Assembly BillChaptered/SignedGovernment
AB 2413: Large-format public advertisements: public expense.
What AB 2413 does, verified October 2, 2026
This bill aims to regulate large-format public advertisements at public expense. It prohibits the publication or display of large-format public advertisements that include the photograph of an elected officer affiliated with the agency producing or purchasing the advertisement. The advertisement must be prepared in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer. The bill furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974, which regulates campaign financing and activities. The bill allows for the regulation of large-format public advertisements by the commission by regulation. No reimbursement is required for a specified reason, and the bill is amended to further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 upon a 2/3 vote of each house of the legislature.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 940, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-30)Alert me
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| Sep. 30, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 940, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 30, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 20, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6139.). |
| Aug. 11, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 30, 2026 · 850 words
Assembly Bill No. 2413
CHAPTER 940
An act to amend Section 89001 of, and to add Sections 82035.8 and 89002.1 to, the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.
[ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2413, Ransom. Large-format public advertisements: public expense.
The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing and activities. The act defines “mass mailing” to mean over 200 substantially similar pieces of mail, and defines “mass electronic mailing” to mean sending more than 200 substantially similar pieces of electronic mail within a calendar month. The act prohibits a mass mailing from being sent at public expense if, among other things, the mailing features an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or sends the mailing, or includes the name, office, photograph, or other reference to the elected officer and is prepared or sent in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer.
This bill would define “large-format public advertisement” as a billboard, wrap on a bus or other public transportation vehicle, advertisement affixed to a bus stop, and other public advertisements designated by the commission by regulation that are 24 inches by 36 inches or more in size. This bill would prohibit a large-format public advertisement from being published or displayed at public expense if, among other things, the advertisement includes the photograph of an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or purchases the large-format public advertisement. The bill would make an agency and elected official jointly and severally liable for any administrative or civil penalties incurred if the agency prepares a large-format public advertisement that violates the bill’s provisions in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer.
A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
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 2/3 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 people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 82035.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:82035.8.
“Large-format public advertisement” means any of the following:(a) A billboard.
(b) Wrap on a bus or other public transportation vehicle.
(c) Advertisements affixed to a bus stop or other public infrastructure.
(d) Other public advertisements that are 24 inches by 36 inches or more in size and that are specified by regulation.
SEC. 2.
Section 89001 of the Government Code is amended to read:89001.
(a) A newsletter or other mass mailing shall not be sent at public expense.(b) An agency shall not publish or display a large-format public advertisement at public expense, as provided in Section 89002.1.
SEC. 3.
Section 89002.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:89002.1.
(a) A large-format public advertisement is prohibited by Section 89001 if both the following criteria are met:(1) The large-format public advertisement includes the photograph of an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or purchases the large-format public advertisement.
(2) The costs of distribution of the advertisement are paid for with public money, or the costs of design, production, and printing are paid for with public money.
(b) For purposes of this section, “elected officer affiliated with the agency” means an elected officer who is a member, officer, or employee of the agency, or of a subunit thereof such as a committee, or who has supervisory control over the agency or appoints one or more members of the agency.
(c) If an agency prepares a large-format public advertisement in violation of subdivision (a) in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer, then the elected officer and the agency shall be jointly and severally liable for any administrative or civil penalties incurred for the violation.
SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.SEC. 5.
The Legislature finds and declares that this bill furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the Government Code.Text of AB 2413 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions