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Bill

SB 176

AN ACT relating to campaign finance.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robby Mills

SB 176 standardizes and tightens Kentucky campaign finance disclosure, requiring early fundraising intent filings, electronic reporting, detailed contributor data, and clear exempt

to Committee on Committees (S)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 176

Summary of SB 176 (2026RS) — Kentucky Campaign Finance

Purpose and general intent

SB 176 is a comprehensive update to Kentucky’s campaign finance laws. Its core aim is to clarify when candidates, slates of candidates, political issues committees, and related fundraising entities must file disclosure reports, establish when exemptions from reporting apply, and specify penalties for failures to file or to disclose. The bill also modernizes reporting through electronic filing and tightens rules around the use and disposition of campaign funds.

Key provisions and changes

  • Preliminary declaration of fundraising intent (Section 1)

    • Candidates, slates of candidates, and political issues committees must submit an initial form indicating whether they expect to raise or spend more than $5,000 in any one election. This must be filed within 5 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures, or within 5 days of filing papers to run.
    • Those who indicate they will not exceed $5,000 in a given election are exempt from campaign finance reporting requirements.
    • A separate form is required for each primary, regular, or special election, with electronic filing mandated.

  • Exemption and revocation mechanics (Section 1)

    • Exemption from reporting can be rescinded, triggering full reporting obligations for the remainder of the election.
    • Deadlines for exemptions vary by election type (primary, regular, special) and include provisions for reversion rights if a candidate is opposed or if write-in campaigns arise.

  • Reporting requirements for committees (Section 2 & 3)

    • State and county executive committees, caucus campaign committees, and other political bodies must provide full itemized reports of money received and expenditures incurred, with specific detail about large contributions (over $100) including contributor name, address, occupation, and employer.
    • Special reporting rules apply to building funds and caucus accounts, including quarterly reporting timelines.

  • Timing and frequency of reports (Section 3)

    • Several reporting cadences are established: semiannual (for larger committees), annual (for smaller committees), and pre-election and post-election deadlines (e.g., 60 days, 30 days, 15 days before the election, plus post-election within 30 days).
    • Reports covering the entire relevant period must be filed timely, with a two-business-day grace for timely filing.

  • Post-election and balance rules (Section 3 & 7)

    • Post-election reports are required within 30 days, covering the full election period.
    • If there is an unexpended balance or ongoing debt, the treasurer must file supplemental statements, with annual filings continuing until the balance is resolved.

  • Use of funds and restrictions (Section 10)

    • Restrictions remain on using campaign funds to advance other candidacies or issues, with specified exceptions (e.g., transferring funds to statewide campaigns where allowed, or charitable/educational donations under certain conditions).
    • Funds may be rolled over or redirected under narrow, explicitly permitted circumstances.

  • Electronic reporting and integrity (Sections 11–16)

    • Electronic reporting is required starting with the 2020 primary cycle and expanded thereafter.
    • Official filings are the electronic submissions; filers must affirm accuracy under penalty of perjury, and unreadable files are considered noncompliant.

Affected entities

  • Candidates and slates of candidates for all elections (primary, regular, special).
  • Political issues committees and campaign committees at state and local levels.
  • State and county executive committees, caucus campaign committees, and associated fundraising entities.
  • Registered fundraisers and contributing organizations involved in political campaigns.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Filing deadlines are generally pegged to election dates and deadlines for nomination, with specific windows for exemptions and rescissions.
  • Electronic filing becomes mandatory, with a clear deeming rule: the filing date is the registry’s receipt date.
  • Public disclosure is emphasized; reports are public records immediately upon receipt.

Overall, SB 176 seeks to standardize and tighten campaign finance disclosure, promote electronic transparency, and provide clear mechanisms for exemptions and revocations tied to election timing.

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

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