CaliforniaCandidates and campaign treasurers must complete rules courses
Starting in 2029, candidates and campaign committee treasurers must take campaign rules courses, and their committees cannot accept contributions until they finish.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2029, candidates with registered campaign committees must take a course on campaign rules for the office they seek. Their committees cannot accept contributions until the candidate finishes.
Starting January 1, 2029, candidate committee treasurers must take a course on campaign rules that apply to the committee. The committee cannot accept contributions until its treasurer finishes.
The commission must offer the courses online, and people may complete them when convenient as long as they meet the deadline. Candidate courses may take up to 90 minutes; treasurer courses up to 120 minutes.
Argument forShort online courses could help candidates and treasurers understand campaign rules before handling campaign money.
Argument againstCandidates or committees that miss a training deadline could lose the ability to accept contributions, which may disrupt fundraising until the required course is complete.
More detail
Starting January 1, 2029, a candidate with a registered committee must complete a campaign rules course. This applies to a candidate with a committee registered for the elective office the candidate seeks. A person who completed similar training required by a local government ethics agency by the deadline is exempt; the commission decides whether the training is similar. A candidate whose committee was registered before January 1, 2029, must finish by February 28, 2029, if they still intend to run in an election after that date. A candidate whose committee registers on or after January 1, 2029, must finish within 30 days of registration.
Starting January 1, 2029, a candidate committee’s treasurer must complete a course on campaign rules that apply to the committee. This applies to the treasurer identified on a candidate committee’s registration. A person who completed similar training required by a local government ethics agency by the deadline is exempt; the commission decides whether the training is similar. For a committee registered before January 1, 2029, that has not ended by February 28, 2029, the treasurer must finish by February 28 if they have not completed a commission course. For a committee registered on or after January 1, 2029, the treasurer must finish within 30 days if they have not completed a commission course in the previous four years.
The commission must develop, maintain, and offer both courses online. The courses cover campaign rules for the candidate’s office and the committee, respectively. Candidates may take no more than 90 minutes; treasurers may take no more than 120 minutes. Each person may complete the course at their convenience, subject to the applicable deadline. The course length limits and online access apply to the courses required by this section.
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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 477, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 28Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 24Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 1. Page 6403.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1789 Boerner Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded Special Consent AB1789 Boerner By Cervantes. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 20Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5590.).Passed Senate
- Aug 18Ordered to special consent calendar.
- 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 8From 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 3Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1789 Boerner Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5362.)Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 21Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 20Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 16From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15).Major
- Apr 15
- 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 11From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
- Feb 10Read first time. To print.Introduced
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