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SB 366

Campaign Finance - Civil Penalties - Process

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Arthur Ellis

SB 366 establishes a civil penalty process for Maryland campaign finance violations, enabling administrative enforcement without criminal prosecution.

Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 366

Legislative bill overview

SB 366 modifies Maryland's campaign finance enforcement procedures by establishing a civil penalty process for campaign finance violations. The bill appears to create or revise the administrative mechanism through which civil penalties are imposed for violations of campaign finance law, rather than relying solely on criminal prosecution or other enforcement methods.

Why is this important

Campaign finance violations directly affect the integrity of elections and public trust in government. By establishing clear civil penalty procedures, Maryland would create a more accessible and efficient enforcement mechanism that doesn't require the higher burden of proof associated with criminal prosecution, potentially increasing compliance with campaign finance regulations.

Potential points of contention

  • Burden and standard of proof: Civil penalties typically use a lower evidentiary standard ("preponderance of the evidence") than criminal penalties, raising questions about due process protections for those accused of violations
  • Penalty amounts and proportionality: Disputes may arise over whether civil penalties are sufficiently deterrent without being punitive in ways that effectively function as criminal penalties
  • Administrative discretion: The process for determining when civil versus criminal enforcement applies could be contentious, with concerns about inconsistent application or selective enforcement

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

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