Bill Expanding Political Disclaimer Requirements in NYS Signed into Law
By: Joseph T. Burns
On December 5, 2025, New York State Governor Kathy Hohul signed into law a bill that expands the requirement that most political and campaign materials identify the political committee paying for the materials. Specifically, the new law requires that the public-facing web sites of political committees contain a “Paid for by” disclaimer.
Most print, video, and audio advertisements paid for by political committees are required to identify the political committee paying for the advertisement. This includes television ads, radio ads, palm cards and direct mail pieces. Other items such as lawn signs, bumper stickers, and other promotional items are exempt from this requirement.
The new law applies this disclaimer requirement to the public-facing web sites of political committees. To comply with this new requirement, political committees will need to clearly display on all web pages of their public-facing web site a disclaimer identifying the entity paying for the web site.
The new law applies to all political committees with public-facing web sites. This includes the web sites of county and state party committees, candidates for state office, candidates for local office, party committees, and PACs.
In addition, the bill amends the definition of “independent expenditure” to include expenditures made by independent expenditure committees that take the form of a public-facing website.
Candidates, party leaders, and political consultants for independent expenditure committees should understand these new obligations and the potential penalties if the appropriate disclaimers are not displayed on a committee’s public-facing website. Those who are unsure of what is now required should seek advice from experienced counsel.
