Utah Code Ann. § 36-11-305 – Campaign contribution during session or veto period prohibited -- Exceptions related to federal campaigns -- Federal contribution intended to influence governor or state official prohibited.

(1) As used in this section:
1. (a) "Federal campaign contribution" means a contribution made for a campaign for federal office to:
  1. (i) a state official who is a candidate for federal office; or
  2. (ii) a governor who is a candidate for federal office.
2. (b)
  1. (i) "State campaign contribution" means a contribution, as defined in Section 20A-11-101.
  2. (ii) "State campaign contribution" does not include a federal campaign contribution.
3. (c) "State official" means:
  1. (i) a member of the Utah Senate or the Utah House of Representatives;
  2. (ii) the lieutenant governor;
  3. (iii) the attorney general;
  4. (iv) the state auditor; or
  5. (v) the state treasurer.
(2) It is unlawful for a person, lobbyist, principal, or political committee to make a state campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a state campaign contribution to, any of the following during the time the Legislature is convened in annual general session, veto override session, or special session:
1. (a) a state official;
2. (b) the personal campaign committee of a state official; or
3. (c) a political action committee controlled by a state official.
(3) It is unlawful for a lobbyist or principal to make a federal campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a federal campaign contribution to, any of the following during the time the Legislature is convened in annual general session, veto override session, or special session:
1. (a) a state official who is running for federal office;
2. (b) a federal campaign committee of a person described in Subsection (3)(a); or
3. (c) a political committee, as defined in 52 U.S.C. Sec. 30101, that is controlled by a person described in Subsection (3)(a).
(4) It is unlawful for a person to make a federal campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a federal campaign contribution to, a person described in Subsection (3)(a), (b), or (c), if the person makes the federal campaign contribution, contract, promise, or agreement with the intent to:
1. (a) influence a state official to take or fail to take an action in the state official's capacity as a state official; or
2. (b) reward a state official for taking or failing to take an action in the state official's capacity as a state official.
(5) It is unlawful for a person, lobbyist, principal, or political committee to make a state campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a state campaign contribution to, any of the following during the time the Legislature is convened in annual general session, veto override session, or special session, or during the time period established by the Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, for the governor to approve or veto bills passed by the Legislature in the annual general session:
1. (a) the governor;
2. (b) the governor's personal campaign committee; or
3. (c) a political action committee controlled by the governor.
(6) It is unlawful for a lobbyist or principal to make a federal campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a federal campaign contribution to, any of the following during the time the Legislature is convened in annual general session, veto override session, or special session, or during the time period established by the Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, for the governor to approve or veto bills passed by the Legislature in the annual general session:
1. (a) a governor who is running for federal office;
2. (b) the governor's federal campaign committee; or
3. (c) a political committee, as defined in 52 U.S.C. Sec. 30101, that is controlled by the governor.
(7) It is unlawful for a person to make a federal campaign contribution to, or to contract, promise, or agree to make a federal campaign contribution to, a person described in Subsection (6)(a), (b), or (c), if the person makes the federal campaign contribution, contract, promise, or agreement with the intent to:
1. (a) influence the governor to take or fail to take an action in the governor's capacity as governor; or
2. (b) reward the governor for taking or failing to take an action in the governor's capacity as governor.
(8) A violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

Amended by Chapter 98, 2025 General Session