CaliforniaPolitical ethics law changes commission jobs and candidate filing rules
The enacted measure lets the ethics commission use separate job classes, requires more candidates to file online, and enlarges gift warnings on invitations.
What it does
The ethics commission may place nonclerical jobs in separate civil service classes instead of using a class shared with another state department or agency.
People seeking state or judicial office would file their signed candidate statements online or electronically with the Secretary of State, while other candidates use their required local filing office.
Covered invitation senders would have to print the reportable-gift warning in at least 10-point bold type, unless attending the event would not be a reportable gift.
The Legislature states that SB 1432 advances the purposes of the Political Reform Act.
Argument forLarger gift warnings could make it easier for public officials to notice when attending an event may count as accepting a reportable gift.
Argument againstCandidates and invitation senders may face additional filing or formatting work, especially when the new online filing and larger-print rules apply.
More detail
The Fair Political Practices Commission may place a nonclerical job in its own separate civil service class. This applies to nonclerical positions at the commission.
Candidates for state and judicial offices must file their statements of intention online or electronically with the Secretary of State. This covers people who intend to become candidates for elective state offices or judicial offices covered by the filing rules. The statement must be signed under penalty of perjury. Candidates for other elective offices continue to file with the appropriate local filing officer in the required location.
People who file the covered reports must use at least 10-point Roman boldface type for the required gift warning on covered invitations. This applies when a person filing a report sends a written or printed invitation to an elected state officer, state-office candidate, legislative official, or agency official. The warning must be easy to read and contrast with the invitation's background. The warning is not required when attending the event would not count as accepting a reportable gift. Violations are subject to the remedies specified for this section.
The Legislature declares that this measure furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act. This declaration applies to SB 1432 as a measure amending the Political Reform 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 14Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 235, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5982.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB1432 E. & C.A. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 13In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1432 Elections and Constitutional Amendments Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6159.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 18Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- May 7In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd SB1432 E. & C.A. Result: pass.Upper
- May 7Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4168.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 5Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- May 4From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 21From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3972.) (April 21). 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
- Apr 14From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Major
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 21.
- Mar 18Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- Mar 6From printer. May be acted upon on or after April 5.
- Mar 5Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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