Advisory Opinions

Advisory Opinion 434	A company that provides internet-based contribution processing and delivery services for a fee paid by visitors who use the company's website to make contributions to candidates is not, through that service activity, making a contribution to the recipient candidates.
Advisory Opinion 433	A terminating principal campaign committee may donate committee funds to a county to help defray the cost of a special election, or may donate funds to the state of Minnesota.
Advisory Opinion 432	Withdrawn by Requester
Advisory Opinion 431	Potential Conflict of Interest
Advisory Opinion 430	Withdrawn by Requester
Advisory Opinion 429	Expenses that must be reported on lobbyist disbursement reports and annual reports of lobbyist principals.
Advisory Opinion 428	An association other than a principal campaign committee, party unit, or political committee, is not required to register and provide disclosure of communications naming candidates unless those communications use words of express advocacy.
Advisory Opinion 427	An association may permit donors to its political fund to indicate their preferences for candidates that the association should support. If donor preferences are not a direction or the equivalent of a direction to the association as to the candidates to whom it should donate, earmarking does not occur.
Advisory Opinion 426	Disclosure related to ballot question committees
Advisory Opinion 425	Creation and operation of a conduit fund by a union
Advisory Opinion 424	Cost of a reception given in honor of a candidate’s retirement from public office may be reported as noncampaign disbursements
Advisory Opinion 423	Donations In-Kind to Ballot Question Committees
Advisory Opinion 422	Disclosure Related to Ballot Question Committees
Advisory Opinion 421	Disclosure Related to Ballot Question Committees
Advisory Opinion 420	Disclosure Related to Ballot Question Committees
Advisory Opinion 419	Disclosure Related to Ballot Question Committees
Advisory Opinion 418	Use of Information from Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board Records
Advisory Opinion 417	Withdrawn by Requestor
Advisory Opinion 416	Withdrawn by Requestor
Advisory Opinion 415	A contribution to a fund established to support a candidate’s participation in a recount of ballots affecting that candidate’s election is a noncampaign disbursement under Minnesota Statutes Section 10A.01, subd. 26(22).
Advisory Opinion 414	A presentation item that is in the form of a decorative axe is a plaque with a resale value of five dollars or less and, thus, is exempt from the gift prohibition of Minnesota Statutes Section 10A.071.
Advisory Opinion 413	Lobbyists must register on behalf of each association whose interests it promotes, regardless of the mechanism used to retain or direct the efforts of the lobbyists.
Advisory Opinion 412	Affect of a candidate's support of a political committee or fund on the independence of independent expenditures made by that committee or fund.
Advisory Opinion 411	Use of the noncampaign disbursement category for expenses of serving in office is not available to pay for home health care of a close relative while a public official is traveling.
Advisory Opinion 410	Communications that may defeat the independence of an expenditure.
Advisory Opinion 409	Activities that may require registration as a lobbyist, reporting of lobbyist expenditures.
Advisory Opinion 408	Use of a motor vehicle as an advertising device for a principal campaign committee.
Advisory Opinion 407	Gift of Minnesota Twins tickets
Advisory Opinion 406	Creation and Operation of Conduit Funds
Advisory Opinion 405	Definition of Political Committee
Advisory Opinion 404	Costs of candidate recruitment and education.
Advisory Opinion 403	Treatment of telephone survey costs as campaign expenditures or noncampaign disbursements.
Advisory Opinion 402	Gifts by a political subdivision’s employee-lobbyist to an official of the same political subdivision.
Advisory Opinion 401	This advisory opinion is not available to the public.
Advisory Opinion 400	Independence of Expenditures When a Consultant Performs Services for Both Candidates and Political Committees, Political Funds and Party Units that Wish to Make Independent Expenditures on Behalf of the Same Candidates.
Advisory Opinion 399	Contribution to Political Party Unit
Advisory Opinion 398	Actions to influence the nomination or election of candidates; requirement to establish a political fund.
Advisory Opinion 397	Eligibility for spending increase for candidate running for office for the first time
Advisory Opinion 396	Gift to officials of a commercially available digital video disk
Advisory Opinion 395	Ballot Question Activities
Advisory Opinion 394	Payment of Public Official’s Expenses of Participation in Television or Radio Messages
Advisory Opinion 393	Application of Gift Prohibition to Random Drawings
Advisory Opinion 392	Reporting of Lobbying Disbursements
Advisory Opinion 391	Transition Costs of a Constitutional Office
Advisory Opinion 390	Use of Principal Campaign Committee Funds
Advisory Opinion 389	Potential Conflict of Interest for a Public Official
Advisory Opinion 388	Cost of Mailing Informational Magnet and Note to Constituents
Advisory Opinion 387	Cost of Credit Card Transactions
Advisory Opinion 386	Candidate Running for Two Offices in the Same Election Year.
Advisory Opinion 385	Candidate participation in fundraising event; use of national political committee funds by political committee registered in Minnesota.
Advisory Opinion 384	First Time Candidate
Advisory Opinion 383	State Political Party Convention Expenses
Advisory Opinion 382	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 381	A Web Site Provided as a Donation In Kind to Candidates
Advisory Opinion 380	Gift Prohibition; Registration Fees for an Educational Program
Advisory Opinion 379	Compensation to a Candidate for Running for Office
Advisory Opinion 378	Constituent Services; Non Campaign Disbursement
Advisory Opinion 377	Multicandidate Political Party Expenditures
Advisory Opinion 376	Allocation of a Media Campaign Used for Multiple Purposes
Advisory Opinion 375	Segregated Accounts; Registration and Reporting
Advisory Opinion 374	First Time Candidate Spending Limit; Value of Automobile Use
Advisory Opinion 373	Timing of Notification Required by Minnesota Statutes 10A.25
Advisory Opinion 372	Gift Prohibition; Services to Assist in Performance of Official Duties.
Advisory Opinion 371	Unregistered Association Reporting Obligations; Contributions from Seperate Segregated Funds as Corporate Contributions
Advisory Opinion 370	Contributions to a Political Party Unit from a Principal Campaign Committee and Multicandidate Political Party Expenditures
Advisory Opinion 369	Collection of Contributions to Candidates Over the Internet
Advisory Opinion 368	Potential Conflict of Interest for a Member of the Legislature
Advisory Opinion 367	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 366	Reimbursement of Use of an Automobile
Advisory Opinion 365	In-Kind Contribution of a Local Access Cable TV Program
Advisory Opinion 364	Gift Prohibition; Education Sessions; Food and Beverages
Advisory Opinion 363	Solicitation of Funds During a Regular Legislative Session
Advisory Opinion 362	Campaign Expenditures and NonCampaign Disbursements
Advisory Opinion 361	Membership in a Group as an Exception to the Gift Prohibition
Advisory Opinion 360	Use of Party Unit Web Site to Collect Contributions for Specific Candidates
Advisory Opinion 359	Registration and Reporting Requirements for Political Committees and Political Funds
Advisory Opinion 358	Determination and Reporting of Lobbying Disbursements
Advisory Opinion 357	Compensation for Staff Services, In-Kind Donation to Pay for Living Expenses of Staff
Advisory Opinion 356	Fundraising and Expenditures by a Political Party Unit
Advisory Opinion 355	Potential Conflict of Interest for Legislature
Advisory Opinion 354	Noncampaign Disbursements Cost of Providing Food
Advisory Opinion 353	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 352	Use of party account check off funds by the state committee of a political party
Advisory Opinion 351	Reporting the use of a personal airplane for campaign purposes
Advisory Opinion 350	Lobbying on a contingency fee basis
Advisory Opinion 349	Communications for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the State of Minnesota.
Advisory Opinion 348	Acceptance of Gifts by a Local Official in a Metropolitan Governmental Unit
Advisory Opinion 347	Reporting the Cost of Producing and Disseminating Information Related to Legislative Action as a Lobbying Disbursement.
Advisory Opinion 346	Noncampaign Disbursements for Expenses of a Transition Office.
Advisory Opinion 345	Potential Conflict of Interest From an Associated Business.
Advisory Opinion 344	Judicial districts may not organize and register as a political party unit under Chapter 10A
Advisory Opinion 343	Revoked by the Board June 30, 2011
Advisory Opinion 342	Mailings to members of an organization for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate is a campaign expenditure
Advisory Opinion 341	Providing the services of an employee to a candidate is an in-kind contribution from the employer.
Advisory Opinion 340	Revoked by Board, August 15, 2006
Advisory Opinion 339	Use of e-mail and websites in political campaigns.
Advisory Opinion 338	Definition of the term agent in relation to independent expenditures.
Advisory Opinion 337	Gift of coffee mug to officials.
Advisory Opinion 336	Use of specific words or phrases in campaign expenditures, independent expenditures, or lobbying communications and disclosure of funds used for lobbying purposes.
Advisory Opinion 335	Gifts to groups that may contain public officials.
Advisory Opinion 334	Definition of political committees and funds, reporting requirements of lobbyists.
Advisory Opinion 333	Definition of first time candidate.
Advisory Opinion 332	Disclosure of fees related to lobbying.
Advisory Opinion 331	Reporting of contributions to a political party.
Advisory Opinion 330	A public officials presence at a party paid for by a lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 329	Use of campaign funds for travel expenses related to a legislative special session.
Advisory Opinion 328	Use of campaign funds for legal expenses.
Advisory Opinion 327	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 326	Definition of a Lobbyist.
Advisory Opinion 325	Potential conflict of interest for a legislator.
Advisory Opinion 324	Limits for candidates registering after an election.
Advisory Opinion 323	Use of principal campaign committee funds.
Advisory Opinion 322	Definition of first-time candidate.
Advisory Opinion 321	Use of campaign funds; anonymous contributions; and authority of deputy treasurer.
Advisory Opinion 320	Reporting of political expenditures
Advisory Opinion 319	Providing on-line contribution service.
Advisory Opinion 318	Use of principal campaign committee funds.
Advisory Opinion 317	Gift to officials of informational book.
Advisory Opinion 316	Application of gift prohibition; definition of official.
Advisory Opinion 315	Gift Prohibition; public official solicitation of contributions
Advisory Opinion 314	Use of principal campaign committee funds.
Advisory Opinion 313	Use of Principal Campaign committee funds for informational mailing.
Advisory Opinion 312.	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 311	Publishing candidate links on state government office's website
Advisory Opinion 310	Fundraising activities of political committees.
Advisory Opinion 309	Lobbyist contributions to retirement party and gift.
Advisory Opinion 308	Definition of a lobbyist.
Advisory Opinion 307	Definition of constituent services.
Advisory Opinion 306	Status of Nonprofit Corporation as a Political Committee.
Advisory Opinion 305	Multi-candidate expenditure for Political Party fundraising.
Advisory Opinion 304	Lobbying Municipal Government Units.
Advisory Opinion 303	Special source contribution limit.
Advisory Opinion 302	Official party sample ballot.
Advisory Opinion 301	Registration of political committee
Advisory Opinion 298	Campaign expenditure definition; reporting contributions.
Advisory Opinion 297	Definition of Lobbyist Principal
Advisory Opinion 296	Definition of independent expenditures.
Advisory Opinion 295	Requirement to register a political committee.
Advisory Opinion 294	Definition of Constituent Services.
Advisory Opinion 293	Campaign fundraising activities.
Advisory Opinion 292	Determination of Lobbyist Principal .
Advisory Opinion 290	Contributions to political committee by Indian tribe.
Advisory Opinion 289	Application of gift prohibition to referral of legal client.
Advisory Opinion 288	Lobbyist Registration requirement for employee of public higher education system.
Advisory Opinion 287	Gift to official of special seating rights at athletic event
Advisory Opinion 286	Gift to officials of informational booklet.
Advisory Opinion 285	Application of noncampaign disbursement definition.
Advisory Opinion 284	Campaign finance laws applicable to nonprofit corporation.
Advisory Opinion 283	Gift to official, greeting card.
Advisory Opinion 282	Definition of volunteer time in reference to gift law.
Advisory Opinion 281	First-time candidate expenditure limit in a year prior to an election.
Advisory Opinion 280	Gift of services to assist an official.
Advisory Opinion 279.	Contribution limit for political fund of merged associations.
Advisory Opinion 278	Application of gift prohibition exception for program participant.
Advisory Opinion 277	Gift of travel and lodging; use of principal campaign committee funds.
Advisory Opinion 276	Consideration for a transaction, otherwise a prohibited gift.
Advisory Opinion 275	Definition of constituent services.
Advisory Opinion 273	Gift to members of a group of conference reception or meals.
Advisory Opinion 272	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 271	Disposition of political committee assets.
Advisory Opinion 270	Sale of goods by an individual to a party unit.
Advisory Opinion 269	Gift of informational audio tapes to legislators.
Advisory Opinion 268	Gift of transportation.
Advisory Opinion 267	Potential conflict of interest for public official.
Advisory Opinion 266	Use of principal campaign committee funds for computer training.
Advisory Opinion 265	Use of funds by political party unit committee.
Advisory Opinion 264	Potential conflict of interest for legislator.
Advisory Opinion 263	Use of funds by legislative caucus committee.
Advisory Opinion 262.	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 261	Use of candidate committee funds to promote a constitutional amendment.
Advisory Opinion 260	Fundraising for local office campaign by Ch. 10A candidate.
Advisory Opinion 259	Gift of dinner to legislators.
Advisory Opinion 258	Gift exception for members of a group.
Advisory Opinion 257	Revoked by the Board June 30, 2011
Advisory Opinion 256	Noncampaign disbursement for replacement of stolen campaign signs.
Advisory Opinion 255	Use of campaign funds for costs of serving in public office
Advisory Opinion 254	Activities related to student lobbying.
Advisory Opinion 253	Noncampaign disbursements for newly elected candidates.
Advisory Opinion 252	Gift of a dinner to legislators.
Advisory Opinion 251	Spending increase for candidate running for office for first time.
Advisory Opinion 250	Gift prohibition applied to legislative day activities.
Advisory Opinion 249	Application of lobbying statutes to internet worldwide website.
Advisory Opinion 248	Campaign expenditures and noncampaign disbursements.
Advisory Opinion 247	Free services used by candidate or party unit are not contributions.
Advisory Opinion 246	Gift to officials of guide to the Minnesota legislature.
Advisory Opinion 245	Gift of plaque to official.
Advisory Opinion 244	Use of Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board data.
Advisory Opinion 242	Legal defense fund for political official.
Advisory Opinion 241	Definition of first-time candidate.
Advisory Opinion 240	Political activity as a bona fide occupational qualification.
Advisory Opinion 239	Replacement of destroyed campaign materials.
Advisory Opinion 238	Award of plaque valued at $20 - $100.
Advisory Opinion 237	Conflict of interest statute applied to public official.
Advisory Opinion 236	Application of gift prohibition to employment search.
Advisory Opinion 235	Gift to official of computer mouse pad.
Advisory Opinion 234	Relationships between lobbyist principal and legislators.
Advisory Opinion 233.	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 232	Gift prohibitions applicable to lobbyist giving baby shower.
Advisory Opinion 231	Independent contracts with officials are not prohibited gifts.
Advisory Opinion 230	Prohibition of indirectly controlled political committees.
Advisory Opinion 229	Trip awarded to official's spouse not a gift.
Advisory Opinion 228	Expenditure limits; purchase of computer.
Advisory Opinion 227	Gift of free admission to public performance.
Advisory Opinion 226	Gift of informational calendar.
Advisory Opinion 225	Allocation of cost of publication between campaign expenditures and noncampaign disbursements.
Advisory Opinion 224	Lobbyist Principal Definition
Advisory Opinion 223	Application of Minnesota Statutes Chap. 10A to fundraising for federal office.
Advisory Opinion 222.	Withdrawn by the requester.
Advisory Opinion 221	Noncampaign disbursement categorization of certain costs incurred by a disabled candidate.
Advisory Opinion 220	Gift to official of food and beverage at employer reunion party; definition of "membership in a group".
A dvisory Opinion 219	Withdrawn by the requester.
Advisory Opinion 218	Gift to official of a plaque based on voting record.
Advisory Opinion 217	Application of gift law to wedding gift.
Advisory Opinion 216	Requirement to register as a political fund.
Advisory Opinion 215	Application of gift law to certain employment situations.
Advisory Opinion 214. (Later reversed by Opinion 234)	Gifts to nonprofit corporation requested by an official.
Advisory Opinion 213	Official doing business with lobbyists and lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 212	Application of gift law to family event for officials.
Advisory Opinion 211	Reporting by campaign committee for purchase of used computer.
Advisory Opinion 210	Meals provided to official who is a member of advisory council.
Advisory Opinion 209	Operation of multiple campaign committees.
Advisory Opinion 208	Activities included in time spent for lobbying purposes; reporting of strictly informational material.
Advisory Opinion 207	Aggregation of loans and contributions to campaign committee.
Advisory Opinion 206	Gift to official of transportation; gift to official's spouse.
Advisory Opinion 205	Gift to officials by association which is not a lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 204	Gift to officials of lobbyist principal's membership directory.
Advisory Opinion 203	Gift to officials of federal tax guide.
Advisory Opinion 202	Gift to officials of issues forum and materials.
Advisory Opinion 201	Gifts to officials by lobbyist principal's employees.
Advisory Opinion 200	Gift to official of $30 book.
Advisory Opinion 199	Political party organization as defined by statute.
Advisory Opinion 198	Gift of plaque awarded to official.
Advisory Opinion 197	Gift requested by lobbyist or lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 196	The Board was unable to approve an advisory opinion by the required four votes.
Advisory Opinion 195	Gift to official from nonprofit corporation for costs of an event.
Advisory Opinion 194	The Board voted not to issue an advisory opinion and voted to request guidance on the term "promise of future employment" from the legislature.
Advisory Opinion 193	Gift of meal served at program attended by official.
Advisory Opinion 192	Registration as a lobbyist for an employee of political subdivision or public body.
Advisory Opinion 191	Lobbyist principal providing food and beverage to officials at event.
Advisory Opinion 190	Self-employed official doing business with lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 189	Gift of calendar book from lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 188	Value of transportation provided by corporation which is a lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 187	Gift of calendar or diary from labor organization.
Advisory Opinion 186	Providing food, beverage, door prizes at conference attended by official.
Advisory Opinion 185	Reception and dinner sponsored by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 184	Membership Directory Distribution.
Advisory Opinion 183	Gift of meal to official.
Advisory Opinion 181	Loan of a picture from a lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 180	Membership in lobbyist principal organization does not make member a principal.
Advisory Opinion 179 (May be reversed by Opinion 273.)	Gift to official by lobbyist or lobbyist principal to pay for conference costs.
Advisory Opinion 178	Lobbyist principal offer to officials to purchase tickets to an event in advance of general public.
Advisory Opinion 177	Personal gift to an official by a member of a board of an association that is a lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 176	Gifts given to official by lobbyist principal for distributing to foreign visitors.
Advisory Opinion 175 (May be reversed by Opinion 273.)	Acceptance of payment conference costs by an official from lobbyist or lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 174	Lobbyist or lobbyist principal payment to an official for conference costs.
Advisory Opinion 173 .(Later reversed by Opinion 273.)	Gift to an official who is a member of a group.
Advisory Opinion 172	Donation from lobbyist principal to government body for dstribution to officials to attend a seminar.
Advisory Opinion 171 Revised	Gift requested by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 170.	Withdrawn by requester.
Advisory Opinion 169	Fee charged to attending officials.
Advisory Opinion 168	Payment of conference costs to official.
Advisory Opinion 167	Providing complimentary copies of publication to officials.
Advisory Opinion 166	Gift of complimentary tickets to an official.
Advisory Opinion 165	Plaque presented to an official.
Advisory Opinion 164	Official accompanying spouse on business trip paid by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 163	Payment of conference costs by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 162	Free admission for officials to event sponsored by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 161	Prizes donated by lobbyist or lobbyist principal to charity event hosted by official.
Advisory Opinion 160	Hospitality suite provided by lobbyist principal for officials.
Advisory Opinion 159	Contemporaneous payment by official to lobbyist principal for gift.
Advisory Opinion 158	Campaign Finance.
Advisory Opinion 157	Computer training offered by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 156	Periodical given to officials by lobbyist principal in connection with legislation.
Advisory Opinion 155	Payment of officials' expenses to attend forum held by lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 154	Campaign Finance.
Advisory Opinion 153	Meals provided at legislative breakfast meeting sponsored by lobbyist principal.
PLEASE NOTE: Advisory Opinions dated before August 1, 1994, have lapsed. The following selected opinions are offered for informational purposes only.
Advisory Opinion 152	Governor/Lt. Governor contribution limit.
Advisory Opinion 151	Volunteer activities.
Advisory Opinion 150	Report of Receipts and Expenditures.
Advisory Opinion 149	Change in office sought.
Advisory Opinion 148	Gift of refreshments from lobbyist principal to public official.
Advisory Opinion 147	Gift to Officials.
Advisory Opinion 146	Contribution Plan.
Advisory Opinion 145	Governor and Lt. Governor joint expenditures
Advisory Opinion 143	Gift of complimentary copies of newspapers to legislators.
Advisory Opinion 142	Vendors contributing to costs of meeting attended by officials.
Advisory Opinion 141	Gift of desk diary or pocket calendar from lobbyist principal.
Advisory Opinion 139	First-time candidate.
Advisory Opinion 138	Fundraising during legislative session.
Advisory Opinion 137	Ballot Question disclosure.
Advisory Opinion 136	Hennepin County Disclosure Law.
Advisory Opinion 129	Campaign Finance Disclosure.
Advisory Opinion 127	Campaign Finance Disclosure.
Advisory Opinion 119	Potential Conflict of Interest.
Advisory Opinion 114	Independent expenditures made by political fund.
Advisory Opinion 111	Lobbyist Disclosure.
Advisory Opinion 106	Lobbyist Compensation.
Advisory Opinion 101	Legal Defense Fund
Advisory Opinion 89	Campaign Finance Disclosure.
Advisory Opinion 86	Contribution Plan.
Advisory Opinion 73	A corportation may spend money to promote or defeat a ballot question.
Advisory Opinion 46	Tax Court judges not considered public officials.
Advisory Opinion 6	Corporate contribution plans.