CaliforniaPolitical Reform Act of 1974: top contributors: disclosures.
What it does
(1) Existing law permits the name of the committee that paid for certain video, print, electronic media, or text message advertisements to be shortened, as specified.
More detail
For purposes of this provision, this bill would clarify that a print advertisement includes a yard sign or a billboard and an electronic media advertisement means a graphic, image, animated graphic, or animated image that the online platform hosting the advertisement allows to link to an internet website paid for by the committee, as specified. For certain advertisements, the bill would permit the names of top contributors to be shortened by using approved abbreviations or leaving out words from the top contributor's name, as specified.
For printed advertisements larger than those designed to be individually distributed, such as yard signs and billboards, existing law permits the text of the disclosure to be adjusted so that it does not appear on separate horizontal lines, with the names of the top contributors separated by a comma.
This bill would define such advertisements as those that exceed 187 square inches. The bill would require the names of the top contributors to be separated by clearly visible bullet points or by inserting the applicable number (1, 2, or 3) before the names of the 3 largest contributors. The bill would specify the order in which required disclosures must appear on the advertisement. The bill would also extend these requirements to electronic advertisements displayed on a physical surface.
(2) Under existing law, an advertisement supporting or opposing a candidate that is paid for by an independent expenditure must include a statement that it was not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. If the advertisement was authorized or paid for by a candidate for another office, the expenditure must instead include a statement that "This advertisement was not authorized or paid for by a candidate for this office or a committee controlled by a candidate for this office."
This bill would shorten the above statements, respectively, to "Not paid for by candidate" and "Not paid for by a candidate for this office."
(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(4) The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.
This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 659, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 8Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 30Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded SB 900 McNerney Senate Third Reading By Solache. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB900 McNerney et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Aug 30Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6846.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 1Coauthors revised.
- Jun 4Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- May 28In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB900 McNerney et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4525.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 26Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4256.) (May 14).Major
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- May 4May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 22Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 21From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3971.) (April 21).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 21.
- Apr 8Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- Mar 23From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Feb 11Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jan 21From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 20.
- Jan 20Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced