ORS 260.044: Statement of independent expenditures; when person considered political committee or principal campaign committee; electronic filing; time frames; rules.

(1) If a person makes independent expenditures in a total amount of more than $250 in a calendar year, the person shall use the electronic filing system adopted under ORS 260.057 to file with the Secretary of State a statement of independent expenditures not later than seven calendar days after the total amount of independent expenditures exceeds $250 in a calendar year. (2) A person who files a statement of independent expenditures under subsection (1) of this section shall use the electronic filing system adopted under ORS 260.057 to file with the secretary additional statements of independent expenditures made by the person, as described in ORS 260.083. (3) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, a person shall file a statement described in subsection (2) of this section not later than 30 calendar days after an independent expenditure is made. (4)(a) A person shall file a statement described in subsection (2) of this section not later than seven calendar days after an independent expenditure is made. This paragraph applies to independent expenditures made: (A) During the period beginning on the 42nd calendar day before the date of any primary election and ending on the date of the primary election; and (B) During the period beginning on the 42nd calendar day before the date of any general election and ending on the date of the general election. (b) If the person makes an independent expenditure prior to the 42nd calendar day before the date of the primary or general election and the person has not filed a statement under subsection (3) of this section by the 43rd calendar day before the date of the primary or general election, the person shall file a statement described in subsection (2) of this section not later than whichever of the following dates occurs first: (A) The date required under subsection (3) of this section; or (B) The 35th calendar day before the date of the primary or general election. (5) For any special election, the secretary by rule may establish a period during which a person must file a statement described in subsection (2) of this section. The period may not extend beyond seven calendar days after an independent expenditure is made. (6) Notwithstanding ORS 260.005 (18), a person who solicits and receives a contribution or contributions is a political committee and shall file a statement of organization under ORS 260.042 and the statements required by ORS 260.057, 260.076 or 260.078. (7) For purposes of this section: (a) An independent expenditure does not include a contribution to a candidate or political committee that is required to report the contribution on a statement filed under ORS 260.057, 260.076 or 260.078 or a certificate filed under ORS 260.112; (b) An independent expenditure does not include a contribution to a candidate who is not required to file a statement of organization under ORS 260.043; and (c) A person is not a political committee under subsection (6) of this section if all contributions received by the person are: (A) Designated to an identified candidate or political committee; (B) Delivered by the person to the designated candidate or political committee not later than seven business days after the contribution is received; and (C) Required to be reported as contributions by a candidate or political committee on a statement filed under ORS 260.057, 260.076 or 260.078 or a certificate filed under ORS 260.112. [Formerly 260.158; 1981 c.234 §8; 1981 c.303 §1; 1985 c.808 §54; 1987 c.267 §57; 1987 c.727 §2; 1993 c.493 §§56,57; 1995 c.712 §73; 1999 c.999 §8; 2001 c.82 §3; 2003 c.542 §10; 2005 c.797 §7; 2005 c.809 §§26,28a; 2009 c.818 §6; 2011 c.652 §6; 2013 c.756 §1; 2013 c.758 §3; 2018 c.70 §2; 2019 c.637 §8]