California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 398
Election crimes: payment based on voting or voter registration.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Umberg (Democratic)
Cosponsors (2)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Under existing law, it is a crime for a person to receive money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration if the person fails to sign the affidavit and include certain other information, including the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that has agreed to pay the money or other valuable consideration.
This bill would make it a crime, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both, for a person to knowingly or willfully pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration to another person with the intent to induce the person to vote or to register to vote, or where the payment is contingent upon whether the person voted or the person's voter registration status. By creating a new crime, this 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.
Text versions
- 10/02/25 - Chaptered· Oct 2, 2025
- 09/12/25 - Enrolled· Sep 12, 2025
- 07/03/25 - Amended Assembly· Jul 3, 2025
- 04/21/25 - Amended Senate· Apr 21, 2025
- 02/14/25 - Introduced· Feb 14, 2025
- SB398
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2025 Senate | Unfinished Business SB398 Umberg et al. Concurrence | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Sep 8, 2025 House | SB 398 Umberg Senate Third Reading By Berman | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 29, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 15, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 2, 2025 House | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 29, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading SB398 Umberg et al. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 23, 2025 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 5, 2025 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 22, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 1, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Oct 2, 2025 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 246, Statutes of 2025. - Oct 2, 2025 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 17, 2025 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. - Sep 10, 2025 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2829.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Sep 8, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Sep 8, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2993.) Ordered to the Senate. - Sep 2, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 29, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29). - Aug 29, 2025 · House
Coauthors revised. - Aug 20, 2025 · House
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. - Jul 16, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 3, 2025 · House
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Jul 2, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). - Jun 5, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and PUB. S. - May 29, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - May 29, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1335.) Ordered to the Assembly. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1199.) (May 23). - May 16, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 23. - May 5, 2025 · Senate
May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. - Apr 25, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 5. - Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 841.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 21, 2025 · Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 22. - Apr 1, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 609.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Mar 20, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 1. - Feb 26, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and PUB. S. - Feb 18, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17. - Feb 14, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.