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AB 1788

Political Reform Act of 1974: travel expenditures.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tasha Boerner

AB 1788 modifies California's Political Reform Act rules on travel spending by officials and candidates, recently amended in committee with further legislative review pending.

Read second time and amended.
#politicalreformactof1974 #travelexpenditures
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Bill Summary · AB 1788

Legislative bill overview

AB 1788 amends California's Political Reform Act of 1974 to modify regulations governing travel expenditures by elected officials and political candidates. The bill passed committee review with amendments in March 2026 and is currently moving through the legislative process with referral to the Appropriations Committee.

Why is this important

Travel expenditures represent a significant portion of campaign and official spending, and how they're regulated affects transparency in political finance. Changes to these rules can influence campaign cost structures, donor relationships, and public accountability for how officials and candidates use funds.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional clarity: The specific amendments to travel expenditure definitions may create ambiguity about what expenses qualify, potentially allowing loopholes or imposing unintended restrictions on legitimate activities
  • Compliance burden: New or stricter travel reporting requirements could increase administrative costs for campaigns and officials, disproportionately affecting smaller campaigns with limited resources
  • Competitive fairness: Different treatment of travel expenses between incumbents (who may have official travel) and challengers could create unequal campaign conditions

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

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