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HB 6234

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES REPORTING

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Katie Kazarian

HB 6234 creates a covered transfer rule: funds used for independent expenditures or electioneering must be reported if designated or reach $5,000 in 2 years, boosting transparency.

04/29/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 6234

Summary — HB 6234 (Rhode Island)

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS — RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES REPORTING
Sponsor: Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian | Introduced: April 11, 2025 | Referred to: House State Government & Elections
Status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (04/29/2025)

Purpose / Intent

HB 6234 amends Rhode Island’s campaign finance law (Chapter 17‑25) to revise and expand definitions and reporting rules governing contributions, expenditures, transfers, independent expenditures, and electioneering communications. The stated intent is to clarify when transfers are treated as funding for independent expenditures or electioneering communications and to increase transparency about funds used for political advocacy.

Key provisions (high level)

  • Revises multiple definitions in § 17‑25‑3 (and related sections): expanding and clarifying terms such as “accounts payable,” “business entity,” “candidate,” “conduit/intermediary,” “contributions/expenditures,” and adds a detailed definition of “covered transfer.”
  • Establishes a four‑part test for what constitutes a “covered transfer” — a transfer that is treated as funding for independent expenditures or electioneering communications if the transferor:
    1. Designates, requests, or suggests the funds be used for such communications;
    2. Responds to a solicitation for such use;
    3. Engages in discussions with the recipient about such use; or
    4. Has made independent expenditures or electioneering communications totaling $5,000 or more in the prior two years, or knew the recipient had done so.
  • Carves out exceptions for ordinary‑course business transfers and transfers accompanied by written prohibitions against use for independent expenditures (plus required segregation of funds).
  • Clarifies that “contributions” and “expenditures” include modern payment methods (credit/debit cards, online systems) and that loans are contributions until repaid.
  • Defines “election cycle” and incorporates a timing element for electioneering communications (e.g., references to communications within 60 days before an election appear in the truncated text).

Who would be affected

  • Candidates and authorized campaign committees
  • Political action committees (PACs), political party committees, and ballot question advocates
  • Business entities making or receiving transfers
  • Donors, intermediaries/conduits, vendors, and entities that fund independent expenditures or electioneering communications
  • Regulators and enforcement bodies administering Chapter 17‑25

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced 04/11/2025; referred to House State Government & Elections.
  • Scheduled for committee consideration April 25, 2025; committee recommended holding for further study on April 29, 2025.
  • The bill text provided is truncated in places; full legislative language may include additional reporting, disclosure, enforcement, or penalty provisions not visible in the excerpt.

Potential impacts

  • Increased transparency of transfers used to support independent expenditures/electioneering communications through the “covered transfer” concept and $5,000/2‑year threshold.
  • Potentially broader reporting obligations and compliance costs for businesses and PACs that transfer funds to organizations engaged in political communications.
  • Clarifies safeguards (written prohibitions, segregated accounts) that allow some transfers to avoid being treated as “covered.”
  • Could affect how intermediaries/conduits handle earmarked contributions and how regulators investigate coordination or circumvention.

Notes: The packet of materials provided also contained unrelated Michigan bill text; this summary focuses exclusively on the Rhode Island HB 6234 materials. The full bill should be reviewed to confirm any additional requirements, enforcement mechanisms, or effective dates not included in the excerpt.

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

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