candidate or political committee or a consultant or other
13   agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political committee.
14      (7)    An expenditure made by a person based on information
15   about a candidate's campaign plans, projects or needs, that is
16   directly or indirectly provided by a candidate, the candidate's
17   committee or a political committee or a consultant or other
18   agent acting on behalf of the candidate or political committee
19   to the person making the expenditure or the person's agent, with
20   an express or tacit understanding that the person is considering
21   making the expenditure.
22      (8)    An expenditure made by a person for a communication that
23   clearly identifies a candidate or political committee during an
24   election campaign if the person making the expenditure or the
25   person's agent has informed the candidate w

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