Campaign committees that took in no contributions can now close by certifying that, late-filing penalties for periods with no contributions and no expenditures can be voided when a committee files a termination statement, and penalties are capped at $5,000 per late report starting July 1, 2026.
Official title: campaign committees; termination statements; contributions
- June 22, 2026 (emergency measure, operative immediately on signing)
- Applies retroactively from July 5, 2016
- July 1, 2026: $5,000 maximum penalty per late report
- December 31, 2026: Deadline to file a termination statement for the one-time voiding of penalties for periods with no contributions and no expenditures
What changes
BeforeTo close, a committee's treasurer had to certify under penalty of perjury that it would take no more money, had no debts or obligations (or only old debts creditors agreed to discharge), had no cash on hand and had reported everything.
NowA treasurer may instead certify under penalty of perjury that the committee received no contributions. Committees that did receive contributions still certify the earlier list, which now also says the committee has no outstanding debts, obligations or 'void penalties' as described in the penalty law.
BeforeA committee that filed a report late owed $10 a day for the first 15 days and $25 a day after that, until the report was filed, with no maximum stated.
NowStarting July 1, 2026, the most a committee may accrue in penalties for each late report is $5,000.
BeforeLate-filing penalties kept building until the late report was filed.
NowPenalties are not assessed, and any built-up penalties are void, if the committee certifies it received no contributions and made no expenditures during that reporting period and files a termination statement. For committees that close by certifying they received no contributions, all penalties are void retroactively; for committees that received contributions, penalties tied to reports for periods with no contributions and no expenditures are void.
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NowFor these voided penalties, the enforcement officer is treated as having no authority (jurisdiction) over the matter, and a court handling the case must dismiss it promptly.
BeforeFiling officers had to offer electronic filing and post all statements and reports online.
NowFiling officers must also, within 5 days after each report's filing deadline closes, publish a list of all active committees that owe late-filing penalties.
Who it affects
- Campaign committees, including candidate committees, political action committees and political parties, and their treasurers
- Committees with unpaid late-filing penalties
- Filing officers: the Secretary of State, county election officers and city or town clerks
- Campaign finance enforcement officers and courts
What you need to do
Nothing required. A committee seeking to have penalties voided under the one-time rule must file complete reports certifying no contributions and no expenditures for the affected periods and file a termination statement on or before December 31, 2026.
What the law doesn't answer
- Whether committees that already paid penalties now voided will get refunds
- How filing officers will check a committee's certification that it received no contributions
- How the $5,000 cap applies to penalties that built up before July 1, 2026
- What exactly 'void penalties' means in the termination certification for committees that received contributions
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.