Governor Newsom Issues Legislative Update 9.22.22

Published: Sep 22, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced action on a number of bills

• AB 1783 by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin County) – Lobbying: administrative actions.

This bill would expand the definition of “administrative action” under the Political Reform Act of 1974 to include any decision or approval by the Insurance Commissioner or the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care under these provisions. By expanding the scope of requirements imposed on lobbyists and lobbyist employers, the violation of which is subject to criminal penalties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

IGA engaged on this bill to keep it focused on the author's target of subjecting advocacy on certain business proceedings before the California Department of Insurance to the Political Reform Act as "lobbying." This measure, now law, arose from the "contingency fee" arrangement, and activity "nondisclosure" of two former legislators influencing the outcome of a merger/acquisition/license approval pending at the Department.  At one point, amendments to the bill converted it into a measure that would have made thousands of everyday license and permit transactions subject to the Political Reform Act as "lobbying."