From the Commissioner…
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Montana's campaign disclosure laws are considered among the best in the country, and in the last year incredible advances have been made in on-line filing and availability of information collected by this agency. We are dedicated to continued improvement of this system.
Campaign finance complaints and decisions are also available, as well as recent ethics decisions of note. The docket of pending complaints has doubled in the last few years, and the complexity of those complaints is ever-increasing. This is an exciting and interesting time to watch the evolution of campaign finance, and I am honored to enforce the laws of this great state on behalf of her citizens.
James W. "Jim" Murry Commissioner of Political Practices
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United States District Court Order in the matter of Lair, ATP, et. al v CPP & AG
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The United States Supreme Court has stayed enforcement of Montana's prohibition on corporate independent expenditures to support or oppose a candidate or political party. 13-35-227 [American Tradition v Bullock Supreme Court Ruling]. This means that, until further notice, corporations may make independent expenditures to support or oppose a candidate or political party. However, as stated in a previous court ruling "It should here be noted that this ruling has no effect on direct corporate contributions to candidates or to any existing or future disclosure laws that might be enacted." (Western Traditional Partnership v Attorney General Bullock, No. BDV-2010-238, Order at 12 (Mont. 1st Dist. Oct. 18, 2012). [Judge Sherlock's Order on cross-motions for Summary Judgment].
The prohibition on direct corporate contributions to candidate campaigns, and the reporting requirements for campaign expenditures and contributions regardless of their source, remain in effect. All campaign contributions and expenditures, whether monetary of in-kind, must be reported to this office.
A prohibited direct contribution is a contribution from a corporation to a candidate, political party, or a political committee that supports or opposes a candidate. An independent expenditure is defined in ARM 44.10.323(3) and (4). That Rule also defines "coordinated expenditures" which must be reported as an in-kind contribution.
- Highway Political Sign Placement
- Disclaimers Required on Election Materials
- Montana Republican Party v Schweitzer Final Order
- 2012 Statewide Candidate C-5 reports are due May 21, 2012 by 5pm
- 2012 Statewide Ballot Issue C-6 Reports were due May 10, 2012 by 5pm
- 2012 Statewide Incidental Committees who gave to a Ballot issue C-4 reports were due May 8, 2012 by 5pm
- 2012 State District & County Candidate C-5 reports are due May 24, 2012 by 5pm
- Political Action (PAC) & Party Committees C-6 reports are due May 24, 2012 by 5pm
- Frequently Asked Questions
- New: Public Employee Ethics Training
The Commissioner has jurisdiction over laws and rules pertaining to:
Ethics MCA ARM | Lobbying MCA ARM | Campaign Finance & Practices MCA ARM
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