California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: Enacted 2 D cosponsors

SB 459 — Political Reform Act of 1974: lobbying.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 873, Statutes of 2022.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2021. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 8 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, regulates the activities of lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers in connection with attempts to influence legislative and administrative action by legislative and other state officials, including by requiring that lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers register and file periodic reports with the Secretary of State. This bill, beginning one year after the Secretary of State certifies for public use an online filing and disclosure system for lobbying information, or beginning January 1, 2023, whichever is later, would require lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to include information in the periodic reports that identifies each bill or administrative action subject to lobbying activity during that period. For certain activities involving issue lobbying advertisements, the bill would require disclosure of the position on the bill or administrative action advocated by the advertisement. This bill would require additional specified disclosures for lobbying activity during the 60-day period before the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn for interim recess or final recess. The bill would require certain persons to file specified reports following a calendar quarter in which that person incurs cumulative costs equal to or exceeding $5,000 for issue lobbying advertisements, as defined. The bill would authorize entities filing related reports in paper with the Secretary of State to verify those filings by electronic signature. A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor, and reports and statements filed under the act are required to be signed under the penalty of perjury. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, 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. 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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 873, Statutes of 2022.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

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

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 33. Noes 4. Page 5419.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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

  9. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 3.) (August 11).

  10. August 3 set for second hearing. Placed on suspense file.

  11. August 26 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  12. August 19 hearing postponed by committee.

  13. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  14. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 30).

  15. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  16. Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  17. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  18. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 3. Page 1332.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  19. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  20. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1192.) (May 20).

  21. Set for hearing May 20.

  22. May 10 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  23. Set for hearing May 10.

  24. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  25. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 915.) (April 26).

  26. Set for hearing April 26.

  27. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  28. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  29. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  30. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  31. Joint Rule 55 suspended. (Ayes 32. Noes 4. Page 272.)

  32. (Ayes 32. Noes 4.)

  33. Art. IV. Sec. 8(a) of the Constitution dispensed with.

  34. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 19.

  35. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 117 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (117)

117 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 117 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

SB 459 Allen Senate Third Reading By Mullin

Passed 62 Yea · 8 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 30002
Unaffiliated 30603
Republican 2205
Total 628010
% of votes cast 78%10%0%13%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Cooley — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Holden — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Salas — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Wood — Yea
Kiley — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Ting — Yea
Low — Yea
Levine — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Waldron — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Gray — Not Voting
Smith — Not Voting
Daly — Not Voting
Bloom — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Medina — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Voepel — Nay
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Vince Fong — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Not Voting
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Unfinished Business SB459 Allen et al. Concurrence

Passed 33 Yea · 4 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 19202
Democratic 13000
Republican 1201
Total 33403
% of votes cast 83%10%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Kamlager — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Borgeas — Not Voting
Bates — Not Voting
Leyva — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Roth — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Pan — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Min — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Newman — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 13 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5200
Democratic 7000
Republican 1100
Total 13300
% of votes cast 81%19%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Levine — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Holden — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Bigelow — Nay
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Vince Fong — Nay
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB459 Allen et al.

Passed 34 Yea · 3 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 13000
Unaffiliated 20201
Republican 1102
Total 34303
% of votes cast 85%8%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Glazer — Yea
Roth — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Min — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Borgeas — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Newman — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Pan — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Bates — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass

Passed 5 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4001
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 5101
% of votes cast 71%14%0%14%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Not Voting
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 1000
Republican 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Kamlager — Yea
Bates — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 459 do?
Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, regulates the activities of lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers in connection with attempts to influence legislative and administrative action by legislative and other state officials, including by requiring that lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers register and file periodic reports with the Secretary of State. This bill, beginning one year after the Secretary of State certifies for public use an online filing and disclosure system for lobbying information, or beginning January 1, 2023, whichever is later, would require lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to include information in the periodic reports that identifies each bill or administrative action subject to lobbying activity during that period. For certain activities involving issue lobbying advertisements, the bill would require disclosure of the position on the bill or administrative action advocated by the advertisement. This bill would require additional specified disclosures for lobbying activity during the 60-day period before the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn for interim recess or final recess. The bill would require certain persons to file specified reports following a calendar quarter in which that person incurs cumulative costs equal to or exceeding $5,000 for issue lobbying advertisements, as defined. The bill would authorize entities filing related reports in paper with the Secretary of State to verify those filings by electronic signature. A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor, and reports and statements filed under the act are required to be signed under the penalty of perjury. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, 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. 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 SB 459?
SB 459 is sponsored by Allen, Benjamin (Democratic), Cortese, Dave (Democratic), Glazer, Newman, and Mullin.
What is the current status of SB 459?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 459?
Track SB 459 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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