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Bill

SB 401

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

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Melissa Hurtado

SB 401 allows California campaign finance filers to request deadline extensions during declared emergencies, balancing disclosure transparency with emergency response practicality.

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
#politicalreformactof1974 #emergencysituations #filingdeadlines
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Bill Summary · SB 401

Legislative bill overview

SB 401 modifies California's Political Reform Act of 1974 to adjust filing deadlines for campaign finance disclosures during emergency situations. The bill passed the California Senate unanimously (40-0) on January 27, 2026, and is now in the Assembly for consideration. The specific mechanism for extending or modifying these deadlines during emergencies is not detailed in the available information.

Why is this important

Campaign finance disclosure deadlines are foundational to government transparency and voter access to information about political funding sources. This bill recognizes that emergencies (natural disasters, public health crises, etc.) may create logistical barriers to timely filing, potentially affecting candidates' and committees' ability to comply with existing requirements. Balancing deadline flexibility with transparency obligations is a recurring tension in campaign finance law.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining "emergency": The bill's scope depends on how broadly or narrowly "emergency situations" are defined—overly broad definitions could become routine workarounds for disclosure compliance.
  • Transparency vs. practicality: Critics may argue that deadline extensions reduce voter access to timely campaign funding information; supporters contend that emergency circumstances can make compliance physically impossible.
  • Precedent concerns: Establishing emergency exemptions could set a template for future deadline modifications that weaken disclosure requirements incrementally over time.

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

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