The Principal Campaign Committee

• As a candidate, you may appoint yourself as the sole member of your Principal Campaign Committee (PCC).
• If you are choosing Principal Campaign Committee members other than yourself, you must choose at least two members (Chairperson and Treasurer).
• The Principal Campaign Committee must maintain a checking account.
  • All campaign contributions must be deposited into the checking account.
  • All campaign expenditures must be drawn from the checking account (exception: a petty cash fund may be used for payment to a single person for a single transaction less than $100).

Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) Filing Thresholds

• Statewide Office                                  $1,000
• State Senate                                           $1,000
• State House                                            $1,000
• Circuit or District Office                 $1,000
• County or Municipal Office           $1,000

Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) Filing Requirements

The FCPA requires periodic filings from PCCs (Principal Campaign Committees - candidates), PACs (Political Action Committees), and elected officials.

FCPA financial disclosure filings are required on an annual, monthly, weekly, and (in some cases) daily basis:

• Monthly Reports - For the 12 months prior to the date of an election,  monthly reports must be filed by a PCC or PAC that makes a contribution or expenditure "with a view toward influencing an election's results".  Reports covering each month are due on the second business day of the subsequent month.
• Weekly Reports - For the four weeks prior to an election, weekly reports covering each week must be filed on Monday of the following week.  In addition, the 2013 revisions make clear that a candidate or PAC that is required to file a weekly report during a certain period is not also required to file a monthly report in the month in which the election is held. This will eliminate duplicative filing.
• Daily Reports - For the eight days preceding a legislative, state school board, or statewide election, reports must be filed by a PCC or PAC if it receives or spends an aggregate of $5,000 or more in a single day.  Once a PCC or PAC files a daily report it must continue filing daily reports through the remainder of the cycle.  Daily reports must include all activity occurring on the day of the report.  In addition, 2012 revisions make clear that a candidate or PAC that is required to file a daily report for a particular day is not also required to file a weekly report for the week preceding the election. The 2013 revisions modified the deadline for the final daily report that is due the day before an election so that it will now be due by 12:01 p.m. (just after noon) on the Monday preceding an election (instead of after midnight on that Monday at 12:01 a.m.).
• Annual Reports - The 2013 revisions add to the 2012 revisions to make clear that a PCC or PAC that is required to file a monthly report during a certain period is not also required to file an annual report in the year in which the election is held.  This will eliminate a duplicative filing where an annual report is filed within days of a monthly report.  Without this revision, candidates would not have been required to file annual reports following an election. 
• Special Reports - Under the 2011 revisions, contributions of $20,000 or more must be reported within two business days of receiving the contribution.
• Local Candidates Electronic Filing - Local candidates (except for municipal candidates) who normally file with the Judge of Probate will now have the option of filing electronically with the Secretary of State.  If the local candidate wants to do this, they must also file notice with the Judge of Probate that they will be filing with the Secretary of State and file reports in that manner throughout the election. For more information on FCPA guidelines click here.

FCPA requires disclosure of any contribution or expenditure that exceeds $100.

Multiple contributions or expenditures from/to a single entity whose aggregate exceeds $100 must be disclosed.

Acceptable Contributions and Expenditures

A candidate, public official, or Principal Campaign Committee may only accept, solicit or receive contributions:

• To influence the outcome of an election
• For a period of 12 months prior to an election in which the person intends to be a candidate
• Statewide offices: candidates may not accept contributions while the State Legislature is in session unless within 120 days of an election
• The 12-month window does not apply to personal loans from the candidate to his/her campaign.