MACo Supports Additional Flexibility for Local Public Campaign Financing

On February 7, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 0213 – Election Law – Local Public Campaign Financing – Boards of Education.

The bill expands the offices for which a county may establish a system of public campaign financing. Currently, counties may authorize public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive and legislative branches of county government.

This bill enables county governments to offer public campaign financing to candidates seeking to serve as elected members of the county board of education, except for a student member of a county board of education.

From the MACo Testimony:

This legislation properly leaves the decision for establishing a public campaign financing system in the hands of the local governments, who are best situated to determine whether such a policy is in their best interest.

HB 213 ensures local governments have flexibility in enacting policies designed to serve and react to community needs. Accordingly, MACo urges the Committee to issue a FAVORABLE report for HB 213