Election Law - Campaign Finance - Exploratory Committees

HB 111 defines and regulates "exploratory committees" - entities formed by potential candidates to test their viability for public office before officially filing as a candidate. The bill specifies that such committees may only spend funds on permitted activities like surveys, direct mail, staff, websites, and equipment purchases, while prohibiting advance payments for future campaign expenses. If an official candidate committee forms from an exploratory committee, any equipment purchases must be at fair market value, and remaining funds must be returned within 120 days. This bill directly affects potential candidates and their committees by establishing clear campaign finance rules for this pre-candidacy phase.