Last Updated 06/04/2020
Fair Political Practices Commission
The FPPC’s Law and Policy Committee plans to meet on June 4, 2020 to discuss changes to behested payment reporting, proposed regulations that impact LLC’s, committee name requirements, and restrictions on campaign-related mass mailings sent at public expense. Link to agenda
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State issued guidance in consideration of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Orders N-64-20 and N-67-20 to ensure that the November 3, 2020, General Election is secure and safe for voters and election workers. Link to SOS guidance
Additionally, vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to every single registered voter for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Your voter status can be verified at: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-2020/
Federal Election Commission News
In May, the Senate confirmed Trey Trainor to fill one of the empty seats on the Federal Election Commission, which had been operating for nearly nine months without having adequate members to reach a quorum and conduct business. Trainor is an elections attorney from Texas. Link to news story
City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission News
The City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission has released its 2019 Annual Report, which includes information on new records set for its enforcement efforts. Link to Annual Report
San Francisco Ethics Commission
Due to the further extension of Shelter in Place Public Health Orders issued by the City and County of San Francisco on May 22, 2020 to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ethics Commission’s physical offices remain closed until further notice. Commission operations are continuing remotely with phone, email, and online assistance. However, the Commission meeting schedule for June 12, 2020 has been cancelled.
Internal Revenue Service
The IRS has issued final regulations regarding the reporting of names and address of donors to organizations exempt from tax. Under the regulations, the only organizations that will need to report the names and addresses of substantial contributors generally are Sec. 501(c)(3) organizations and Sec. 527 political organizations. Other exempt organizations will no longer have to include this donor data on Schedule B, Schedule of Contributors, of Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Tax; Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax; or Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation. However, all these organizations must continue to collect and retain this information and make it available to the IRS upon request. Link to IRS Guidance