HB 1756 reinstates a number of statutes from SB 844 (2010). SB 844 was struck down by the supreme court on the grounds that it violated the Hammerschmidt rule. The Hammerschmidt rule says that bills should only concern one subject. The court did not rule on the validity of the new rules themselves.
HB 1756 also adds to the provisions originally included in SB 844 campaign contribution caps as described in (4.) below.
The main ethics provisions included in the bill are:
- Requirements to report contributions of more than $500 within 48 hours when the legislature is in session.
- Provisions for the Missouri Ethics Commission to investigate ethics-related matters without first receiving complaints, and provisions making the obstruction of such probes a crime.
- Provisions banning certain types of committee-to-committee money transfers.
- Caps on campaign contributions as follows:
- In a campaign for Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General, the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $2000.
- In a campaign for State Senator the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $1000.
- In a campaign for State Representative the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $500.
- In a campaign for any other office in an electoral district ward or other unit where the population is less than 100,000 the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $500.
- In a campaign for any other office in an electoral district ward or other unit where the population is at least 100,000, but less than 250,000 the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $1000.In a campaign for any other office in an electoral district ward or other unit where the population is at least 250,000 the cap for an election cycle for any individual contributor is $2000.
