It's time for a new year of reporting for political committees in California. We'd love to hear where you are from, what office you are running for or already were elected for and whether you are your own treasurer or if you have someone helping you.

Hey, LLC friends!If your Limited Liability Company decides to jump into the political pool in California and splashes in $10,000 or more to candidates or committees in a calendar year, congratulations — you’ve just unlocked “Major Donor” status. 🏆 And with great generosity comes… great paperwork.Enter Form 409 – Statement of Members. Here’s the gist: - Who files? Any LLC that contributes $10K or more to a California political committee - When? Typically due within 10 days. Closer to the election - you'll have 24 hours! - What’s on it? It's a statement of members (all your business about your business!) - Where to send it? Email to [email protected] — no stamp required! Failing to file can lead to fines, grumpy regulators, and awkward conversations with your legal team. Bottom line:If your LLC is playing big in California politics, don’t skip this step. The FPPC wants transparency, and Form 409 is how you give it to them. 💡 Pro tip: Even if you file Form 461 as a Major Donor, Form 409 is still required if you’re an LLC. Think of it as the “behind-the-scenes cast list” for your political contributions. https://fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/all-forms/409%20ADA.pdf

For local candidates filing a Form 460, the “Per Election to Date” column is not required by state law—unless your local jurisdiction has imposed campaign limits or separate reporting rules. The California Political Reform Act (through the FPPC) only mandates that state candidates and committees subject to contribution limits complete this section (fppc.ca.gov). However, many cities and counties do have local ordinances—for example, contribution caps tied to local elections—that do require “Per Election to Date” reporting. The FPPC’s Form 460 campaign manuals explicitly note: “Some local ordinances may require that the ‘Per Election to Date’ column be completed” (fppc.ca.gov). ✅ What you should do: 1. Check your local campaign finance rules. Reach out to your city or county elections official or refer to the jurisdiction’s campaign finance ordinance. 2. If your locality requires it, complete the column just like a state candidate would—itemize each contribution and include the cumulative total given by the contributor for each specific election (e.g. “$1,000 P‑25” for primary, “$1,000 G‑25” for general). 3. If no local requirement exists, you may leave that column blank or mark it “N/A.” Summary: - State law: Only state-level campaigns must fill “Per Election to Date.” - Local law: Some jurisdictions do require it—check yours. - Non-required local cases: Leave it blank or mark N/A. Let me know your city or county and I can help check whether your locality specifically requires “Per Election to Date. ”https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Campaign%20Forms/460.pdf

So You’ve Been Tapped as Treasurer… Now What? Before a committee in California can raise a dollar or spend a cent, it must appoint a treasurer—yes, even if you’re just helping your friend run for school board. You can also name an assistant treasurer if you’d like some backup (which, let’s be honest, isn’t a bad idea). Treasurers are the ones who sign those official campaign reports under penalty of perjury (yep, it’s serious business), so it’s important to understand the key rules around transparency and disclosure. This isn’t just a ceremonial role—if your name’s on the dotted line, you’re the one responsible. So let’s make sure you’re set up for success from day one!

Current FPPC advice letters confirm donors can give up to $500. Levine Act or SB1439 applies to conflicts with contributions of "more than $500". Here's a link to recent FPPC email with letter.