The Fair Political Practices Commission on March 20 reviewed an updated legislative package and voted to sponsor eight commission-initiated bills for the 2025 session. Senior legislative counsel Lindy N. Nakano briefed the commission on the proposals and other newly amended bills affecting the Political Reform Act.

Nakano summarized the commissioninitiated bills including AB 359 (repeal of a sunset for FPPCauthority to contract with local agencies), AB 775 (behested payment reporting reforms), AB 808 (technical changes to align the PRA with the Cal-Access replacement system), AB 953 (prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to ballot measures), AB 1029 (require public officials to disclose cryptocurrency on Form 700), AB 1286 (prospective employment disclosure on Form 700), SB 280 (extend prohibition on contributions in capitol and office buildings), and SB 852 (administrative cleanup removing manual notices).

The chair singled out AB 775, explaining its purpose was to produce "not just greater transparency, but meaningful transparency" by centralizing behested-payment reports on the commission's electronic system and moving to quarterly reporting after thresholds are reached. The bill would require reporting directly to the FPPC for state officials and provide a local filing option only if the local agency posts all such reports publicly on its website.

After brief questions and public comment from a Common Cause representative and others, Chair Silver moved and commissioners voted unanimously to sponsor the eight bills. Nakano said she would return if any bill received substantial amendments that required the commission to reconsider its positions.