Politicians and campaign money go hand in hand.

And in non-election years, like 2019, there are often efforts to change the state's campaign finance laws.

This year there are efforts underway to increase contribution limits while placing new restrictions on the only group that puts a check on lawmakers.

The following is an overview of some campaign finance-related bills introduced this year.

Campaign money for child care

State law sets limits on how lawmakers can spend their campaign money. They’re not allowed to use donors’ money for personal purposes, including on clothing and tickets to sporting events.

A bill, HB 7 and SB 86, from Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, and Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, would allow candidates for public office to use campaign money to pay for child care.

To use the money for child care, the expenditure would have to be as a result of a candidate’s participation in campaign-related events and activities.

Fundraising during recess

During the 2017 legislative session, House lawmakers approved a bill that would allow lawmakers to raise campaign money during some legislative recesses.

The bill failed in the final days of the session thanks to an impasse between the House and Senate.

This year the effort to raise money during recesses is back.

Lawmakers are currently prohibited from accepting any campaign money when they are in session.

Rep. Rick Eldridge and Sen. Steve Southerland, both Morristown Republicans, introduced two bills that would allow lawmakers and political action committees to raise money during a recess in even-numbered years.

The bills include HB 504 and SB 915 and HB 505 and SB 914.

Increasing contribution limits

State lawmakers and local officeholders are able to accept $1,600 in campaign contributions per election from individuals.

But under a proposal from House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, candidates for state and local office would be allowed to receive $2,500 per election from individuals.

The bill, HB 1225 and SB 344, also would increase contribution limits for political action committees.

Candidates for statewide office would be able to raise $20,000 per election from a single PAC, up from the current $12,300 limit. Candidates for state and local offices would be able to receive $10,000 per election from each PAC. Such candidates are currently limited to $8,100 per election from a PAC.

The legislation, however, would not change the contribution limit for individual donations to those running for statewide office, which is $4,200.

The bill also would place limits on the total percentage of contributions candidates could receive from PACs. Statewide candidates could not have more than 50 percent of their overall contributions from PACs. Those running for state and local office could not receive more than $200,000 from PACs.

Casada and Watson previously teamed up in 2014 to increase campaign contribution limits, but that measure ultimately failed.

Oft-fined lawmaker seeks changes

In recent years, it seems almost every meeting of the state Registry of Election Finance has Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, appearing on its agenda.

Towns has been fined more than $100,000 for various reasons, including filing his campaign finance disclosures late.

This year, Towns and Akbari have introduced two bills related to campaign finance fines.

One bill, HB 1484 and SB 872, would allow candidates for public office to use donors’ money to pay for any campaign finance fines.

Another, HB 1485 and SB 873, would limit the registry’s ability to fine candidates to $1,000. The current maximum penalty a candidate can face is the greater of $10,000 or 115 percent of the amount of the violation.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.

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