AB 2421: Political Reform Act of 1974: committee termination. - California

07/13/26 - Chaptered → AB2421 · 2 edits

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between these two versions. The bill content (amending Section 82013 and adding Section 84214.5 of the Government Code) is identical in both versions. The difference is purely presentational: the document was converted from its formal chaptered layout into a web page display format with navigation elements, version history, and metadata.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from an official chaptered legislative document (with page numbers, 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA / AUTHENTICATED' header, and formal layout) into a web-based display format including site navigation, version history list, and publication metadata.

A typographic fraction character (2/3 using the Unicode fraction slash) in the legislative counsel's digest was replaced with a plain text '2/3' for web compatibility.

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/29/26 - Enrolled · 3 edits · Jun 29, 2026

MINOR

This diff reflects the transition of AB 2421 from its Amended Assembly version to the Enrolled (final) version. No substantive policy changes were made between these two versions. The operative text of all three sections is identical; only procedural markings, formatting, and passage dates changed.

TECHNICAL

Removed amendment history dates (March 16, April 6, April 16) and 'Introduced by Assembly Member Valencia' language, replaced with passage dates: Passed the Assembly May 14, 2026 and Passed the Senate June 25, 2026.

Added Governor's receipt and approval signature blocks, standard for enrolled bills ready for gubernatorial action.

Removed line numbers, page headers/footers, and the 'Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.' notation from the digest, consistent with final enrolled formatting.

06/29/26 - Enrolled → 07/13/26 - Chaptered · 2 edits · Jul 13, 2026

MINOR

This diff reflects the transition of AB 2421 from its enrolled version to its chaptered (signed into law) version. No substantive policy changes were made. The only differences are formatting: the legislative tracking header was replaced with the official state authentication header, the bill was assigned Chapter 75, the approval date was filled in as July 13, 2026, and line wrapping was adjusted for the final publication format.

TECHNICAL

The enrolled bill header (with blank dates for passage and gubernatorial receipt) was replaced with the chaptered law header showing 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL,' Chapter 75, and the approval date of July 13, 2026.

Page numbers changed from 95 to 94 and line wrapping was adjusted throughout to match the final chaptered publication format. No changes to the substantive text of Sections 1, 2, or 3.

04/06/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/16/26 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

The April 16 amendment makes two substantive changes: it adds a new section amending Section 82013 to clarify the definition of 'committee' and its termination pathways, and it shifts the termination process from automatic to discretionary by requiring the Secretary of State to make an affirmative determination before acting. The change from 'will be automatically terminated' to 'may be terminated' gives the Secretary of State discretion rather than mandating termination once conditions are met.

DEFINITION

New Section 1 amends Government Code Section 82013 to define 'committee' as any person or combination of persons receiving $2,000+ in contributions, making $1,000+ in independent expenditures, or making $10,000+ in contributions to candidates or committees in a calendar year. It also clarifies that a committee retains its status until terminated under Section 84214 or 84214.5.

ENFORCEMENT

Termination is no longer automatic. The language changed from 'will be automatically terminated' to 'may be terminated' and from 'shall terminate' to 'may terminate,' giving the Secretary of State discretion over whether to actually terminate a committee that meets the stated conditions.

REQUIREMENT

The bill now requires the Secretary of State to affirmatively determine that a committee meets the termination conditions before sending notice, rather than the process being triggered automatically by meeting the criteria.

TECHNICAL

Section numbering was reorganized: the new 82013 amendment became Section 1, the addition of 84214.5 moved to Section 2, and the legislative findings declaration moved to Section 3.

02/20/26 - Introduced → 03/16/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Mar 16, 2026

MODERATE

AB 2421 was substantially expanded from a nonsubstantive cleanup bill into one that creates a new automatic termination mechanism for campaign committees under the Political Reform Act. The amendment adds Government Code Section 84214.5, which requires the Secretary of State to terminate committees that have not filed reports for 12 months and meet certain cash balance thresholds, or that filed their statement of organization in error. Because the bill now amends an initiative measure, it also requires a two-thirds vote of each house.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 84214.5 creates an automatic termination process: if a committee has not filed a campaign report for at least 12 months and had an ending cash balance of $3,000 or less (or $5,000 or less while owing $2,000+ to the controlling candidate), or filed its statement of organization in error, the Secretary of State must send a written notice that the committee will be terminated 180 days after the notice is sent.

The vote requirement changed from majority to two-thirds of each house, reflecting that the bill now amends an initiative measure rather than making only nonsubstantive changes.

ENFORCEMENT

If no written objection is filed by the committee or the Fair Political Practices Commission within 180 days of the notice, the Secretary of State must terminate the committee and notify the relevant filing officer within 30 days of termination.

SCOPE

A new declaration section states that the bill furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974, which is required because the act is an initiative measure and amendments to it need a two-thirds legislative vote.

TECHNICAL

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill will undergo fiscal analysis due to its new substantive content.

Section 84214 received nonsubstantive edits: grammar corrections (e.g., 'insure' to 'ensuring', removing redundant 'which that'), and minor rewording for clarity.

03/16/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/06/26 - Amended Assembly · 3 edits · Apr 6, 2026

MINOR

The April 6 amendment to AB 2421 removes the bill's proposed amendment to existing Government Code Section 84214 (which governed committee termination regulations) and changes the automatic termination mechanism from mandatory to discretionary, giving the Secretary of State the option rather than the obligation to terminate non-compliant committees. The bill now only adds a new section (84214.5) with a softer enforcement approach.

SCOPE

The entire proposed amendment to existing Government Code Section 84214 was deleted. That section established the framework requiring committees and candidates to terminate their filing obligations per commission regulations. Its removal means the bill no longer modifies the existing termination regulation structure.

ENFORCEMENT

Termination language changed from mandatory to discretionary in two places: 'the committee will be automatically terminated' became 'the committee may be terminated,' and 'the Secretary of State shall terminate the committee' became 'the Secretary of State may terminate the committee.' This gives the Secretary of State discretion rather than imposing an automatic outcome.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries fiscal implications requiring review by the legislative fiscal committee.

Political Reform Act of 1974: committee termination.

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