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HD 1285

An Act relative to bake sales, farmer’s markets, or community festivals by political party committees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jeff Roy

Bill permits Massachusetts political party committees to raise funds through bake sales, farmers' markets, and community festivals, expanding grassroots fundraising options.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 1285

Legislative bill overview

This bill would allow political party committees in Massachusetts to conduct fundraising through bake sales, farmers' markets, and community festivals. Currently, state regulations restrict the fundraising activities that party committees can undertake. The legislation aims to expand permissible fundraising venues and methods for these organizations.

Why is this important

Political fundraising regulations directly affect how parties operate and compete in the electoral space. Allowing additional grassroots fundraising channels could enable parties to raise smaller-dollar contributions directly from constituents in community settings. This has implications for campaign finance transparency, party independence, and the practical ability of parties to fund operations and candidate support.

Potential points of contention

  • Campaign finance transparency: Bake sales and farmers' market sales may be harder to track and report than traditional donation channels, raising questions about disclosure requirements and public accountability.
  • Regulatory clarity: The bill doesn't specify whether existing fundraising limits or reporting requirements would apply to these venues, creating potential ambiguity about compliance.
  • Fairness concerns: Different parties may have varying capacity to execute these grassroots fundraising activities in specific communities, potentially advantaging well-organized parties over others.

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

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