What's happening
This bill lowers campaign contribution limits for statewide and legislative offices in New York and changes how those limits are adjusted for inflation.
Why it matters
Significantly reduces the maximum amount individuals and committees can contribute to statewide and legislative candidates. , which could decrease the influence of large donors and potentially level the playing field for candidates with less access to wealthy supporters.
Revises the formula and timing for inflation adjustments to contribution limits. , delaying the next adjustment until 2026 and specifying that only limits “expressly identified for adjustment” will be changed, possibly slowing the growth of allowed contributions over time and making future increases more predictable.
Maintains special, higher contribution allowances for immediate family members. , but these caps are also lowered for most offices, which curtails the ability of families to provide outsized financial support while still recognizing close familial support.
May encourage a shift in campaign fundraising strategies. by making small and mid-sized donations relatively more important, which could make candidate campaigns more responsive to a broader base of constituents rather than a few major donors.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Campaign Donation Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2148
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, ADDABBO, HOYLMAN, SERRANO, STAVISKY -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 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04003-01-9
S. 2148 2
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 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
S. 2148 3
available monthly consumer price index for all urban consumers published 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to contributions to candidates and political committees
Purpose
This bill would lower contribution limits for statewide candidates to $6,000 for the primary and $6,000 for the general election. Senate candidates would be limited to $4,000 for the primary and $4,000 for the general election and Assembly candidates would be limited to $2,000 for the primary, and $2,000 for the general election.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law, lowering the contribution limits to $6,000 each for the primary and general elections for statewide offices, $4,000 each for the primary and general elections for the State Senate, and $2,000 each for the primary and general elections for State Assembly.
Justification
This bill will drastically reduce contribution limits to political campaigns. It is widely believed that New York's campaign finance laws need substantial revision to ensure the integrity of elections in the state. This bill addresses one of the ways that New York's laws differ significantly from the laws of other states that regulate campaign contributions: by addressing the sky high contribution limits for candi- dates.
Prior legislative history
2018: Died in Elections 2017: Died in Elections 2016: Died in Elections 2015: Died in Elections 2014: S7181 - Gianaris - Died in Senate Elections Committee
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
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.