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California 20252026

AB 2592

Lobbyist ethics.

Open original source Back to bills
Source: Open States / PluralUpdated 2026-09-12 13:12:55 UTC.

Official record

Measure details

Jurisdiction
California
Session
20252026
Chamber
lower
Classification
bill
Subjects
Lobbyistethics
Introduced / first action
2026-02-20 00:00:00

Alternate titles

  • Lobbyist training.

Source-supplied abstracts

Existing law requires the legislative ethics committee of each house of the Legislature to conduct at least semiannually an orientation course on the relevant ethical issues and laws related to lobbying, in consultation with the Fair Political Practices Commission. Existing law requires the committees to impose fees on lobbyists for attending these courses, as specified. This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2029, require the Fair Political Practices Commission to develop, maintain, and offer an orientation course for registered lobbyists on the relevant ethical issues and laws relating to lobbying, and on each house of the Legislature's policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, in connection with lobbying activities. The bill would require the course be developed with the legislative ethics committees and give the committees final approval over the content of the course that relates to the Legislature's polices against harassment. The bill would require the course be available on-demand through an online platform, internet webpage, or application. The bill would authorize the commission to impose a fee on a lobbyist for the course, as specified. The bill would update cross-references. The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires individual lobbyists to prepare certifications, as specified, for filing with the Secretary of State. The act also requires lobbying firms and certain lobbyist employers to register with the Secretary of State. A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor, and any person convicted of violating the act is prohibited from acting as a lobbyist for 4 years following the date of conviction, except as specified. This bill would prohibit a person who has been convicted of a crime of public corruption, as defined, from serving as a lobbyist for 12 years following the date of conviction. The bill would also void an existing lobbying certification in the event of such a conviction. The bill would prohibit the Secretary of State from accepting a lobbying certification from any person unless it includes a statement signed under penalty of perjury that the person has not been convicted of a crime of public corruption within the previous 12 years. Because these provisions would be part of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and a violation would therefore be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Source-supplied history

Actions

  1. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  2. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).

    amendment-passage, committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  3. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  4. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).

    passage, reading-1, reading-3

  5. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  6. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage, reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  8. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  9. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee

  11. Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

    referral-committee

  12. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1, referral-committee

  13. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.)

    passage, reading-1, reading-3

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  15. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  16. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  17. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    referral-committee

  18. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage, reading-1, reading-2

  19. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15).

    amendment-introduction, amendment-passage, committee-passage, referral-committee

  20. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    referral-committee

  21. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-introduction, amendment-passage, committee-passage, reading-1, reading-2, referral-committee

  22. Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    referral-committee

  23. From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  24. Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

When supplied by the API

Related measures

No resolvable related measure is supplied.