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Panel approves SB 760 to exempt broad public appeals for charity from certain reporting rules
Summary
SB 760, authored by Senator Allen, passed the Assembly Elections Committee with amendments that exempt good-faith public appeals (TV, radio, social media, public speeches) for charitable donations from certain payment-reporting requirements while preserving reporting when conflicts exist.
The Assembly Elections Committee voted to pass SB 760 as amended on July 16 and re-refer the bill to the Committee on Appropriations. Senator Allen presented the bill and said it would clarify when elected officials' public appeals for charitable donations trigger reporting requirements under existing payment-reporting rules.
Allen told the committee that current rules—intended to disclose possible influence when elected officials solicit donations—can chill public appeals for aid during disasters because officials worry an ordinary public request could be treated as a "behest" trigger for reporting. He described instances during recent wildfires when charities were providing relief and officials were reluctant to publicly encourage donations for fear of complex reporting obligations.
The amended SB 760, as described by Allen and supporting witnesses, exempts good-faith public appeals made through TV, radio, social media, or public speeches from triggering payment-reporting requirements, while preserving reporting when an official or their immediate family or staff has a defined conflict (for example, paid affiliation, board positions, or decision-making authority). The amendments also preserve reporting for solicitations made at fundraisers where the official is featured and directly asks attendees to donate.
Trent Lang of the California Clean Money Campaign testified in support of the amended bill, saying the changes strike a balance between transparency and enabling pro-social appeals for help after disasters. Multiple committee members thanked the author and supporters and expressed interest in continued work to refine the bill with attention to organizations that engage in political advocacy.
Assemblymember Solace moved the bill and Assemblymember Bennett seconded. The clerk recorded the committee action as passed as amended, with the clerk announcing the bill was out "4 to 0" at the time and that the roll would be kept open for absent members.
