Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB529: Revise campaign finance laws to limit certain tax-exempt organization contributions
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act providing that contributions from certain tax-exempt organizations to political and joint fundraising committees to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure may not exceed $2,500; prohibiting contributions from tax-exempt entities to candidates; prohibiting contributions from tax-exempt entities to political and joint fundraising committees if the entity has received a donation or contribution from a foreign national in the last 4 years; and providing penalties.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT PROVIDING THAT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CERTAIN TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS TO POLITICAL AND JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A CANDIDATE OR BALLOT MEASURE MAY NOT EXCEED $2,500; PROHIBITING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES TO CANDIDATES; PROHIBITING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES TO POLITICAL AND JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES IF THE ENTITY HAS RECEIVED A DONATION OR CONTRIBUTION FROM A FOREIGN NATIONAL IN THE LAST 4 YEARS; AND PROVIDING PENALTIES." WHEREAS, in 2015, the Montana Legislature enacted Senate Bill 289 for the purpose of prohibiting undisclosed dark money in Montana elections and to enhance transparency and accountability; and WHEREAS, in the last election cycle, tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), funneled millions of dollars in undisclosed dark money into various political committees for the purpose of influencing Montana's elections; and THEREFORE, for the purpose of ensuring transparency and accountability, the Legislature believes the amount of money tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), can contribute to a political committee should be limited. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Limitation on contributions from certain tax-exempt organizations. An organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), may not make a contribution exceeding $2,500 …
Sponsors
- Kassmier, Josh (R, 13) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Hearing Canceled
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
- : (S) Introduced
- : (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
Subjects: Ballot Issues, Elections
Common questions
- What is SB529?
- SB529 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise campaign finance laws to limit certain tax-exempt organization contributions.
- What does SB529 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act providing that contributions from certain tax-exempt organizations to political and joint fundraising committees to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure may not exceed $2,500; prohibiting contributions from tax-exempt entities to candidates; prohibiting contributions from tax-exempt entities to political and joint fundraising committees if the entity has received a donation or contribution from a foreign national in the last 4 years; and providing penalties.".
- What is the status of SB529?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB529?
- Kassmier, Josh (R, 13).
- Where is the official record for SB529?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2334
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.