The Secretary of State’s Political Reform Division administers provisions of California’s Political Reform Act of 1974 which requires the disclosure of financial activities related to political campaigns and lobbying.

In addition to assisting individuals who file campaign and lobbying disclosure statements and otherwise must comply with provisions of California’s Political Reform Act, the Secretary of State’s Political Reform Division offers a variety of services to the public, including the following:

  • Publish the Lobbying Directory. Current lobbying activity information can be viewed on our Lobbying Activity website. An electronic version of the Lobbying Directory may be viewed in portable document format (PDF).
  • Provide public access to all campaign and lobbying disclosure documents filed with the Division.
  • Provide the public with copies of all campaign and lobbying disclosure documents at a duplication cost of ten cents per page or at no cost by emailing prdcopies@sos.ca.gov.
  • Provide printouts and mailing labels for various categories of campaign and lobbying organizations that file documents with the Division. For details and fees, go to the Data Processing Service Request page.
  • Assist anyone with questions about California’s Political Reform Act or the activities of the Division.

If you would like to request any of the services of the Division, please write to: Secretary of State, Political Reform Division,1500 11th Street, Room 495, Sacramento, CA 95814, or telephone the PRD customer support line (916) 653-6224, or visit our Contact Us page.

Specific activities of the Political Reform Division include:

Campaign Responsibilities

  • Register and issue identification numbers for all state and local campaign committees that raise funds in connection with elections (non-federal) throughout California.
  • Receive notices from all state candidates of their intentions to seek a specific office and whether they intend to abide by voluntary spending limits.
  • Receive campaign disclosure statements, itemizing contributions received and expenditures made, filed by individuals and committees raising or spending campaign funds to support or oppose state candidates or ballot measures. Local campaign committees file their itemized disclosure statements with local filing officers.
  • Post electronically filed campaign statements on the Secretary of State’s CAL-ACCESS website.
  • Provide technical assistance regarding campaign disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act to state and local candidates and elected officials, treasurers of campaign committees, and the public.
  • Review campaign documents to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
  • Provide public access to all campaign disclosure documents.
  • Determine if campaign documents have been filed on time and impose and collect fines for late filings.

Lobbying Responsibilities

  • Register lobbying firms and lobbyist employers that make expenditures to lobby California state government.
  • Receive lobbying disclosure statements filed by lobbyists, employers of lobbyists, and lobbying firms. Post statements filed electronically or online on the Secretary of State’s CAL-ACCESS website.
  • Provide technical assistance regarding lobbying disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act to lobbyists, lobbying firms, lobbyist employers, and the public.
  • Review lobbying documents to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
  • Provide public access to all lobbying disclosure filings.
  • Publish online the Lobbying Directory at the start of every two-year legislative session. Produce monthly directory updates on the internet.
  • Determine if lobbying documents have been filed on time and impose and collect fines for late filings.