Campaign Finance - Political Organizations - Disclosures on Solicitations (Stop Scam PACs Act)

This Maryland bill, known as the Stop Scam PACs Act, requires certain political organizations to include clear disclaimers on donation requests to inform donors about the nature of their contributions. The law mandates that solicitations using a candidate's name or image must state that the candidate did not authorize the request, while charity-themed solicitations must clarify that donations are not necessarily used for charitable purposes and are not tax-deductible. The State Administrator of Elections is authorized to investigate violations and may issue subpoenas to gather evidence, with the State Board empowered to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 or temporarily ban violators from soliciting funds. This legislation applies specifically to independent political action committees and other entities required to file campaign finance reports, excluding political parties and candidate campaign committees. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.