Latest Developments:
California Bill Advancing to Fine Campaign Influencers
California requires content creators to say if they’ve been paid by a political campaign to post content. Legislation is advancing to amend the law to impose penalties under the Political Reform Act – including joint and several liability for both content creators and political committees – “if the creator fails to state they were compensated.” The legislation would give the California Fair Political Practices Commission the power to impose fines on influencers and committees of up to $5,000 per count for violations, bypassing a court process.
U.S. News – California may fine content creators who don’t disclose payment
See the current status of AB 1130 here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1130&showamends=false
Federal Legislation Would Require Influencers to Disclose Payments
Separately, Rep. Mark Takano and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff are pursuing federal legislation in which influencers who post campaign content must include a disclaimer “in a clear and conspicuous manner” that they are being paid, with the Federal Elections Commission to determine liability and sanctions. OC Register – California lawmakers want social influencers to disclose if they’re paid to post campaign content and PAID Act Text
Group Submits Signatures for Michigan Campaign Finance Measure
“Mop Up Michigan” turned in more than 560,000 signatures to qualify a ballot measure for the November 2026 ballot that would: (1) ban regulated utilities from contributing to state officeholders and political party committees; (2) ban corporations with state or local government contracts (of more than $250,000 annually) from contributing to candidates for state or local offices in the jurisdiction of the contract; (3) close the “issue ad loophole”; and (4) modernize Michigan’s campaign finance disclosure requirements, according to its website. Read the petition language here: https://mopupmichigan.org/learn/proposal/
Inside the President’s “Unprecedented Fundraising Operation”
In “The Boss Wants This Money,” Wall Street Journal reporters revealed how fundraiser Meredith O’Rourke “carries out Trump’s requests, asking companies for donations of up to $50 million.” The report confirms that executives believe that contributions buy access, leading to the President raising more than $800 million since returning to office. Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising Operation – WSJ
Events and Reminders:
The CPA-Zicklin Index for 2026, which uses 24 indicators to measure the strength of companies’ political spending disclosure practices and oversight policies, is expected to be published this Fall. The annual report is produced by the Center for Political Accountability in conjunction with the Zicklin Center for Governance & Business Ethics at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Individual companies already are being contacted to see preliminary results. See the 2025 Index here:
The CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability
There’s still time to sign up for PLI’s annual two-day seminar on political law, live in Washington, D.C., on September 17 and 18, 2026, as well as on demand. Learn more and sign up here: Corporate Political Activities 2026: Complying With Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws | September 17, 2026 | In-Person Program – PLI Early registrants will receive complimentary access to a preparatory one-hour audio briefing, the Basics of the Federal Election Campaign Act, on September 10 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).
In Case You Missed It:
Stock Holdings and Alleged Conflicts Factor into Midterm Campaigns
Midterm campaigns across party lines are focusing on incumbents’ stock holdings and trades, focusing on the “optics” of potential related ethics issues such as conflicts of interest. A New York Times report notes that stock trading has become a “potent line of attack” in the midterms. Stock Trading in Congress Becomes an Attack Line – The New York Times
Tracking Stock Trades by Individual Members of Congress
In conjunction with the previous story, the New York Times dove into data collected by an analytics firm to report that, since January 2025, members and their families have collectively traded $160 million to $664 million in individual stocks, raising greater questions about potential conflicts of interest. Members are required to disclose their trades but only in broad ranges. The report notes that critics say the ability to engage in such trading “creates potential conflicts of interest and leaves open the possibility of members profiting from knowledge about legislation and nonpublic committee briefings.” The 5 Congress Members Whose Families Trade the Most Stocks – The New York Times
Kansas Voters Reject Measure to Hold Elections for Supreme Court Judges
Kansas voters have rejected a ballot measure – by a margin of 61 to 39 percent –that would have amended the state’s constitution to provide for direct elections of Kansas Supreme Court justices. Voters made clear that they prefer the current, 68-year-old practice, in which the state’s Governor selects judges from a short list of jurists provided by an independent nominating commission. KCUR.org – Kansas voters reject electing state supreme court justices