SB 11 — 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.   1119

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                      SENATE BILL
                      No. 11
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY COSTA, COMITTA, FONTANA, KEARNEY, SCHWANK,
        COLLETT, TARTAGLIONE, HAYWOOD, KANE, SAVAL, SANTARSIERO AND
        PISCIOTTANO, AUGUST 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 25, 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 finds and declares that:
28          (1)   The Commonwealth has a compelling governmental
29      interest to protect the integrity of the government from
 1      actual corruption or the appearance of corruption.
 2            (2)   When people, associations or other entities,
 3      including foreign corporations and foreign-influenced
 4      corporations, provide unlimited monetary support for elected
 5      government officials or candidates who are seeking
 6      governmental offices, there arises the appearance of
 7      corruption.
 8            (3)   The appearance of corruption and actual corruption
 9      can be prevented by requiring transparency and regulating the
10      contributions that can be made to elected government
11      officials and candidates who are seeking governmental
12      offices.
13      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14   hereby enacts as follows:
15      Section 1.    Section 201 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
16   No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by
17   adding a subsection to read:
18      Section 201.    Powers and Duties of the Secretary of the
19   Commonwealth.--The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall exercise
20   in the manner provided by this act all powers granted to him by
21   this act, and shall perform all the duties imposed upon him by
22   this act, which shall include the following:
23      * * *
24      (i)   To biennially adjust the limitations on contributions
25   under section 1627.1(s).
26      Section 2.    Section 1621(d), (e) and (f) of the act are
27   amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
28   read:
29      Section 1621.    Definitions.--As used in this article, the
30   following words have the following meanings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 18 -
 1   exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) during any calendar year.
 2   For each election, no political action committee, its affiliate
 3   or agent may accept or receive more than ten thousand dollars
 4   ($10,000) in aggregate contributions, including in-kind
 5   contributions, from any individual person or a single political
 6   action committee, its affiliate or agent during any calendar
 7   year.
 8      (h)   Aggregate contributions from any individual, person or
 9   single candidate's political committee, its affiliate or agent
10   or a single political action committee, its affiliate or agent
11   or any other political committee to a single political party
12   committee may not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in a
13   calendar year. A single political party committee may not accept
14   or receive more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate
15   contributions from any individual, person, single candidate's
16   political committee or agent or a single political action
17   committee, its affiliate or agent, any political committee or
18   other committee in a calendar year.
19      (i)   The following shall apply to annual aggregate limits:
20      (1)   No individual may make contributions to candidates,
21   political committees or other committees that have a combined
22   aggregate amount or value that exceeds twenty-five thousand
23   dollars ($25,000) in a calendar year.
24      (2)   No political action committee may make contributions to
25   candidates, political committees and party committees in an
26   aggregate amount or value that exceeds one hundred thousand
27   dollars ($100,000) in any calendar year.
28      (j)   A gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money
29   or anything of value to a candidate shall be considered a
30   contribution both by the original source of the contribution and

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 19 -
 1   by any intermediary or conduit if the intermediary or conduit:
 2      (1)   exercises any direction over the making of the
 3   contribution; or
 4      (2)   solicits the contribution or arranges for the
 5   contribution to be made and directly or indirectly makes the
 6   candidate aware of the intermediary or conduit's role in
 7   soliciting or arranging the contribution for the candidate.
 8      (k)   For purposes of subsection (j), a contribution shall not
 9   be considered to be a contribution by an intermediary or conduit
10   to the candidate if any of the following situations occurs:
11      (1)   The intermediary or conduit has been retained by the
12   candidate's committee for the purpose of fundraising and is
13   reimbursed for expenses incurred in soliciting contributions.
14      (2)   For an individual, the candidate has expressly
15   authorized the intermediary or conduit to engage in fundraising,
16   or the individual occupies a position within the candidate's
17   campaign organization and is authorized by the organization to
18   engage in fundraising.
19      (3)   For a political committee, the intermediary or conduit
20   is the authorized committee of the candidate.
21      (l)   The following shall apply to out-of-State contributions:
22      (1)   A candidate, candidate committee, party committee,
23   political action committee or political committee may not accept
24   a campaign contribution from an out-of-State political action
25   committee if the political action committee's home state has
26   less restrictive disclosure laws than this Commonwealth, except
27   as provided under paragraph (2).
28      (2)   A candidate, candidate committee, party committee,
29   political action committee or political committee may accept a
30   campaign contribution from an out-of-State political action

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 20 -
 1   committee if that political action committee is registered in
 2   this Commonwealth with the Department of State and, by the
 3   registration, has affirmed that the contributor will comply with
 4   the contribution, expenditure and reporting requirements of this
 5   act, and the regulations relating to contributions, expenditures
 6   and reporting promulgated under this act by the Department of
 7   State and the State Ethics Commission.
 8      (3)   The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall list and certify
 9   those states that have less restrictive disclosure laws than
10   this Commonwealth. The list shall be compiled and updated
11   annually and transmitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
12   publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
13   Bulletin not later than January 1, 2026, and each January 1
14   thereafter. The list shall be made available on the Department
15   of State's publicly accessible Internet website and provided in
16   hard copy in campaign committee packets prepared by the
17   department.
18      (m)   This section shall apply to any contribution made for
19   the purpose of influencing an election to any public office in
20   this Commonwealth except Federal offices.
21      (n)   For purposes of this section, any contribution made to a
22   candidate in a year other than the calendar year in which the
23   election is held with respect to which the contribution is made
24   shall be considered to be made during the calendar year in which
25   the election is held.
26      (o)   For purposes of this section, contribution limits shall
27   apply to each election separately unless an annual limit or
28   other limit is specified.
29      (p)   A person who has a fiduciary contract for services with
30   the General Assembly may not engage in campaign finance activity

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 21 -
 1   for candidates of the General Assembly, including making of
 2   contributions, fundraising activities or involvement in
 3   political action committees or candidate political committees.
 4      (q)   Nothing under this section shall prohibit a
 5   municipality, including a city of the first class, from
 6   instituting lower limitations on contributions to candidates for
 7   elected offices under the municipality's jurisdiction.
 8      (r)   A violation of the contribution limits under this
 9   section shall subject the violator to a fine equal to three
10   times the amount of money that exceeds the limits. The penalty
11   shall apply to both the person making the contribution and the
12   person receiving it.
13      (s)   The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall biennially
14   adjust to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100) the limits in
15   subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) by the
16   percentage change in the Consumer Price Index and transmit the
17   new amounts to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication
18   in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. For
19   the purposes of this subsection, "Consumer Price Index" means
20   the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers that is
21   published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
22   Labor Statistics.
23      (t)   The limitations imposed under this section may not apply
24   to contributions from a candidate's personal resources to a
25   candidate committee, political committee or political action
26   committee acting on behalf of the candidate, except that, if the
27   contributions total one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or
28   more, regardless of the time period over which the contributions
29   are made, the contribution limits under this section shall
30   quadruple.

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 22 -
 1      (u)     The dollar figures contained under this section of the
 2   act shall be adjusted biennially at a rate determined by the
 3   Federal Election Commission as authorized under 11 CFR 110. The
 4   Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify the calculation of
 5   the rate as determined by the Federal Election Commission and
 6   shall transmit notice of the new dollar figures to the
 7   Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
 8   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
 9      Section 6.     Sections 1630 and 1632(a) of the act are amended
10   to read:
11      Section 1630.     Residual Funds.--
12      (a)     In the event that a candidate or political committee
13   terminates its financial activity as such, then the disbursement
14   of any residual funds remaining in such an account shall be made
15   in the following manner:
16      (1)     any such funds may be used for any expenditure as
17   defined by this article; [and]
18      (2)     may be returned, pro rata, to the contributors by the
19   candidate or treasurer of the political committee[. A final
20   report must be made by the next January 31 in accordance with
21   section 1627.]; or
22      (3)     may be donated to a nonprofit organization.
23      (b)     A final report must be made by the next January 31 in
24   accordance with section 1627.
25      (c)     For purposes of this section:
26      (1)     "Affiliated" means serving as an officer of, on the
27   board of directors of, as a paid employee of or a contractor of
28   a nonprofit organization.
29      (2)     "Family member" means a spouse or child.
30      (3)     "Nonprofit organization" means an organization that is

20250SB0011PN1119                    - 23 -
 1   qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as meeting the
 2   requirements of 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)(relating to exemption from
 3   tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.) organized under the
 4   laws of this Commonwealth and is not affiliated with a candidate
 5   or the chairman or treasurer of a political committee, including
 6   a family member of the candidate, chairman or treasurer.
 7      Section 1632.   Late Filing Fee; Certificate of Filing.--
 8      (a)   A late filing fee for each report or statement of
 9   expenditures and contributions which is not filed within the
10   prescribed period shall be imposed as follows. Such fee shall be
11   [ten dollars ($10)] twenty dollars ($20) for each day or part of
12   a day excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays that a report is
13   overdue. An additional fee of ten dollars ($10) is due for each
14   of the first six (6) days that a report is overdue. [The maximum
15   fee payable with respect to a single report is two hundred fifty
16   dollars ($250).] A supervisor shall receive an overdue report or
17   statement even if any late filing fee due has not been paid but
18   the report or statement shall not be considered filed until all
19   fees have been paid upon the receipt by the supervisor of an
20   overdue report. No further late filing fees shall be incurred
21   once the report or statement is filed notwithstanding the fact
22   that the report or statement is not considered filed. The late
23   filing fee is the personal liability of the candidate or
24   treasurer of a political committee and cannot be paid from
25   contributions to the candidate or committee, nor may such fee be
26   considered an expenditure. A report or statement of expenditures
27   and contributions shall be deemed to have been filed within the
28   prescribed time if the letter transmitting the report or
29   statement which is received by the supervisor is transmitted by
30   first class mail and is postmarked by the United States Postal

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 24 -
 1   Service on the day prior to the final day on which the report or
 2   statement is to be received: Provided, That this sentence shall
 3   not be applicable to the reporting requirements contained in
 4   section 1628. All Department of State filing and disclosure
 5   requirements for prior campaign activity must have been met in
 6   order for a candidate to obtain a place on the ballot.
 7      * * *
 8      Section 7.   Section 1633(a) of the act is amended and the
 9   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
10      Section 1633.   Contributions or Expenditures by National
11   Banks, Corporations or Unincorporated Associations.--(a)   It is
12   unlawful for any National or State bank, partnership or any
13   corporation, incorporated under the laws of this or any other
14   state or any foreign country or any unincorporated association,
15   except those corporations formed primarily for political
16   purposes or as a political committee, to make a contribution or
17   expenditure in connection with the election of any candidate or
18   for any political purpose whatever except in connection with any
19   question to be voted on by the electors of this Commonwealth.
20   Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any candidate, political
21   committee, or other person to knowingly accept or receive any
22   contribution prohibited by this section, or for any officer or
23   any director of any corporation, bank, or any unincorporated
24   association to consent to any contribution or expenditure by the
25   corporation, bank or unincorporated association, as the case may
26   be, prohibited by this section. If any portion of this section
27   regarding bans on contributions or expenditures by National
28   banks, corporations or unincorporated associations is nullified
29   by a court decision, the contribution limits established for
30   individuals under section 1627.1 shall also be applied to the

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 25 -
 1   entities currently covered under this section.
 2      * * *
 3      (e)   (1)   A foreign-influenced corporation may not make an
 4   independent expenditure, an electioneering communication
 5   expenditure or a contribution to an independent expenditure
 6   political action committee.
 7      (2)   A corporation that makes an independent expenditure, an
 8   electioneering communication expenditure or a contribution to an
 9   independent expenditure political action committee shall, within
10   seven (7) business days after making the expenditure or
11   contribution, file with the Department of State a statement of
12   certification, signed by the chief executive officer under
13   penalty of perjury, avowing that, after due inquiry, the
14   corporation was not a foreign-influenced corporation on the date
15   the expenditure or contribution was made.
16      Section 8.   Section 1638 of the act is amended by adding a
17   subsection to read:
18      Section 1638.   Advertising.--
19      * * *
20      (c)   (1)   Unless the person making an independent expenditure
21   or electioneering communication, transmitted through paid radio,
22   television or Internet advertising, has received a statement of
23   certification as prescribed under section 1633(e) from each
24   contributing corporation that is among the top five (5)
25   contributors when ranked in order of amount of contribution made
26   to the person for the twelve-month period immediately preceding
27   the date of the communication, the advertisement shall include
28   the following statement:
29      Some of the funds used to pay for this message may have been
30      provided by foreign-influenced corporations.

20250SB0011PN1119                   - 26 -
 1      (2)   The person making the independent expenditure or
 2   electioneering communication under this section shall be
 3   entitled to rely on the statement of certification provided by
 4   the contributor unless the person has actual knowledge that the
 5   certification is false.
 6      Section 9.   Section 1641(a) of the act is amended and the
 7   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 8      Section 1641.   Reports by Business Entities; Publication by
 9   Secretary of the Commonwealth.--
10      (a)   Any business entity including but not limited to a
11   corporation, company, association, partnership or sole
12   proprietorship, which has been awarded [non-bid] contracts or
13   grants over fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the
14   Commonwealth or its political subdivisions during the preceding
15   [calendar year] two-year period, shall report by February 15 of
16   each year to the Secretary of the Commonwealth a list including
17   the amount of the contract, description of the service provided
18   and location and an itemized list of all political contributions
19   known to the business entity by virtue of the knowledge
20   possessed by every officer, director, associate, partner,
21   limited partner or individual owner that has been made by:
22      (1)   any officer, director, associate, partner, limited
23   partner, individual owner or members of their immediate family
24   when the contributions exceed an aggregate of one thousand
25   dollars ($1,000) by any individual during the preceding year; or
26      (2)   any employe or members of his immediate family whose
27   aggregate political [contribution] contributions exceeded one
28   thousand dollars ($1,000) during the preceding year.
29   For the purposes of this subsection, "immediate family" [means a
30   person's spouse and any unemancipated child] shall have the same

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 27 -
 1   meaning as in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to definitions).
 2      * * *
 3      (c)   The Department of State, in consultation with the
 4   Department of General Services, shall publish a list of all
 5   business entities, corporations, companies, associations,
 6   partnerships or sole proprietorships receiving grants and
 7   contracts in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the
 8   Commonwealth not later than January 31 of each year for the
 9   preceding two-year period. The list shall be updated quarterly.
10      Section 10.   The act is amended by adding sections to read:
11      Section 1643.   Independent Expenditures.--
12      (a)   Except as prohibited under section 1633(e)(1), a person
13   may make independent expenditures.
14      (b)   The following shall apply to expenditures made for a
15   written, typed or other printed communication or an Internet-
16   based, written communication which promotes the success or
17   defeat of a candidate's campaign for nomination or election or
18   the adoption or defeat of a ballot question or solicits funds to
19   benefit a political committee:
20      (1)   A person may not make, incur or contract for an
21   expenditure with the consent of, in coordination with or in
22   consultation with a candidate, candidate committee, political
23   committee or candidate's agent.
24      (2)   A group of two or more individuals acting together that
25   receives funds or makes or incurs expenditures not exceeding one
26   thousand dollars ($1,000) in the aggregate which have not formed
27   a political committee may not make or incur an independent
28   expenditure.
29      (c)   Communications under subsection (b) shall contain the
30   following language:

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 28 -
 1      (1)    The words "paid for and approved by" and one of the
 2   following:
 3      (i)    For an individual, the name and address of the
 4   individual.
 5      (ii)    For a committee other than a party committee, the name
 6   of the committee and its campaign treasurer.
 7      (iii)     For a party committee, the name of the committee.
 8      (iv)    For a group of two or more individuals that received
 9   funds or makes or incurs expenditures not exceeding one thousand
10   dollars ($1,000) in the aggregate which have not formed a
11   political committee, the name of the group and the name and
12   address of its agent.
13      (2)    The words "approved by" and one of the following:
14      (i)    For an individual, group or political committee other
15   than a candidate committee making or incurring an expenditure
16   with the consent of, in coordination with or in consultation
17   with a candidate committee or candidate's agent, the name of the
18   candidate.
19      (ii)    For a candidate committee, the name of the candidate.
20      (d)    Independent expenditures:
21      (1)    The following apply:
22      (i)    A person may not make or incur an independent
23   expenditure for a written, typed or other printed communication
24   or an Internet-based written communication which promotes the
25   success or defeat of a candidate for nomination or election or
26   promotes or opposes a political party or solicits funds to
27   benefit a political party or committee, unless the communication
28   bears upon its face the words "paid for and approved by" and the
29   name of the person, the name of its chief executive officer or
30   equivalent and its principal business address and the words

20250SB0011PN1119                     - 29 -
 1   "This message was made independently of a candidate or political
 2   party."
 3      (ii)   An entity which is a tax-exempt organization under 26
 4   U.S.C. Ch. 1 Subch. F (relating to exempt organizations), making
 5   or incurring an independent expenditure under subclause (i),
 6   shall also bear upon the face of the communication the words
 7   "Top Five Contributors" followed by a list of the five (5)
 8   persons making the largest contributions to the organization
 9   during the twelve-month period before the date of the
10   communication.
11      (2)    Disclosure requirements are as follows:
12      (i)    In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a
13   person may not make or incur an independent expenditure for
14   television advertising, radio or Internet video advertising or
15   Internet radio advertising that promotes the success or defeat
16   of a candidate for election or promotes or opposes a political
17   party or solicits funds to benefit a political party or
18   committee, unless at the end of the advertisement there appears
19   or includes simultaneously for a period of no less than four
20   seconds a clear identifiable audio, video, photographic or
21   similar image of the person's chief executive officer or
22   equivalent and a personal audio message, in the following form:
23      I am . . . (name of person's chief executive officer or
24      equivalent),    . . . (title) of . . . (entity). This message
25      was made independently of any candidate, political committee
26      or political party, and I approve of its content.
27      (ii)   A tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. Ch. 1 Subch.
28   F, making or incurring an independent expenditure under
29   subclause (i), shall include on the advertisement an easily
30   readable written message in the following form:

20250SB0011PN1119                   - 30 -
 1      "The Top Five Contributors to the organization for this
 2      advertisement are" followed by a list of the five (5) persons
 3      making the largest contributions to the organization during
 4      the twelve-month period before the date of the communication.
 5      Section 1644.   Independent Expenditure Evaluation.--
 6      (a)   When the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and
 7   Legislation audits and evaluates an expenditure that is included
 8   in a report under section 1643 to determine whether the
 9   expenditure is an independent expenditure, there shall be a
10   rebuttable presumption that the following expenditures are not
11   independent expenditures:
12      (1)   An expenditure made by a person in cooperation,
13   consultation or concert with, at the request, suggestion or
14   direction of or pursuant to a general or particular
15   understanding with a candidate or political committee or other
16   agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political committee.
17      (2)   An expenditure made by a person for the production,
18   dissemination, distribution or publication, in whole or in
19   substantial part, of a broadcast or a written, graphic or other
20   form of political advertising or campaign communications
21   prepared by a candidate or political committee or a consultant
22   or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political
23   committee.
24      (3)   An expenditure made by a person based on information
25   about a candidate's or political committee's plans, projects or
26   needs, provided by a candidate or political committee or a
27   consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate or
28   political committee with the intent that the expenditure be
29   made.
30      (4)   An expenditure made by an individual who, in the same

20250SB0011PN1119                  - 31 -
 1   election cycle, is serving or has served as the campaign
 2   chairman, campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer of a political
 3   committee benefiting from the expenditure, or another executive
 4   or policymaking position, including as a member, employe,
 5   fundraiser, consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a
 6   candidate or political committee.
 7      (5)    An expenditure made by a person whose officer, director,
 8   member, employe, fundraiser, consultant or other agent who
 9   serves the person in an executive or policymaking position also
10   serves as or has served in the same election cycle as the
11   candidate or the campaign chairman, campaign treasurer or deputy
12   treasurer of a candidate or political committee benefiting from
13   the expenditure or in another executive or policymaking position
14   of the candidate or political committee.
15      (6)    An expenditure made by a person for:
16      (i)    fundraising activities with or for a candidate or
17   political committee or a consultant or other agent acting on
18   behalf of a candidate or political committee; or
19      (ii)    the solicitation or receipt of contributions on behalf
20   of a candidate or political committee or a consultant or other
21   agent acting on behalf of a candidate or political committee.
22      (7)    An expenditure made by a person based on information
23   about a candidate's campaign plans, projects or needs that is
24   directly or indirectly provided by a candidate, the candidate's
25   committee or a political committee or a consultant or other
26   agent acting on behalf of the candidate or political committee
27   to the person making the expenditure or the person's agent, with
28

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