Political Reform Act of 1974: top contributors: disclosures

Voters will receive more consistent information about who pays for political advertising, while committees may use defined shorter names and contributor-name abbreviations where space is limited.

What the law does ​

• Defines individually distributed print ads as ads with an exterior-facing surface of 187 square inches or less.
• Applies large-ad disclosure rules to print and electronic ads on physical surfaces, including yard signs, banners, billboards, and electronic billboards.
• Requires top contributors on large physical ads to be bold and separated by visible bullet points or numbered by contribution rank.
• Sets the required order, placement, type size, and limited font-reduction rules for disclosures on physical print and electronic ads.
• Allows specified shortened committee and top-contributor names, including approved abbreviations and omission of nonessential words.
• Allows eligible committees to use their committee identification number in place of the committee name on certain ads.
• Shortens independent-expenditure disclaimers to “Not paid for by candidate” or, where applicable, “Not paid for by a candidate for this office.”

Who it affects ​

• Political committees that pay for candidate or ballot-measure advertisements.
• Sponsors and top contributors whose names must appear on covered advertisements.
• Campaign advertisers, sign makers, and platforms displaying covered political ads.

Context ​

The act is cited as the Print Ads DISCLOSE Act and furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Breakdown ​

Ad Disclosure Rules ​

SB 900 clarifies that yard signs and billboards count as print ads, and certain linked online graphics count as electronic ads. It allows limited shortening of top-contributor names in some ads, sets a size threshold for large printed ads, and changes how contributor names and other required disclosures must be displayed. The same display rules also apply to electronic ads shown on physical surfaces.

Key takeaways

• The bill treats yard signs and billboards as print advertisements for these disclosure rules.
• It defines certain online graphics, images, and animations that link to a committee-paid website as electronic media advertisements.
• The bill allows approved abbreviations or omission of specified words when shortening top-contributor names for certain advertisements.
• Advertisements larger than 187 square inches must use clearly visible bullet points between top-contributor names or number the three largest contributors as 1, 2, and 3.
• The bill sets the required order for disclosures on these advertisements and extends the rules to electronic advertisements displayed on physical surfaces.

Shorter Independent Ad Disclaimers ​

SB 900 shortens the required disclaimer language on independent-expenditure ads that support or oppose candidates. Ads not authorized by a candidate or the candidate’s committee may use “Not paid for by candidate.” Ads involving a candidate for a different office may use “Not paid for by a candidate for this office.”

Key takeaways

• The bill replaces the longer disclaimer for independent-expenditure candidate ads with “Not paid for by candidate.”
• The bill replaces the longer disclaimer for ads authorized or paid for by a candidate seeking another office with “Not paid for by a candidate for this office.”
• The change shortens the required wording while preserving separate disclosures for candidates running for the office at issue and candidates running for another office.

No State Reimbursement ​

The bill states that the state does not have to reimburse local agencies or school districts for costs associated with this act. It gives a specified reason for excluding the act from the usual state-mandate reimbursement requirement.

Key takeaways

• The California Constitution can require the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for state-mandated costs.
• This bill says no reimbursement is required for costs imposed by this act.
• The bill bases the lack of reimbursement on a specified reason.

Finding on Act’s Purpose ​

The bill states that its changes further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974. This declaration addresses the requirement that legislative amendments to the voter-approved act must further its purposes.

Key takeaways

• The bill formally declares that it furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974.
• This declaration supports the Legislature’s authority to amend the voter-approved act.
• The provision does not create a separate disclosure requirement or other substantive rule in this part.