Portsmouth Rep. Jay Edwards (D-70) has introduced legislation that would require political parties and action committees advocating for any charter-amending question on a ballot to file a report of all the contributions it receives from any one source in excess of $100, according to a release sent to media today.

The bill would expand current law to include any town or city charter amendment considered at a Financial Town Meeting in addition to election ballots.

"It's very simple," Edwards said in the statement. "This is about increasing transparency. It only makes sense for committees that advocate for a charter question at Financial Town Meetings to file reports, just like with everything else. Sometimes charter questions have the potential to make a major change in how a city or town does business. We need to keep an eye on the local level, not just the state level.”

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill — 2012-H 7060 (pdf) — on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Rise of the House in Room 313 of the State House.

Editorial note: Written from a press release.