The final version of the public mask bill approved by the Senate yesterday includes a new provision that will allow certain outside political groups to contribute more money to influence North Carolina elections. Specifically, the bill enables political organizations created under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code to make unlimited donations to political parties in North Carolina.
If the bill becomes law, it could bring a significant amount of outside money into North Carolina elections, potentially making what was expected to be a quiet election year much more dynamic. This influx of funds may lead some donors to shift their contributions from charitable nonprofits to partisan political causes, and could also cause politicians to focus more on polarizing political ad campaigns rather than important policy issues that affect nonprofits and small businesses.