Hochul, NYS lawmakers eye changing rules on public campaign financing, sources say
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference in the Queens on Nov. 26, 2024. Hochul and state lawmakers are considering raising the threshold a candidate has to raise before qualifying for public campaign funds. Credit: AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
ALBANY — As part of state budget talks, lawmakers are discussing new rules for publicly financed campaigns, tweaking a restriction on contributions greater than $250, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, the State Senate and Assembly are considering changing the terms for receiving public funds for campaigns. They also are considering a pay-back-what-money-you-did-not-use provision, the sources said.
The campaign finance changes could be tucked into a final budget agreement, the sources said. Hochul and lawmakers are negotiating a state spending plan that was supposed to be in place April 1.
New York State instituted a public financing mechanism for campaigns in 2019. Backers said it would diminish the influence of big donors, help more challengers mount campaigns and make elections more competitive. The system took effect for the 2024 campaigns and generated support from many Republican and Democratic candidates.
Those who want matching funds have to show backing to jump start the process. Currently, for example, candidates for Assembly must raise $6,000 from at least 75 residents in their district before they qualify for matching funds. In the Senate, it is $12,000 from 150 residents.
If qualified, a sliding formula roughly means a legislative candidate could receive $1,050 for the first $100 in private donations; the ratio declines after that.
The law says that if a donor gives more than $250, then no part of the donation is eligible for matching fund.
Negotiations are centering on that provision, among other terms. One idea under discussion is allowing a donor to give more than $250 but have just the first $250 count toward the matching grant program.
This isn’t a wholly new idea. The State Legislature approved a version in 2023, which would have altered the $250 limit and, for example, increased the Assembly requirements to $10,000 in donations from 145 residents.
Good government groups opposed that bill, saying it would make terms too daunting for many challengers and eliminate some of the restraints on big donors.
Hochul vetoed the bill.
The sources said current talks include "elements" of the 2023 bill but not all of it.
ALBANY — As part of state budget talks, lawmakers are discussing new rules for publicly financed campaigns, tweaking a restriction on contributions greater than $250, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, the State Senate and Assembly are considering changing the terms for receiving public funds for campaigns. They also are considering a pay-back-what-money-you-did-not-use provision, the sources said.
The campaign finance changes could be tucked into a final budget agreement, the sources said. Hochul and lawmakers are negotiating a state spending plan that was supposed to be in place April 1.
New York State instituted a public financing mechanism for campaigns in 2019. Backers said it would diminish the influence of big donors, help more challengers mount campaigns and make elections more competitive. The system took effect for the 2024 campaigns and generated support from many Republican and Democratic candidates.
Those who want matching funds have to show backing to jump start the process. Currently, for example, candidates for Assembly must raise $6,000 from at least 75 residents in their district before they qualify for matching funds. In the Senate, it is $12,000 from 150 residents.
If qualified, a sliding formula roughly means a legislative candidate could receive $1,050 for the first $100 in private donations; the ratio declines after that.
The law says that if a donor gives more than $250, then no part of the donation is eligible for matching fund.
Negotiations are centering on that provision, among other terms. One idea under discussion is allowing a donor to give more than $250 but have just the first $250 count toward the matching grant program.
This isn’t a wholly new idea. The State Legislature approved a version in 2023, which would have altered the $250 limit and, for example, increased the Assembly requirements to $10,000 in donations from 145 residents.
Good government groups opposed that bill, saying it would make terms too daunting for many challengers and eliminate some of the restraints on big donors.
Hochul vetoed the bill.
The sources said current talks include "elements" of the 2023 bill but not all of it.
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