What's happening
This bill requires candidates for certain New York elected offices to publicly post large campaign contributions and donor information on their campaign websites.
Why it matters
Increases campaign finance transparency by requiring candidates for major state offices to publicly disclose large donations (over $250) and donor identities directly on their campaign websites, making this information more accessible to voters.
Mandates timely disclosure, with a 30-day window for posting contributions, which allows the public to monitor campaign funding in near real-time rather than waiting for less frequent official reports.
Holds candidates personally responsible for compliance, making it harder to claim ignorance or blame staff for missing disclosures, and introduces criminal penalties (class A misdemeanor) for willful violations, adding legal consequences to campaign finance rules.
Aims to reduce the influence of undisclosed “big money” in state politics by ensuring that large contributions are visible and traceable, potentially deterring candidates from accepting questionable donations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Post Donors on Campaign Websites
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3679
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to requiring candidates for certain elected offices to post certain information regarding contributions on such candidate's campaign website
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-121 to read as follows:
§ 14-121. Contributions to be posted on campaign websites. 1. Any candidate for elected office for the office of the governor, the comptroller, the attorney general or any legislative district of the senate or assembly shall:
a. post on the homepage of his or her campaign website a direct link to the board of elections website to such candidate's campaign contributions.
b. post on the homepage of his or her campaign website all contributions over two hundred fifty dollars within thirty days of receipt; including the exact amount of each contribution and the identity of the donor.
2. Such candidate shall be responsible for ensuring that the information as required in paragraphs a and b of subdivision one of this section is posted.
3. Any person who shall knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07326-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to requiring candidates for certain elected offices to post certain information regarding contributions on such candidate's campaign website
Purpose
To provide transparency to voters about the source of the candidate's campaign funding.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-121 to require that candidates for the elective office of the governor, the comptroller, the attorney general or any legislative district of the senate and assembly post on the homepage of their campaign website a direct link to the board of elections website that lists such candidate's campaign contributions of over $250, including the exact amount of each contribution and the identity of the donor.
Any candidate who knowingly and willfully violate this provision will be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Justification
This legislation seeks to require basic transparency to voters in regard to which individuals, entities or organizations are funding their candidates for elective office. Candidates for statewide offices should be required to disclose their campaign contributors, which would provide important information to potential voters and / or supporters.
Legislative history
2016: S. 7047 - Referred to Senate Elections Committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.