TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Andrew M. Mize, Legislative & Policy Analyst
SUBJECT: Presentation on Local Campaign Contribution Limitations & Statewide Updates to Levine Act Requirements
RECOMMENDATION
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Receive a presentation on local campaign contribution limitations and legislation passed in 2024 amending the requirements of the Levine Act, discuss local limitations, and provide direction to staff to return to the Board with any requested changes to local limitations. (No Fiscal Impact, Discretionary.)
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BACKGROUND
At its January 14, 2025 regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors referred to the County Executive Officer a future agenda item comprising an overview by staff of local campaign contribution limitations and legislation passed in 2024 amending the requirements of the Levine Act.
The Board in 2021 heard a presentation on legislation amending the Political Reform Act of 1971 that set default campaign contribution limitations for counties, adjusted biennially. Following this presentation, the Board directed staff to draft, and subsequently adopted, a local ordinance intended to adopt the FPPC’s local campaign contribution requirements.
In 2023, the Board heard a presentation on the local campaign contribution limits set by other counties in California, including a matrix outlining those contributions which has been updated for 2025 and attached to this item.
Staff will today present the scope of the FPPC requirements, which, if either affirmatively set as FPPC defaults, or if no local ordinances on the topic are passed, are administratively enforced by the FPPC. Staff will then present examples of how other counties who deviate from FPPC requirements administratively enforce their own local requirements. Regardless of whether requirements are enforced locally or by the FPPC, the local district attorney has the authority to pursue criminal investigations.
The FPPC provides the attached fact sheet regarding contribution limits for city and county candidates for elected office.
Staff will also present an overview of amendments passed in 2024 by the California Legislature to the Levine Act, which governs contributions made to state and local officials with decision-making authority over certain licenses, permits, contracts, and other entitlements for use. The amendments are intended to simplify the application of the Levine Act to contributions and actions of state and local officials.
On March 20, 2025, the FPPC is scheduled to adopt amendments to its Levine Act regulations to ensure their conformity with new statutory amendments. Links to PDFs containing an overview by FPPC staff and the proposed regulations are available on the agenda to the FPPC’s March 20, 2025, meeting under item number five: https://www.fppc.ca.gov/about-fppc/hearings-meetings-workshops/current-agenda/past-agendas/2025-agendas/March-2025-agenda.html.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Receiving and discussing this presentation is relevant to the fair and transparent administration of elections and transparency in the decisions made by local officials with decision-making authority over certain licenses, permits, contracts, and other entitlements for use. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.