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--- version:HA 1 to HB 344
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,26 +1,43 @@
-                SPONSOR:
-
-                Rep. Morrison
-
-        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
-
-        153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
-
-        HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
-
-        TO
-
-        HOUSE BILL NO. 344
-
-        AMEND House Bill No. 344 after line 87 and before line 88 by inserting the following and redesignating accordingly:
-
-        “Section 6. Amend Subchapter IV, Chapter 80, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
-
-        § 8031A. Negative balance prohibited.
-
-        No report submitted under § 8030 or § 8031 of this title may contain a negative ending balance. “Ending balance” means the ending balance from the last reporting period and total receipts from the current reporting period minus total expenditures from the current reporting period. A report containing a negative balance is incomplete and may be considered tardy under § 8044 of this title.
-        ”.
-
-        SYNOPSIS
-
-        This Amendment prohibits the submission of a campaign finance report with a negative ending balance.
+5961530046 Page 1 of 1 Date: May 14, 2026
+153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
+FISCAL NOTE
+*REVISED*
+BILL: HOUSE BILL NO. 344
+SPONSOR: Representative Morrison
+DESCRIPTION: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 15 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO
+CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
+Assumptions:
+1. This Act becomes effective upon signature by the Governor. Upon signature, this Act takes effect
+on July 1, 2027.
+2. This Act clarifies and streamlines the disclosure and enforcement provisions of Delaware’s
+Campaign Finance laws, including the following:
+a. Requires a political candidate to report the name and contact information of the treasurer
+to the State Elections Commissioner (Commissioner) upon formation of the candidate
+committee.
+b. Requires a political committee to submit written documentation of all loans provided to the
+committee.
+c. Requires political committees to retain records for 5 years.
+d. Requires the Commissioner to provide the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust with a
+monthly list of alleged violations of campaign finance laws and further clarifies that the
+Division investigate and prosecute violations of campaign finance laws.
+e. Requires the Commissioner to provide biennial training on campaign finance laws to
+candidates and the candidate committee’s treasurer.
+3. The Department of Elections anticipates that it would require significant programmatic and system
+upgrades to its Civix Campaign Finance Reporting System for compliance with the provisions of this
+Act.
+a. The Department estimates a one-time cost of $1,178,800 for system upgrade and
+implementation, with an additional customization to comply with the provisions of this Act
+estimated at $184,700.
+b. The Department estimates recurring annual operating costs of $18,500 for annual licensing
+and maintenance fees beginning in Fiscal Year 2028.
+4. Lastly, it is assumed that if other pending legislation impacting the Department of Elections is
+passed by the General Assembly and enacted into law, cost efficiencies could be realized. Fiscal
+resources requiring significant information technology infrastructure included in this fiscal
+projection can be utilized for this Act and other legislation of the 153rd General Assembly.
+Cost:
+One-Time Ongoing
+Fiscal Year 2027: $1,363,500 $18,500
+Fiscal Year 2028: $18,500
+Fiscal Year 2029: $18,500
+Prepared by Julie Fedele
+Office of the Controller General