Advisory Opinions
Advisory Opinions concern the application of campaign finance laws under KRS Chapters 121 and 121A. These opinions, issued from January 1994 to present, are not general policy but rather a response to queries regarding a specific transaction or activity by a person. As such, an advisory opinion may only be relied upon by the person or group involved in the specific transaction or activity.
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Opinions Sorted by Year 1992- 92-001 Opinion 10KB
Robert Blau - Corporations/Corporate Facilities and Equipment Use by Candidate - 92-002 Opinion 12KB
Jerry Alleyne - Annual Registration Fee/Combined Checking Accounts - 92-003 Opinion 16KB
Alfred C. Knight - Permanent Committees/Administrative Fees (5%), Annual Registration Fee, Contribution Limits - 92-004 Opinion 11KB
Denise Harper-Angel - Campaign Funds/Fundraiser Tickets - 92-005 Opinion 10KB
James B. Martin, Jr. KDPAC - Permanent Committees (PACs) - 92-006 Opinion 11KB
Don Johnson - Executive Committees - 92-007 Opinion 12KB
Carol C. Darr - Executive Committees/Executive Committees - Federal - 92-008 Opinion 11KB
Tony Miller - Contributions/In-kind - 92-009 Opinion 12KB
John Will Stacy - Private Funds/Purchase of UK Tickets - 92-010 Opinion 11KB
Pete Worthington - Campaign Funds/Speaker of House Election and Contributions/Separate Fund - 92-011 Opinion 13KB
David J. Wilkerson - Permanent Committees (PACs)/Community Report on County Government
1993- 93-001 Opinion 12KB
W. Grady Stumbo - Executive Committees/Funds from PACs and Permanent Committees/Contribution to Executive Committee - 93-002 Opinion 13KB
David J. Wilkerson - Contracts/Non-Bid - 93-003 Opinion 12KB
William Bushart - Contributions/Property Owners to PVA Candidates - 93-004 Opinion 11KB
Tim Gruber - Corporations/Corporation Owned by Candidate - 93-005 Opinion 10KB
John C. Rogers - Candidates/Gifts from Candidates - 93-006 Opinion 10KB
Jim King - Corporations/Professional Service Corporation - 93-007 Opinion 11KB
JEFF-PAC - Permanent Committees/Dissolution - 93-008 Opinion 12KB
Kentucky Democratic Party - Advertising/Selling Advertising Space in Newsletter and Political Parties/Advertising in Newspaper - 93-009 Opinion 12KB
Smeathers, Kennedy, Moore, and Brooks - Expenses of Elections/Candidates Sharing Expenses - 93-010 Opinion 12KB
Tom Garrett - Contributions/Corporation Contributing To Candidates in Another State and Corporations/Contributing to Candidates in Another State - 93-011 Opinion 10KB
Robert D. Woods - Permanent Committees/PACs Not Regulated by KREF Chapter 121 - 93-012 Opinion 14KB
KY Forward - Corporations/Non-Profit - 93-013 Opinion 13KB
David Wilkerson - Contributions/Accepting Contributions After Election - 93-015 Opinion 12KB
Robert E. Gable - Contributions/Fundraiser Contributions and Fundraisers/Kentucky Law - 93-016 Opinion 11KB
Paul D. Deaton - Advertising/Using Mail Service to Mail Advertising - 93-017 Opinion 12KB
Stephen G. Horner - Executive Committees/Contribution to Executive Committees - 93-018 Opinion 12KB
Stephen G. Horner - Executive Committees/Wendell Ford Trust - 93-019 Opinion 11KB
Citizens for Better Judges - Contributions/In-kind and Permanent Committees/Endorsement by PAC - 93-020 Opinion 14KB
Robert E. Gable - Executive Committees/Transfer of Funds - 93-021 Opinion 13KB
William H. Allison - Contributions/Non-Profit Corporation; Corporations/Non-Profit and Judicial Candidates/Contribution form Non-Profit Corporation - 93-022 Opinion 13KB
Kentucky Hospital Association - Contributions/From Corporation to PAC and Permanent Committees/Expense Checks Given as Contributions - 93-023 Opinion 12KB
Republican Party of Jefferson County - Advertising/Selling Advertising Space in Newsletter and Political Parties/Advertising in Newspaper - 93-024 Opinion 29KB
Robert E. Gable - Contributions/Building Fund and Federal Law/Preemption of Kentucky State Law - 93-025 Opinion 15KB
Spencer D. Noe - Contributions/Volunteering Services - 93-026 Opinion 11KB
William C. Stone - Contributions/Volunteering Services - 93-027 Opinion 11KB
Patrick M. Poor - Contracts/Contract with State Political Party-Discount Services - 93-028 Opinion 16KB
Hal Nance Bogard - Advertising/Advertising as Independent Expenditure - 93-029 Opinion 12KB
Sondra R. Laemmle - Campaign Funds/Bonus to Campaign Workers - 93-030 Opinion 10KB
Stella B. House - Advertising/Disclaimers on Advertising and Disclaimers/Requirements of KY Law - 93-031 Opinion 17KB
Elaine Faithful - Campaign Funds/Charitable Contributions, Expenses to Run in Future Year and Charitable Organizations/Contribution from Candidate's Remaining Funds - 93-032 Opinion 13KB
Robert E. Gable - Contributions/Building Fund - 93-033 Opinion 12KB
Stephen G. Horner - Contributions/Contributions to Executive Committee and Executive Committees/Contribution from Womens Club
1994- 94-001 Opinion 11KB
Skills, Inc. - Candidates/Conflict of Interest and Contracts/Non-Bid - 94-002 Opinion 13KB
Sondra R. Laemmle - Contracts/Campaign Worker to Receive Bonus - 94-003 Opinion 12KB
Darryl T. Owens - Candidates/Host of a Dinner - 94-004 Opinion 11KB
Thomas G. Jarrell - Campaign Funds/Termination - Excess Funds - 94-005 Opinion 11KB
Debra A. Cotron - Contributions/Contribution by Unincorporated Business - 94-006 Opinion 14KB
Russ Maple - Campaign Funds/Use of Funds to Pay for Production Costs - 94-007 Opinion 15KB
David L. Yewell - Contributions/Contribution by Partners of Unincorporated Law Firm - 94-008 Opinion 13KB
Judy K. Winkel - Permanent Committees/Contribution from Out-of-State PAC and Reports/Reporting Requirements for Out-of-State PAC - 94-009 Opinion 11KB
William K. Cavanagh - Contributions/Out-of-State Corporations - 94-010 Opinion 21KB
Texas Gas Transmission Corporation - Contributions/Contribution from Out-of-State PAC - 94-011 Opinion 12KB
Joe Norsworthy - Executive Committees/Wendell Ford Fundraising Dinner, Fundraisers/Wendell Ford Fundraising Dinner and Permanent Committees/UAW PAC - 94-012 Opinion 11KB
Stephen G. Horner - Executive Committees/Purchase of Fundraiser Tickets and Fundraisers/Fundraiser Tickets - 94-013 Opinion 12KB
Sam Burchett - Reports/Congressional District Committee Reports - 94-014 Opinion 12KB
James E. Shelton - Executive Committees/Income Tax Check-Off Funds - 94-015 Opinion 13KB
Pat Goins - Advertising/Advertising as Fundraising and Fundraisers/Advertising as Fundraising - 94-016 Opinion 13KB
John H. Cole - Corporations/Individual Contributions by Corporate Members - 94-017 Opinion 12KB
Yvonne Rovira - Public Forums/Charging to Attend - 94-018 Opinion 13KB
Jeff Blair - Definitions/Permanent Committee and Permanent Committees/Registration of PAC - 94-019 Opinion 12KB
James Arnett - Fundraisers/Contributions by Lobbyists and Political Parties/Contributions by Lobbyists - 94-020 Opinion 12KB
Judge Wayne McGee - Campaign Funds/Disposing of Campaign Materials - 94-021 Opinion 12KB
David A. Lee - Corporations/Democratic Women's Club and Definitions/Contributing Organization, Permanent Committee - 94-022 Opinion 11KB
John H. Cole - Corporations/Individual Contributions by Corporate Members - 94-023 Opinion 10KB
John Stephenson - Contributions/900 Telephone Numbers - 94-024 Opinion 12KB
Francis X. Smith - Definitions/Contribution and Reports/Reporting Loans - 94-026 Opinion 15KB
Donald H. Vish - Political Parties/Contributions to Governor Campaign - 94-027 Opinion 10KB
E. C. Stiver, Jr. - Permanent Committees/Donations Through Dues
1995- 95-001 Opinion 10KB
Reva Hart - Public Forums/Debates - 95-003 Opinion 12KB
Don Bell For State Auditor - Contributions/Use of Visa and MasterCard - 95-004 Opinion 11KB
Spencer D. Noe - Definitions/Contribution and Political Parties/Sale of Voter Registration Lists - 95-005 Opinion 12KB
Kentucky Association of Realtors - Corporations/Corporate Contributions and Permanent Committees/Escrow Account - 95-006 Opinion 20KB
Republican Party of Kentucky - Definitions/Contribution and Political Parties/Contributions to Governor Campaign - 95-007 Opinion 12KB
Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky - Permanent Committees/Host Golf Tournament - 95-009 Opinion 13KB
Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys - Definitions/Committee and Permanent Committees/Contribution to Federal PAC - 95-010 Opinion 12KB
Patton/Henry for Kentucky Campaign - Contributions/Refund Contribution and Definitions/Contribution - 95-011 Opinion 14KB
Democratic National Committee - Political Parties/Contributions from National Party - 95-012 Opinion 20KB
Richard L. Robinson - Definitions/Committee; Contribution; Independent Expenditure/Restrictions and Penalties - 95-013 Opinion 14KB
William T. Robinson - Contributions/Aggregate Contributions by Medical Provider Group and Definitions/Non-Bid Contract; Permanent Committee - 95-014 Opinion 12KB
Thomas J. Shultz - Definitions/Contributing Organization - 95-015 Opinion 13KB
Spencer D. Noe - Definitions/Independent Expenditures and Political Parties/Expenditure from Opposite Party for Defeat of Gubernatorial Slate
1996- 96-001 Opinion 12KB
Oldham County Democratic Executive Committee - Contributions/Anonymous Cash Contributions to Executive Committee; Definitions/Election and Executive Committees/Anonymous Cash Contributions - 96-002 Opinion 10KB
KAPAA - Definitions/Contribution and Permanent Committees/Discount on Registration Fees - 96-003 Opinion 10KB
Kentucky Hospitals' Circle of Friends - Corporations/Contribution to PAC and Permanent Committees/Kentucky Hospitals' Circle of Friends - 96-004 Opinion 10KB
Lloyd E. Spear - Definitions/Allowable Campaign Expenditures and Executive Committees/Social Expenditures - 96-005 Opinion 13KB
Phyllis A. Sower - Corporations/Non-Profit
1997- 97-001 Opinion 10KB
Kentucky Association of Cosmetology Schools - Definitions/Contributing Organization - 97-003 Opinion 10KB
David Harover - Definitions/Candidate - 97-004 Opinion 12KB
Tony Millier - Definitions/Candidate, Election - 97-005 Opinion 12KB
Kim Geveden - Political Parties/Senate Democratic Legislative Trust - 97-006 Opinion 13KB
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation - Public Forums/Non-partisan Candidate Training Seminar - 97-007 Opinion 17KB
KEMPAC - Permanent Committees/Seminars and Workshops - 97-010 Opinion 10KB
Ira E. Branham - Advertising/Advertising Not Promoting Candidacy - 97-011 Opinion 11KB
Owensboro Area Building and Construction Trades Council - Contributions/Affiliation and Contribution Limits - 97-012 Opinion 12KB
John C. Fischer - Contributions/In-Kind - 97-013 Opinion 8KB
Jeffrey D. Withrow - Campaign Funds/Deposit of Contributions and Reports/Future Year Candidates - Annual Reporting
1998- 98-001 Opinion 15KB
Representative Jack Coleman - Contributions/Contribution from Decedent Estate - 98-002 Opinion 14KB
James R. Hendrix, Jr. - Contributions/Affiliation and Contribution Limits - 98-003 Opinion 15KB
General Drivers, Warehousemen and Helpers, Local Union #89 - Contributions/Affiliation, Contribution Limits - 98-004 Opinion 14KB
Howard E. Frasier - Advertising/Advertising Not Promoting Candidacy - 98-005 Opinion 15KB
Todd County Democratic Executive Committee - Executive Committees/Social Expenditures - 98-006 Opinion 13KB
Will L. McGinnis - Contributions/Corporation Owned by Candidate - 98-007 Opinion 15KB
Honorable Paul P. Burchette - Advertising/Joint Expenditures - 98-008 Opinion 14KB
Pulaski County Executive Committee - Corporations/Professional Service Corporation - 98-009 Opinion 14KB
Pulaski County Executive Committee - Advertising/Advertising as Fundraising; Contributions/Professional Service Corporation and Fundraisers/Advertising as Fundraising - 98-010 Opinion 26KB
Pulaski County Executive Committee - Corporations/Corporate Contributions and Executive Committees/Corporate Contributions - 98-011 Opinion 18KB
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation - Contributions/From Corporation to Political Issues Committee and Political Issues Committee/Corporate Contributions - 98-012 Opinion 14KB
Citizens for Better Judges - Contributions/Contribution by Partners of Unincorporated Law Firm and Permanent Committees/Contribution by Law Firm - 98-013 Opinion 14KB
Fred Fischer - Campaign Funds/Use for Victory Party - 98-014 Opinion 14KB
Mary Jane Wilhoit Phelps - Campaign Funds/Termination-Excess Funds and Expenses of Elections/Refunds - 98-015 Opinion 17KB
KBWA PAC - Contributions/By Payroll Deduction and Permanent Committees/Contribution by Payroll Deduction - 98-016 Opinion 18KB
Patton For Governor Exploratory Committee - Definitions/Opposing Slate and Slate of Candidates/Qualification-Opposing Slate - 98-017 Opinion 13KB
Patton Exploratory Committee - Exploratory Committees/Selling Equipment
2011- 11-001 Opinion 967KB
- 11-001 Request 1562KB
Melanie D. Reed, on behalf of Eli Lilly Co. - Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreements - 11-002 Opinion 2389KB
- 11-002 Request 638KB
Republican Governors Association - Unauthorized Campaign Committee/Contribution Limits and Reporting Requirements - 11-003 Opinion 824KB
- 11-003 Request 819KB
Jason P. Renzelmann, on behalf of Home Builders Association of Louisville PAC - Accepting Contributions After Election
2012- 12-001 Opinion 760KB
- 12-001 Request 508KB
Jim King - Contribution as Distinguished from Personal Gift - 12-002 Opinion 4097KB
- 12-002 Request 432KB
Richard Nelson - Managing a Permanent Committee or Unauthorized Campaign Committee as a Candidate - 12-003 Opinion 933KB
- 12-003 Request 2824KB
Donovan Blackburn, City Manager, on behalf of the City of Pikeville - Advertising Not Promoting Candidacy - 12-004 Opinion 1332KB
- 12-004 Request 2703KB
Barry A. Bostrom, on behalf of ActRight Fund – Contributions through Online Clearinghouse - 12-005 Opinion 1605KB
- 12-005 Request 1139KB
James Lamb, Kentucky Family Values - Contributions To Unauthorized Campaign Committee - 12-006 Opinion 3554KB
- 12-006 Request 2219KB
Kentucky Family Values, House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee, Kentucky Democratic Party - Treatment of polling information exchanged, transferred or shared among Committees for Independent Expenditures
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