CA SB 42
enactedPolitical Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
Quick answers
Did CA SB 42 pass?
Yes. CA SB 42 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-02. Latest recorded action (2025-10-02): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025.
What is CA SB 42 about?
Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a public officer from expending, and a candidate from accepting, public moneys for the purpose of seeking elective office. This bill would remove prohibitions imposed on a public officer or candidate to expend or accept public funds, as defined, for the purpose of seeking elective office unless the funds are earmarked by a state or local entity for education, transportation, or public safety. The bill would require candidates to abide by specified expenditure limits and meet strict criteria, as defined, to qualify for public funds. The bill would prohibit public funds from being used to pay legal defense fees or fines or to repay personal loans to their campaign. The bill would permit a statute, ordinance, or charter to establish standards to increase the expenditure limits for each qualified, voluntarily participating candidate pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would provide that the Fair Political Practices Commission is not responsible for administering or enforcing a system of public funding of candidates established by a local governmental agency. Existing law prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal, as defined, from making a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, any state or local ballot measure or in connection with the election of a candidate to state or local office. Under existing law, a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine equal to the amount contributed or expended. This bill would instead require that a person guilty of that misdemeanor, in addition to other penalties, be fined an amount at least equal to the amount contributed or expended, but not exceeding a maximum amount of 3 times the amount contributed or expended. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the act may be amended by a statute that becomes effective upon approval of the voters. This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of the bill, as specified, to the voters for approval at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 85320 of the Government Code proposed by AB 953 to be operative pursuant to specified conditions.
Who sponsors CA SB 42?
Umberg is the primary sponsor of CA SB 42, joined by 21 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a public officer from expending, and a candidate from accepting, public moneys for the purpose of seeking elective office. This bill would remove prohibitions imposed on a public officer or candidate to expend or accept public funds, as defined, for the purpose of seeking elective office unless the funds are earmarked by a state or local entity for education, transportation, or public safety. The bill would require candidates to abide by specified expenditure limits and meet strict criteria, as defined, to qualify for public funds. The bill would prohibit public funds from being used to pay legal defense fees or fines or to repay personal loans to their campaign. The bill would permit a statute, ordinance, or charter to establish standards to increase the expenditure limits for each qualified, voluntarily participating candidate pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would provide that the Fair Political Practices Commission is not responsible for administering or enforcing a system of public funding of candidates established by a local governmental agency. Existing law prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal, as defined, from making a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, any state or local ballot measure or in connection with the election of a candidate to state or local office. Under existing law, a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine equal to the amount contributed or expended. This bill would instead require that a person guilty of that misdemeanor, in addition to other penalties, be fined an amount at least equal to the amount contributed or expended, but not exceeding a maximum amount of 3 times the amount contributed or expended. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the act may be amended by a statute that becomes effective upon approval of the voters. This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of the bill, as specified, to the voters for approval at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 85320 of the Government Code proposed by AB 953 to be operative pursuant to specified conditions.
- Introduced
- 2024-12-05
- Latest action
- 2025-10-02 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Umbergauthor
- Allenauthor
- Cervantesauthor
- Beckerprincipal coauthor
- Blakespearprincipal coauthor
- Sternprincipal coauthor
- Bermanprincipal coauthor
- Kalraprincipal coauthor
- Leeprincipal coauthor
- Pellerinprincipal coauthor
- Arreguíncoauthor
- Cortesecoauthor
- McNerneycoauthor
- Pérezcoauthor
- Wienercoauthor
- Bennettcoauthor
- Haneycoauthor
- Ortegacoauthor
- Rogerscoauthor
- Schiavocoauthor
- Schultzcoauthor
- Solachecoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2024-12-05
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,referral-committee
2024-12-06
From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 5.
2025-01-06
Read first time.
reading-1
2025-01-29
Referred to Com. on RLS.
referral-committee
2025-02-05
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-02-14
Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and APPR.
referral-committee
2025-03-20
Set for hearing April 1.
2025-04-01
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 608.) (April 1).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-02
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-04
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-21
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-23
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1189.) (May 23).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-27
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-06-02
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1372.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-06-03
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2025-06-09
Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and APPR.
referral-committee
2025-06-25
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-02
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-02
Coauthors revised.
2025-07-16
July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-02
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-03
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-03
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-12
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3424.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-13
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-13
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 3038.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-23
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-10-02
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2025-10-02
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025.
became-law
Versions
- 12/05/24 - Introduced — 2024-12-05Compare
- 02/05/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-02-05Compare
- 04/02/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-04-02Compare
- 05/23/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-05-23Compare
- 06/25/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-25Compare
- 09/03/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-09-03Compare
- 09/17/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-17Compare
- 10/02/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-02Compare
- SB42Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-01 · pass · 4-1
Member-level votes (5)
- Cervantes: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Limón: yes
- Allen: yes
- Choi: no
Placed on suspense file
2025-04-21 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Dahle: other
Do pass as amended
2025-05-23 · pass · 5-1
Member-level votes (7)
- Caballero: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Seyarto: no
- Dahle: other
3rd Reading SB42 Umberg et al.
2025-06-02 · pass · 28-10
Member-level votes (40)
- Menjivar: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Becker: yes
- Laird: yes
- Durazo: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Limón: yes
- Allen: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Stern: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: no
- Niello: no
- Seyarto: no
- Valladares: no
- Alvarado-Gil: no
- Grove: no
- Dahle: no
- Strickland: no
- Choi: no
- Jones: no
- Hurtado: other
- Reyes: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-07-02 · pass · 5-2
Member-level votes (7)
- Stefani: yes
- Berman: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Solache: yes
- Tangipa: no
- Macedo: no
Do pass.
2025-08-29 · pass · 11-4
Member-level votes (15)
- Elhawary: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Solache: yes
- Sanchez: no
- Ta: no
- Tangipa: no
- Dixon: no
SB 42 Umberg Senate Third Reading By Lee
2025-09-13 · pass · 59-20
Member-level votes (80)
- Ahrens: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Addis: yes
- Ward: yes
- Haney: yes
- Hart: yes
- Fong: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Soria: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Berman: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Papan: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Lee: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Zbur: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Krell: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Johnson: no
- Dixon: no
- Jeff Gonzalez: no
- Castillo: no
- Alanis: no
- Wallis: no
- Patterson: no
- Ta: no
- Hoover: no
- Gallagher: no
- Macedo: no
- Ellis: no
- Davies: no
- DeMaio: no
- Hadwick: no
- Tangipa: no
- Lackey: no
- Sanchez: no
- Chen: no
- Flora: no
- Ramos: other
Unfinished Business SB42 Umberg et al. Concurrence
2025-09-13 · pass · 29-8
Member-level votes (40)
- Richardson: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Stern: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Limón: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Becker: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Allen: yes
- Laird: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- McGuire: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Niello: no
- Strickland: no
- Seyarto: no
- Jones: no
- Dahle: no
- Ochoa Bogh: no
- Alvarado-Gil: no
- Grove: no
- Gonzalez: other
- Valladares: other
- Choi: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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