Political Reform Act of 1974: filing deadlines: emergency situations.

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Hurtado
Last action: 2026-06-01
Official status: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has passed both chambers but its final status and any executive action are unknown.

Political Reform Act: Filing Deadlines During Emergencies

The bill allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to extend filing deadlines for up to 60 days if someone is in an area hit by a declared emergency and can't file on time, but not during election periods.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to delay filing deadlines for individuals living in areas impacted by emergencies for up to 60 days if those emergencies are reasonably likely to affect their ability to timely file reports.
Defines 'emergency situation' as one officially proclaimed by the Governor or a local governing body under specific laws.
Prevents deadline extensions during the 90-day period before elections.

Who It Names or Affects

People and groups required to file financial reports under the Political Reform Act, such as candidates, committees supporting candidates or ballot measures, lobbyists, public officials, and others.
The Fair Political Practices Commission which oversees filing deadlines.

Terms To Know

Emergency situation: A condition officially declared by the Governor or a local governing body under specific laws that affects people's ability to file reports on time.
Fair Political Practices Commission: The agency responsible for enforcing filing deadlines and other rules related to political activities in California.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how the commission will decide if an emergency affects someone's ability to file on time.
Does not provide details about what happens if a deadline is missed even after extension.
The bill has passed both chambers but its final status and any executive action are unknown.

Bill History

2026-06-01 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 3307.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-01-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2026-01-15 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing January 20.
2026-01-14 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-01-14 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2026-01-13 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3212.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2026-01-07 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing January 13.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
April 29 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-04 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 29.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and L., P.E. & R.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 401, as amended, Hurtado.
Political Reform Act of 1974: filing deadlines: emergency situations.
Under the Political Reform Act of 1974, various individuals and entities, including candidates, committees that support candidates and ballot measures, lobbyists, slate mailer organizations, and public officials, are required to periodically file certain statements and reports that disclose their financial activities. When an original statement or report is filed after the deadline for its filing under the act, the person responsible for making the filing is subject to a late filing penalty of $10 per day, as specified, in addition to any other penalties or remedies under the act.
This bill would authorize the Fair Political Practices Commission to extend any filing deadline established by the
act
act, by no more than 60 days,
for individuals that live in an area impacted by an emergency
situation.
situation if the emergency situation is reasonably likely to affect the individual’s ability to timely file. The bill would prohibit the commission from extending a deadline under these provisions during the 90 days before an election.
The bill would define emergency situation to mean an emergency proclaimed by the Governor or a local governing body pursuant to a specified law.
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
2
/
3
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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