What is a Political Committee?

1. A political committee is a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that, in an aggregate amount in excess of $500 during a single calendar year:

• Accepts contributions for the purpose of making contributions to any candidate, political committee, committee of continuous existence, or political party;
• Accepts contributions for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or issue;
• Makes expenditures that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate or issue; or
• Makes contributions to a common fund, other than a joint checking account between spouses, from which contributions are made to any candidate, political committee, committee of continuous existence, or political party.

2. The sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment by initiative who intends to seek the signatures of registered electors.

A political committee is not an organization whose activities are limited to making expenditures for electioneering communications or accepting contributions for the purpose of making electioneering communications. However, the organization is required to register and report contributions, including those received from committees of continuous existence, and expenditures in the same manner, at the same time, subject to the same penalties, and with the same filing officer as a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate or issue contained in the electioneering communication. If the organization would be required to register and report with more than one filing officer, the organization shall register and report solely with the Division of Elections.

Other exceptions to the definition of a political committee are certain corporations or business entities, committees of continuous existence and political parties.

(Section 106.011(1), F.S.)