What's happening
This bill prohibits lobbyists, PACs, labor unions, and certain registrants from making loans to candidates or political committees.
Why it matters
Limits sources of candidate funding. By banning loans from lobbyists, PACs, labor unions, and certain registered individuals, the bill closes off a significant channel through which outside interests could exert financial influence over political campaigns.
Targets indirect influence. Loans, unlike direct donations, can be a subtle way for powerful groups to gain leverage over politicians by putting them in debt; this bill addresses that loophole, aiming to reduce potential conflicts of interest or undue influence.
Maintains candidate self-financing. The bill allows lobbyists who are running for office to loan money to their own campaigns, meaning it doesn’t restrict self-funded candidates, only external sources, preserving one avenue for personal investment in a campaign.
Expands the scope of regulation. By including not just lobbyists but also PACs, labor unions, and anyone registered for certain campaign activities, the bill broadens the effort to insulate candidates and political committees from a wide range of special-interest financial pressures.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Loans from Lobbyists
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Loans to Campaigns
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1350
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, AKSHAR -- 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 prohibiting certain loans to be made to candidates or political committees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 14-114 of the election law is amended by adding a new paragraph c to read as follows:
c. Lobbyists, as defined by subdivision (a) of section one-c of the legislative law or by subdivision (a) of section 3-211 of the New York city administrative code, political action committees, labor unions, and any person who has registered with the state board of elections pursuant to subdivision three of section 14-107 of this article are prohibited from making loans to candidates or political committees; provided, however, that a lobbyist shall not be prohibited from making a loan to himself or herself or to his or her own political committee when such lobbyist is a candidate for office.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05076-01-9
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 prohibiting certain loans to be made to candidates or political committees
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill prohibits registered lobbyists, political action committees, labor unions and independent expenditure committees from making loans to candidates or political committees.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill prohibits registered lobbyists, political action committees, labor unions and independent expenditure committees from making loans to candidates or political committees, except a lobbyist may make a loan to himself or herself or his or her own political committee when the lobbyist is a candidate.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Registered lobbyists, political action committees, labor unions and independent expenditure committees have been making loans to candidates for political office. These loans have the effect of laying the ground- work for pay-to-play schemes before a candidate is even elected. By prohibiting registered lobbyists, political action committees and labor unions from making loans to candidates or their political committees, we can begin to restore the public's trust in government.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.9016 (Serino), Referred to Rules/A.3036B (Abinanti), Passed Assembly 2017-18: S.918A (Croci), Advanced to Third Reading 2016: S7474A (Croci), Reported to Rules
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.