CaliforniaPolitical Reform Act of 1974: lobbyist employers: fictitious appearances.
What it does
(1) Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a lobbyist or lobbying firm from attempting to create a fictitious appearance of public favor or disfavor of any proposed legislative or administrative action or to cause any communication to be sent to any elected state officer, legislative official, agency official, or state candidate in the name of any fictitious person or in the name of any real person, except with the consent of the real person.
More detail
The act defines "lobbyist employer" as any person, other than a lobbying firm, who employs one or more lobbyists or contracts for the services of a lobbying firm, as specified.
This bill would extend the above prohibition to lobbyist employers.
(2) 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.
(3) A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a prohibition under the act, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime and therefore create a state-mandated local program.
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.
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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
- Jul 13Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 71, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Jul 13Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Jul 2Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Jun 25In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 5015.).Passed Senate
- Jun 23Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 22From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 9From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 9). 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
- May 6Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- Apr 23In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1736 Pellerin Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4794.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 16Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Feb 6From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.
- Feb 5Read first time. To print.Introduced