HB 23-1245

HB 23-1245 is a Colorado law that sets new limits on how much money individuals and political parties can donate to candidates running for municipal office in elections starting January 1, 2024. The bill caps donations at $400 per person or group, but allows small donor committees to contribute up to $4,000. It also requires candidates in larger municipalities (with populations of 1,000 or more) to file detailed reports about their campaign finances with the municipal clerk before and after elections. The governor signed this bill into law on June 7, 2023, and it will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Official Summary

The law regulating campaign finance did not set limits on contributions to candidates for municipal elected office. For municipal elections held on or after January 1, 2024, the act sets aggregate limits on contributions to candidates for municipal office from persons, including any political party and excluding any small donor committee, for any election cycle in the amount of $400. The act sets aggregate limits on contributions to candidates for municipal office from small donor committees for any election cycle in the amount of $4,000. The act subjects the new contribution limits to existing statutory provisions governing the disclosure of campaign contributions. The act requires campaign contribution reports for candidates for a municipal office for a municipality that has a population of 1,000 or more to be filed with the municipal clerk no later than 60 days, 30 days, and 15 days before and 30 days after the major election in election years and annually in off-election years; except that, for a runoff election, reports must be filed no later than 15 days before and after the runoff election. The act clarifies that an independent expenditure committee that makes expenditures in connection with a municipal election must file its disclosure reports with the applicable municipal clerk. The act also extends the retention requirements for campaign contribution reports from one year to 10 years for a candidate that is not elected and from one year to 6 years after the candidate leaves office for a candidate that is elected and requires that reports be made publicly available without charge on a website or for in-person inspection. APPROVED by Governor June 7, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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