COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES
Mail: 135 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333
Office: 45 Memorial Circle, Augusta, Maine
Website: www.maine.gov/ethics
E-mail: ethics @maine.gov
Phone: 207-287-4179
Fax: 207-287-6775

Prohibited Contributions during the Legislative Session
Who is prohibited from making campaign contributions during a legislative session?
Lobbyists, lobbyist associates, their clients, and political action committees that are affiliated
with a client of a lobbyist are prohibited from making contributions to certain elected officials and
their staff members and agents. (A lobbyist associate is a colleague or employee of a lobbyist
who also lobbies on behalf of a client.)
What officials are covered by the ban?
The Governor, Legislators, the constitutional officers, their agents, and members of their staffs
(“covered officials”) are the only officials covered by the ban.
Does the ban apply to leadership PACs, legislative caucus PACs, and other political
committees affiliated with a covered official?
Any PAC, ballot question committee, or political party committee of which a covered official is a
treasurer, officer, or primary fund-raiser or decision maker is prohibited from soliciting or
accepting a contribution from lobbyists, lobbyist associates, clients of lobbyists, or a PAC
affiliated with a client of a lobbyist during a legislative session.
Lobbyists, lobbyist associates, and their clients and affiliated PACs may not give, offer, or
promise a contribution during a legislative session to a PAC, ballot question committee, or
political party committee of which a covered official is a treasurer, officer, or primary fund-raiser
or decision maker.
[Note: This restriction does not apply to contributions solicited or accepted by a federal
campaign committee organized by a covered official running for federal office.]
Does the prohibition apply to all gubernatorial and legislative candidates?
No, the prohibition only applies to contributions to a sitting Governor, Legislator, constitutional
officer, and staff members and agents of these officials, whether they are a candidate or not.
Contributions to any other candidates for statewide or constitutional offices are not subject to
the prohibition.
Can other donors make contributions during a legislative session?
Yes. Covered officials may accept contributions from other sources that are not lobbyists and
do not employ lobbyists in Maine. Legislative caucus PACs, leadership PACs, and other
political committees in which the covered official holds an office or position may also accept
contributions during the legislative session from these other sources.

 When does the ban apply?
The ban is in effect during any period when the Legislature is convened until the final
adjournment. This includes the first and second regular sessions and any special session.
What if a covered official solicits a contribution before the session, but the contribution
is not received until after the session begins? Is this allowed?
No. Acceptance means the receipt or deposit of a contribution. If a covered official receives a
contribution from a prohibited source after the Legislature convenes, the official must return the
contribution. The donor may make another contribution after the Legislature has finally
adjourned.
Does the prohibition apply to seed money contributions or qualifying contributions given
to covered officials intending to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act?
During the session, lobbyists and lobbyist associates are not permitted to make seed money
contributions ($100 contributions to candidates intending to participate in the Maine Clean
Election Act), but they may make qualifying contributions (donations to the Maine Clean Election
Fund) in support of a covered official seeking to qualify for Maine Clean Election Act funds.
Is a covered official allowed to go to fundraising events for a political party during the
session?
Yes. A covered official may attend a fundraising event held by a party committee, so long as
the official was not involved in soliciting attendance at the event and all proceeds of the event
are paid directly to the party organization hosting the event or to a charitable organization.
Who is responsible for checking if a contribution is prohibited?
It is the covered official’s responsibility to screen contributions to make sure they are not from
prohibited sources. The current lists of lobbyists, lobbyist associates, and their clients can be
found on the Commission’s public disclosure website (www.mainecampaignfinance.com). It is
also the responsibility of lobbyists, lobbyist associates, and their clients to avoid making
contributions during the session to covered officials and political committees in which they hold
an office or position.
Are there any exceptions to the prohibition?
Yes. The following contributions are not covered by the prohibition:
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•
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contributions accepted by a covered official for a campaign for federal office;
contributions relating to a special election to fill a vacancy that are made from the time of
the announcement of the election until the election occurs; and
contributions for bona fide social events hosted for nonpartisan, charitable purposes.

For more information, please contact the Commission staff at 287-4179

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Rev. 11/15/2016