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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 900

Political Reform Act of 1974: top contributors: disclosures.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (5)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

(1) Existing law permits the name of the committee that paid for certain video, print, electronic media, or text message advertisements to be shortened, as specified. For purposes of this provision, this bill would clarify that a print advertisement includes a yard sign or a billboard and an electronic media advertisement means a graphic, image, animated graphic, or animated image that the online platform hosting the advertisement allows to link to an internet website paid for by the committee, as specified. For certain advertisements, the bill would permit the names of top contributors to be shortened by using approved abbreviations or leaving out words from the top contributor's name, as specified. For printed advertisements larger than those designed to be individually distributed, such as yard signs and billboards, existing law permits the text of the disclosure to be adjusted so that it does not appear on separate horizontal lines, with the names of the top contributors separated by a comma. This bill would define such advertisements as those that exceed 187 square inches. The bill would require the names of the top contributors to be separated by clearly visible bullet points or by inserting the applicable number (1, 2, or 3) before the names of the 3 largest contributors. The bill would specify the order in which required disclosures must appear on the advertisement. The bill would also extend these requirements to electronic advertisements displayed on a physical surface. (2) Under existing law, an advertisement supporting or opposing a candidate that is paid for by an independent expenditure must include a statement that it was not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. If the advertisement was authorized or paid for by a candidate for another office, the expenditure must instead include a statement that "This advertisement was not authorized or paid for by a candidate for this office or a committee controlled by a candidate for this office." This bill would shorten the above statements, respectively, to "Not paid for by candidate" and "Not paid for by a candidate for this office." (3) 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. (4) 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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 30, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB900 McNerney et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 30, 2026
House		SB 900 McNerney Senate Third Reading By SolachepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
House		Do pass as amended.passSet your home in California to see
Jul 1, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2026
Senate		Special Consent SB900 McNerney et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
May 4, 2026
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 21, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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