AB 1736 CA
Political Reform Act of 1974: lobbyist employers: fictitious appearances.
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Summary
This bill would expand the Political Reform Act of 1974's prohibition on creating fictitious appearances of public opinion to include lobbyist employers in addition to lobbyists and lobbying firms. The act currently prohibits lobbyists and lobbying firms from attempting to create fake public support or opposition for proposed legislation or administrative actions, or from sending communications in the name of fictitious persons or real persons without consent. The bill would extend these same prohibitions to lobbyist employers, which are entities that employ lobbyists or contract with lobbying firms for their services. Violations of the Political Reform Act are punishable as misdemeanors, so expanding the scope of this prohibition would subject lobbyist employers to potential criminal liability for fictitious public opinion practices. The bill furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act by strengthening prohibitions on deceptive lobbying communications practices.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.
Official abstract
(1) Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a lobbyist or lobbying firm from attempting to create a fictitious appearance of public favor or disfavor of any proposed legislative or administrative action or to cause any communication to be sent to any elected state officer, legislative official, agency official, or state candidate in the name of any fictitious person or in the name of any real person, except with the consent of the real person. The act defines "lobbyist employer" as any person, other than a lobbying firm, who employs one or more lobbyists or contracts for the services of a lobbying firm, as specified. This bill would extend the above prohibition to lobbyist employers. (2) 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. (3) A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a prohibition under the act, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime and therefore create 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.
Sponsor (1)
- Pellerin Democratic · author
Action history (17)
- Feb 5, 2026 Read first time. To print. · lower
- Feb 6, 2026 From printer. May be heard in committee March 8. · lower
- Feb 23, 2026 Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. · lower
- Mar 25, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · lower
- Apr 15, 2026 From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15). · lower
- Apr 16, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. · lower
- Apr 23, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4794.) · lower
- Apr 23, 2026 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. · upper
- May 6, 2026 Referred to Com. on E. & C.A. · upper
- Jun 9, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · upper
- Jun 22, 2026 From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar. · upper
- Jun 23, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. · upper
- Jun 25, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.). · upper
- Jun 25, 2026 In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. · lower
- Jul 2, 2026 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. · legislature
- Jul 13, 2026 Approved by the Governor. · legislature
- Jul 13, 2026 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 71, Statutes of 2026. · legislature
Full text
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