New Jersey S 1431: Establishes various good governance requirements at State and local authorities.

Bill Text

S1431 

SENATE, No. 1431 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN

District 20 (Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Makes various changes to reporting requirements for 
independent expenditure committees.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning campaign finance disclosures and amending P.L.1973, 
c.83, P.L.1993, c.65, and P.L.1995, c.391.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

����� 1.�� Section 3 of P.L.1973, 
c.83 (C.19:44A-3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� As used in this act, 
unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

���� a.���� (Deleted by amendment, 
P.L.1993, c.65.)

���� b.��� (Deleted by amendment, 
P.L.1993, c.65.)

���� c.���� The term 
"candidate" means: (1) an individual seeking election to a public 
office of the State or of a county, municipality or school district at an 
election; except that the term shall not include an individual seeking party 
office; (2) an individual who shall have been elected or failed of election to 
an office, other than a party office, for which he sought election and who 
receives contributions and makes expenditures for any of the purposes 
authorized by section 17 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.2) during the period of 
his service in that office; and (3) an individual who has received funds or 
other benefits or has made payments solely for the purpose of determining 
whether the individual should become a candidate as defined in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of this subsection.

���� d.��� The terms 
"contributions" and "expenditures" include all loans and 
transfers of money or other thing of value to or by any candidate, candidate 
committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing 
political committee, independent expenditure committee, political party 
committee or legislative leadership committee, and all pledges or other 
commitments or assumptions of liability to make any such transfer; and for 
purposes of reports required under the provisions of this act shall be deemed 
to have been made upon the date when such commitment is made or liability 
assumed.

���� e.���� The term 
"election" means any election described in section 4 of this act.

���� f.���� The term "paid 
personal services" means personal, clerical, administrative or 
professional services of every kind and nature including, without limitation, 
public relations, research, legal, canvassing, telephone, speech writing or 
other such services, performed other than on a voluntary basis, the salary, 
cost or consideration for which is paid, borne or provided by someone other 
than the committee, candidate or organization for whom such services are 
rendered.� In determining the value, for the purpose of reports required under 
this act, of contributions made in the form of paid personal services, the 
person contributing such services shall furnish to the treasurer through whom 
such contribution is made a statement setting forth the actual amount of compensation 
paid by said contributor to the individuals actually performing said services 
for the performance thereof.� But if any individual or individuals actually 
performing such services also performed for the contributor other services 
during the same period, and the manner of payment was such that payment for the 
services contributed cannot readily be segregated from contemporary payment for 
the other services, the contributor shall in his statement to the treasurer so 
state and shall either (1) set forth his best estimate of the dollar amount of 
payment to each such individual which is attributable to the contribution of 
his paid personal services, and shall certify the substantial accuracy of the 
same, or (2) if unable to determine such amount with sufficient accuracy, set 
forth the total compensation paid by him to each such individual for the period 
of time during which the services contributed by him were performed.� If any 
candidate is a holder of public office to whom there is attached or assigned, 
by virtue of said office, any aide or aides whose services are of a personal or 
confidential nature in assisting him to carry out the duties of said office, 
and whose salary or other compensation is paid in whole or part out of public 
funds, the services of such aide or aides which are paid for out of public 
funds shall be for public purposes only; but they may contribute their personal 
services, on a voluntary basis, to such candidate for election campaign 
purposes.

���� g.��� (Deleted by amendment, 
P.L.1983, c.579.)

���� h.��� The term "political 
information" means any statement including, but not limited to, press 
releases, pamphlets, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, form letters, 
Internet or digital advertisements, or radio or television programs or 
advertis