An Act To Modify the Reporting Requirements for Major Contributors to Ballot Question Campaigns
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1754
Committee Amendment CA_A_S439 (Senate)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1059, 21-A MRSA §1060-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" .J} "to S.P. 614, L.D. 1754, "An Act To Modify the 
Reporting Requirements for Major Contributors to Ballot Question Campaigns" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Modify the Reporting Requirements for Major Contributors to Ballot 
Question Campaigns and To Make a Technical Change to the Campaign Finance 
Laws' 
Amend the bill by inserting before section 1 the following: 
'Sec.1. 21-A MRSA §1059, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2019, c. 323, §24, is further 
amended to read: 
5. Electronic filing. A committee shall file each report required by this section 
through an electronic filing system developed by the commission. Notwithstanding any 
provision of this chapter to the contrary, for purposes of entering and retrieving 
information, the electronic filing system may categorize ballot question committees as a 
subcategory of political action committees. The commission may make an exception to 
this electronic filing requirement if a committee submits a written request that states that 
the committee lacks access to the technology or the technological ability to file reports 
electronically. The request for an exception must be submitted within 30 days of the 
registration of the committee. The commission shall grant all reasonable requests for 
exceptions.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1060-A, sub-§4, ~, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 418, §4, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
E. The names of the 5 largest sources of funds received by the major contributor during 
the period beginning 6 months prior to the first contribution made to the recipient 
committee and ending on the date of the filing of the report. This paragraph does not 
apply to funds received by the major contributor: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ofS 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT")1- "toS.P.614,L.D.1754 ( ~-L/~{1) 
(1) That are restricted to purposes that are unrelated to a people's veto referendum 
or direct initiative campaign in the State; 
(2) In the ordinary course of the major contributor's regular trade or business or 
as investment income; or 
(3) If the source of the funds provided no more than $5,000 to the major 
contributor during the relevant period of time: and' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the following: 
'Sec. 5. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ETIDCS AND ELECTION PRACTICES, COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL 
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices - Commission on 0414 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for programming costs to update the campaign 
finance report electronic filing system to incorporate submissions by ballot question 
committees. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOT AL 
2021-22 
$9,616 
$9,616 
2022-23 
$0 
$0 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, removes the provision 
of the bill that permits a major contributor to request that the Commission on Governmental 
Ethics and Election Practices grant it a discretionary modification of the requirement to 
disclose its 5 largest sources of funds and replaces it with a provision that categorically 
exempts from disclosure any funds received by the major contributor in the ordinary course 
of the major contributor's regular trade or business or as investment income; that are 
restricted to purposes unrelated to the ballot question; or if the source of the funds provided 
no more than $5,000 to the major contributor during the relevant time period. 
In addition, to avoid incurring more than $100,000 in programming costs necessitated 
by the enactment of Public Law 2021, chapter 217 and Public Law 2021, chapter 274, 
which changed the campaign finance reporting requirements for ballot question committees 
and political action committees, the amendment provides that, notwithstanding the fact that 
ballot question committees are distinct from political action committees under Maine law, 
the electronic filing system through which these committees submit their campaign finance 
reports may categorize ballot question committees as a subcategory of political action 
committees. 
The amendment also includes an allocation of $9,616 for the reduced 
programming costs of updating the electronic filing system for these committees. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/28/22 ;:k:Tae!. 
LD 1754 
LR 2387(02) 
An Act To Modify the Reporting Requirements for Major Contributors to Ballot Question Campaigns 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "rf ('S-'--13~ 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2021-22 
FY 2022-23 
$9,616 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2023-24 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2024-25 
$0 
This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. The additional workload associated with the 
minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require additional funding at this time. The collection 
of additional filing fees may increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill amends the laws regarding the reporting criteria that contributors to a political action committee or ballot 
question committee for the purpose of influencing a ballot question must use to file a statement with the Commission 
on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. The Co1mnission has indicated that these modifications necessitate, 
and the bill includes, a one-time allocation of $9,616 for the prograrmning costs to update the electronic filing system. 
LR2387(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1