Campaign contributions: investor-owned utilities.

Assembly Member Essayli's proposed campaign finance reform would prohibit investor-owned utilities from making contributions to candidates for California state office, while also barring candidates from accepting such contributions.

The measure adds new restrictions to California's Political Reform Act of 1974, establishing a complete prohibition on campaign contributions between investor-owned utilities and candidates for state office. Violations would constitute misdemeanors under existing campaign finance law. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers for passage, as mandated for amendments to the Political Reform Act.

While the bill creates new misdemeanor provisions that local agencies must enforce, it specifies that local governments and school districts will not require state reimbursement for associated costs. This determination stems from the measure's classification as a modification to criminal statutes, which falls under existing exemptions to state mandate reimbursement requirements.