On Friday, February 28, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. the League is hosting a Professional Development seminar on New Jersey ELEC New Reporting Requirements for independent expenditure (IE) committees and SuperPACs. Stephanie Olivo and William Palatucci are presenting.
Implementation of new rules for IE committees, existing Pay-to-Play rules have been changed according to the new law, which impact both businesses with public contracts and the requirements of the public contracting entity.
The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) proposed new rules implementing the legislature’s creation of reporting requirements for IE committees, whichare becoming the major players in today’s policy debates in Trenton and Washington. These rules are the result of the Election Transparency Act (P.L. 2023, c. 30) singed by Governor Murphy in April of 2023.
The new rules require political organizations (IRC section 527), social welfare groups (IRC 501(c)(4)), and business leagues/trade associations (IRC 501 (c)(6)) to register and report financial activity to ELEC after they authorize independent expenditures over $7,500 in an election. These organizations may accept contributions without limit from permissible contributors to independently support or oppose candidates or public questions. When the communications occur within 30 days of a primary election the committee must file one pre-election and one post-election report, and when done within 60 days of any other election, the committee must file two pre-election and one post-election reports, covering activity from the beginning of the year. Although full expenditure reporting is required, only contributors giving in excess of $7,500 in the aggregate are required to be reported in detail. These committees are prohibited from coordinating with a candidate or other political committees and may not make contributions to entities restricted by contribution limits. Independent expenditure committees are not required to file pre election notices like all other committees within 72 or 24 hours of an election.
ELEC is also required to adjust contribution limits and thresholds every two years under the new law, which includes fines and penalties and financial reporting thresholds for candidates and committees. The amounts candidates and political committees can accept for 2025 elections and beyond are included in the proposed rules and vary by contributor type. (Candidates designated for a 2025 election and beyond can receive the higher limits.) The amount committees filing quarterly reports can accept beginning in year 2025 are also included in the proposal. Lastly, the contribution limit for all 2025 gubernatorial candidates was set at $5,800 for all contributor types.
The webinar has been approved for the following CEUs: .5 Off Mgmt/Anc; CPWM-1.5 Govt; RMC-1.5 Elec; QPA-1.5 Off Admin; NJCLE-1.8;PACLE-1.5. The member rate for this seminar is $45 and the non-member rate is $65. Advanced registration is required.
Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.