Campaign Finance Changes in Missouri, Alabama
With the midterm elections quickly approaching, political giving in the states is ramping up. State campaign finance law is constantly changing, and entities must be aware of the current requirements prior to making contributions.
Effective August 28, 2022, a new Missouri law went into effect that requires limited liability companies (LLCs) that have not chosen to be classified as a corporation under the federal tax code to register with the state and exist for at least one year prior to making political contributions, including those to candidate committees. The law intends to prevent shell companies from funneling money into Missouri elections. The Missouri Ethics Commission has issued guidance about how LLCs can comply with the new law.
On July 19, the Alabama Secretary of State’s office issued new guidance clarifying that federal political action committees (PACs) and other federal political organizations must register and report as state PACs before making political contributions. The guidance is meant to end the inconsistent enforcement of the state’s PAC-to-PAC ban that went into effect in 2010.
Wiley’s Election Law & Government Ethics group frequently counsels corporations and federal PACs on state campaign finance requirements.
