News & Updates for the previous solution can be found on the CARS Project Pre 2022 Archive page.
December 16, 2022
We've released the Request for Information for the CARS Project:
You are invited to respond to this Request for Information (RFI) titled “California Automated Lobbyist and Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Search System (CAL-ACCESS) Replacement System (CARS) Project.” The California Secretary of State (SOS) is seeking information from the vendor community via this RFI about existing technologies available for replacing its legacy campaign, lobbying registration, contributions and activities reporting solution.
November 28, 2022
The CARS Project Team has scheduled a meeting with the Data Consumers Stakeholder Working Group on November 30, 2022. Details regarding this meeting can be found in the meeting invitation.
The CARS Project Team has scheduled a meeting with the Data Filers Stakeholder Working Group on December 2, 2022. Details regarding this meeting can be found in the meeting invitation.
The CARS Project Team has scheduled a meeting with the Software Vendors/Service Providers Stakeholder Working Group on December 2, 2022. Details regarding this meeting can be found in the meeting invitation.
October 3, 2022
The CARS Project Team has scheduled monthly project update meetings with stakeholders beginning October 5, 2022. Details regarding this meeting series can be found in the meeting invitation.
March 22, 2022:
In July 2021, the Secretary of State's office partnered with the California Department of Technology to conduct an independent assessment of the CAL-ACCESS Replacement System (CARS). The purpose of the assessment was to determine the readiness of CARS to launch and whether it would meet the expectations of the public, stakeholders, and the regulated community. The independent assessment report indicated CARS was not ready for a system launch. After reviewing the report findings, the Secretary of State decided to evaluate the independent assessment report recommendations and begin the planning process for a CARS project restart. Knowing the complexity of the system and the need for a thorough project planning process, the project will not launch during 2022. A project timeline has not been established. The independent assessment report is located here: https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/agency-reports/cal-access-replacement-project-cars-agency-reports. Additional information will be posted when it becomes available.
June 11, 2021:
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. issued the following statement on the status of the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS): “To ensure that the CARS project can fully meet its statutory obligations, the scheduled June 30, 2021 roll out of the project will be postponed,” Weber said. “Moving forward, the Secretary of State's office will assess the project's state of readiness so that on the date it goes live it will meet the expectations of the public, stakeholders and the regulated community.
