SB 401CALIFORNIASession 20252026

California SB 401 authorizes Fair Political Practices Commission to extend campaign filing deadlines during emergencies

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

August 30, 2026

Political Reform Act filing deadlines emergency management Fair Political Practices Commission campaign finance PoliticalReformActof1974 emergencysituations filingdeadlines

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Where This Stands

Currently Unknown. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Version history & redline

4 versions on file

Official version history is partial: 4 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.

Comparing 03/25/25 - Amended Senate → 01/05/26 - Amended Senate

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Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

The Frame

What this does

This bill provides a mechanism for candidates, lobbyists, and committees to avoid $10-per-day late filing penalties when natural disasters or other emergencies prevent them from meeting their legal reporting obligations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Candidates and campaign committees

These groups may receive deadline extensions for financial disclosures if they reside in a declared emergency area.

Lobbyists and slate mailer organizations

These entities are subject to the same filing requirements and potential extensions as candidates under the Act.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 30, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

SB 401 allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to grant up to a 60-day extension on financial disclosure deadlines for individuals living in areas affected by a declared emergency. This authority is restricted, prohibiting any deadline extensions within the 90-day period immediately preceding an election.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill apply to all filing deadlines?

The bill applies to filing deadlines established under the for individuals impacted by a declared emergency.

Can I get an extension right before an election?

No, the bill explicitly prohibits the Commission from granting extensions during the 90 days before an election.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Emergency Flexibility in Transparency Laws

The bill introduces a specific carve-out for emergency situations within the rigid framework of the 1974 Political Reform Act.

Fair Political Practices Commission

Connected Entities

otherPolitical Reform Act of 1974“The governing law for campaign finance and lobbying disclosures in California.”Map →

organizationFair Political Practices Commission“The state agency responsible for administering the Political Reform Act and gran”Map →

personGovernor“The official whose proclamation of an emergency can trigger the eligibility for ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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