A bill has passed its first test in proposing to limit campaign spending by corporations and possibly restrict news organizations from publishing or broadcasting campaign editorials and commentary in the weeks leading up to an election.
    
The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-5 to move Senate Bill 320 out of committee.
    
The bill would make it illegal for corporations to make independent expenditures that advocate for or against a candidate or to fund any electioneering communications.
    
It also would label editorials and commentaries as restricted campaign contributions by changing the definition of what a contribution is.
    
John Barrows of the Montana Newspaper Association says the bill may unconstitutionally restrict the media because many news organizations are corporate entities.
    
The bill must still pass the full Senate and House.