Int. No.
By Council Members Feliz, Carr, Brewer and Wong
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring disclosures on third-party public communications paid for with government resources
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 49 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 1136.2 to read as follows:
§ 1136.2. Disclosure for third-party public communications funded with government resources. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Public servant. The term “public servant” means all officials, officers, and employees of the city, including members of community boards and members of advisory committees, not including unpaid members of advisory committees.
Third-party public communication. The term “third-party public communication” means any published communication, including but not limited to any content posted on an internet website, digital application, or social media platform, where the author of such communication is either (i) not a public servant or agency or (ii) not clearly identified as a public servant or agency.
b. 1. No public servant shall use or authorize the use of governmental funds or resources for a third-party public communication unless such communication includes a disclosure in accordance with the requirements of this subdivision.
2. The disclosure required pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subdivision shall contain:
(a) On any text or graphical communication, written in a conspicuous size and style, the words “Paid Partnership with” followed by “the City of New York” or the name of the agency that provided governmental funds or resources for such communication.
(b) On any audio communication, clearly spoken in a pitch and tone substantially similar to the rest of the communication, at the beginning or end of the communication, the words "Paid partnership with" followed by “the City of New York” or the name of the agency that provided governmental funds or resources for such communication.
(c) On any video communication, clearly spoken in a pitch and tone substantially similar to the rest of the communication, at the beginning or end of the communication, and simultaneously written in a conspicuous size and style, the words "Paid partnership with" followed by “the City of New York” or the name of the agency that provided governmental funds or resources for such communication.
3. If a graphical, audio, or video communication for which disclosure is required under this subdivision includes a text caption, such text shall also include a disclosure in accordance with subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this subdivision.
4. For communications primarily in languages other than English for which disclosure is required under this subdivision, such disclosure shall be in the primary language of the communication instead of English.
c. The intentional or knowing violation of this section shall be punishable as a misdemeanor in addition to any other penalty as may be provided under law. Additionally, the campaign finance board and the conflicts of interest board shall have the power to investigate and determine whether any use of governmental funds or resources pursuant to subdivision b of this section is a violation of such subdivision, and to assess civil penalties, upon giving notice and the opportunity to be heard, against public servants, in an amount not in excess of $10,000 for each such violation.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
REC
LS #26239 and 26328
09/11/2026 12:17 PM