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Are You Keeping Up with State Campaign Finance Law Changes?

passpacs on May 29, 2026

State campaign finance laws are evolving faster than ever, creating new compliance challenges for PACs and organizations that engage in political activity across multiple jurisdictions. From increased contribution limits and new registration requirements to expanding restrictions on foreign participation in elections, staying compliant requires constant monitoring of state legislative and regulatory changes.

Contribution Limits Continue to Rise

Some states have recently increased campaign contribution limits, often as a result of inflation-indexing provisions built into their campaign finance laws. These adjustments reflect the rising costs associated with modern political campaigns and can significantly impact fundraising strategies and compliance obligations.

Some states have enacted even more substantial changes. In Louisiana, for example, the legislature effectively doubled many campaign contribution limits last year. The state also revised its definition of an “out-of-state” committee, raising the threshold for registration and reporting requirements.

Under the updated law, a Federal PAC is exempt from Louisiana registration and reporting requirements if it:

  • Receives less than 50% of its total receipts from Louisiana residents;
  • Spends less than 50% of its funds in Louisiana; and
  • Does not spend more than $50,000 annually in the state.

These changes may reduce regulatory burdens for some organizations while creating new compliance considerations for others.

New Registration and Reporting Requirements

States are also revising registration and reporting rules, requiring organizations to reassess their compliance processes.

Oregon, long known for having no statutory contribution limits, enacted campaign contribution limits in 2024 with an effective date of January 1, 2027. Organizations active in Oregon elections should be preparing now for the upcoming changes.

Georgia has implemented significant changes to its campaign finance registration and reporting requirements as well. Effective January 1, 2026, PACs participating in Georgia non-federal elections through candidate contributions must register and report from the outset of their activity. The state’s previous $25,000 activity threshold has been eliminated.

Additional Georgia changes include:

  • A requirement to maintain a separate bank account for Georgia political activity;
  • A revised reporting schedule requiring quarterly filings for all PACs; and
  • The elimination of activity-triggered reports.

Organizations that previously relied on threshold-based registration or activity-driven reporting schedules will need to update their compliance procedures accordingly.

States Continue Expanding Foreign National Restrictions

Another growing trend is the expansion of state laws restricting foreign participation in elections. While federal law already regulates foreign national involvement in candidate elections, many states have recently focused on ballot measures and independent expenditures—areas where federal law provides less specific guidance.

This year, Alabama and Iowa enacted laws prohibiting foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures related to ballot measures.

Nebraska strengthened its existing requirements by:

  • Requiring ballot question committees to certify they have not received contributions from foreign nationals; and
  • Prohibiting foreign nationals from making independent expenditures related to ballot measures.

Ohio’s foreign national ban took effect in 2024, but state guidance was not issued until late 2025. The law applies to both candidate contributions and ballot measures and includes lawful permanent residents (green card holders) within its prohibition. As a result, many Federal PACs had to suspend contributions in Ohio because they accepted donations from green card holders—a practice permitted under federal law.

These developments highlight the importance of understanding each state’s unique requirements. Keeping up with state campaign finance law changes is a full-time job. From contribution limit increases and registration requirements to evolving foreign-national restrictions, compliance obligations vary widely from state to state and can change with little notice.

PASS helps organizations stay ahead of these developments. Our Compliance Managers work closely with our Director of Campaign Finance Law to monitor legislative and regulatory changes nationwide, ensuring our clients receive timely guidance and remain compliant as requirements evolve.

Having PASS as your compliance firm allows you to focus on your advocacy and political objectives without worrying about the compliance risks. For more information about PASS’ federal and non-federal compliance services, reach out to Megan Allen at mallen@pass1.com.

Are You Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your PAC Data?

passpacs on May 29, 2026

Are You Maximizing the Effectiveness of your PAC Data with epacInfo® Management Reports?

In today’s fast-paced, data-driven political landscape, efficiently managing and engaging the right individuals is essential to your Political Action Committee’s success. One of the most valuable tools available to your organization is epacInfo®’s management reporting functionality.

These powerful reports provide detailed insights into your eligible class and current PAC participants, helping your organization make smarter, data-backed decisions. By leveraging this information, PACs can strengthen fundraising efforts, improve donor engagement, and build more effective outreach strategies.

epacInfo®’s management reports can track critical data points including donor activity, contribution amounts, enrollment percentages, and participation trends. epacInfo® delivers accurate, timely reporting with minimal administrative time and effort.

Benefits of epacInfo® Management Reports

  1. Refine Donor Segmentation

Management reports provide a clear view of who is contributing, how much they are giving, and how frequently they donate. This allows PACs to better segment donors based on contribution patterns, consistency, and engagement levels. By identifying top contributors and potential high-value donors, your organization can personalize outreach efforts and focus on the individuals most likely to support your PAC’s mission.

  1. Maintain Clean, High-Quality Data

Collaborating with payroll and HR teams to ensure accurate and timely data feeds is critical to maximizing the value of your data and reports. Accurate data ensures you have the most up-to-date information on active contributors and individuals who may have stopped giving. This visibility gives PAC managers the opportunity to engage valuable supporters and reconnect with former contributors. Accurate, high-quality data also helps ensure compliance while providing reliable insights into donor behavior and participation trends.

  1. Improve Fundraising Strategies

By analyzing receipt management reports, PACs can uncover valuable trends in donor behavior. Are contributions increasing after a specific campaign? Are certain groups more likely to engage during key political events? These insights allow organizations to adjust fundraising strategies in real time, optimize outreach efforts, and maximize overall participation and donations.

  1. Build Stronger Donor Relationships

Management reports also help PACs better understand ongoing donor engagement. Identifying repeat contributors or supporters who may need additional outreach enables organizations to strengthen relationships and foster long-term loyalty. With better visibility into donor activity, your team can prioritize meaningful communication and deliver targeted messaging that resonates with your audience.

Conclusion

Incorporating receipt management reports into your PAC’s fundraising and engagement strategy will help maximize your results. With the power of epacInfo® reporting, PACs can more effectively target the eligible class, increase participation, strengthen donor relationships, and maintain compliance with confidence. In today’s competitive political fundraising environment, actionable data is the key to smarter outreach and greater success.

 

To learn more about the data management and reporting capabilities of epacManager®, contact Megan Allen at mallen@pass1.com to schedule a demo today.

Will redistricting impact your PAC Compliance?

passpacs on April 30, 2026

The upcoming 2026 U.S. midterm elections are expected to be highly competitive, in large part because of an unusual surge in redistricting activity occurring outside the normal post-census cycle. Rather than waiting for the next decennial update, multiple states have already redrawn their congressional district boundaries in an effort to improve their party’s electoral prospects. By February 2026, states including California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Utah had completed or approved revised district maps (Cook Political Report, 2026; Brennan Center for Justice, 2026).

Despite these aggressive efforts by both major parties, some analysts believe the national impact on congressional control may be limited. According to the Cook Political Report, partisan advantages gained in certain states could be offset by losses elsewhere, resulting in little overall change. For example, expected Republican gains from redistricting in Texas and North Carolina may be counterbalanced by more Democratic-leaning maps in California and court-mandated adjustments in Utah (Cook Political Report, 2026). Meanwhile, ongoing legal challenges in states such as New York, Georgia, and Louisiana add further uncertainty, leaving the final composition of the U.S. House of Representatives unresolved and highly unpredictable (Brennan Center for Justice, 2026).

With the potential for a myriad of changes to districts and candidates running in those districts, PASS is committed to updated candidate and district information quickly. PASS will ensure all epacInfo® users have access to the most up to date information when entering disbursement requests and our Compliance Team will confirm PAC disbursements are properly attributed to the candidate’s current district as part of our compliance review.  PASS’ MyElectionInfo will reflect the most up to date election information and candidates so PAC members and employees have accurate information when they go to the polls. 

Want more information on PASS’ disbursement compliance services or MyElectionInfo? Contact Megan Allen at mallen@pass1.com for a demo.

Five Keys to a Successful Compliance Manager / PAC Manager Relationship

passpacs on November 25, 2025

Working as a PASS Compliance Manager is both challenging and rewarding. I started my career in donor relations at a large membership association and I joined PASS in 2023 as a Compliance Manager. I had no idea I was entering a world with its own language, rules, regulations, and peculiarities. This article details my five biggest takeaways that are key to delivering excellent service and becoming a successful Compliance Manager.

 

Communicate. In the PAC world, there are many unique terms and phrases. While a PAC Manager understands the terms, others in their organization may not. Our team must figure out the best way to break that information down in a simple and clear manner. We get to know each client contact and their communication style to foster effective communication, build relationships, and make sure all PAC contacts understand their responsibilities.

 

Build relationships. Our goal at PASS is to be an extension of our clients’ team and we strive to make our clients’ lives easier by streamlining the data and information flow processes. Our team often acts as a translator, helping people understand not just what the rules are, but why they matter. For policies and procedures to be effective, people must understand why we need payroll files by a certain date, why only certain individuals can contribute to the PAC, and why funds need to be deposited be a certain time. Building relationships within a client’s organization makes it easier to collaborate and get the data we need in a timely manner to deliver our services.

 

Be proactive. Waiting for a problem to happen and then fixing it is far more expensive and stressful than preventing the problem in the first place. Building proactive systems to make sure data is transmitted in a timely manner prevents late reports and fines, and keeps client reputations intact. Our team carefully monitors reporting deadlines and data delivery to make sure both sides have what they need. Our goal is always to be ahead of every deadline.

 

Change is constant. Reporting schedules change, internal reporting structures evolve, and technology moves fast. Staying on top of every change is key to keeping our clients compliant. At PASS, our team keeps everyone up to speed with their findings in real time. Knowing who to talk to within the client organization is important when deadlines are tight.

 

Challenging and rewarding. My biggest takeaway is that being a Compliance Manager is much more than providing compliance information and completing reports. PASS Compliance Managers work to reduce risk and allow our clients’ PACs to thrive while staying within the boundaries of the law. Taking the stress of PAC compliance work from our clients and allowing them to build their PAC program is our goal. We can deliver on that goal because the PASS team works together to deliver excellent service, and our comprehensive and intuitive PAC software gives clients access to the PAC information they need when they need it.

 

I recently transitioned to the Sales and Marketing side of PASS and thankfully am able to use everything I learned as a Compliance Manager to talk to organizations about our services. Want to find out how PASS will augment your PAC team to keep your PAC running smoothly? Connect with me, Megan Allen, at mallen@pass1.com or on LinkedIn.

Should You Worry About Pay to Play?

passpacs on April 29, 2025

Companies that operate in regulated industries or have state and local government contracts may be subject to “pay-to-play” rules when making political contributions. Pay-to-play (PTP) laws exist at the federal, state, local, and agency levels, and are designed to prevent corruption or undue influence in politics, particularly when it comes to political contributions. PTP laws may apply to political contributions made by executives, employees, and in some cases, their family members.

 

PASS offers comprehensive PTP compliance services for our clients. We leverage in-house and external resources to identify potential PTP issues a political contribution may trigger, and we help guide clients on the key focus areas.

 

Pay to Play is one of the many services where the PASS Compliance Team

collaborates closely with our clients to ensure all relevant entities,

including affiliated ones, are considered when assessing government contracts.

 

Does your organization contract with, or plan to contract with, governmental bodies? If so, it is crucial to understand the specific PTP laws in that jurisdiction. By staying informed, you can avoid jeopardizing existing and future contracts or facing fines and penalties. Contact your PASS Compliance Manager today to discuss our PTP services.

Inflation Erodes PAC Contributions

passpacs on February 20, 2025

Campaign contribution limits are restrictions set by regulatory bodies that dictate the maximum amount of money individuals or organizations can donate to political campaigns. These limits are designed to prevent corruption, ensure fair competition, and promote transparency in the electoral process.

 

As the cost of living and operating expenses rise due to inflation,

the value of a fixed contribution limit has been diminished.

 

This creates a challenge for candidates to raise the necessary funds to run competitive campaigns and effectively communicate their message to voters.

 

To address this issue, regulatory bodies should periodically review and adjust contribution limits to account for inflation. By indexing contribution limits to inflation or periodically reviewing and adjusting them based on economic conditions, policymakers can help ensure that campaign finance regulations remain effective and equitable.

 

The Federal Election Commission is an example of a regulatory agency that has indexed personal and non-multicandidate PAC contributions to inflation but has not applied those same indexing rules to multicandidate PACs. The limits for multicandidate committees have been $5,000 per candidate and per election since 1976. Keeping contribution limits equitable is a big step in ensuring fair electoral competition, ensuring a diverse slate of candidates, and promoting transparency in our electoral process.

 

The campaign finance experts at PASS help PACs navigate federal and state election contribution limits, laws, and reporting requirements to ensure 100% compliance.

Starting a New PAC

passpacs on November 27, 2024

It seems like starting a new PAC will be helpful for your corporation.  You will have the opportunity to help influence legislation that affects your industry.  The Government Affairs team agrees it’s a brilliant idea!

Some things to consider and questions to ask before starting a PAC:

 

How will you fund the PAC?

  • The solicitable class of a corporation includes executive and administrative personnel, stockholders and family members of those groups.  Is our solicitable class likely to participate? What is our plan for asking them to give?

What is your plan for the PAC?

  • Is our industry heavily regulated by the government?  Is there specific legislation affecting our industry?  Is any other organization/association representing our interests?

Who will manage the PAC?

  • Is it best to keep the management in-house or do we need outside help?  Is our budget such that we can afford additional staff and/or consultants?

 

Managing the PAC is not terribly complicated, but it is time consuming and requires experience.  Federal Election Commission regulations have very specific timelines, reporting schedules, and reporting deadlines.

Having a person on staff with FEC experience or hiring an outside vendor is important to keeping your PAC on course and legal.

PASS has been keeping PACs on Track and legal for 40 years, and the compliance experts at PASS are an extension of your team.

Think your start-up PAC is too small for a PAC compliance consultant, give us a call to find out just how cost-effective PASS’ services can be.

Is Your PAC Data Accurate, Up-to-Date, and Secure?

passpacs on October 18, 2024

The old axiom, “garbage in, garbage out,” which became popular in the early days of computing, still holds true today. Especially with data related to your Political Action Committee (PAC).

 

PASS’ primary responsibility is ensuring that quality PAC data is imported to keep your PAC information accurate, up to date, and safe.

 

PASS uses client data to prepare and file federal and state election law reports. We apply a quality assurance approach to ensure that data is transferred and processed accurately the first time around. Quality Assurance relies on a client’s IT department along with PASS’ Receipt Analyst (RA) and Quality Assurance Manager (QA). Each is responsible for a unique part of the process.

 

The IT department is responsible for ensuring that the data is encrypted and secure when the data files are sent to PASS. The RA is responsible for decrypting and uploading the raw data into epacInfo® − PASS’ comprehensive data management and reporting tool. Once the team uploads the data into epacInfo®, the QA Manager must then review the processed data to ensure the information matches the data entered into epacInfo®.

 

Our goal is to enter the data accurately the first time around, and the quality measures PASS has in place give the team the opportunity to identify errors before a Federal, State, or Local report is filed. Errors such as an individual overcontributing to the PAC or the PAC overcontributing to a campaign. Trust the experts at PASS to keep your PAC on track by applying our 40+ years of campaign finance compliance and process experience to your PAC administration. For information about PASS’ processes and what goes into keeping your data accurate, up-to-date, and safe, contact your Compliance Manager. If you would like additional information on adding PASS as a trusted PAC partner, contact Mary O’Reilly at 703-476-3070.

So, You Want to Make Independent Expenditures?

passpacs on September 19, 2024

Independent expenditures tend to be a seasonal thing, with that season being the few months leading up to the election.  As such, there is often a lack of order, especially when TV, radio or digital ads can be reactionary to a recent debate or new poll numbers.  Everything is moving mind numbingly fast for everyone including: canvassers, political directors, advertisement vendors, and compliance vendors. This can sometimes lead to late or even missed 24/48-hour reports with the FEC or state agencies. Based on my 25+ years of experience, I want to share some important points, which I believe can lead to better overall Federal and State IE reporting during this stressful time.

 

  • Have a Plan of Attack.  Convene a meeting and invite individuals involved in procuring media spots, those making decisions on candidate support, and the compliance vendor responsible for the reporting. This will make a huge difference when expenditures take off during the two or three months leading up to an election. All involved in the process, should know who to reach out to for information due to quick IE reporting turnaround times.
  • Communication.  Communication on all sides is critical when coordinating between the PAC making the IE, the advertising vendor and compliance reporting vendor.  Be sure to have the names of individuals who will quickly respond with information needed for reporting to the FEC or state agencies. Turnaround times are tight (24/48 hours), and it is advisable to stay in constant contact during this time to ensure all IEs made are included in the report. Unplanned IEs can happen more than one might want to admit, so stay vigilant and in constant contact with vendors. This will help PACs and Super PACs stay consistent with their reporting.

 

When you need help with your IE reporting, talk to the experts at PASS. With over 40 years of experience, our PAC compliance experts can make sure your IE reports are filed accurately and on-time. Let our Compliance Experts help you during this busy election season!

A PASS Compliance Manager’s Top 3 Most Helpful Disbursement and Receipt Reports in epacInfo® Software

passpacs on July 18, 2024

When logging onto PASS’ epacInfo® software, there are many different features that help our clients more effectively and efficiently manage their PACs.  One of the best features clients can utilize are the Disbursement (DM) and Receipt Management (RM) Reports. These reports show the money going in and out of your PAC.  Let’s take a look at my top 3 most helpful reports:

  1. Candidate/Committee History DM007 – This report allows the user to search for how much your PAC has given to a particular committee or candidate (federal and non-federal). PAC Directors I work with are constantly being asking how much has been given to a candidate in the past.  The DM007 will get you that information in three mouse clicks.
  2. Election Cycle DM008– Yearly giving is one thing, but many clients want to know how much the PAC has given in an election cycle. Some candidates are in two-, four-, or six-year election cycles and it’s hard to keep track.  This report will output your PAC’s giving based on each candidate’s election cycle.
  3. Congressional Member Information DM032- Want to know a Federal Candidate’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments? Want to know who to contact within their office to schedule a meeting?  This is one of the best tools to give you a comprehensive look at a member’s footprint in Congress and staff contacts and issue areas.
  4. Payroll Comparison RM032– Say you want to compare payrolls to better understand the money lost or added from one pay period to the next. This Receipt report shows you the specific contributions/contributors that were added or stopped giving.  A great way to see the PAC membership turnover each month and year.
  5. Receipts Download RM044- Want a comprehensive look at all your contributors? This report gives you detailed information that allows for data mining to help with targeted PAC solicitations.
  6. Enrollment Summary RM250– Need specific information on who started giving or who stopped giving to the PAC? This report will show the enrollments that have been added, subtracted or changed so you can estimate current and future receipt totals.

 

epacInfo® has over 200 Receipt Management reports and over 200 Disbursement management reports that allow users to pull the data they need with just two or three mouse-clicks.

 

If you are not already using epacInfo® reports to help you more effectively and efficiently run your PAC, reach out to your PASS Compliance Manager and ask for additional one-on-one epacInfo® training.