CA SB 644
deadPolitical Reform Act of 1974: contribution limits.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 644 pass?
No. CA SB 644 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process. Latest recorded action (2026-02-02): Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
What is CA SB 644 about?
The Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibits a person, other than a small contributor committee or political party committee, from making to a candidate for elective state, county, or city office, and prohibits those candidates from accepting, a contribution totaling more than $3,000 per election, as that amount is adjusted by the Fair Political Practices Commission in January of every odd-numbered year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The amount of that contribution limit for an election occurring from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, inclusive, is $5,900. This bill would apply that contribution limit and certain related provisions to candidates for judicial, school district, and community college district office. The bill would authorize the Judicial Council, school districts, and community college districts to impose more restrictive contribution limits on candidates for judicial, school district, and community college district office, respectively. The bill's provisions would become operative on January 1, 2027. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the Political Reform Act of 1974 is guilty of a misdemeanor. By adding new contribution limits to the act, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime and thereby 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. 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 SB 644?
Blakespear is the primary sponsor of CA SB 644.
Description
The Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibits a person, other than a small contributor committee or political party committee, from making to a candidate for elective state, county, or city office, and prohibits those candidates from accepting, a contribution totaling more than $3,000 per election, as that amount is adjusted by the Fair Political Practices Commission in January of every odd-numbered year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The amount of that contribution limit for an election occurring from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, inclusive, is $5,900. This bill would apply that contribution limit and certain related provisions to candidates for judicial, school district, and community college district office. The bill would authorize the Judicial Council, school districts, and community college districts to impose more restrictive contribution limits on candidates for judicial, school district, and community college district office, respectively. The bill's provisions would become operative on January 1, 2027. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the Political Reform Act of 1974 is guilty of a misdemeanor. By adding new contribution limits to the act, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime and thereby 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. 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
- 2025-02-20
- Latest action
- 2026-02-02 — Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Blakespearauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-02-02
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
failure
2025-05-23
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-06
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-05-01
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-30
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 962.) (April 30).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-29
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 934.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on ED.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-09
Set for hearing April 30 in ED. pending receipt.
2025-04-04
Set for hearing April 29.
2025-04-02
Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and ED.
referral-committee
2025-03-25
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
2025-03-05
Referred to Com. on RLS.
referral-committee
2025-02-21
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
Documents
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- text/html
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
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- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
Votes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]
2025-04-29 · pass · 4-1
Member-level votes (5)
- Allen: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Limón: yes
- Choi: no
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-30 · pass · 6-1
Member-level votes (7)
- Cortese: yes
- Laird: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Choi: no
Placed on suspense file
2025-05-12 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Caballero: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
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