Prohibits line-item appropriations, grants, or disbursements from lump sum appropriations to be directed to organizations engaged in political activities.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8505
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting line-
item appropriations for organizations engaged in political activities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section
2 53-e to read as follows:
3 § 53-e. Prohibition on line-item appropriations for organizations
4 engaged in political activities. 1. For the purposes of this section,
5 the following terms shall have the following meanings:
6 (a) "Political activity" means any action, communication or expendi-
7 ture which constitutes participation or intervention, directly or indi-
8 rectly, in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any
9 candidate for office, political party, fundraising, or voter registra-
10 tion.
11 (b) "Candidate for public office" means an individual who offers them-
12 self, or is proposed by others, as a contestant for a national, state,
13 or local elective public office, whether such office is to be filled at
14 a primary, general, or special election. An individual shall be deemed
15 to be a candidate for public office for the purposes of this section
16 upon the occurrence of any of the actions specified in subdivision one
17 of section 14-100 of the election law.
18 2. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, it shall be prohibited for
19 any line-item appropriation, grant, or disbursement from a lump sum
20 appropriation pursuant to a resolution or memorandum of understanding to
21 be directed to any organization or entity engaged in political activity.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13695-01-5
