Contributions & Gifts to Officials

Prohibited Campaign Contributions

The Governor, members of the Legislature, constitutional officers of the State, and their staff or agents are prohibited from intentionally soliciting or accepting a contribution from a lobbyist, lobbyist associate, or lobbyist's client or employer at any time during a legislative session until final adjournment of the session. It is also a violation for a lobbyist, lobbyist associate, or client to intentionally make a contribution to these covered officials during the session.

These prohibitions also apply to contributions directly and indirectly solicited or accepted by, or given, offered and promised to a political action committee, ballot question committee, or party committee of which the Governor, a member of the Legislature, a constitutional officer, or the staff or agent of these officials is a treasurer, officer, or primary fundraiser, or decision-maker.

This prohibition does not apply to certain non-partisan, charitable events, or to solicitations or contributions related to a special election or a Legislator’s campaign for federal office. For more information, please read Contributions During Legislative Session or refer to § 1015-A  of the Legislative Ethics Law.

Gifts to Legislators and Officials

Lobbyists must include in their monthly reports a record of any money paid directly to or on behalf of legislators, officials of the legislative branch, and members of their immediate family.

Legislators must report on their annual financial disclosure statement gifts worth more than $300 and honoraria .

The Legislative Ethics Law forbids a Legislator or a member of his or her immediate family from accepting a gift (other than a campaign contribution) from persons affected by legislation or who have an interest in a business affected by proposed legislation, where it is known or reasonably should be known that the purpose of the donor in making the gift is to influence the Legislator in the performance of his official duties or vote, or is intended as a reward for action on his part. For more information, please see Section 1014(B) of the Legislative Ethics Law and the Commission's guidance to Legislators.