CaliforniaPolitical Reform Act of 1974: contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals.
What it does
The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of political campaigns, lobbying, and other matters relating to governmental ethics and elections. The act prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal from making any contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, a state or local ballot measure or an election for a state or local office. The act prohibits a person or committee from soliciting or accepting a contribution from a foreign government or foreign principal for the same purposes.
More detail
The act makes a violation of these prohibitions a misdemeanor.
This bill would expand the prohibitions described above to apply to foreign nationals. The bill would define "foreign national" as a person who is not a citizen of the United States and who is not a lawfully admitted permanent resident. The bill would exclude from this definition a person who has been granted deferred action, and whose deferred action has not expired, under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as described in guidelines issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose 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.
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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 1Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 170, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 1Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 16Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 9Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3115.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 953 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 8In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB953 Pacheco et al. By Umberg. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 8Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2608.).Passed Senate
- Jul 17Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jul 17From Consent Calendar.
- Jul 15Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 14From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 18Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- May 23In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 953 Pacheco Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 23Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 1663.)Passed Assembly
- May 15Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- May 1Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 30From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 30).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Mar 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced