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HB 641

Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Michele Carringer

Prohibits private funding for election administration; all costs must be paid from public funds, impacting state/local election offices and donors, with Class I felony penalties.

Pub. Ch. 495
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Bill Summary · HB 641

HB 641 — “No Soliciting Certain Funds / Elections Boards”

Status: Passed 1st Reading
Introduced: February 14, 2025
Subject areas: Elections; Elections Boards; Local Government; Funding; Public / Private entities

Purpose

The bill prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of private (non‑public) funds, donations, or anything of value for the purpose of conducting state or local elections. Its stated aim is to require that all costs and expenses of administering elections be paid from public funds.

Key provisions

  • Adds new statutory sections (to Article 3 and Article 4 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes) that:
    • Define key terms:
    • “Election” — each election to nominate or elect a candidate to public office.
    • “Person” — broad definition covering individuals, businesses, unions, associations, committees, corporations, and other groups.
    • “Public funds” — funds derived from taxes, fees, or other revenues lawfully appropriated by the General Assembly.
    • Prohibit the State Board of Elections from soliciting, accepting, or otherwise taking any private contribution, donation, or thing of value for conducting state or local elections.
    • Prohibit county boards of commissioners, elected municipal officials, and county boards of elections from soliciting or accepting private contributions, donations, or things of value for election administration.
    • Require that all costs and expenses relating to elections be paid from public funds.
    • Establish criminal penalties: violation of either prohibition is a Class I felony.

Who would be affected

  • State-level: State Board of Elections (and its agents/staff) — barred from private fundraising related to elections.
  • Local-level: county boards of elections, county boards of commissioners, elected municipal officials involved in administering elections.
  • Private actors: individuals, nonprofits, corporations, labor unions, foundations, vendors, and other entities currently providing or seeking to provide private funding, donations, or in-kind support for election-related activities.
  • Voters and local governments: potential indirect effects if local jurisdictions previously supplemented election budgets with private funds.

Potential impact

  • Administrative/budgetary: Jurisdictions that have relied on private grants or donations to pay for equipment, staffing, drop‑box services, public information campaigns, or other election‑related expenses would need equivalent public appropriations to replace those resources.
  • Legal/enforcement: The bill creates enforceable criminal penalties (Class I felony), which could lead to investigations and prosecutions for noncompliance. It may prompt questions or litigation about scope, exceptions, and interaction with federal law or constitutional protections (not addressed in the bill text).
  • Fiscal: The bill does not include an appropriation. Replacing private funding with public funds could increase pressure on state and local budgets; no formal fiscal estimate is attached in this summary.

Procedure / Timeline

  • Introduced: February 14, 2025.
  • Current status: Passed 1st Reading and referred to the relevant committee(s) (per chamber procedure).
  • Effective date: The text modeled on the bill states it takes effect when it becomes law ("effective when it becomes law"), but final effective date will be set in enacted language.

Note: This summary focuses on the provisions that prohibit private solicitation/acceptance for election administration and the immediate practical implications for government election authorities and private funders.

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

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