HF 4243

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/23/2026 05:03 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to campaign finance; increasing certain reporting thresholds; clarifying
certain deadlines and filing periods; making conforming changes for local
candidates; making technical changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
10A.01, subdivision 24; 10A.07, subdivisions 1, 2; 10A.09, subdivisions 2, 5a,
6a; 10A.16; 10A.175, subdivisions 2, 3, 5; 10A.20, subdivisions 2, 2a, 3, 4; 10A.25,
subdivision 10; 10A.27, subdivision 17; 10A.275, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes
2025 Supplement, section 10A.09, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.01, subdivision 24, is amended to read:

Subd. 24.

Metropolitan governmental unit.

"Metropolitan governmental unit" means
deleted text begin any of the seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision
2, deleted text end a regional railroad authority established by deleted text begin one or more of those counties under section
398A.03, a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county metropolitan
area, deleted text end new text begin a county in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2; new text end the
Metropolitan Council deleted text begin , or a metropolitan agency as defined in section 473.121, subdivision
5a deleted text end new text begin ; the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission; the Metropolitan Airports
Commission; or the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure of potential conflicts.

(a) A public official or a local official
elected to or appointed by a metropolitan governmental unit new text begin , by any of the seven counties
in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, or by a city with a population of over
50,000 located in the seven-county metropolitan area, new text end who in the discharge of official duties
would be required to take an action or make a decision that would substantially affect the
official's financial interests or those of an associated business, unless the effect on the official
is no greater than on other members of the official's business classification, profession, or
occupation, must take the following actions:

(1) prepare a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and
the nature of the potential conflict of interest;

(2) deliver copies of the statement to the official's immediate superior, if any; and

(3) if a member of the legislature or of the governing body of a deleted text begin metropolitan governmental
unit deleted text end new text begin political subdivision new text end , deliver a copy of the statement to the presiding officer of the body
of service.

If a potential conflict of interest presents itself and there is insufficient time to comply
with clauses (1) to (3), the public or local official must orally inform the superior or the
official body of service or committee of the body of the potential conflict.

(b) For purposes of this section, "financial interest" means any ownership or control in
an asset that has the potential to produce a monetary return.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Required actions.

(a) If the official is not a member of the legislature or of the
governing body of a deleted text begin metropolitan governmental unit deleted text end new text begin political subdivision new text end , the superior must
assign the matter, if possible, to another employee who does not have a potential conflict
of interest.

(b) If there is no immediate superior, the official must abstain, if possible, by assigning
the matter to a subordinate for disposition or requesting the appointing authority to designate
another to determine the matter. The official shall not chair a meeting, participate in any
vote, or offer any motion or discussion on the matter giving rise to the potential conflict of
interest.

(c) If the official is a member of the legislature, the house of service may, at the member's
request, excuse the member from taking part in the action or decision in question.

(d) If an official is not permitted or is otherwise unable to abstain from action in
connection with the matter, the official must file a statement describing the potential conflict
and the action taken. A public official must file the statement with the board and a local
official must file the statement with the governing body of the official's political subdivision.
The statement must be filed within a week of the action taken.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 10A.09, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Time for filing.

An individual must file a statement of economic interest:

(1) within 60 days of accepting employment as a public official or a local official in a
metropolitan governmental unit new text begin , any of the seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined
in section 473.121, or a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county
metropolitan area new text end ;

(2) within 60 days of assuming office as a district court judge, appeals court judge,
supreme court justice, or county commissioner;

(3) within 14 days after the end of the filing period for a candidate who filed an affidavit
of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot for an elective state constitutional or
legislative office or an elective local office in deleted text begin a metropolitan governmental unit deleted text end new text begin any of the
seven counties in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121 new text end other than county
commissioner new text begin , or in a city with a population of over 50,000 located in the seven-county
metropolitan area new text end ;

(4) in the case of a public official requiring the advice and consent of the senate, within
14 days after undertaking the duties of office; or

(5) in the case of members of the Minnesota Racing Commission, the director of the
Minnesota Racing Commission, chief of security, medical officer, inspector of pari-mutuels,
and stewards employed or approved by the commission or persons who fulfill those duties
under contract, within 60 days of accepting or assuming duties.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Notice to board.

new text begin Notwithstanding section 204B.06, subdivision 1b, new text end the secretary
of state or the appropriate county auditor, upon receiving an affidavit of candidacy or petition
to appear on the ballot from an individual required by this section to file a statement of
economic interest, and any official who nominates or employs a public official required by
this section to file a statement of economic interest, must notify the board of the name new text begin ,
mailing address, phone number, and email address new text end of the individual required to file a
statement and the date of the affidavit, petition, or nomination. new text begin Data provided to the board
under this subdivision retains its classification.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

Subd. 5a.

Original statement; reporting period.

(a) An original statement of economic
interest required under subdivision 1, clause (1), must cover the calendar month before the
month in which the individual accepted employment as a public official or a local official
in a deleted text begin metropolitan governmental unit deleted text end new text begin political subdivision new text end .

(b) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clauses (2),
(4), and (5), must cover the calendar month before the month in which the individual assumed
or undertook the duties of office.

(c) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clause (3),
must cover the calendar month before the month in which the candidate filed the affidavit
of candidacy.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Place of filing.

A public official required to file a statement under this section
must file it with the board. A local official required to file a statement under this section
must file it with the governing body of the official's political subdivision. The governing
body must maintain statements filed with it under this subdivision as public data. If an
official position is defined as both a public official and as a local official of a deleted text begin metropolitan
governmental unit deleted text end new text begin political subdivision new text end under this chapter, the official must file the statement
with the board.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.16, is amended to read:

10A.16 EARMARKING CONTRIBUTIONS PROHIBITED.

An individual, political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or
party unit may not solicit or accept a contribution from any source with the express or
implied condition that the contribution or any part of it be directed to a particular candidate new text begin
or local candidate new text end other than the initial recipient. An individual, political committee, political
fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit that knowingly accepts any earmarked
contribution is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $3,000. Knowingly
accepting any earmarked contribution is a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Agent.

"Agent" means a person serving during an election segment as a
candidate's new text begin or local candidate's new text end chairperson, deputy chairperson, treasurer, deputy treasurer,
or any other person whose actions are coordinated.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Candidate.

"Candidate" means a candidate new text begin or local candidate new text end as defined in
section 10A.01, deleted text begin subdivision deleted text end new text begin subdivisions new text end 10 new text begin and 10d new text end , deleted text begin the candidate's deleted text end new text begin a new text end principal campaign
committee, or the candidate's new text begin or local candidate's new text end agent.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.175, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Coordinated.

"Coordinated" means with the authorization or expressed or
implied consent of, or in cooperation or in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of
the candidate new text begin or local candidate new text end . A coordinated expenditure is an approved expenditure
under section 10A.01, subdivision 4.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Time for filing.

(a) The reports must be filed with the board on or before
January 31 of each year and additional reports must be filed as required and in accordance
with paragraphs (b) to (f).

(b) In each year in which the name of a candidate for legislative or district court judicial
office is on the ballot, the report of the principal campaign committee must be filed 15 days
before a primary election and ten days before a general election, seven days before a special
primary election and seven days before a special general election, and ten days after a special
election cycle. new text begin Notwithstanding the deadlines, if a special primary election is held on the
second Tuesday in August, the report of the principal campaign committee must be filed
15 days before the special primary election, and if a special general election is held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the report of the principal campaign
committee must be filed ten days before the special general election. If the committee
received contributions or made expenditures or noncampaign disbursements prior to the
start of the special election cycle, the principal campaign committee of a special election
candidate must file a report seven days after the close of the filing period to be on the ballot
for the special election for which the candidate filed.
new text end

(c) In each general election year, a political committee, a political fund, a state party
committee, and a party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within a
house of the legislature must file reports on the following schedule:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due
April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a pre-primary-election report due 15 days before a primary election;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the general election; and

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a general election.

(d) In each general election year, a party unit not included in paragraph (c) must file
reports 15 days before a primary election and ten days before a general election.

(e) In each year in which a constitutional office or appellate court judicial seat is on the
ballot, the principal campaign committee of a candidate for that office or seat must file
reports on the following schedule:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due
April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a pre-primary-election report due 15 days before a primary election;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the general election;

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a general election; and

(6) for a special election, a constitutional office candidate whose name is on the ballot
must file reports seven days before a special primary election, seven days before a special
general election, and ten days after a special election cycle.

(f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (e):

(1) the principal campaign committee of a candidate who did not file for office is not
required to file the report due June 14, the report due 15 days before the primary election,
or the report due deleted text begin seven days deleted text end before a special primary election; and

(2) the principal campaign committee of a candidate whose name will not be on the
general election ballot is not required to file the report due 42 days before the general
election, the report due ten days before a general election, or the report due deleted text begin seven days deleted text end
before a special general election.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Local election reports.

(a) This subdivision applies to a political committee,
political fund, or political party unit that during a non-general election year:

(1) spends in aggregate more than $200 to influence the nomination or election of local
candidates;

(2) spends in aggregate more than $200 to make independent expenditures on behalf of
local candidates; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(3) spends in aggregate more than $200 to promote or defeat ballot questions defined
in section 10A.01, subdivision 7, clause (2) deleted text begin , (3), or (4). deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) makes in aggregate more than $200 in donations in kind consisting of (i) independent
expenditures advocating the election or defeat of local candidates, or (ii) expenditures to
promote or defeat ballot questions as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 7, clause (2).
new text end

(b) In addition to the reports required by subdivision 2, the entities listed in paragraph
(a) must file the following reports in each non-general election year:

(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is due
April 14;

(2) a report covering the calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;

(3) a July report due 15 days before the local primary election date specified in section
205.065;

(4) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the local general election; and

(5) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a local general election.

The reporting obligations in this paragraph new text begin and subdivision 5 new text end begin with the first report
due after the reporting period in which the entity reaches the spending threshold specified
in paragraph (a). The July report required under clause (3) is required for all entities required
to report under paragraph (a), regardless of whether the candidate or issue is on the primary
ballot or a primary is not conducted.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Contents of report.

(a) The report required by this section must include each
of the items listed in paragraphs (b) to (q) that are applicable to the filer. The board shall
prescribe forms based on filer type indicating which of those items must be included on the
filer's report.

(b) The report must disclose the amount of liquid assets on hand at the beginning of the
reporting period.

(c) The report must disclose the name deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ; new text end address deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ; new text end employer deleted text begin , deleted text end or occupation if
self-employed deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ; new text end and registration number new text begin , new text end if registered with the board, of each individual or
association that has made one or more contributions to the reporting entity, including the
purchase of tickets for a fundraising effort, that in aggregate within the year exceed $200
deleted text begin for legislative or statewide candidates deleted text end new text begin , new text end or deleted text begin more than deleted text end $500 deleted text begin for deleted text end new text begin if the reporting entity is a new text end
ballot deleted text begin questions, together with deleted text end new text begin question political committee or fund. For individuals or
associations exceeding the aggregate threshold, new text end the amount and date of each contribution,
and the aggregate amount of contributions within the year from deleted text begin each deleted text end new text begin that new text end source deleted text begin so deleted text end new text begin must
be new text end disclosed new text begin in the report new text end . A donation in kind must be disclosed at its fair market value. An
approved expenditure must be listed as a donation in kind. A donation in kind is considered
consumed in the reporting period in which it is received. The names of contributors must
be listed in alphabetical order. Contributions from the same contributor must be listed under
the same name. When a contribution received from a contributor in a reporting period is
added to previously reported unitemized contributions from the same contributor and the
aggregate exceeds the disclosure threshold of this paragraph, the name, address, and
employer, or occupation if self-employed, of the contributor must then be listed on the
report.

(d) The report must disclose the sum of contributions to the reporting entity during the
reporting period.

(e) The report must disclose each loan made or received by the reporting entity within
the year in aggregate in excess of $200, new text begin or $500 if the reporting entity is a ballot question
political committee or fund, new text end continuously reported until repaid or forgiven, together with
the name, address, occupation, principal place of business, if any, and registration number
if registered with the board of the lender and any endorser and the date and amount of the
loan. If a loan deleted text begin made to the principal campaign committee of a candidate deleted text end is forgiven or is
repaid by an entity other than deleted text begin that principal campaign committee deleted text end new text begin the borrower new text end , it must be
reported as a contribution for the year in which the loan was made.

(f) The report must disclose each receipt over $200 new text begin , or $500 if the reporting entity is a
ballot question political committee or fund, new text end during the reporting period not otherwise listed
under paragraphs (c) to (e).

(g) The report must disclose the sum of all receipts of the reporting entity during the
reporting period.

(h) The report must disclose the name, address, and registration number if registered
with the board of each individual or association to whom aggregate expenditures, approved
expenditures, independent expenditures, and ballot question expenditures have been made
by or on behalf of the reporting entity within the year in excess of $200, together with the
amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure, including an explanation of how the
expenditure was used, and the name and address of, and office sought by, each candidate
or local candidate on whose behalf the expenditure was made, identification of the ballot
question that the expenditure was intended to promote or defeat and an indication of whether
the expenditure was to promote or to defeat the ballot question, and in the case of independent
expenditures made in new text begin support of or new text end opposition to a candidate or local candidate, the
candidate's or local candidate's name, address, and office sought. A reporting entity making
an expenditure on behalf of more than one candidate or local candidate must allocate the
expenditure among the candidates and local candidates on a reasonable cost basis and report
the allocation for each candidate or local candidate. The report must list on separate schedules
any independent expenditures made on behalf of local candidates and any expenditures
made for ballot questions as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 7, clause (2) deleted text begin , (3), or
(4) deleted text end .

(i) The report must disclose the sum of all expenditures made by or on behalf of the
reporting entity during the reporting period.

(j) new text begin If the advance of credit was required to be itemized as an expenditure in the period
in which it was incurred, new text end the report must disclose the amount and nature of an advance of
credit incurred by the reporting entity, continuously reported until paid or forgiven. If an
advance of credit deleted text begin incurred by the principal campaign committee of a candidate deleted text end is forgiven
by the creditor or paid by an entity other than deleted text begin that principal campaign committee deleted text end new text begin the debtor new text end ,
it must be reported as a donation in kind for the year in which the advance of credit was
made.

(k) The report must disclose the name, address, and registration number if registered
with the board of each political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee,
local candidate, or party unit to which contributions have been made that aggregate in excess
of $200 within the year and the amount and date of each contribution. The report must list
on separate schedules any contributions made to state candidates' principal campaign
committees and any contributions made to local candidates.

(l) The report must disclose the sum of all contributions made by the reporting entity
during the reporting period and must separately disclose the sum of all contributions made
to local candidates by the reporting entity during the reporting period.

(m) The report new text begin of a principal campaign committee new text end must disclose the name, address, and
registration number if registered with the board of each individual or association to whom
noncampaign disbursements have been made that aggregate in excess of $200 within the
year by or on behalf of the reporting entity and the amount, date, and purpose of each
noncampaign disbursement, including an explanation of how the expenditure was used.

(n) The report new text begin of a principal campaign committee new text end must disclose the sum of all
noncampaign disbursements made within the year by or on behalf of the reporting entity.

(o) The report must disclose the name and address of a nonprofit corporation that provides
administrative assistance to a political committee or political fund as authorized by section
211B.15, subdivision 17, the type of administrative assistance provided, and the aggregate
fair market value of each type of assistance provided to the political committee or political
fund during the reporting period.

(p) deleted text begin Legislative, statewide, and judicial candidates, party units, and political committees
and funds must itemize deleted text end Contributions that in aggregate within the year exceed $200 deleted text begin for
legislative or statewide candidates deleted text end new text begin , new text end or deleted text begin more than deleted text end $500 deleted text begin for deleted text end new text begin if the reporting entity is a new text end ballot
deleted text begin questions deleted text end new text begin question political committee or fund, must be itemized new text end on reports submitted to
the board. The itemization must include the date on which the contribution was received,
the individual or association that provided the contribution, and the address of the contributor.
Additionally, the itemization for a donation in kind must provide a description of the item
or service received. Contributions that are less than the itemization amount must be reported
as an aggregate total.

(q) deleted text begin Legislative, statewide, and judicial candidates, party units, political committees and
funds, and committees to promote or defeat a ballot question must itemize deleted text end Expenditures
and noncampaign disbursements that in aggregate exceed $200 in a calendar year new text begin must be
itemized new text end on reports submitted to the board. The itemization must include the date on which
the committee made or became obligated to make the expenditure or disbursement, the
name and address of the vendor that provided the service or item purchased, and a description
of the service or item purchased, including an explanation of how the expenditure was used.
Expenditures and noncampaign disbursements must be listed on the report alphabetically
by vendor.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.20, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Period of report.

new text begin (a) new text end A report must cover the period from January 1 of the
reporting year to seven days before the new text begin report new text end filing date, except that the report due on
January 31 must cover the period from January 1 to December 31 of the reporting year.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the report of the principal campaign committee of a
special election candidate due seven days after the close of the filing period to be on the
ballot must cover the period from January 1 of the reporting year to the day prior to the start
of the special election cycle.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the reports of the principal campaign committee of
a special election candidate due seven days before a special primary election and seven days
before a special general election must cover the period from the start of the special election
cycle to seven days before the report filing date.
new text end

new text begin (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the report of the principal campaign committee of a
special election candidate due ten days after a special election cycle must cover the period
from the start of the special election cycle to the end of the special election cycle.
new text end

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.25, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Effect of opponent's conduct.

(a) After the deadline for filing a spending
limit agreement under section 10A.322, a candidate who has agreed to be bound by the
expenditure limits imposed by this section as a condition of receiving a public subsidy for
the candidate's campaign may choose to be released from the expenditure limits but remain
eligible to receive a public subsidy if the candidate has an opponent who has not agreed to
be bound by the limits and has received contributions or made or become obligated to make
expenditures during that election cycle in excess of the following limits:

(1) up to the close of the reporting period before the primary election, receipts or
expenditures equal to 20 percent of the election segment expenditure limit for that office
as set forth in subdivision 2; or

(2) after the close of the reporting period before the primary election, cumulative receipts
or expenditures during that election cycle equal to 50 percent of the election cycle expenditure
limit for that office as set forth in subdivision 2.

Before the primary election, a candidate's "opponents" are only those who will appear
on the ballot of the same party in the primary election.

(b) A candidate who has not agreed to be bound by expenditure limits, or the candidate's
principal campaign committee, must file written notice with the board and provide written
notice to any opponent of the candidate for the same office within 24 hours of exceeding
the limits in paragraph (a). The notice must state only that the candidate or candidate's
principal campaign committee has received contributions or made or become obligated to
make campaign expenditures in excess of the limits in paragraph (a).

(c) Upon receipt of the notice, a candidate who had agreed to be bound by the limits
may file with the board a notice that the candidate chooses to be no longer bound by the
expenditure limits. new text begin A candidate who had agreed to be bound by the limits may also file a
notice with the board that the candidate chooses to be no longer bound by the expenditure
limits if an opponent that did not agree to be bound by the expenditure limits files a report
of receipts and expenditures required under section 10A.20 that discloses that the candidate
has reached one of the thresholds in paragraph (a). new text end A notice of a candidate's choice not to
be bound by the expenditure limits that is based on the conduct of an opponent in the state
primary election may not be filed more than one day after the State Canvassing Board has
declared the results of the state primary.

(d) A candidate who has agreed to be bound by the expenditure limits imposed by this
section and whose opponent in the general election has chosen, as provided in paragraph
(c), not to be bound by the expenditure limits because of the conduct of an opponent in the
primary election is no longer bound by the limits but remains eligible to receive a public
subsidy.

new text begin (e) A candidate who fails to provide the notice required in paragraph (b) within the time
specified is subject to a late filing fee of $100 per day, not to exceed $1,000, commencing
on the day after the notice was due.
new text end

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.27, subdivision 17, is amended to read:

Subd. 17.

Penalty.

(a) An association that makes a contribution under subdivision 15
and fails to provide the required statement within the time specified is subject to a late filing
fee of $100 a day not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the statement was due.
The board must send notice by certified mail that the individual or association may be
subject to a civil penalty for failure to file the statement. An association that fails to provide
the required statement within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board
is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the contribution, but not to
exceed $25,000.

(b) An independent expenditure political committee or deleted text begin an independent expenditure
political deleted text end fund new text begin or ballot question political committee or fund new text end that files a report without
including the statement required under subdivision 15 is subject to a late filing fee of $100
a day not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the report was due. The board must
send notice by certified mail that the independent expenditure political committee or
deleted text begin independent expenditure deleted text end fund new text begin or ballot question political committee or fund new text end may be subject
to a civil penalty for failure to file the statement. An association that fails to provide the
required statement within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board
is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the contribution for which
disclosure was not filed, but not to exceed $25,000.

(c) If an independent expenditure political committee or deleted text begin an independent expenditure
political deleted text end fund new text begin or ballot question political committee or fund new text end has been assessed a late filing
fee under this subdivision during the prior four years, the board may impose a late filing
fee of up to twice the amount otherwise authorized by this subdivision. If an independent
expenditure political committee or deleted text begin an independent expenditure political deleted text end fund new text begin or ballot
question political committee or fund new text end has been assessed a late filing fee under this subdivision
more than two times during the prior four years, the board may impose a late filing fee of
up to three times the amount otherwise authorized by this subdivision.

(d) No other penalty provided in law may be imposed for conduct that is subject to a
civil penalty under this section.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.275, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Exceptions.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, the
following expenditures by a party unit, or two or more party units acting together are not
considered contributions to or expenditures on behalf of a candidate new text begin or local candidate new text end for
the purposes of section 10A.25 deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin , new text end 10A.27 new text begin , or 211A.12, new text end and must not be allocated to
candidates new text begin or local candidates new text end under section 10A.20, subdivision 3, paragraph (h) new text begin , (k), or
(l) new text end :

(1) expenditures on behalf of candidates new text begin or local candidates new text end of that party generally
without referring to any of them specifically in a published, posted, or broadcast
advertisement;

(2) expenditures for the preparation, display, mailing, or other distribution of an official
party sample ballot listing the names of three or more individuals whose names are to appear
on the ballot;

(3) expenditures for a telephone call, voice mail, text message, multimedia message,
Internet chat message, or email when the communication includes the names of three or
more individuals whose names are to appear on the ballot;

(4) expenditures for a booth at a community event, county fair, or state fair that benefits
three or more individuals whose names are to appear on the ballot;

(5) expenditures for a political party fundraising effort on behalf of three or more
candidates new text begin or local candidates new text end ; or

(6) expenditures for party committee staff services that benefit three or more candidates new text begin
or local candidates new text end .