Sacramento, get ready for more transparency on your social feeds. The California State Senate passed a bill Monday that would give regulators the power to fine influencers up to $5,000 per post if they don’t disclose when they’re being paid to endorse a political candidate or ballot measure. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, aims to close a loophole that has made enforcement slow and difficult. Currently, the Fair Political Practices Commission has to go through the courts to penalize violators, a process that can drag on for months.
Under the new measure, the FPPC could issue fines directly, making it much faster to hold influencers accountable.“Voters should have a right to know whether or not campaigns are paying for the messaging that they’re seeing,”Berman said. The bill now heads back to the Assembly for a final vote before landing on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. He has until September 30 to sign or veto it. A similar federal bill from Senator Adam Schiff hasn’t advanced, so California could set the standard for the rest of the country.
For listeners in Sacramento, this hits close to home. We’re the state capital, and election season brings a flood of campaign money and messaging. From River Cats promos to farm-to-fork events, our community values authenticity. This bill is about making sure the political content we see online comes with a label when it’s paid for. Do you think the fines are steep enough to make a difference?
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Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
