Legislation that would force more political action organizations that raise “dark money” to influence New Jersey elections to disclose their donors is now on Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.

The bill picked up momentum after state Senate President Stephen Sweeney backed it in an attempt to put pressure on a Murphy-aligned group that broke its promise to be transparent and show who donated to it.

It cleared both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature with broad bi-partisan support Monday.

But whether or not Murphy, a Democrat, will sign the bill into law is in question since it takes aim at one of his close advisers.

Under current state law, so-called super PACs, 527 groups, and 501(c)4 “social welfare” organizations are allowed to keep their donors secret as long as they spend less than half of their funds on political activities.

But the legislation (S1500) would require groups to disclose donors who gave $10,000 or more.

"Information is power and we need to arm voters with the most information possible,” state Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said.

“More disclosure will inform residents about groups working to influence political and legislative processes,” Zwicker, D-Somerset, said. "Greater transparency will lead to an increase in voter confidence and that’s a good thing for New Jersey and for democracy.”

An analysis by ELEC found the top 25 special-interest groups in the Garden State spent $74 million trying to influence elections and policies in 2017, with $41 million coming from “dark money” groups.

The legislation was thrust into the news in recent months after Sweeney went after the pro-Murphy group New Direction New Jersey, a 501(c)4 run by members of Murphy’s inner circle, including Brendan Gill, who was the governor’s campaign manager.

New Direction gained attention, and angered Sweeney, last year after running ads advocating for the Democratic governor’s agenda during tense budget negotiations last summer with Democratic leaders in the Legislature.

The group promised name its donors by the end of last year. But that still hasn’t happened, even though Murphy has repeatedly called on the organization’s leaders to be transparent.

When the group broke its promise to disclose its donors, Sweeney called for legislation that would force New Direction New Jersey to do so by having the bill require disclosure retroactive to January 2018.

That provision, however, was stripped from the bill that was sent to Murphy.

But the final version would bar elected officials from having any involvement in independent expenditure committees, which is a clear swipe at Gill, who is an Essex County freeholder. The measure would likely face a court challenge if Murphy signs the bill.

The bill passed the state Senate 33-0 and the Assembly 66-2 on Monday.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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