Legislation Details

File #: T2026-2555    Version: * Name: Prohibiting candidates from appearing in certain government-funded third-party communications during an election campaign.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation
On agenda: 9/24/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to prohibiting candidates from appearing in certain government-funded third-party communications during an election campaign
Sponsors: David M. Carr, Phil Wong , Frank Morano
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This bill would prohibit a public servant who is a candidate for elective office from appearing or otherwise participating in any third-party public communications, including social media posts, using governmental resources during the 90-day period prior to an election.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No., 2. Int. No., 3. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 4. Committee Report 9/22/26

Int. No.

 

By Council Members Carr, Wong and Morano

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to prohibiting candidates from appearing in certain government-funded third-party communications during an election campaign

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 1136.1 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:

(h) “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.

§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 1136.1 of the New York city charter, as amended by local law number 58 for the year 2004, is amended to read as follows:

(b) (1) No public servant who is a candidate for nomination or election to any elective office or the spouse of such public servant shall appear or otherwise participate in any third-party public communication which is funded, in whole or part, by governmental funds or resources and is published less than 90 days prior to any primary or general election for any elective office for which such person is a candidate for nomination or election.

(2) No public servant who is a candidate for nomination or election to any elective office or the spouse of such public servant shall use, cause another person to use, or participate in the use of governmental funds or resources for a mass mailing that is postmarked, if mailed, or delivered, if by other means, less than [ninety] 90 days prior to any primary or general election for any elective office for which [office] such person is a candidate for nomination or election; provided, however, that a candidate may send one mass mailing, which shall be postmarked, if mailed, or delivered, if by other means, no later than [twenty-one] 21 days after the adoption of the executive budget pursuant to section [two hundred fifty-four] 254. No such mass mailing shall be intentionally sent to individuals outside the particular council district, borough, or other geographic area represented by such candidate.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.

JPA

LS #26318

9/11/26