Government Operations Bills

Increases the maximum campaign contribution limit for agency officers from $500 to $1,500. Requires automatic adjustments to contribution limits every two years based on inflation. Allows officers to cure violations by returning excess contributions within 30 days. Mandates disclosure of contributions over $1,500 made in the previous 12 months before agency decisions.

Expands the Fair Political Practices Commission's authority to audit local campaign finance and ethics laws. Removes the January 2026 expiration date to make the Commission's oversight role permanent. Requires local governments to reimburse the Commission for oversight and enforcement costs. Exempts jurisdictions with over 3 million residents and San Bernardino County from these provisions.

Authorizes local government advisory bodies to conduct remote meetings with simplified teleconferencing rules. Requires members to appear on camera and provide real-time public participation options during virtual meetings. Mandates annual review and two-thirds approval before advisory bodies can use teleconferencing. Excludes committees overseeing police, elections, or budgets from using simplified teleconferencing rules.

Expands privacy protections under public records law to include retired judges and court-appointed children's counsel. Prohibits disclosure of personal information like home addresses and phone numbers for protected officials. Makes unauthorized disclosure of protected officials' personal information a criminal offense.

Requires state and county officials to provide voter guides to jail facilities for all elections. Establishes election duties as mandatory, removing officials' discretion in certifying results. Authorizes the Secretary of State to certify results if counties fail to meet deadlines. Criminalizes using deceptive containers or envelopes to collect ballots illegally.

Authorizes nonprofits to modify state-contracted services during emergencies while maintaining contract purposes. Requires nonprofits to document all expenses and continue paying staff during program closures. Mandates state agencies to guarantee funding for canceled or reduced services during emergencies. Allows nonprofits to request service flexibility during non-emergency disruptions with agency approval.

Requires public buildings used as polling places to provide internet access and adequate space for voting operations. Mandates accessible and curbside parking spaces for voters who need assistance at polling locations. Allows schools serving as polling places to remain open, close, or use the day for staff training.

Intent bill that proposes to establish Diwali as an official California state holiday. Aims to expand state recognition of cultural diversity by adding Diwali to the list of officially observed holidays. Would affect state employees and institutions by potentially creating a new paid holiday once implemented.

Makes permanent the current temporary rules allowing local government bodies to conduct hybrid meetings with remote participation options that were set to expire in 2026. Requires local agencies to provide both in-person and remote public participation options, including call-in and internet-based access for all meetings. Allows government officials to participate remotely for specified reasons like medical emergencies or childcare needs, with limits on the number of remote meetings per year. Mandates that at least a quorum of members must participate in-person from a public location within the agency's jurisdiction for standard meetings.

Expands the Tribal Nation Grant Fund to include revenue from both tribal gaming compacts and class III gaming procedures, establishing two grant types: specific project grants and equal shares grants of $600,000 per eligible tribe. Mandates that at least 85% of available funds be distributed as equal shares grants to eligible non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes, with remaining funds available for specific project grants. Removes requirements for tribes to spend grants within specific timeframes or return unused funds, providing greater flexibility in fund management. Prohibits using grant funds for per capita distributions to tribal members or gaming-related activities, ensuring money supports community development and self-governance initiatives.

Prohibits recalled local government officials from being reappointed to fill the vacancy created by their own recall. Eliminates special elections for choosing successors in local recall elections, requiring vacancies to be filled according to existing appointment procedures. Clarifies that in statewide recall elections, the candidate receiving the most votes automatically assumes the remainder of the recalled officer's term.

Requires state and local agencies to collect detailed demographic data for Middle Eastern and North African groups starting January 2026. Mandates inclusion of this demographic data in all public reports by January 2027, with regular updates following each U.S. Census. Requires agencies to publish collected data online while maintaining strict privacy protections to prevent individual identification. Establishes data aggregation requirements to protect privacy, with violations potentially resulting in restricted data access.

Intent bill that proposes to establish permanent standard time in California, eliminating biannual clock changes currently required by daylight saving time. Requires a majority vote for passage but needs additional implementing legislation to take effect. Would override the current daylight saving time schedule established by voter-approved Proposition 7 from 2018.

Ratifies amendments to extend and update the tribal gaming compact between California and the Big Sandy Rancheria, ensuring their exclusive rights to operate Class III gaming within the state. Exempts specific tribal gaming-related actions from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, including compact amendments and on-reservation infrastructure projects. Takes effect immediately as an urgency statute to promote economic development and stability for the Big Sandy Rancheria tribe.

Requires election officials to begin processing mail-in ballots on the day they are mailed to voters. Mandates public access to ballot processing with 48-hour advance notice of counting locations and times. Allows political party representatives and grand jury members to observe ballot signature verification. Guarantees state reimbursement to local agencies for costs of implementing these new requirements.

Requires county election officials to provide precinct boundary maps to any member of the public upon request. Mandates that precinct maps be available in both digital and hard copy formats. Establishes state reimbursement for local agencies' costs of implementing these requirements.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to help counties count and release election results more quickly.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to require government ID for voting and enhance election integrity measures. Proposes voter list maintenance, citizenship verification, and improved ballot counting processes.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to restrict perks and increase accountability for elected officials. Proposes bans on gifts, stock trading, lobbying, and government pensions for elected officials.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to revise how county officials report election results and conduct vote canvassing.