New York State Budget Makes Changes to Public Campaign Finance Program
By: Joseph T. Burns
As part of the recently approved state budget, the New York state legislature voted to make significant changes to the state’s public campaign finance program. Among the changes made to the program in the budget are:
- A provision allowing the first $250 of a qualifying donation for the primary and the general to be matchable as long as the donor does not contribute more than $1,050 in the primary election or general election;
- A provision that specifically defines when a candidate participating in the program is opposed by a competitive candidate, allowing the participating candidate to receive the maximum allowable public campaign funds; and
- A provision requiring the Public Campaign Finance Board to develop training to allow individuals to become Certified Compliance Officers.
The public finance program was approved as part of the 2020 New York State budget. Candidates running for state legislature, Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General are eligible to participate in the program. Candidates for state legislature could first participate in the program in the 2024 election, and candidates for statewide office will be able to participate in the program for the 2026 election.
The public campaign finance program is administered by the Public Campaign Finance Board. The PCFB is comprised of the four commissioners of the New York State Board of Elections, one appointee of the Republican leaders of the state legislature, one appointee of the Democratic leaders of the state legislature, and one appointee of the Governor.
In addition to the changes made to the public campaign finance program, the state legislature, as part of the state budget, approved a change to Article 6 of the Election Law that requires candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor to now run as a ticket in the primary election. Prior to this change, candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor were nominated in separate primary elections but ran together as a ticket in the general election.
The 2025 state legislative session is scheduled to end in June.
