Committee reduces Charity Owens’ campaign fine to $2,080

A legislative committee voted to reduce a $10,400 campaign-finance fine assessed against former candidate Charity Owens to $2,080 and required that she close her campaign accounts within 30 days.

Counsel Trask told the committee that Owens’ $10,400 fine stemmed from four late campaign disclosure reports spanning an initial filing and quarterly reports in 2024 and 2025; Trask said Owens had since updated her filings and appealed on grounds of extenuating circumstances, citing unforeseen computer issues and travel abroad that prevented timely submissions. Trask said Owens was currently up to date on filings.

Representative Guest moved to reduce the fine to $2,080 (20 percent of the assessed amount) and requested that Owens close out her accounts within 30 days; Representative Bernstein seconded the motion. The chair ordered a roll call and members present recorded affirmative responses, after which the chair announced the motion carried and the reduction would be applied.

The committee’s action reduces the committee-assessed penalty but does not by itself preclude other remedies that may exist under law or regulation; the committee did not record further conditions beyond the required account closure timeline.