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SF 5253

Campaign reports and disclaimers requirements modifications

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bonnie Westlin

The bill requires detailed lobbying cost reporting by type and introduces mandatory disclaimers on paid ads urging public contact, with specific formatting and penalties.

Referred to Elections
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Bill Summary · SF 5253

Summary of SF 5253 (2025-2026) — Campaign reports and disclaimers requirements modifications

Purpose and intent

SF 5253 proposes changes to Minnesota’s campaign finance and disclosure framework. The bill alters reporting requirements for principal (lobbying) reports, and establishes a new statewide disclaimer requirement for paid advertising that urges the public to contact officials to influence legislative or administrative action. It also adjusts where and how certain disclaimers must appear and modifies related provisions in statute.

Key provisions and changes

1) Principal reports (lobbying) — Minnesota Statutes 10A.04, subdivision 6

  • Timing: Principals must file by March 15 for the preceding calendar year.
  • Reporting scope (per type of lobbying):
    • (a) Total amount spent by the principal on each type of lobbying (rounded to the nearest $5,000).
    • (b) The four listed lobbying categories: 1) Lobbying to influence legislative action. 2) Lobbying to influence administrative action (excluding certain categories noted elsewhere). 3) Lobbying to influence administrative action in specific rate-setting, power plant/powerline siting, and certificate-of-need cases under §216B.243. 4) Lobbying to influence official action of a political subdivision.
    • (c) The total amounts must include: 1) Direct payments for compensation/benefits to lobbyists in-state for that type. 2) Expenditures for advertising, mailing, research, consulting, surveys, expert testimony, studies, analysis, dissemination of information, communications and public relations campaigns, legal counsel, and salaries/overhead attributable to lobbying for that type (with some language clarifications in the new version, removing some previously broad language about staff costs used for urging public contact).
  • Note: In the version provided, certain previously required disclosures for paid advertising urging public contact (and related de minimis reporting thresholds) were removed (the deleted text blocks indicate previous requirements are no longer in effect). The new structure emphasizes categorization by lobbying type and inclusion of a broad set of cost components, but without the removed “paid advertising” threshold reporting mandate.
  • Effective date: The new reporting framework becomes effective upon final enactment.

2) New: Disclaimer for lobbying material (Minnesota Statutes [10A.067])

  • Subdivision 1 — Requirement:
    • Paid advertisements that urge the public to contact public or local officials to influence legislative, administrative, or political subdivision action must include a disclaimer identifying the individual or association responsible for the ad, and a contact method (phone number, monitored email, or website).
  • Subdivision 2 — Limitations:
    • The disclaimer does not apply to campaign material, independent expenditures, or electioneering communications that already include the disclaimer required under § 10A.202 or § 211B.04.
    • Does not apply to associations’ communications with members (internal).
    • If an individual/association is not required to file a report under § 10A.04 for the year, they are exempt from this disclaimer.
  • Subdivision 3 — Exception:
    • If an entity is not required to file a report for the portion of the year in which the ad is disseminated, they do not need to comply.
  • Subdivision 4 — Size, duration, and location (disclaimer formatting):
    • Written ads (not outdoor signs, websites, or social media) must use 8-point font or larger, black text or high-contrast color on white background.
    • Website and social media disclaimers must be clearly legible without zooming.
    • Audiovisual ads must display the disclaimer for at least 4 seconds at the end.
    • Audio-only ads must deliver a clearly understandable disclaimer.
    • Outdoor signs:
    • Signs ≤ 2 feet by ≤ 3 feet: 12-point font or larger, black text or high-contrast color on white background.
    • Signs > 2 feet by > 3 feet: disclaimer must be at least 5% of the vertical height, black text or high-contrast color on white background.
  • Subdivision 5 — Penalties:
    • The Elections Ethics Board may impose a civil penalty up to $3,000 for failure to provide the disclaimer.

3) Amendments to Minnesota Statutes 211B.04, subdivision 3 (disclaimer applicability)

  • Clarifications on what materials do not require a disclaimer (e.g., fundraising tickets, business cards, personal letters, and items distributed by a candidate; certain small items; certain online ads linking to a disclaimer).
  • The bill preserves certain exemptions for items where a disclaimer is impracticable or not feasible.
  • Note: Language adjustments align with the new disclaimer regime in 10A.067.

4) Amendments to Minnesota Statutes 211B.04, subdivision 5 (disclaimer formatting)

  • Reiteration and alignment of formatting rules across written, digital, and outdoor advertising.
  • Effective date: The formatting provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the outdoor-sign size/duration provisions (e) and (f) effective for signs produced after January 1, 2027.

Who/what is affected

  • Political committees, lobbyists, associations, and other principals engaged in lobbying activities in Minnesota (as defined under 10A and 211B contexts).
  • Entities that purchase paid advertisements urging public contact to influence legislative, administrative, or local government actions.
  • Advertisers who must comply with disclaimer formatting and display requirements.
  • The Minnesota Elections Ethics Board, which would have authority to impose penalties for noncompliance.
  • General public recipients of political advertising, who will see disclaimers and contact information on eligible ads.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective dates:
    • Section establishing the principal report changes: effective the day after final enactment.
    • Disclaimer framework (10A.067): generally effective upon enactment; formatting specifics align with later dates (outdoor sign provisions kick in 2027 for certain sizes).
  • Reports are due by March 15 of each year for the preceding calendar year’s lobbying activity (Section 1).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increased transparency around lobbying expenditures by categorizing spending by lobbying type and requiring some disclosure of associated costs (compensation, advertising, overhead, and related activities).
  • Expanded public accountability through mandatory disclaimers on paid political advertisements that solicit public contact, potentially improving public awareness of who is behind persuasive messages.
  • New or revised reporting and disclaimer requirements may affect budgeting, compliance processes, and advertising practices for political actors.
  • Transitional timelines mean some formatting standards or effective dates will phase in over 2026–2027.

Sponsors: Co-sponsor Bonnie Westlin.
Status: Introduced and referred to Elections (as of 2026-05-04).

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

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