CaliforniaPolitical Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026.
What it does
Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a public officer from expending, and a candidate from accepting, public moneys for the purpose of seeking elective office.
More detail
This bill would remove prohibitions imposed on a public officer or candidate to expend or accept public funds, as defined, for the purpose of seeking elective office unless the funds are earmarked by a state or local entity for education, transportation, or public safety. The bill would require candidates to abide by specified expenditure limits and meet strict criteria, as defined, to qualify for public funds. The bill would prohibit public funds from being used to pay legal defense fees or fines or to repay personal loans to their campaign. The bill would permit a statute, ordinance, or charter to establish standards to increase the expenditure limits for each qualified, voluntarily participating candidate pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would provide that the Fair Political Practices Commission is not responsible for administering or enforcing a system of public funding of candidates established by a local governmental agency.
Existing law prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal, as defined, from making a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, any state or local ballot measure or in connection with the election of a candidate to state or local office. Under existing law, a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine equal to the amount contributed or expended.
This bill would instead require that a person guilty of that misdemeanor, in addition to other penalties, be fined an amount at least equal to the amount contributed or expended, but not exceeding a maximum amount of 3 times the amount contributed or expended.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the act may be amended by a statute that becomes effective upon approval of the voters.
This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of the bill, as specified, to the voters for approval at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 85320 of the Government Code proposed by AB 953 to be operative pursuant to specified conditions.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 2Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 2Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 23Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 13Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 3038.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB42 Umberg et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded SB 42 Umberg Senate Third Reading By Lee. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 13In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Sep 12Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3424.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 3Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 3Read third time and amended.Major
- Sep 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 16July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 2Coauthors revised.
- Jun 25From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Major
- Jun 9Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and APPR.Minor
- Jun 3In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Jun 2Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1372.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB42 Umberg et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1189.) (May 23).Major
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- Apr 21April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 4Set for hearing April 21.
- Apr 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 1From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 608.) (April 1).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 20Set for hearing April 1.
- Feb 14Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and APPR.Minor
- Feb 5From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Jan 29Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jan 6Read first time.Minor
- 2024
- Dec 6From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 5.
- Dec 5Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced