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AB-359 • 2026

Fair Political Practices Commission.

Fair Political Practices Commission.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Ramos
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source states the effective date is blank, so the exact start date of enforcement remains unknown.

Extending Fair Political Practices Commission Powers

AB-359 lets a state commission help local governments enforce campaign finance and ethics rules indefinitely, adds audit powers, removes reporting needs to the Legislature, and ends special rules for San Bernardino County.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to run audits on local campaign finance or government ethics laws under an agreement with a local agency.
  • Removes the rule that required the commission to send reports about these agreements to the Legislature by January 1, 2025.
  • Deletes the date when current rules would end (January 1, 2026), making the ability for the commission to enforce local laws permanent instead of ending on that date.
  • Removes special provisions that allowed a specific agreement with the Board of Supervisors in San Bernardino County.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Fair Political Practices Commission
  • Local government agencies that agree to let the commission enforce their laws

Terms To Know

Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
A state agency authorized to help local governments administer, implement, and enforce campaign finance or government ethics laws.
Political Reform Act of 1974
The law that allows the commission to take over enforcement duties for local agencies if they agree to it.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only applies if a local government agency agrees to let the commission take over enforcement.
  • The official text does not state when this new law will officially start working after being signed.
  • The source material does not explain how often audits must happen or what specific details they must include.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Fair Political Practices Commission.