Subdivision 1. When required for contributions and approved expenditures. An association other than a political committee or party unit may not contribute more than $750 in aggregate in any calendar year to candidates, local candidates, political committees, or party units or make approved expenditures of more than $750 in aggregate in any calendar year unless the contribution or expenditure is made through a political fund.
Subd. 1a. When required for independent expenditures or ballot questions. An association other than a political committee that makes only independent expenditures or expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question must do so through an independent expenditure or ballot question political fund if the independent expenditures aggregate more than $1,500 in a calendar year or if the expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question aggregate more than $5,000 in a calendar year, or by contributing to an existing independent expenditure or ballot question political committee or fund.
Subd. 1b. Penalty for noncompliant independent expenditure. An association that makes an independent expenditure without complying with subdivision 1a is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the independent expenditure, but not to exceed $25,000, except when the violation was intentional.
Subd. 2. Commingling prohibited. The contents of an association's political fund may not be commingled with other funds or with the personal funds of an officer or member of the association or the fund. It is not commingling for an association that uses only its own general treasury money to make expenditures and disbursements permitted under section 10A.121, subdivision 1, directly from the depository used for its general treasury money. An association that accepts more than $1,500 in aggregate in contributions to influence the nomination or election of candidates or local candidates or more than $5,000 in contributions to promote or defeat a ballot question must establish a separate depository for those contributions.
Subd. 3. Treasurer. An association that has a political fund must elect or appoint a treasurer of the political fund.
Subd. 4. Treasurer vacancy. A political fund may not accept a contribution or make an expenditure or contribution from the political fund while the office of treasurer of the political fund is vacant.
Subd. 5. Dues or membership fees. An association may, if not prohibited by other law, deposit in its political fund money derived from dues or membership fees. Under section 10A.20, the treasurer of the fund must disclose the name of any member whose dues, membership fees, and contributions deposited in the political fund together exceed $200 in a year.
Subd. 6. Penalty. A person who knowingly violates this section is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.
1974 c 470 s 12; 1978 c 463 s 40-42; 1980 c 587 art 2 s 8; 1980 c 607 art 17 s 9; 1987 c 214 s 2; 1999 c 220 s 15,50; 2002 c 363 s 12; 2010 c 397 s 4,5; 2013 c 138 art 1 s 20-22; 2014 c 309 s 17; 2021 c 31 art 4 s 19,20
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 10 - 12B — Government Miscellany
Chapter 10A — Campaign Finance And Public Disclosure
Section 10A.02 — Campaign Finance And Public Disclosure Board.
Section 10A.022 — Violations And Enforcement.
Section 10A.025 — Filing Requirements.
Section 10A.027 — Information On Website.
Section 10A.03 — Lobbyist Registration.
Section 10A.04 — Lobbyist Reports.
Section 10A.05 — Lobbyist Report.
Section 10A.06 — Contingent Fees Prohibited.
Section 10A.07 — Conflicts Of Interest.
Section 10A.071 — Certain Gifts By Lobbyists And Principals Prohibited.
Section 10A.08 — Representation Disclosure.
Section 10A.09 — Statements Of Economic Interest.
Section 10A.105 — Principal Campaign Committee.
Section 10A.11 — Organization Of Committees And Party Units.
Section 10A.12 — Political Funds.
Section 10A.121 — Independent Expenditure And Ballot Question Political Committees And Funds.
Section 10A.13 — Accounts That Must Be Kept.
Section 10A.14 — Registration.
Section 10A.15 — Contributions.
Section 10A.155 — Reimbursement Of Automobile Use.
Section 10A.16 — Earmarking Contributions Prohibited.
Section 10A.17 — Expenditures.
Section 10A.173 — Noncampaign Disbursements.
Section 10A.175 — Coordinated And Noncoordinated Expenditures; Definitions.
Section 10A.176 — Coordinated Expenditures.
Section 10A.177 — Noncoordinated Expenditures.
Section 10A.179 — Expenditures And Noncampaign Disbursements; General Provisions.
Section 10A.18 — Time For Rendering Bills, Charges, Or Claims; Penalty.
Section 10A.20 — Campaign Reports.
Section 10A.241 — Transfer Of Debts.
Section 10A.243 — Termination Of Registration.
Section 10A.244 — Voluntary Inactive Status; Political Funds.
Section 10A.245 — Administrative Termination Of Inactive Committees And Funds.
Section 10A.246 — Unpaid Debt Upon Termination.
Section 10A.25 — Spending Limits.
Section 10A.255 — Adjustment By Consumer Price Index.
Section 10A.257 — Carryforward.
Section 10A.27 — Contribution Limits.
Section 10A.271 — Sale Of Goods And Services For Fundraising Purposes.
Section 10A.273 — Contributions And Solicitations During Legislative Session.
Section 10A.275 — Multicandidate Political Party Expenditures.
Section 10A.28 — Penalty For Exceeding Limits.
Section 10A.29 — Circumvention Prohibited.
Section 10A.30 — State Elections Campaign Account.
Section 10A.31 — Designation Of Income Tax Payments.
Section 10A.315 — Special Election Subsidy.
Section 10A.321 — Estimates Of Minimum Amounts To Be Received.
Section 10A.322 — Spending Limit Agreements.
Section 10A.323 — Affidavit Of Contributions.
Section 10A.324 — Return Of Public Subsidy.
Section 10A.35 — Commercial Use Of Information Prohibited.
Section 10A.36 — Reprisals Prohibited; Penalty.