Amendment ID: S2898-6

Amendment 6

Influencing Municipal Ballot Questions

Mr. Tarr moves that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION_. Chapter 55 as appearing in the 2024 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 22A the following new section:-

Section 22B. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall, unless a contrary intention clearly appears, have the following meanings:—

“Municipal ballot question”, any question submitted to the voters of a city or town at a municipal election pursuant to any general or special law, including but not limited to questions authorized under chapters 43, 44, 59, 71, 94G, or any home rule charter or special act.

“Municipal election”, any election held by a city or town at which a municipal ballot question appears.

“Municipal clerk”, the city or town clerk responsible for administering the municipal election.

(b) Any person, corporation, association, organization, or other group of persons that has given, paid, expended, or promised to give, pay, or expend $1,000 or more in the aggregate in order to influence or affect a municipal ballot question shall file reports on a form prescribed by the director.

Such reports shall include:

the date each expenditure was made or liability incurred;

the purpose of each expenditure or liability;

the amount of each expenditure;

the full name and address of each person to whom the expenditure was made or liability incurred;

the full name and address of the person, corporation, association, organization, or group of persons making the expenditure or incurring the liability; and

for each gift, payment, or contribution received to fund such expenditures:

the date of receipt;

the amount;

the full name and address of the contributor.

(c) Reports required under this section shall be filed with the municipal clerk as follows:

Monthly reports — on the fifth day of each month for contributions received or expenditures made during the preceding month;

Pre‑election report — on the fifth day preceding the municipal election, complete as to the seventh day preceding the election;

Final report — on the thirtieth day following the municipal election.

(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any officer, employee, or agent of the commonwealth or its subdivisions from acting in their official or private capacity relative to a municipal ballot question.

(e) Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.