Bill Description: Senate Bill 1251 would impose more frequent reporting requirements on federal political action committees.

Rating: -1

Does it violate the spirit or the letter of either the U.S. Constitution or the Idaho Constitution? Examples include restrictions on speech, public assembly, the press, privacy, private property, or firearms. Conversely, does it restore or uphold the protections guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution or the Idaho Constitution?

Senate Bill 1251 would amend Section 67-6602, Idaho Code, which provides definitions relevant to Idaho's laws on reporting election expenditures. Current law exempts entities "registered with the federal election commission" from being considered a "political committee" for the purposes of state reporting requirements. These federal PACs are still subject to reporting requirements of the federal government. 

Senate Bill 1251 would remove the exemption in Idaho law and thereby subject federal PACs to state reporting requirements, which are more frequent. 

Requiring the disclosure and reporting of free speech is always troubling, and this expansion of the state's existing reporting mandates serves no compelling government purpose.

(-1)