Requires disclosure of major contributors on independent expenditure communications
Summary
This bill amends New York election law to require additional disclaimer and donor-disclosure language on independent expenditure communications. Any individual, entity, or political committee that makes an independent expenditure for a covered communication would have to identify the sponsor of the communication and state that the expenditure was not made in cooperation with any candidate or candidate’s committee.
If the spender has received more than $1,000 in aggregate contributions from any person or entity during the prior 12 months, the communication must also list the top three contributors by aggregate amount, in descending order. If the spender has a treasurer, the disclaimer must identify that treasurer as well. The bill also requires the disclosure to be readable or audible/visible for a minimum period, and to include the State Board of Elections website for campaign disclosure reporting. It excludes candidates for offices under the jurisdiction of the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
Impact
The bill would expand disclosure requirements under Election Law section 14-107 and create a new section 14-107-c governing how top contributors are identified for independent expenditures. It would affect political committees, nonprofits, corporations, and other entities that finance election-related communications, while leaving New York City Campaign Finance Board candidates outside its scope. The State Board of Elections would be directed to adopt implementing regulations, including standardized disclaimer formats, font sizes, and methods for identifying top contributors.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Election Law, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts. Based on the bill’s subject matter and structure, it appears to be a transparency-focused measure intended to increase public awareness of who is funding election communications. There is no direct evidence in the provided materials of support or opposition, but the proposal is framed as a disclosure requirement rather than a restriction on spending.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the scope of donor disclosure for independent expenditures, especially the requirement to name the top three contributors when a spender has received more than $1,000 from any source in the prior year. Supporters would likely view this as a campaign-finance transparency measure, while critics may argue it burdens speech, complicates compliance, or sweeps in organizations with mixed funding sources. Another possible issue is the bill’s exclusion of New York City Campaign Finance Board candidates, which creates a carve-out that may be seen as necessary to avoid overlap or as an inconsistency in statewide disclosure rules.