Campaign Finance Regulation

ORS 260.275
Definitions for ORS 260.275 to 260.285

Text
Annotations 2

As used in ORS 260.275 (Definitions for ORS 260.275 to 260.285) to 260.285 (Civil penalty for failure to file donor identification list or to include required information):

(1)

“Anonymous donation” means a donation for which the covered organization does not possess the donor name or address that is required under ORS 260.281 (Donor identification lists).

(2)

“Communication in support of or in opposition to a clearly identified candidate or measure” has the meaning given that phrase in ORS 260.005 (Definitions) (10)(c).

(3)

“Covered organization” means a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, political committee, petition committee or a not-for-profit corporation that is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that both accepts donations and makes political communications.

(4)

(a) “Donation” means the gift or transfer of moneys or any other item of value to a covered organization, including any membership fees, dues or assessments.

(b)

“Donation” does not include moneys or any other item of value received by a covered organization in the ordinary course of a trade or business conducted by the covered organization.

(5)

“Donor” means a person that makes a donation to a covered organization.

(6)

“Election cycle” means the period of time starting on the day after the date of a general election and ending on the date of the next general election.

(7)

“Electioneering threshold for a legislative race” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $25,000 for a particular seat of the Legislative Assembly.

(8)

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, “electioneering threshold for a measure” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $100,000 for a particular measure.

(b)

For a city measure in a city with a population of less than 60,000, “electioneering threshold for a measure” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $25,000 for a particular city measure.

(c)

For a county measure in a county with a population of less than 60,000, “electioneering threshold for a measure” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $25,000 for a particular county measure.

(9)

“Electioneering threshold for a political committee” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $100,000 for a particular political committee.

(10)

“Electioneering threshold for a statewide race” means political communications made by a covered organization of less than $100,000 for a particular state office as defined in ORS 249.215 (Filling vacancy in state office at general election).

(11)

(a) “Political communication” means a communication in support of or in opposition to a clearly identified candidate or measure.

(b)

“Political communication” does not include:

(A)

A communication by a covered organization to its current members, stockholders or executive or administrative personnel;

(B)

A communication that constitutes lobbying as defined in ORS 171.725 (Definitions for ORS 171.725 to 171.785); or

(C)

A communication excluded from the definition of “expenditure” under ORS 260.007 (Exclusions from definitions of “contribution” and “expenditure”). [2019 c.637 §2]

Chapter 260

Atty. Gen. Opinions

Application to committee collecting contributions to establish fund to defray elected official's expenses incurred in performing political functions of office, (1980) Vol 40, p 11; preemption by federal law of campaign financing with respect to federal candidates, (1981) Vol 41, p 420

Law Review Citations

50 OLR 299-321 (1971); 55 OLR 253-266 (1976)