SB 321: Late signature curing expenditure reports.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including requiring the filing of reports of contributions and expenditures. Existing law requires a committee that makes an independent expenditure for or against a specific candidate or measure during the 90-day period preceding the date of the election or on the date of the election to report the independent expenditure within 24 hours of the time it is made, as specified.

Existing law requires an elections official, upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with the voter’s signature appearing on specified voter registration records. Existing law requires the elections official to notify a voter whose signature does not match or who failed to sign the envelope of the opportunity to verify the signature or provide a signature, as applicable.

This bill would require a committee that makes a late signature curing expenditure, as defined, to report the late signature curing expenditure within 24 hours of the time it is made. The bill would define “late signature curing expenditure” to mean an expenditure made by a committee related to ballot curing activities that occurs after the date of the election and before the certification of the election, as specified. The bill would provide that this late signature curing expenditure report is in addition to any other campaign statement required under the act.

The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.

This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. May 23, 2025May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
3. May 16, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
4. May 12, 2025May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
5. May 6, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. May 2, 2025Set for hearing May 12.
7. April 29, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 933.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. April 4, 2025Set for hearing April 29.
9. March 26, 2025Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
10. March 17, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
11. February 19, 2025Referred to Com. on RLS.
12. February 12, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 14.