Current News

Ethics Commission Reaches Settlement Agreement

The Ethics Commission settled its investigation into Kyle Loveless for converting more than $100,000 in campaign funds to personal use at its July 7, 2017 meeting.  The agreement requires payment to the Ethics Commission of $10,000 for attorney's fees, costs and other expenses and fees incurred, payment to the State Election Board of $40,000 for the special election to fill his Senate seat, and payment to the General Revenue fund of the balance of his campaign account.  The agreement also prohibits him from ever holding a position paid for with public funds, from being a paid campaign consultant at the state and local levels, and from lobbying or furthering lobbying activities in the State of Oklahoma. The Commission took into consideration that Loveless will pay $112,524.35 in restitution to the General Revenue Fund through criminal proceedings.  Click here for a copy of the settlement agreement.

Registration and Administration Fee Change

On Friday, June 9, 2017, as a result in part to the second consecutive year of cuts of approximately 5% to the Commission’s annual appropriation, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to increase registration and administration fees by $50.  These fee increases become effective July 1, 2017. 

The new registration and administration fee schedule is:

Candidate Committees: $150 per committee

Political Action Committees: $150 per year

Political Party Committees (State): $150 per year (initial registration at any time, annual fee in July)

Political Party Committees (Local): $150 per year if committee makes the following expenditures:

            *Contribution to a state candidate committee

            *Makes one or more Independent Expenditure

            *Makes one of more Electioneering Communications

Lobbyists and Legislative Liaisons: $150 per year

Lobbyist Principals: $150 per year (registered by associated lobbyist(s)) 

Helpful Tips

Amending Political Party Committee Officer Information
When Political Party Committees elect new officers, the committee needs to amend its current committee registration with the new officer information within 10 days of the change. To amend the committee’s registration, log in to the Guardian System, click on the “Filings” tab, and click “Amend” next to the committee’s current Political Party Registration. If an individual is replacing another officer, the former officer will need to be deleted from the report and the new officer will need to be added to the list. Officer information should only be updated if the current officer’s information has changed or to correct a mistake. New officers must be added to the list.

Once the new officers are added to the list and any other officer information is updated, submit the amended report by clicking the “submit” button. When the registration is amended it will send credentials to the new committee members.  These credentials will need to be set up within 7 days.

Political Party Committee Registration and Renewal
“Renewal” for precinct, county, congressional district or other non-state level Political Party Committees is only required in any year when the committee has (1) contributed to a state candidate; (2) made an independent expenditure; or (3) made an electioneering communication.
Renewal for state level party committees is required during July in odd-numbered years.

Click here for more Helpful Tips

Guardian YouTube Videos and Guides - Click here to see The Guardian "Publications" page with demonstration videos and step-by-step instructions.

2016 Election: Candidate Committee Contribution and Expenditure Report Due

2016 Non-Candidate Committee PAC or State Party Committee

Non-2016 Election Campaign Committee Contribution and Expenditure Report Due

Next Legislative Lobbyist or Legislative Liaison Report Due

Next Executive Lobbyist Report Due