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AB 1789

Political Reform Act of 1974: candidate trainings.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tasha Boerner

AB 1789 requires non-statewide candidates and their treasurers to complete CPREC training (90/120 minutes); without training, ballots can’t print and committees can’t accept contri

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.
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Bill Summary · AB 1789

Summary of AB 1789 (2025-2026) — Political Reform Act of 1974: candidate trainings and campaign reports

Note: This summary focuses on the bill’s substantive provisions, timelines, and potential impacts.

1) Purpose and intent

  • AB 1789 introduces mandatory training requirements related to the Political Reform Act of 1974 for individuals who file to become candidates for elective office in California (excluding statewide offices) and for treasurers of candidate-controlled committees.
  • The bill aims to improve compliance with campaign finance rules by ensuring candidates and treasurers understand the Act’s requirements, with enforcement tied to ballot eligibility and campaign-finance operations.

2) Key provisions and changes

A. Candidate trainings

  • Starting January 1, 2029:
    • Any individual who files a statement of intention to be a candidate (for non-statewide offices) must complete a training course on the Political Reform Act as it applies to campaigns for the office they seek.
    • If a candidate does not complete the required training, the candidate’s name cannot be printed on the ballot.
    • If a candidate does not complete the training, committees controlled by that candidate are prohibited from receiving contributions until the candidate completes the training.
  • Training specifics:
    • The California Fair Political Practices Commission (the “commission”) must develop and provide the training.
    • Candidate training cannot exceed 90 minutes.

B. Treasurer trainings for candidate-controlled committees

  • Starting January 1, 2029:
    • Treasurers of committees controlled by a candidate (excluding statewide-office committees) must complete a training on the Act’s requirements applicable to the committee.
    • If a treasurer does not complete the training, the committee cannot accept contributions until the treasurer completes the training.
    • Treasurer training must not exceed 120 minutes.
  • Transitional provisions for treasurers:
    • If a committee registered before Jan 1, 2029 and still active on Feb 28, 2029, the treasurer must complete the training by Feb 28, 2029 (if not already completed).
    • For committees registering on or after Jan 1, 2029, treasurers must complete the training within 30 days of registration or within 4 years prior to the registration date (whichever is earlier).

C. Exemptions

  • Individuals who have completed a similar training offered by a local government ethics agency are exempt from the California commission’s training requirements if the agency’s training is deemed similar.
  • Statewide-office candidates and treasurers are exempt from these requirements.

D. Campaign reports thresholds

  • The bill raises the reporting threshold for certain information in campaign reports from $100 to $200.
    • This applies to campaign statements (Sections 84211 and related provisions) and slate mailer organizations (Section 84219).
    • The increased thresholds affect the reporting of contributions, loans, expenditures, and the identifying information required for recipients, contributors, and other stakeholders.
  • The amendments largely maintain the structure of existing reporting, but with a higher threshold for itemized reporting.

E. Compliance and penalties

  • The bill creates new conditions under which committees may be prohibited from accepting contributions if training requirements are not met.
  • It also creates a state-mandated local program (i.e., local agencies could incur costs; reimbursement provisions are addressed in the bill’s text).

F. Procedural and operative timeline

  • Effective date for most provisions: January 1, 2029.
  • Ballot printing provision applies to candidates who have not completed the required training.
  • Some provisions depend on the Secretary of State certifying an online filing and disclosure system (operative when certification occurs).

3) Affected entities

  • Individuals who file a statement of intention to run for non-statewide elective offices.
  • Treasurers of candidate-controlled committees (non-statewide offices).
  • Local government ethics agencies (as potential exemption sources).
  • Campaign committees and slate mailer organizations (due to updated reporting thresholds).

4) Procedural and timeline notes

  • The commission is tasked with developing and maintaining the required training courses (online platform or app; on-demand access).
  • Training duration limits: 90 minutes (candidates) and 120 minutes (treasurers).
  • A phased implementation:
    • 2029: Training requirements take effect.
    • Pre-2029 registrations have transitional deadlines (e.g., treasurer training by Feb 28, 2029, if not already completed).
  • The act links training completion to ballot access and campaign-contribution acceptance, creating practical incentives for compliance.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (pre-AB 1789) or a short FAQ for voters and local officials.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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