CaliforniaLobbyists would take an online ethics course and face new limits
Starting in 2029, lobbyists would use a commission-run online ethics course, and people convicted of public corruption could not lobby for 12 years.
What it does
Lobbyists would get an on-demand course on ethical duties and harassment policies. The commission may charge a fee, and legislative ethics committees would approve the harassment-policy content.
People convicted of public corruption could not lobby for 12 years, and any current lobbyist certification would become void upon conviction. The ban also applies after a pardon.
Lobbyists would have to certify under penalty of perjury that they have no public corruption conviction from the past 12 years. The Secretary of State could not accept a certification without that statement.
Argument forAn on-demand course could help lobbyists learn harassment rules and ethical duties when they need the information.
Argument againstA 12-year ban, even after a pardon, could keep people with public corruption convictions from working as lobbyists long after their sentence ends.
More detail
The Fair Political Practices Commission would provide an online ethics course for registered lobbyists. The course is for registered lobbyists and covers lobbying ethics, relevant laws, and each house’s policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, connected to lobbying. The legislative ethics committees would help develop the course and have final say over its harassment-policy content. The commission may charge a $50 fee and must adjust it every other year for inflation, rounded to the nearest $10. Unused fees collected by the legislative ethics committees before the change would go to the commission to develop the course. The commission’s course duties begin January 1, 2029.
A person convicted of public corruption could not act as a lobbyist for 12 years, and the person’s existing lobbyist certification would become void upon conviction. Public corruption means a crime described in Section 20 of the Elections Code. The ban applies even if the person is pardoned for the conviction. The 12-year period runs from the conviction date.
A lobbyist would have to sign a statement under penalty of perjury that they have not been convicted of public corruption in the previous 12 years. This applies to each person submitting an individual lobbyist certification for registration. The Secretary of State must reject a certification that lacks the statement. The certification requirement takes effect January 1, 2029.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 479, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31
- Vote recorded AB 2592 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6923.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2592 Pacheco et al. By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 30Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Jun 29In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5335.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2592 Pacheco Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 20Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 16Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 23Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Mar 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 19Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
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