NY S03668

Increases eligibility thresholds for state legislative candidates seeking public matching funds: State Senate candidates must raise $24,000 (up from $12,000) with 350 matchable contributions (up from 100); Assembly candidates must raise $10,000 (up from $6,000) with 145 matchable contributions (up from 75)

Redefines "surplus" to mean only unspent public matching funds rather than total contributions plus public funds, and reduces maximum public funds for Assembly candidates from $175,000 to $145,000 per election

Establishes specific criteria for determining when a candidate faces a "competitive" opponent, including prior election margins within 20 points, endorsements from elected officials, family members who held office, or opponents who self-fund above certain thresholds

Requires all political communications by participating candidates to include the disclosure "New York State Public Campaign Finance Program participant" on ads, mailings, emails, and digital content reaching 500+ people

Bars candidates from participating in the program if they owe payments, repayments, or civil penalties from this or any local public campaign finance program within the previous 10 years