Newsom Signs McNerney’s Campaign Finance Transparency Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Sen. Jerry McNerney’s campaign finance transparency legislation, which will update California’s campaign disclosure rules to provide more clarity regarding who is paying for political advertisements.

“In the past 15 years, since the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United decision, political campaign spending by big corporations, billionaires, Super PACS and other outside groups has exploded in California and across the nation,” said Sen. McNerney, D-Pleasanton. “SB 900 updates California’s campaign disclosure rules so that voters can better understand who is funding the flood of campaign ads each election cycle.”

SB 900 goes into effect Jan. 1. It was co-sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign and the California State Outdoor Advertising Association.

"California already leads the nation in transparency because the California DISCLOSE Act requires ballot measure and independent expenditure ads to clearly and prominently disclose their top funders," said Trent Lange, executive director of the California Clean Money Campaign. "Now, thanks to Governor Newsom's signing of SB 900 and Senator McNerney's leadership, California is once again leading the way — making those disclosures even stronger and clearer across all political print ads, from billboards and banners to political mailers."

“SB 900 is a commonsense solution that protects transparency while ensuring political messages on billboards remain clear and readable,” said Layne Lawson, president, California State Outdoor Advertising Association. “We thank Governor Newsom for signing this important measure and Senator McNerney for working with stakeholders to develop a balanced approach that works for voters and outdoor advertisers.”

Earlier this year, both houses of the Legislature also approved Sen. McNerney’s Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 18, declaring that the California Legislature strongly disagrees with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, "Citizens United," and calls on states to devise ways to limit corporate spending in our elections.

SB 900 enhances transparency to California’s campaign finance laws by reformatting disclosure messages on political print ads, billboards, and banners to be shorter and easier to read.

Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, and his 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.