Plain English Breakdown
The official status indicates enactment on October 1, 2025, but the effective date field is empty and the digest refers to 'the effective date of this bill' without specifying it.
Ban on Nondisclosure Agreements About Making Laws
This law stops California lawmakers from signing or asking for secret agreements about how they write, talk about, or negotiate new laws.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits Members of the Legislature from entering into nondisclosure agreements about proposed legislation.
- Stops lawmakers from requesting that other parties sign these types of agreements regarding drafting, negotiation, or discussion of bills.
- Makes any such agreement signed after this law takes effect void and unenforceable in court.
- Allows an exception for parts of agreements that only protect trade secrets, financial information, or proprietary information.
Who It Names or Affects
- Members of the California State Legislature
- Other parties who might be asked to sign agreements with lawmakers about legislation
Terms To Know
- Nondisclosure agreement (NDA)
- A legal contract that stops people from sharing specific information.
- Void and unenforceable
- The agreement has no power in court, and a judge will not make anyone follow it.
- Proprietary information
- Private business details that belong to one company or person.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not state the specific effective date.
- The law states violations are punishable as a crime but does not list specific punishments like jail time or fines in this summary.
- The bill notes that no reimbursement is required for local agencies, though it refers to 'a specified reason' without detailing what that reason is.