HB1369
Concerning The Establishment Of The Maximum Campaign Contribution Limit By The Arkansas Ethics Commission; Amending Portions Of Law Resulting From Initiated Acts; And Declaring An Emergency.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to amend Arkansas law regarding campaign contribution limits, primarily affecting Initiated Act 1 of 1990 and Initiated Act 1 of 1996. The core change is to grant the Arkansas Ethics Commission the authority to establish and adjust the maximum campaign contribution limit by rule. The base limit is set at $2,000 as of January 1, 2015. This limit will be adjusted annually based on a percentage certified by the U.S. Secretary of Labor, mirroring federal adjustments. The commission is required to round the adjusted limit to the nearest one hundred dollars. The bill also exempts these adjustments from the standard Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking process. It specifies how the commission must publish and disseminate the updated limits. An emergency clause is included, asserting that clearer and more efficient campaign finance laws are necessary for public peace, health, and safety, and to prevent unintentional violations and enhance political expression.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be the Arkansas Ethics Commission, as it grants them explicit authority to set and adjust campaign contribution limits. Candidates for public office and political organizations (political parties, county committees, legislative caucuses, and approved PACs) could also benefit from a potentially more predictable and adaptable system for campaign finance, particularly if the adjustments lead to increases in contribution limits over time. The public may also benefit from the stated goal of clearer campaign finance laws, potentially reducing confusion and unintentional violations.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill could negatively impact individuals and entities who are accustomed to the current, potentially fixed, campaign contribution limits, as the new framework allows for automatic adjustments. If the adjustments lead to higher limits, it could further empower larger donors and potentially diminish the relative influence of smaller individual contributions. The exclusion from the standard Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking process may also negatively impact transparency and public input opportunities for those concerned about the specific mechanisms and impacts of the adjusted limits.