The California State Senate's Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee convened on July 1, 2025, to discuss Assembly Bill 775, which aims to modernize the process for filing behested payment reports. The bill seeks to enhance transparency and streamline the reporting process for elected officials regarding payments made at their request for governmental or charitable purposes.

Assembly Bill 775 proposes several key changes to the current reporting framework. It extends the filing deadline for behested payment reports to 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the payment was received. Additionally, it mandates that elected officials file these reports directly with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) through electronic means. Local officials may continue to file with their local agency, provided that these agencies publicly post the reports on their websites. The bill also introduces a reporting threshold of $1,000 for additional payments made by the same donor after the initial report.

Adam Silver, chair of the FPPC, testified in support of the bill, emphasizing its importance in addressing public concerns about the transparency of behested payments. He noted that the current system often makes it difficult for the public and press to track these payments, which has led to calls for clearer reporting and online disclosure. Silver highlighted that AB 775 would create a more predictable and accessible framework for monitoring behested payment activity.

During the meeting, Sean McMorris from California Common Cause expressed support for the bill but raised concerns regarding the proposed $1,000 threshold for additional reporting. He argued that smaller payments could still pose significant ethical concerns, especially when they coincide with official actions involving the donor. McMorris urged the committee to consider lowering the threshold to $250 to maintain the integrity of the reporting process.

The committee's discussions underscored the ongoing efforts to enhance transparency in government and ensure that the public has access to critical information regarding behested payments. The meeting concluded with a call for further consideration of the proposed amendments to the bill, reflecting the committee's commitment to refining the legislation before moving forward.