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Bill Summary · HB 171

Overview

HB 171 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) relates to campaign finance. It expands regulations around campaign consultants, introduces new registration and fee requirements, and clarifies various terms used in Kentucky’s campaign finance regime. The bill seeks to improve transparency of campaign operations and accountability for entities involved in political campaigns.

Main purpose and intent

  • Strengthen the governance and visibility of campaign activity in Kentucky by requiring registration of campaign consultants and their employers.
  • Create a formal framework for tracking the engagement of campaign consultants, including ongoing reporting and potential penalties for noncompliance.
  • Generate dedicated funding for the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) through new fees to support its oversight duties.

Key provisions and changes

Expanded definitions and classifications

  • Revisions to KRS 121.015 clarify and expand the meanings of:
    • Various “committees” (campaign, independent expenditure-only, caucus campaign, political issues, permanent, inaugural committees, and party executive committees).
    • “Campaign consultant” and the services they may provide (e.g., media strategy, ads, polling, data analysis, fundraising, event organization, speechwriting).
    • “Independent expenditure” and “electronic reporting” concepts.
    • Other terms such as “filer,” “form,” “electronic signature,” and “foreign national.”

Campaign consultant registration regime (new sections)

  • Within seven days of engaging a campaign consultant, an employer and the consultant must file an initial registration with the registry, including:
    • Names, contact details, and occupations.
    • Employer information and a description of the engagement.
    • Certification of accuracy from both parties.
  • The initial registration remains valid through December 31 of an odd-numbered year.
  • Annual updates are required by the 15th day of January, February, March, April, May, and September, covering the period since the last report.
  • Separate registrations are required if a consultant works for multiple employers; employers may file one consolidated updated report for all consultants.
  • Changes in required information must be updated in the next filing. Termination notices must be filed within 30 days after engagement ends, and if a consultant leaves an employer with no remaining consultants, the employer must notify termination within 30 days.
  • Registration cards will be issued to registered consultants, valid through December 31 of an odd-numbered year.
  • Penalties: failure to file or remedy deficiencies can result in fines up to $100 per day (max $1,000), following notice and an opportunity to respond.
  • Intentional failure to register constitutes a Class D felony.

Registration fees (new section)

  • Employers of campaign consultants must pay a $250 registration fee to the registry.
  • Fees collected are deposited into a dedicated State Treasury trust and agency fund to support the registry’s operations (supplementing general fund appropriations).

Who would be affected

  • Campaign consultants and their employers (e.g., political campaigns, political action entities, or organizations engaging in campaign work) would be directly affected by new registration, reporting, renewal, and fee requirements.
  • The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) would gain new regulatory oversight responsibilities and a dedicated funding stream for administration, reporting, and enforcement activities.
  • Other political committees and entities under Kentucky’s campaign finance framework may experience interpretive updates as definitions and reporting standards are refined.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective dates are not explicitly stated in the text provided, but the registration framework is designed to begin promptly with the upcoming election cycle, given the reporting cadence (monthly/quarterly-like updates on specific months) and the 30-day termination notices.
  • Registrations are annual in scope with a fixed validity period; ongoing monitoring and timely filings are mandated.
  • Penalty and enforcement mechanisms require prior notice and an opportunity to present mitigating evidence before fines are imposed.

Summary

HB 171 strengthens Kentucky’s campaign finance system by creating a formal registry and ongoing reporting requirements for campaign consultants and their employers, imposing a $250 annual registration fee, and tying funds to support the registry’s operations. It broadens the definitions of key campaign finance entities and activities to improve transparency and accountability in campaign activities, with specific compliance timelines and penalties for noncompliance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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