Reduces threshold for filing annual disclosure statement with ELEC from $50,000 in public contracts to $17,500.

A4130

ASSEMBLY, No. 4130

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Reduces threshold for filing annual disclosure
statement with ELEC from $50,000 in public contracts to $17,500.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the filing of annual disclosure statements
for political contributions and amending P.L.2005, c.271.

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

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.2005,
c.271 (C.19:44A-20.27) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.� a.� Any business entity
making a contribution of money or any other thing of value, including an
in-kind contribution, or pledge to make a contribution of any kind to a
candidate for or the holder of any public office having ultimate responsibility
for the awarding of public contracts, or to a political committee or continuing
political committee, which has received in any calendar year
[
$50,000
]

$17,500

or more in the aggregate through agreements or contracts with a public entity,
shall file an annual disclosure statement with the New Jersey Election Law
Enforcement Commission, established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1973, c.83
(C.19:44A-5), setting forth all such contributions made by the business entity
during the 12 months prior to the reporting deadline.

���� b.��� The commission shall
prescribe forms and procedures for the reporting required in subsection a. of
this section which shall include, but not be limited to:

���� (1) the name and mailing
address of the business entity making the contribution, and the amount
contributed during the 12 months prior to the reporting deadline;

���� (2) the name of the candidate
for or the holder of any public office having ultimate responsibility for the
awarding of public contracts, candidate committee, joint candidates committee,
political committee or continuing political committee receiving the
contribution; and

���� (3) the amount of money the
business entity received from the public entity through contract or agreement,
the dates, and information identifying each contract or agreement and
describing the goods, services or equipment provided or property sold.

���� c.���� The commission shall
maintain a list of such reports for public inspection both at its office and
through its Internet site.�
The commission shall also publish on its Internet
site a link to the official Internet site of the Division of Purchase and
Property in the Department of the Treasury, along with a notice that
procurement information specific to the award of public contracts by State
agencies may be accessed thereon.

���� d.��� When a business entity
is a natural person, a contribution by that person's spouse or child, residing
therewith, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity.� When a
business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by any person or
other business entity having an interest therein shall be deemed to be a
contribution by the business entity.� When a business entity is other than a
natural person, a contribution by: all principals, partners, officers, or
directors of the business entity, or their spouses; any subsidiaries directly
or indirectly controlled by the business entity; or any political organization
organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that is directly or
indirectly controlled by the business entity, other than a candidate committee,
election fund, or political party committee, shall be deemed to be a
contribution by the business entity.

���� As used in this section:

���� "business entity"
means a for-profit entity that is a natural or legal person, business
corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association or any other
legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or of any other
state or foreign jurisdiction; and

���� "interest" means the
ownership or control of more than 10% of the profits or assets of a business
entity or 10% of the stock in the case of a business entity that is a
corporation for profit, as appropriate.

���� e.���� Any business entity
that fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a
fine imposed by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in an amount
to be determined by the commission which may be based upon the amount that the
business entity failed to report.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.30, s.21)

���� 2.��� The Department of the
Treasury shall publish notice of the adjusted threshold amount for filing an
annual disclosure statement in accordance with section 3 of P.L.2005, c.271
(C.19:44A-20.27) on its website and on the webpage for the Division of Purchase
and Property.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the calendar year next following enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill reduces the threshold
for filing an annual disclosure statement with the New Jersey Election Law
Enforcement Commission (ELEC) from $50,000 in public contracts to $17,500.
Currently, any business entity that has received public contracts in an amount
equaling or exceeding $50,000 in the aggregate over the course of a calendar
year is required to file an annual disclosure statement with ELEC if the entity
has made certain political contributions. The bill would reduce that amount to $17,500.

���� Under current law, a business
entity that has received in any calendar year $50,000 or more in the aggregate in
public contracts must file an annual disclosure statement with ELEC if the
entity has made a political contribution to a candidate for public office, or a
sitting public official, responsible for awarding public contracts, or to a
political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political
committee, or continuing political committee. The report must include all
contributions made by the business entity during the preceding 12 months.

���� State agencies may not enter
into a contract in an amount over $17,500 with a business entity that has
solicited or made any contributions to a candidate for or holder of the public
office of Governor or of Lieutenant Governor, or to any State or county
political party committee in the preceding 18 months. This bill will more
closely align the reporting requirements to that threshold by requiring annual
disclosure statements for contracts that exceed $17,500 in the aggregate over
the course of a year.

���� The bill also requires ELEC to
publish on its Internet site a link to the official Internet site of the
Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, along with
a notice that procurement information specific to the award of public contracts
by State agencies may be accessed thereon. The Department of the Treasury is to
publish notice of the new threshold amount on its website and on the webpage
for the Division of Purchase and Property.