By Cristina Silva | The Associated Press
Homeowner associations were dealt a kick in the face Thursday when Gov. Jan Brewer signed a sweeping campaign finance bill that became a catch-all vehicle for a number of stalled measures in the Senate and House in the final hours of the legislative session and pitted real estate agents against planned communities.
Senate Bill 1454 has a little something for everyone to applaud and criticize.
The bill technically addresses campaign finance. It provides new rules on candidate disclosures in broadcast and print ads. It defines the use of company logos, trademarks and trade names as in-kind contributions to candidates and prevents candidates from using public campaign dollars to promote a business, among other provisions. Opponents said that provision would discourage candidates from running for public office.
At the last minute, lawmakers added a slew of provisions that will change how homeowner associations do business, drawing complaints from those groups who said the amendments were illegal because they had nothing to do with campaign finance. Bill amendments must be germane.
