California AB1853: Voter information guide: candidate statements.

What the bill says

An act to repeal and add Section 13308 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. elections Voter information guide: candidate statements. Under existing law, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives or local elective office may purchase space in the county voter information guide to make a candidate statement. A candidate for United States Senate may purchase space for a candidate statement in the state voter information guide…

From the chaptered text, September 27, 2026:

An act to repeal and add Section 13308 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. elections Voter information guide: candidate statements. Under existing law, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives or local elective office may purchase space in the county voter information guide to make a candidate statement. A candidate for United States Senate may purchase space for a candidate statement in the state voter information guide. A candidate for state elective office may also purchase space to make a candidate statement in the state voter information guide, but only if the candidate accepts certain voluntary campaign expenditure limits. Existing law prohibits these candidate statements from making any reference to the candidate’s opponents. This bill would limit a candidate statement to a recitation of the candidate’s own education, professional experience, public service, community involvement, and qualifications. The bill would prohibit a candidate statement from including, in addition to references to other candidates, a link or other reference to external content other than the candidate’s campaign website; content that is vulgar or profane, or that threatens or incites violence; false statements or misleading claims; or any other content that is unrelated to the candidate’s qualifications. The candidate would be required to submit a declaration with the candidate statement that attests that the statement is true and correct. Because …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Gail Pellerin (D, AD28) · primary sponsor
• Berman, Marc (D, AD23) · primary sponsor
• Dawn Addis (D, AD30)
• Patrick Ahrens (D, AD26)
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D, AD16)
• Isaac Bryan (D, AD55)
• Jesse Gabriel (D, AD46)
• Matt Haney (D, AD17)
• Jacqui Irwin (D, AD42)
• Josh Lowenthal (D, AD69)
• Blanca Rubio (D, AD48)
• Ward, Christopher (D, AD78)

Latest actions

1. September 27, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 554, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 10, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 6864.).
5. August 30, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10.).
6. August 30, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
7. August 28, 2026: From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 28).
8. August 26, 2026: Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6621.)
9. August 26, 2026: Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended.
10. August 26, 2026: Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

Votes

• AB 1853 Pellerin Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 30, 2026): 63 yea, 10 nay, passed
• With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in. (August 28, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1853 Pellerin et al. By Wiener (August 25, 2026): 32 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended (August 13, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (August 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 30, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB1853?

AB1853 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Voter information guide: candidate statements.

What does AB1853 do?

In its own words: An act to repeal and add Section 13308 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. elections Voter information guide: candidate statements. Under existing law, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives or local elective office may purchase space in the county voter information guide to make a candidate statement. A candidate for United States Senate may purchase space for a candidate statement in the state voter information guide…

What is the status of AB1853?

Chaptered as of September 27, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 554, Statutes of 2026. (September 27, 2026).

Who sponsored AB1853?

Gail Pellerin (D, AD28), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB1853?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1853