All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 0
CaliforniaAB 8082025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Statements of economic interests.
Sponsored By: Dawn Addis (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
24 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 7 costs, 11 mixed.
Campaign funds can cover security
Campaign funds may pay for home, office, and personal security, and for cybersecurity hardware, software, and services. Payments cannot go to certain relatives or for firearms. Tangible items must be returned to the committee or reimbursed within one year after leaving office, unless there is a verified continuing threat. By default, payments for security are capped at $10,000 total per person. If this law and AB 789 are both enacted by January 1, 2026 and this law is later, there is no dollar cap until January 1, 2029; starting then, the cap is $10,000 per calendar year per person. All costs must be reported and documented.
Voluntary spending caps for candidates
Candidates may choose to accept spending caps. Assembly: $400,000 in the primary and $700,000 in the general. Senate: $600,000 primary and $900,000 general. State Board of Equalization: $1,000,000 primary and $1,500,000 general. Statewide (not Governor/BOE): $4,000,000 primary and $6,000,000 general. Governor: $6,000,000 primary and $10,000,000 general. These caps bind only candidates who opt in.
Gift cap, honoraria ban, behested rules
Officials and candidates may not accept over $250 in gifts from a single source in a year. The ethics agency adjusts this cap for inflation every odd‑numbered January 1, rounded to the nearest $10. Elected officials and candidates also may not accept honoraria, with narrow exceptions like judicial duties and some higher‑education roles. A behested‑payment report is not required for certain public appeals on TV, radio, billboards, online, or speeches, unless the official consented to be featured for fundraising or has ties to the payee. If the official later learns a payment came from their appeal, the 30‑day report clock starts when they learn.
Statewide online campaign filing system
The Secretary of State runs a free, certified online system for campaign and lobbying filings. State candidates, certain committees, slate mailer groups, and lobbyists must file online. The system assigns unique IDs to contributors who give $10,000 or more in a year, posts filings quickly, and keeps data online for at least 20 years. Late reports appear online within 24 hours, and independent expenditures are posted and linked to the right candidate or measure. The Secretary must use plain-language rejection notices and must not disclose committee bank account numbers or an authorized person’s name. This act is operative only after the Secretary certifies the system. Two older code sections are repealed. One amended section takes effect only if SB 760 is also enacted by January 1, 2026 and this law is later.
Stronger audits and lobbyist reporting
Lobbying firms and employers face random audits, with a 25% chance of selection. Candidates and committees are audited based on set thresholds and public selection by lot. The Franchise Tax Board must finish random audits within two years, and audit periods are defined for lobbying, candidates, and committees. Civil‑prosecutor referrals tied to certain reports wait until audits can begin, and lawsuits face strict filing deadlines. Lobbyist employers must file more detailed reports, including $100+ contributions and $2,500+ issue‑ad payments with added detail.
Digital political ads: labels and records
Committees that run online ads must include clear "Paid for by" identification and give platforms the committee and ad details. If a committee buys $500 or more in ads on a platform in the past 12 months, the platform must keep public, machine‑readable records for at least four years. Records include a copy of the ad, dates shown, views, spending, and who it supports or opposes. Platforms must show a clear "View Ads" link. Committees must update their disclosure name within five business days if it changes.
Option to combine campaign reports
The Commission may allow candidates and committees to file combined reports. A candidate or state measure proponent may also file one consolidated report for committees they control. The combined report must be filed everywhere each separate report would have been due.
Simpler rules to end filings
The Commission sets rules for when a committee or candidate can stop filing once no more reportable activity will occur. Some committees do not need to file a termination notice at all.
Small party officers under $2,000 exempt
If you are an elected member or candidate for a county party central committee and you both receive and spend less than $2,000 in a year, you do not have to file campaign reports. Local governments cannot add filing rules when both amounts stay under $2,000.
Top 10 donor lists posted
For committees mainly formed for a state ballot measure or state candidate that raise $1,000,000 or more, the Secretary of State posts the top 10 contributors. Donors under $10,000 are not listed. Updates are posted within five business days, or within 48 hours in the last 16 days before an election. This section takes effect when the state’s online system is certified.
Per‑day fines for late filings
If you file a required report late, you owe $10 per day until you file. The total fine is capped at the greater of the amount in the late filing or $100. Filing officers may waive fines in some nonwillful cases, but missing cure periods (30 days for most statements of economic interests, five days for reports due 12 days before an election, or 10 days for others) removes waiver eligibility. Exceptions exist for serious illness and finishing a required education program. Collected fines go to the local or state general fund.
24-hour reports and $5,000 ballot spending
Late contributions and late independent expenditures must be reported within 24 hours. State‑level late spending reported to the Secretary of State must be filed online. A committee that gives or spends $5,000 or more for a single ballot measure must file an online report within 10 business days. A late contribution returned within 24 hours and not cashed does not need to be reported.
Local candidates must e-file at $15,000
A local officer or candidate who receives $15,000 or more in campaign contributions for an upcoming election must also file key reports online with the Secretary of State. This applies only if they do not already file with the Secretary of State.
More preelection campaign report deadlines
Elected officers, candidates, and committees must file semiannual reports by July 31 and January 31, with limited exceptions. Preelection reports are due 40 and 12 days before an election, with online filing or overnight/personal delivery rules. PERS and Teachers’ Retirement Board elections have two special deadlines tied to the ballot period. Measure committees must also file by April 30 and October 31. In odd years, committees that give $10,000 or more to certain state‑focused recipients must file by April 30 and October 31.
Slate mailer groups: register and report
A slate mailer group must register online within 10 days after it is paid or promised $500 to produce a slate mailer, or within 24 hours in the last 16 days before an election. It must file semiannual reports and extra preelection reports when payments received or spending for slate mailers total $500 or more in the period. File two copies with the county of domicile, or Los Angeles County if based outside California.
Stricter committee setup and annual fee
Every recipient committee must have a treasurer and cannot spend without their OK. A qualifying committee must register within 10 days, or within 24 hours in the last 16 days before an election. Registration must list full contact info, officers, bank, and other details, and updates are due within 10 days (24 hours near an election). Committees pay a $50 annual fee (due within 15 days, then by April 30); late payment may add a $150 penalty. Sponsored committees must use one exact registered name.
Candidate accounts, loans, and reimbursements
Before you run, you file a signed statement of intention. State candidates file it online. If you later get or spend $2,000 or more in a year, you must amend and register as a committee within 48 hours. You must open one campaign bank account, deposit all funds there, and pay campaign costs from it. You are exempt from the account rule only if you take no contributions and spend less than $2,000 of personal funds in a year. You cannot charge interest on loans you make to your own campaign; commercial loans on public terms are excluded, and a local limit under law may change this. As an incumbent, you can pay some non‑campaign costs with personal funds outside the committee if you give your treasurer receipts and a description; if not repaid within 90 days (cash) or 90 days of the card billing, it becomes a nonmonetary contribution.
Clear rules on contributions and spending
The law defines what counts as a contribution and an expenditure. It lists what activities are election‑related, like asking for donations or running express advocacy ads. It sets how to total “cumulative” amounts and what period a report must cover. Campaign reports use a standard format set by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
Filing and records rules clarified
If you mail a paper filing, it counts as received the day you sent it. You may email a copy by the deadline if you send the original within 24 hours. The law explains where to file for state, county, city, and special boards. Filing officers must check filings, give late notices, report violations, and keep records. Some originals are kept indefinitely; others have set retention periods.
Local filings: online and fast posting
Local governments can require e‑filing, but filers are exempt if they get under $2,000 and spend under $2,000 in the same year. Local systems must use standard formats, protect data, confirm filings, keep official records 10 years, and allow free e‑filing without paper copies. Local agencies must post paper, email, or fax filings online within 72 hours and must redact street numbers and bank account numbers. Items stay online for four years from the related election. Committees for LAFCO proposals must file monthly on the 15th while petitions circulate, until the measure is on the ballot or the committee ends.
More detail and certifications in reports
Reports must list contributor details when someone gives $100 or more total, and itemize loans and expenditures of $100 or more with payee and purpose. Loan entries must not overstate or understate totals. Committees reporting independent expenditures must certify they did not coordinate and have no unreported contributions.
More disclosure for mailers and nonprofits
Slate mailer groups must itemize sources who give $100 or more and follow added itemization at $100, $500, and cumulative $1,000. They must identify candidates or measures they support or oppose. Multipurpose nonprofits qualify as committees if they make over $50,000 in political activity in 12 months or over $100,000 in four years. Donors who give $1,000 or more in a year may be disclosed using a last‑in, first‑out method. Groups may exclude activity paid only with non‑donor funds but must describe those sources.
Officials must report behested payments
When payments made at an official’s request from one source total $5,000 or more in a year, the official must report them within 30 days. The report lists the payor and payee, dates, amounts, purpose, and event. Agencies forward copies to the Fair Political Practices Commission or local filing officers. Later payments that year from the same source must also be disclosed.
Tighter rules for cash and middlemen
Cash donations and cash spending of $100 or more are banned. Large donations must be by written instrument that names the donor and payee. Anyone giving through an intermediary must disclose both the real donor and the go‑between, and recipients must report both. Agents’ spending of $500+ for a campaign must be reported by the campaign, and agents must pass details up the chain on time, including 24‑hour reports when required. Earmarked funds must be disclosed to show the true destination; small dues under $500 a year to membership groups are not treated as earmarked. Agent‑received donations must be reported to the treasurer by the report’s closing date. Cash refunds are due within 72 hours (48 hours for late contributions) to avoid being “received.”
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Dawn Addis
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/13/2025
Item 225 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 79 • No: 0
Senate vote • 9/12/2025
Item 40 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 38 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/15/2025
Vote in CS45
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 5/8/2025
Item 148 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 69 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/30/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 14 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/9/2025
Vote in CX04
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 278, Statutes of 2025.
10/3/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/3/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
9/24/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3471.).
9/13/2025HouseJoint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
9/13/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/12/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2963.).
9/12/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/3/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/2/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/27/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
8/26/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/20/2025SenateFrom committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
8/19/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/15/2025SenateFrom 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.
7/8/2025SenateIn committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
6/9/2025SenateReferred to Com. on E. & C.A.
5/21/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
5/8/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1486.)
5/8/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
5/1/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
4/30/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on APPR.
4/21/2025HouseRead second time and amended.
4/10/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 9).
4/9/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
3/19/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/3/2025
Enrolled
9/16/2025
Amended Senate
9/2/2025
Amended Senate
8/26/2025
Amended Senate
7/8/2025
Amended Assembly
4/10/2025
Amended Assembly
3/18/2025
Introduced
2/19/2025