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 Federal Election Commission [Notice 2021-03]
 AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.
 ACTION: Notice of adjustments to contribution and expenditure limitations and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.
 SUMMARY: As mandated by provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act (“the Act”), the Federal Election Commission (“the Commission”) is adjusting certain contribution and expenditure limitations and the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold set forth in the Act, to index the amounts for inflation. Additional details appear in the supplemental information that follows.
 DATES: The new limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) applies beginning on November 4, 2020. The new limitations at 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A), 30116(a)(1)(B), 30116(d) and 30116(h) apply beginning on January 1, 2021.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information Division, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463; (202) 694-1100 or (800) 424-9530.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-45, coordinated party expenditure limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(2)-(3)), certain contribution limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) and (B), and (h)), and the disclosure threshold for contributions bundled by lobbyists (52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A)) are adjusted periodically to reflect changes in the consumer price index. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), (b)(3), 110.17(a), (f). The Commission is publishing this notice to announce the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold. Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2021 Under 52 U.S.C. 30116(c), the Commission must adjust the expenditure limitations established by 52 U.S.C. 30116(d) (the limits on expenditures by national party committees, state party committees, or their subordinate committees in connection with the general election campaign of candidates for Federal office) annually to account for inflation. This expenditure limitation is increased by the percent difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, 
                    ( print page 7868)
                    for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar year 1974). 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B)(i). 1. Expenditure Limitation for House of Representatives in States With More Than One Congressional District Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure limitation for each general election held to fill a seat in the House of Representatives in states with more than one congressional district. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(B). This limitation also applies to the District of Columbia and territories that elect individuals to the office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner.[1]*Id.*
                     The formula used to calculate the expenditure limitation in such states and territories multiplies the base figure of $10,000 by the difference in the price index (5.24905), rounding to the nearest $100. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(B); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Based upon this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2021 general elections for House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is $52,500. 2. Expenditure Limitation for Senate and for House of Representatives in States With Only One Congressional District Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure limitation for a general election held to fill a seat in the Senate or in the House of Representatives in states with only one congressional district. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A). The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also the voting age population (“VAP”) of the state. 
                    *Id.*
                     The VAP figures used to calculate the expenditure limitations were certified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The VAP of each state is also published annually in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. The general election expenditure limitation is the greater of: The base figure ($20,000) multiplied by the difference in the price index, 5.24905 (which totals $105,000); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by 5.24905. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(3), 110.17(c). The chart below provides the state-by-state breakdown of the 2021 general election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The expenditure limitation for 2021 House elections in states with only one congressional district [2]
                    
                     is $105,000. Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits—2021 Elections 3
State
Voting age
                             population 
                             (VAP)
VAP × .02 × 
                             the price index 
                             (5.24905)
Senate expenditure limit
                             (the greater of the amount 
                             in column 3 or $105,000)Alabama
3,834,249
$402,500
$402,500Alaska
552,427
58,000
105,000Arizona
5,774,978
606,300
606,300Arkansas
2,330,808
244,700
244,700California
30,576,844
3,210,000
3,210,000Colorado
4,557,684
478,500
478,500Connecticut
2,838,054
297,900
297,900Delaware
782,153
82,100
105,000Florida
17,482,580
1,835,300
1,835,300Georgia
8,210,067
861,900
861,900Hawaii
1,111,188
116,700
116,700Idaho
1,375,870
144,400
144,400Illinois
9,809,562
1,029,800
1,029,800Indiana
5,188,514
544,700
544,700Iowa
2,438,002
255,900
255,900Kansas
2,217,059
232,700
232,700Kentucky
3,475,334
364,800
364,800Louisiana
3,564,038
374,200
374,200Maine
1,101,973
115,700
115,700Maryland
4,721,883
495,700
495,700Massachusetts
5,552,051
582,900
582,900Michigan
7,839,742
823,000
823,000Minnesota
4,356,123
457,300
457,300Mississippi
2,273,653
238,700
238,700Missouri
4,780,119
501,800
501,800Montana
850,894
89,300
105,000Nebraska
1,462,537
153,500
153,500Nevada
2,440,679
256,200
256,200New Hampshire
1,113,141
116,900
116,900New Jersey
6,947,836
729,400
729,400New Mexico
1,633,828
171,500
171,500New York
15,348,422
1,611,300
1,611,300North Carolina
8,294,423
870,800
870,800North Dakota
583,680
61,300
105,000Ohio
9,124,576
957,900
957,900Oklahoma
3,027,263
317,800
317,800( print page 7869)Oregon
3,380,729
354,900
354,900Pennsylvania
10,162,497
1,066,900
1,066,900Rhode Island
855,276
89,800
105,000South Carolina
4,100,115
430,400
430,400South Dakota
674,238
70,800
105,000Tennessee
5,373,433
564,100
564,100Texas
21,925,627
2,301,800
2,301,800Utah
2,320,603
243,600
243,600Vermont
510,181
53,600
105,000Virginia
6,724,143
705,900
705,900Washington
6,027,818
632,800
632,800West Virginia
1,428,520
150,000
150,000Wisconsin
4,574,131
480,200
480,200Wyoming
449,237
47,200
105,000
 Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2021-2022 Election Cycle The Act requires inflation indexing of: (1) The limitations on contributions made by persons under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) (contributions to candidates) and 30116(a)(1)(B) (contributions to national party committees); and (2) the limitation on contributions made to U.S. Senate candidates by certain political party committees at 52 U.S.C. 30116(h). 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(c). These contribution limitations are increased by multiplying the respective statutory contribution amount by 1.46170, the percent difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar year 2001). 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B)(ii). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(c); 11 CFR 110.17(b). Contribution limitations shall be adjusted accordingly: Statutory provision
Statutory
                             amount
2021-2022
                             limit52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A)
$2,000
$2,90052 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B)
25,000
36,50052 U.S.C. 30116(h)
35,000
51,200
 The limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) is to be in effect for the two-year period beginning on the first day following the date of the general election in the preceding year and ending on the date of the next regularly scheduled election. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(C); 11 CFR 110.1(b)(1)(ii). Thus the $2,900 figure above is in effect from November 4, 2020, to November 8, 2022. The limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) shall be in effect beginning January 1st of the odd-numbered year and ending on December 31st of the next even-numbered year. 11 CFR 110.1(c)(1)(ii). Thus the new contribution limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) are in effect from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. 
                    *See*11 CFR 110.17(b)(1). Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2021 The Act requires certain political committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant political action committees once the contributions exceed a specified threshold amount. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(1), (i)(3)(A). The Commission must adjust this threshold amount annually to account for inflation. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B). The disclosure threshold is increased by multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure threshold by 1.28380, the difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar year 2006). 
                    *See*52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3), 30116(c)(1)(B); 11 CFR 104.22(g). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 104.22(g)(4). Based upon this formula ($15,000 × 1.28380), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2021 is $19,300. Dated: January 28, 2021. On behalf of the Commission, Shana M. Broussard, Chair, Federal Election Commission.


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         Currently, these are Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. 
                        *See http://www.house.gov/​representatives.* Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. 
                        *See http://www.house.gov/​representatives/​.* Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         This expenditure limit does not apply to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands because those jurisdictions do not elect Senators. 
                        *See*52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(2)(i). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2021-02173 Filed 2-1-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715-01-P