Notices

Campaign Finance and Lobbying

Campaign Finance Authority and Jurisdiction The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for enforcing Vermont’s campaign finance laws. The Office also defends these laws when they are challenged in court. In accordance with 17 V.S.A. § 2094a, the Office reports complaints of alleged violations and the investigation outcomes to the State Ethics Commission. Legal Framework Vermont’s campaign finance laws are set forth in Title 17 of the Vermont Statutes, starting at 17 V.S.A. § 2901, et seq. Lobbying Authority and Jurisdiction The Attorney General’s Office investigates alleged violations of Vermont's lobbying law pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 267a. Resolutions of all complaints found to have merit are posted on this page. Legal Framework Vermont’s lobbying laws are set forth in Title 2 of the Vermont Statutes, starting at 2 V.S.A. § 261, et seq. Compliance Resources Candidates, political action committees (PACs), independent expenditure-only political committees, political parties, and contributors should review the Secretary of State’s Office, Elections Division for information on filing campaign finance reports, specific rules regarding contribution limits, and lobbying registration and disclosure requirements. Complaint Process How to File a Complaint and Overview of the Complaint Process Step 1: Submit your complaint. If you believe there has been a violation of Vermont’s campaign finance or lobbying laws, you may file a complaint in any of the following ways: Email: [email protected]. Please include a written description of the issue. PDF attachments are preferred. Ethics Commission Form: Complaint form available online. Mail: Attorney General’s Office, 109 State Street Montpelier, VT 05602 Note: Complaints cannot be submitted anonymously. Step 2: Review and Investigation If your complaint appears to describe a potential violation, the Attorney General’s Office will investigate the matter under 17 V.S.A. § 2904 (campaign finance) or 2 V.S.A. § 267a (lobbying). During the investigation, the Office will send a copy of the complaint to involved individuals and ask for a response. You may be asked for further information or documentation of the alleged violation(s). Step 3: Conclusion of Process and Outcome Once the investigation is complete, the Office will send a final report to you (the complainant) and the alleged violator who is the subject of the complaint. The report will explain the Office’s decision and informs all parties about any enforcement action that might be taken, if any. There are several ways a complaint can be resolved. Enforcement Action: If the Attorney General’s Office believes there is sufficient evidence to prove a violation has occurred, the Office may file an enforcement action in Superior Court seeking an injunction or a civil penalty. Criminal prosecution is also available for certain campaign finance law violations under 17 V.S.A. § 2903. Settlement Agreement: The Office may negotiate a settlement to obtain an acknowledgment of a violation, an agreement to stop activities that violate the statute, or payment of a penalty. Final settlement agreements are public records. Correction Action: The Office may address the violation by requiring actions to cure, or correct, the violation or prevent its recurrence. No Violation Found: If the Office determines there is not enough evidence to establish a violation of Vermont’s campaign finance or lobbying law, the complaint will be closed without a penalty. Important Information for Complainants Investigations can take several months, depending on the facts and issues involved. Complaints cannot be submitted anonymously. Information collected by the Attorney General’s Office during an investigation is not public.