Allowable campaign contributions for individuals could double under an amended bill that passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee Wednesday.
Originally designed to raise the minimum dollar amount that would trigger the need for candidates to file campaign finance reports, House Bill 203 emerged from the Senate panel with a long list of amendments – including one that would up the individual campaign contribution limit from $1,000 to $2,000.
Republican Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer argued the changes are appropriate given the increasing cost of mounting political campaigns, but the bill sponsor, Rep. Tanya Pullin, questioned the fairness of altering the rules "in the middle of the game." If passed, the new limits would presumably go into effect in July.
Under the amended bill, donors would also be able to contribute a maximum of $2,500 to political parties’ state
committees and their affiliate groups.
Weather permitting, the full Senate could consider the measure on Friday.
