89 FR 19 pgs. 5534-5536 - Price Index Adjustments for Expenditure Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold

Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 19Pages: 5534 - 5536
Docket number: [NOTICE 2024–03]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024–01623 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Federal Election Commission
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 5534, 5535, 5536

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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

[NOTICE 2024-03]

Price Index Adjustments for Expenditure Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold

AGENCY:

Federal Election Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of adjustments to expenditure limitations and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.

SUMMARY:

As mandated by provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act ("the Act"), the Federal Election Commission ("the Commission") is adjusting certain expenditure limitations and the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold set forth in the Act, to index the amounts for inflation. Additional details appear in the supplemental information that follows.

DATES:

The new limitations apply beginning on January 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information Division, (202) 694-1100 or (800) 424-9530, info@fec.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-45, coordinated party expenditure limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(2)-(3)) and the disclosure threshold for contributions bundled by lobbyists (52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A)) are adjusted periodically to reflect changes in the consumer price index. See 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), (b)(3), 110.17(a), (f). The Commission is publishing this notice to announce the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold for 2024.

Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2024

Under 52 U.S.C. 30116(c), the Commission must adjust the expenditure limitations established by 52 U.S.C. 30116(d) (the limits on expenditures by national party committees, state party committees, or their subordinate committees in connection with the general election campaign of candidates for Federal office) annually to account for inflation. This expenditure limitation is increased by the percent difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar year 1974). 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B)(i).

1. Expenditure Limitation for House of Representatives in States With More Than One Congressional District

Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure limitation for each general election held to fill a seat in the House of Representatives in states with more than one congressional district. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(B). This limitation also applies to the District of Columbia and territories that elect individuals to the office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner. 1 Id. The formula used to calculate the expenditure limitation in such states and territories multiplies the base figure of $10,000 by the difference in the price index (6.17976), rounding to the nearest $100. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(B); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Based upon this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2024 general elections for House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is $61,800.

Footnotes:

1 ?Currently, these are Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. See http://www.house.gov/representatives.

2. Expenditure Limitation for Senate and for House of Representatives in States With Only One Congressional District


[top] Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure limitation for a general election held to fill a seat in the Senate or in the House of Representatives in states with only one congressional district. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A). The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also the voting age population ("VAP") of the state. Id. The VAP figures used to calculate the expenditure limitations were certified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The VAP of each state is also published annually in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. The general election expenditure limitation is the page 5535 greater of: The base figure ($20,000) multiplied by the difference in the price index, 6.17976 (which totals $123,600); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by 6.17976. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(3), 110.17(c). The chart below provides the state-by-state breakdown of the 2024 general election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The expenditure limitation for 2024 House elections in states with only one congressional district? 2 is $123,600.

Footnotes:

2 ?Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. See http://www.house.gov/representatives/.

3 ?This expenditure limit does not apply to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands because those jurisdictions do not elect Senators. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(2)(i).

State Voting age population (VAP) VAP × .02 × the price index (6.17976) Senate expenditure limit (the greater of the amount in column 3 or $123,600)
Alabama 3,977,628 $491,600 $491,600
Alaska 557,899 69,000 123,600
Arizona 5,848,310 722,800 722,800
Arkansas 2,362,124 291,900 291,900
California 30,519,524 3,772,100 3,772,100
Colorado 4,662,926 576,300 576,300
Connecticut 2,894,190 357,700 357,700
Delaware 819,952 101,300 123,600
Florida 18,229,883 2,253,100 2,253,100
Georgia 8,490,546 1,049,400 1,049,400
Hawaii 1,141,525 141,100 141,100
Idaho 1,497,384 185,100 185,100
Illinois 9,844,167 1,216,700 1,216,700
Indiana 5,274,945 652,000 652,000
Iowa 2,476,882 306,100 306,100
Kansas 2,246,209 277,600 277,600
Kentucky 3,509,259 433,700 433,700
Louisiana 3,506,600 433,400 433,400
Maine 1,146,670 141,700 141,700
Maryland 4,818,337 595,500 595,500
Massachusetts 5,659,598 699,500 699,500
Michigan 7,925,350 979,500 979,500
Minnesota 4,436,981 548,400 548,400
Mississippi 2,259,864 279,300 279,300
Missouri 4,821,686 595,900 595,900
Montana 897,161 110,900 123,600
Nebraska 1,497,381 185,100 185,100
Nevada 2,508,220 310,000 310,000
New Hampshire 1,150,004 142,100 142,100
New Jersey 7,280,551 899,800 899,800
New Mexico 1,663,024 205,500 205,500
New York 15,611,308 1,929,500 1,929,500
North Carolina 8,498,868 1,050,400 1,050,400
North Dakota 599,192 74,100 123,600
Ohio 9,207,681 1,138,000 1,138,000
Oklahoma 3,087,217 381,600 381,600
Oregon 3,401,528 420,400 420,400
Pennsylvania 10,332,678 1,277,100 1,277,100
Rhode Island 892,124 110,300 123,600
South Carolina 4,229,354 522,700 522,700
South Dakota 697,420 86,200 123,600
Tennessee 5,555,761 686,700 686,700
Texas 22,942,176 2,835,500 2,835,500
Utah 2,484,582 307,100 307,100
Vermont 532,828 65,900 123,600
Virginia 6,834,154 844,700 844,700
Washington 6,164,810 761,900 761,900
West Virginia 1,417,859 175,200 175,200
Wisconsin 4,661,826 576,200 576,200
Wyoming 454,508 56,200 123,600


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3. Expenditure Limitation for President

The national party committees have an expenditure limitation for their general election nominee for President. 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(2). The formula used to calculate the Presidential expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also the total VAP of the United States. Id. The VAP figure used to calculate the expenditure limitation was certified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The VAP of the United States is also published annually in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. The formula used to calculate this expenditure limitation is $0.02 multiplied by the total VAP of the United States (262,083,034), multiplied by the difference in the price index, 6.17976. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(2); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), 110.17. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), 110.17(c). Based upon this formula, the expenditure limitation for 2024 Presidential nominees is $32,392,200.

Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2023-2024 Election Cycle

For the convenience of the readers, the Commission is also republishing the contribution limitations for individuals, non-multicandidate committees and for certain political party committees giving to U.S. Senate candidates and national party committees for the 2023-2024 election cycle:

Statutory provision Statutory amount 2023-2024 limit
52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) $2,000 $3,300
52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) 25,000 41,300
52 U.S.C. 30116(h) 35,000 57,800

Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2024

The Act requires certain political committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant political action committees once the contributions exceed a specified threshold amount. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(1), (i)(3)(A). The Commission must adjust this threshold amount annually to account for inflation. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B). The disclosure threshold is increased by multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure threshold by 1.51143, the difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar year 2006). See 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3), 30116(c)(1)(B); 11 CFR 104.22(g). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 104.22(g)(4). Based upon this formula ($15,000 × 1.51143), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2024 is $22,700.

On behalf of the Commission.

Dated: January 23, 2024.

Sean J. Cooksey,

Chairman, Federal Election Commission.

[FR Doc. 2024-01623 Filed 1-26-24; 8:45 am]

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