CaliforniaAgencies could not fund large ads with their elected officials’ photos
Agencies would be barred from publishing or displaying covered public ads showing photos of elected officials tied to them when public money pays for distribution or creation.
What it does
Agencies could not publish or display billboards and other covered public ads with photos of elected officials tied to them if public money pays for distribution or for design, production, and printing.
If an agency and elected official work together to prepare a covered ad showing that official’s photo at public expense, each could owe the full amount of any civil or administrative penalty.
Breaking the new rule on publicly funded ads could be treated as a misdemeanor, a type of crime under California’s campaign law.
Argument forThe photo ban could keep agencies from using public money to raise an affiliated elected official’s profile through public ads.
Argument againstAgencies might have to leave an affiliated official’s photo off a publicly funded transit notice, even if it helps riders recognize who sent it.
More detail
Agencies would be barred from publishing or displaying these ads. Covered ads include billboards, ads wrapped around transit vehicles, ads attached to bus stops or other public structures, and other ads at least 24 by 36 inches that regulators name. The photo must show an elected official who serves on or works for the agency or one of its committees, oversees the agency, or appoints one of its members. Public money must pay for distribution or for design, production, and printing.
The agency and elected official would each be responsible for the full amount of any civil or administrative penalty. This applies to an agency and an elected official tied to it. The agency must work with the elected official to prepare an ad that violates the photo and public funding ban. This applies only if a civil or administrative penalty is imposed.
A violation of the new ad ban could be prosecuted as a misdemeanor. This concerns violations of the new ban on publicly funded ads showing an affiliated elected official’s photo.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 940, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 20Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 13Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6139.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2413 Ransom Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 11In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 10Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5324.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). 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 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Major
- Jun 22Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- May 12In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 11Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 5005.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2413 Ransom Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 6From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Apr 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
Government & Ethics