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

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BILLING CODE 6715-01-P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION [NOTICE 2020-01] 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 limits apply beginning on January 1, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information Division, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463;

(202)694-1100 or

(800)424-9530. 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 annually 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 2020. Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2020 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. 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 (5.18508), 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 2020 general elections for House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is $51,900. 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 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 greater of: The base figure ($20,000) multiplied by the difference in the price index, 5.18508 (which totals $103,700); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the state, multiplied by 5.18508. *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 2020 general election expenditure limitation for Senate elections. The expenditure limitation for 2020 House elections in states with only one congressional district 2 is $103,700. 2 Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, 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). Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits—2020 Elections 3 State Voting Age Population

(VAP)VAP × .02 × the price index (5.18508) Senate expenditure limit (the greater of the amount in column 3 or $103,700) Alabama 3,814,879 $395,600 $395,600 Alaska 551,562 57,200 103,700 Arizona 5,638,481 584,700 584,700 Arkansas 2,317,649 240,300 240,300 California 30,617,582 3,175,100 3,175,100 Colorado 4,499,217 466,600 466,600 Connecticut 2,837,847 294,300 294,300 Delaware 770,192 79,900 103,700 Florida 17,247,808 1,788,600 1,788,600 Georgia 8,113,542 841,400 841,400 Hawaii 1,116,004 115,700 115,700 Idaho 1,338,864 138,800 138,800 Illinois 9,853,946 1,021,900 1,021,900 Indiana 5,164,245 535,500 535,500 Iowa 2,428,229 251,800 251,800 Kansas 2,213,064 229,500 229,500 Kentucky 3,464,802 359,300 359,300 Louisiana 3,561,164 369,300 369,300 Maine 1,095,370 113,600 113,600 Maryland 4,710,993 488,500 488,500 Massachusetts 5,539,703 574,500 574,500 Michigan 7,842,924 813,300 813,300 Minnesota 4,336,475 449,700 449,700 Mississippi 2,277,566 236,200 236,200 Missouri 4,766,843 494,300 494,300 Montana 840,190 87,100 103,700 Nebraska 1,458,334 151,200 151,200 Nevada 2,387,517 247,600 247,600 New Hampshire 1,104,458 114,500 114,500 New Jersey 6,943,612 720,100 720,100 New Mexico 1,620,991 168,100 168,100 New York 15,425,262 1,599,600 1,599,600 North Carolina 8,187,369 849,000 849,000 North Dakota 581,891 60,300 103,700 Ohio 9,111,081 944,800 944,800 Oklahoma 3,004,733 311,600 311,600 Oregon 3,351,175 347,500 347,500 Pennsylvania 10,167,376 1,054,400 1,054,400 Rhode Island 854,866 88,700 103,700 South Carolina 4,037,531 418,700 418,700 South Dakota 667,558 69,200 103,700 Tennessee 5,319,123 551,600 551,600 Texas 21,596,071 2,239,500 2,239,500 Utah 2,274,774 235,900 235,900 Vermont 509,984 52,900 103,700 Virginia 6,674,671 692,200 692,200 Washington 5,951,832 617,200 617,200 West Virginia 1,432,580 148,600 148,600 Wisconsin 4,555,837 472,400 472,400 Wyoming 445,025 46,100 103,700 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 (255,200,373), multiplied by the difference in the price index, 5.18508. *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 2020 Presidential nominees is $26,464,700. Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate Candidates for the 2019-2020 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 2019-2020 election cycle: Statutory provision Statutory amount 2019-2020 limit 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) $2,000 $2,800 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) 25,000 35,500 52 U.S.C. 30116(h) 35,000 49,600 Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2020 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 1.26815, 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 × 1.26815), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2020 is $19,000. Dated: February 13, 2020. On behalf of the Commission, Caroline C. Hunter, Chair, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2020-03262 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]

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