What's happening
This bill lowers the maximum campaign contribution limits for various New York state and local offices and modifies the adjustment schedule.
Why it matters
Reduces the influence of large donors. By cutting maximum individual campaign contributions for statewide and local offices (e.g., from $25,000 to $6,000 for governor, and lower maximums for state senate and assembly), the bill aims to make it harder for wealthy individuals or entities to dominate political fundraising, potentially leveling the playing field for less-connected candidates.
Narrows cost-of-living adjustments. The bill slows the rate at which campaign contribution limits can increase over time by only allowing adjustments every four years, starting in 2026, rather than more frequent or immediate increases. This could prevent future inflation from quickly eroding the impact of these new, lower limits.
Alters contribution rules for family members. While keeping higher limits for close relatives, the bill maintains specific maximums that can be contributed by a candidate's family, thereby still allowing significant family backing but within stricter boundaries for most donors.
Could impact campaign strategies and competitiveness. Lower contribution caps may force candidates—especially challengers and newcomers—to rely more on small donations and grassroots support rather than large checks, which could change how campaigns are run and financed in New York politics.
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Who cares
Statewide candidates and their donors
The bill would cap ordinary contributions at $6,000 for general elections and no more than $6,000 for nominations, while preserving separate family contribution limits.
State Senate and Assembly candidates and their donors
The bill would set ordinary contribution limits at $4,000 for Senate nominations and elections and $2,000 for Assembly nominations and elections, without inflation adjustments.
- Likely support
Political committees working with candidates
The bill would apply the revised limits to contributions they receive to support a candidate’s nomination or election, excluding party committees and constituted committees.
New York State Board of Elections
The bill would require the board to begin four-year inflation adjustments in 2026 and apply them only to contribution limits expressly identified for adjustment.
Headline styles
Lower Campaign Donation Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 44
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5491
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to contributions to candidates and political committees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, paragraphs a and b as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
1. The following limitations apply to all contributions to candidates for election to any public office or for nomination for any such office, or for election to any party positions, and to all contributions to political committees working directly or indirectly with any candidate to aid or participate in such candidate's nomination or election, other than any contributions to any party committee or constituted committee:
a. In any election for a public office to be voted on by the voters of the entire state, or for nomination to any such office, no contributor may make a contribution to any candidate or political committee, and no candidate or political committee may accept any contribution from any contributor, which is in the aggregate amount greater than: (i) in the case of any nomination to public office, the product of the total number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the state, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.005, but such amount shall be not [less than four thousand dollars nor] more than [twelve] six thousand dollars [as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision,] and (ii) in the case of any election to [a] such public office, [twenty-five] six thousand dollars [as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision]; provided however, that the maximum amount which may be so contributed or accepted, in the aggregate, from any candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09070-01-9
A. 5491 2
sister, and the spouse of any such persons, shall not exceed in the case of any nomination to public office an amount equivalent to the product of the number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the state, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.025, and in the case of any election for a public office, an amount equivalent to the product of the number of registered voters in the state excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.025.
b. In any other election for party position or for election to a public office or for nomination for any such office, no contributor may make a contribution to any candidate or political committee and no candidate or political committee may accept any contribution from any contributor, which is in the aggregate amount greater than: (i) in the case of any election for party position, or for nomination to public office, the product of the total number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the district in which he is a candidate, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.05, and (ii) in the case of any election for a public office, the product of the total number of registered voters in the district, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.05, however in the case of a nomination within the city of New York for the office of mayor, public advocate or comptroller, such amount shall be not less than four thousand dollars nor more than twelve thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; in the case of an election within the city of New York for the office of mayor, public advocate or comptroller, twenty-five thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; in the case of a nomination or election for state senator, four thousand dollars [as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; in the case of an election for state senator, six thousand two hundred fifty dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision]; in the case of an election or nomination for a member of the assembly, [twenty-five hundred] two thousand dollars [as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; but in no event shall any such maximum exceed fifty thousand dollars or be less than one thousand dollars]; provided however, that the maximum amount which may be so contributed or accepted, in the aggregate, from any candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother and sister, and the spouse of any such persons, shall not exceed in the case of any election for party position or nomination for public office an amount equivalent to the number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the district in which he is a candidate, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.25 and in the case of any election to public office, an amount equivalent to the number of registered voters in the district, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.25; or twelve hundred fifty dollars, whichever is greater, or in the case of a nomination or election of a state senator, twenty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, or in the case of a nomination or election of a member of the assembly twelve thousand five hundred dollars, whichever is greater, but in no event shall any such maximum exceed one hundred thousand dollars.
c. At the beginning of each fourth calendar year, commencing in [nineteen hundred ninety-five] two thousand twenty-six, the state board shall determine the percentage of the difference between the most recent available monthly consumer price index for all urban consumers published
A. 5491 3
by the United States bureau of labor statistics and such consumer price index published for the same month four years previously. The amount of each contribution limit fixed and expressly identified for adjustment in this subdivision shall be adjusted by the amount of such percentage difference to the closest one hundred dollars by the state board which, not later than the first day of February in each such year, shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of each such contribution limit. Each contribution limit as so adjusted shall be the contribution limit in effect for any election held before the next such adjustment.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.