AB 2413 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Large-format public advertisements: public expense.

Summary

The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing and activities. The act defines "mass mailing" to mean over 200 substantially similar pieces of mail, and defines "mass electronic mailing" to mean sending more than 200 substantially similar pieces of electronic mail within a calendar month. The act prohibits a mass mailing from being sent at public expense if, among other things, the mailing features an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or sends the mailing, or includes the name, office, photograph, or other reference to the elected officer and is prepared or sent in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer. This bill would define "large-format public advertisement" as a billboard, wrap on a bus or other public transportation vehicle, advertisement affixed to a bus stop, and other public advertisements designated by the commission by regulation that are 24 inches by 36 inches or more in size. This bill would prohibit a large-format public advertisement from being published or displayed at public expense if, among other things, the advertisement includes the photograph of an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or purchases the large-format public advertisement. The bill would make an agency and elected official jointly and severally liable for any administrative or civil penalties incurred if the agency prepares a large-format public advertisement that violates the bill's provisions in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer. A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. 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 23 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.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Aug 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/17/26 - Enrolled → AB2413 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive legislative changes between these two versions. The diff reflects a transition from the formal enrolled bill document (with page numbers, clerk signatures, and governor's approval line) to a web page rendering of the same text. All five sections, the legislative counsel's digest, definitions, prohibitions, and liability provisions are identical in content.

TECHNICAL

The formal enrolled bill formatting (page numbers, Chief Clerk and Secretary signatures, Governor's approval line) was replaced with a web page layout including navigation menus, search boxes, and version history links. The underlying legislative text is unchanged.

04/08/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/24/26 - Amended Senate · 4 edits · Jun 24, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate amendment to AB 2413 makes three substantive changes: it simplifies the size definition for large-format public advertisements, shifts the legal obligation from the advertisement itself to the agency producing it, and adds a new joint and several liability provision making both the agency and the elected officer personally liable for penalties. The bill also now explicitly creates a misdemeanor offense under the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Scope change

The scope of liability expanded from covering only the agency to also covering individual elected officers who cooperate in preparing violating advertisements. The size definition was narrowed slightly by removing the 'individually distributed' comparison, potentially making more advertisements fall within the 24x36 inch threshold.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'large-format public advertisement' was simplified. The old text described these as advertisements 'larger than those designed to be individually distributed 24 inches by 36 inches or more in size.' The new text removes the reference to individually distributed items and simply sets the threshold at '24 inches by 36 inches or more in size and that are specified by regulation.'

REQUIREMENT

Section 89001(b) was rewritten to place the obligation on the agency rather than the advertisement. It now reads 'An agency shall not publish or display a large-format public advertisement at public expense, as provided in Section 89002.1,' adding an explicit cross-reference to the criteria section.

ENFORCEMENT

A new subsection (c) was added to Section 89002.1 establishing joint and several liability: if an agency prepares a violating advertisement in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with an elected officer, both the elected officer and the agency are jointly and severally liable for any administrative or civil penalties incurred.

The legislative counsel digest now states that a violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor and that by creating a new crime, the bill imposes a state-mandated local program, clarifying the criminal penalty framework.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 10, 2026 · Assembly May 11, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Aug 10, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

9 Yea 1

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.).

lower

Aug 11, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.

upper

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jun 24, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

upper

Jun 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

upper

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 5005.)

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

lower

Feb 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors