Bill Commons

CA AB 1511

enacted

Political Reform Act of 1974: refunding and transferring contributions: voter information guide.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did CA AB 1511 pass?

Yes. CA AB 1511 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-03. Latest recorded action (2025-10-03): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 249, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA AB 1511 about?

(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to prepare a state voter information guide that includes, among other things, a complete copy of each state measure, the Voter Bill of Rights, and information on candidates for the office of United States Senator and the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, as specified. Existing law requires county elections officials to prepare a county voter information guide that contains, among other things, a substantial facsimile of the official ballot. This bill would conform provisions in the Political Reform Act of 1974 that currently refer to the ballot pamphlet or sample ballot to instead refer to the state voter information guide or county voter information guide, respectively. (2) The Political Reform Act of 1974 authorizes a candidate for elective state, county, or city office to raise contributions for a general election before the primary election, and for a special general election before a special primary election, for the same office under specified conditions. If the candidate is defeated in the primary election or special primary election, or otherwise withdraws from the general election or special general election, the act requires the candidate to refund the general election or special general election funds, as specified. Existing law, for purposes of these provisions, specifies that a candidate who does not file a declaration of candidacy to qualify for a primary election or special primary election is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions, and that such a candidate may transfer these funds to a committee for the same or a different office as specified. This bill would instead provide that a candidate is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions and may transfer these funds, as specified above, if the candidate's name has not been listed on the ballot at a primary election or special primary election, and the candidate has not qualified to have write-in votes cast on their behalf, as specified. (3) This bill would also correct a cross-reference to federal law. 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.

Who sponsors CA AB 1511?

Committee on Elections is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1511.

Description

(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to prepare a state voter information guide that includes, among other things, a complete copy of each state measure, the Voter Bill of Rights, and information on candidates for the office of United States Senator and the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, as specified. Existing law requires county elections officials to prepare a county voter information guide that contains, among other things, a substantial facsimile of the official ballot. This bill would conform provisions in the Political Reform Act of 1974 that currently refer to the ballot pamphlet or sample ballot to instead refer to the state voter information guide or county voter information guide, respectively. (2) The Political Reform Act of 1974 authorizes a candidate for elective state, county, or city office to raise contributions for a general election before the primary election, and for a special general election before a special primary election, for the same office under specified conditions. If the candidate is defeated in the primary election or special primary election, or otherwise withdraws from the general election or special general election, the act requires the candidate to refund the general election or special general election funds, as specified. Existing law, for purposes of these provisions, specifies that a candidate who does not file a declaration of candidacy to qualify for a primary election or special primary election is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions, and that such a candidate may transfer these funds to a committee for the same or a different office as specified. This bill would instead provide that a candidate is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions and may transfer these funds, as specified above, if the candidate's name has not been listed on the ballot at a primary election or special primary election, and the candidate has not qualified to have write-in votes cast on their behalf, as specified. (3) This bill would also correct a cross-reference to federal law. 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.

Introduced
2025-04-30
Latest action
2025-10-03 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 249, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Committee on Electionsauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-03-10

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

  2. 2025-03-11

    From printer. May be heard in committee April 10.

  3. 2025-03-17

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    referral-committee

  4. 2025-04-30

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 30).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage

  5. 2025-05-01

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  6. 2025-05-05

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    reading-1,reading-2

  7. 2025-05-12

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 1520.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  8. 2025-05-13

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  9. 2025-05-21

    Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

    referral-committee

  10. 2025-07-15

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  11. 2025-07-16

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    reading-1,reading-2

  12. 2025-08-21

    From Consent Calendar.

  13. 2025-08-21

    Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-3

  14. 2025-08-27

    Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  15. 2025-08-28

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  16. 2025-09-08

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2610.).

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  17. 2025-09-08

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  18. 2025-09-10

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3182.).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  19. 2025-09-22

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  20. 2025-10-03

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  21. 2025-10-03

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 249, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 03/10/25 - Introduced — 2025-03-10Compare
  • 05/01/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-05-01Compare
  • 08/27/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-08-27Compare
  • 09/12/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-12Compare
  • 10/03/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-03Compare
  • AB1511Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar.

    2025-04-30 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Macedo: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Bennett: yes

  • AB 1511 Elections Consent Calendar Second Day By PELLERIN

    2025-05-12 · pass · 77-0

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Ellis: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Nguyen: other
    • Stefani: other

  • Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

    2025-07-15 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Umberg: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Cervantes: yes

  • 3rd Reading AB1511 ELECTIONS (Pellerin) By Cervantes

    2025-09-08 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Wahab: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Stern: other

  • AB 1511 Elections Concurrence in Senate Amendments By PELLERIN

    2025-09-10 · pass · 79-0

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Addis: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Tangipa: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1511

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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