August 2026 Agenda
NOTICE AND AGENDA
Under Government Code section 11123(a), all meetings of a state body are open and public, and all persons are permitted to attend any meeting of a state body, except as otherwise provided in that article. The section further states that the portion of the teleconferenced meeting that is required to be open to the public must be audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting. Members of the public may listen to the meeting by phone by calling (669) 444-9171; access code: 9856036268 or watch the meeting via Webinar at YouTube. To participate in real time, visit https://mediasite.fppc.ca.gov/ or call (669) 444-9171; access code: 9856036268.
To view the new procedure to participate by telephone, visit our Public Comment page.
Persons who, due to a disability, need assistance in order to participate in this meeting should, prior to the meeting, contact the Commission Assistant at (916) 322-5745 (voice), CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov (e-mail) and ADACoordinator@fppc.ca.gov. TTY/TDD and Speech-to-Speech users may dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service to submit comments on an agenda item or to request special accommodations for persons with disabilities.
Welcome
Adam E. Silver, Chair
1. Public Comment
1. Public Comment for Items not on Agenda. During this comment period, any person is invited to speak on any topic that is not listed on this agenda. Action may not be taken on any matter raised during this public comment period until the matter is specifically listed on a future agenda. Those who wish to comment on an item that has been listed on this agenda may comment when that item has been opened for consideration by the Commission and before any action is taken.
The Commission should avoid discussing and may not act on any matter raised during this public comment period, except to decide whether to place the matter on the agenda of a future meeting during the last item on the agenda.
2. Approval of Commission Minutes
3-9. Consent Calendar
Items on the consent calendar will be taken up and voted on as a group. A Commissioner may request that an item be removed from consent, in which case it will be discussed separately in the meeting.
3. Adoption of Proposed Regulation 18420.5, Permitting Combined Campaign Reports. Staff: Jenna Rinehart, Senior Commission Counsel. Staff proposes adoption of Regulation 18420.5 to clarify the circumstances in which candidates and committees are permitted to file combined campaign reports. Staff presented this proposal for pre-notice discussion in May and now presents it for adoption.
Mass Mailings at Public Expense
4. In the Matter of Nevada County; FPPC No. 21/292. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel. Nevada County is represented by Trevor Koski, County Counsel, and Christopher Pisano of BBK Law. Nevada County sent prohibited campaign-related mass mailings at public expense, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 and Regulation 18901.1 (2 counts), failed to include the proper advertising disclosures on mailers and other advertisements, in violation of Government Code Section 84502 (2 counts), failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200, subdivision (b) (1 count), and failed to timely file 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (2 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $31,500.
Advertisements
5. In the Matter of Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association PAC, Committee for Transparent Justice – No on Measure P, Michael Vail, and Cody Ebert; FPPC No. 20/1111. Staff: Neal Bucknell, Senior Commission Counsel and Kristin Hamilton, Special Investigator. Respondents are represented by Nicholas Sanders of The Political Law Group, LLP. Committee for Transparent Justice – No on Measure P (“No on P Committee”) was a Sonoma County recipient committee, primarily formed to oppose Measure P in the 2020 election. Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (“DSA”) qualified as a major donor committee in 2020 by virtue of its financial support for the No on P committee. Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association PAC (“PAC”) is a Sonoma County general purpose committee, which was sponsored by the DSA. Michael Vail was president of the DSA, principal officer of its PAC, and principal officer of the No on P committee. Cody Ebert was the treasurer for both the PAC and the No on P committee. The DSA, its PAC, the No on P Committee, Vail, and Ebert failed to file required 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84203 and 84204 (1 count). The No on P Committee, Vail, and Ebert filed campaign statements and reports, but the name of the committee on these filings did not include the required reference to the committee’s sponsors—and they filed statements of organization, which did not include required identifying information regarding the No on P committee’s sponsors—in violation of Government Code Sections 84102 and 84106 (1 count). The DSA, its PAC, the No on P Committee, and Vail paid for advertisements, which did not include the required reference identifying the DSA and its PAC as the sponsors of the committee (and some of the ads failed to state “Paid for by”), in violation of Government Code Sections 84102, 84106, 84504.1, 84504.2, 84504.3, and California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 18419, subdivision (b)(1) (2 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $11,000.
Campaign Late Filer/Reporter
6. In the Matter of James Knell, 127 WCP, LLC, 710 State St. Partners, LP, 1129 State Street, LP, 1213 State Street, LLC, 1221 Victoria Court, LP, RTK Associates, LP, Santa Barbara Athletic Club, Sima Corporation, Sima El Paseo, LP, and Sima Management Corporation; FPPC No. 21/1022. Staff: Kevin Cornwall, Senior Commission Counsel. The Respondents are represented by Robert A. Curtis of Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP. James Knell owns the businesses identified as respondents in this matter. Through his businesses, Knell contributed over $40,000 to four campaign committees controlled by candidates running for the Santa Barbara City Council. Knell exceeded local campaign contributions and failed to timely file two major donor statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200(b) (2 counts), and failed to timely file a 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $12,000.
7. In the Matter of Gaspar Gene Montesano, Joe’s Cafe, Inc., Lucky Village, Inc., Quattro, Inc., and Breadhead, Inc.; FPPC No. 26/582. Staff: Kevin Cornwall, Senior Commission Counsel and Roone Peterson, Special Investigator. The Respondents are represented by the Law Office of Andrew J. Cavanaugh. Gaspar Gene Montesano owns the businesses identified as respondents in this matter. Through his businesses, Montesano contributed $19,600 to the Schwartz for Mayor of Santa Barbara 2021 committee. Montesano exceeded local campaign contribution limits and failed to timely file a major donor statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200(b) (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $4,000.
Committee Naming Requirements
8. In the Matter of Citizens for Laguna's Future and Glenn Gray; FPPC No. 23/009. Staff: Jonathan Rivera, Commission Counsel. Citizens for Laguna's Future was a primarily formed ballot measure committee. Glenn Gray served as the committee's treasurer. The Committee and Gary failed to timely change the name of the Committee to reflect its opposition of the pertinent ballot measure and failed to include the Committee’s proper name on advertisements, including a website, yard sign, and flyer, in violation of Government Code Sections 84103, 84107, and 84502 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $4,000.
Recordkeeping
9. In the Matter of Rob Rennie for Assembly 2022, Rob Rennie, and Isabella Rennie; FPPC No. 25/049. Staff Jonathan Rivera, Commission Counsel. This matter arose from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. Rob Rennie was an unsuccessful candidate for the State Assembly in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. Rob Rennie for Assembly 2022 was the Rennie’s candidate-controlled committee. Isabella Rennie served as the Committee's treasurer. The Committee, Rob Rennie, and Isabella Rennie failed to maintain records, in violation of Government Code Section 84104 (1 count), failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5, 84200.8, 84215(a), and 84605 (1 count), failed to timely file a semiannual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200, 84215(a), and 84605 (1 count), and failed to timely report a contribution, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $7,500.
Pre-Notice Default
10. In the Matter of “Jackie” Chen AKA Jiading Chen AKA Jia D Chen AKA Jiacling Chen; FPPC No. 24/1047. Staff: Vanessa Jimmy, Commission Counsel. Chen was an unsuccessful candidate for the Mountain View School District Board in the November 5, 2024 General Election. Chen failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (2 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $5,000.
11-16. General Items
11. Adoption of Proposed Amendments to Regulations 18360.1-18360.3; Political Reform Education Program and Streamline Resolution Program for Low-Level Enforcement Violations. Staff: Simon Russell, Commission Counsel. Staff proposes amendments to Regulations 18360.1-18360.3 to clarify and simplify the procedural and substantive requirements of the Political Reform Education Program and Streamline case resolution program, as well as to add a new category of violation to the Streamline Program (Unreported Information on a Behested Payment Report). The proposed regulation amendments are presented for adoption by the Commission.
12. Adoption of Proposed Regulation 18450.12 and Amendments to Regulation 18401, AI use in Campaign Advertisement Disclosure and Related Recordkeeping. Staff: Zachary Norton, Senior Commission Counsel. Staff proposes for adoption amendments to Regulation 18450.12 to add language clarifying the circumstances under which disclosure is required in campaign advertisements that have been created or modified using AI, as well as amendments to Regulation 18401 to make explicit that recordkeeping requirements extend to all committee advertisements, and includes a requirement to maintain copies of any original source media used to create advertisements that have been modified using AI. Staff presented this proposal for pre-notice discussion in May and now presents it for adoption.
- Staff Memo
- Proposed Adoption of Regulation 18450.12
- Proposed Amendment of Regulation 18401
- Section 84514 & Regulation 18450.12 Flow Chart
13. 2026-2027 Budget Act. Staff: Jue Wang, Chief of Administration.
14. Legislative Update. Staff: Lindsey Nakano, Senior FPPC Legislative Counsel. The Commission will review and discuss potential sponsored and other legislation. The Commission may provide direction to staff regarding the same.
15. Executive Staff Reports.
Enforcement Division. Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief.
Audits and Assistance Division. Shrdha Shah, Chief.
Legal Division. Dave Bainbridge, General Counsel.
Administration and Technology Division. Jue Wang, PhD, Chief.
Executive Director Update. Galena West, Executive Director.
16. Commissioner Comments and Proposed Future Agenda Items.
Note: Although any Commissioner may identify a topic of interest, the Commission may not substantially discuss or take action on any matter raised during the meeting that is not included on this agenda, except to decide to place the matter on the agenda of a future meeting. (Government Code Sections 11125 & 11125.7(a).)
Additional Information
[1]You can obtain further information about the meeting by contacting the Commission Assistant, 1102 Q Street, Suite 3050, Sacramento, CA, 95811, Tel. (916) 322-5745. Written comments on agenda items should be submitted to the Commission no later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting in order to afford the Commissioners adequate time to fully consider the comments. Email comment letters directly to CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov. To participate in real time, visit https://mediasite.fppc.ca.gov/.
The agenda and related documents are posted on the FPPC website. Materials submitted by the public regarding each agenda item will be made available on the website. The Commission makes every attempt to post ADA compliant documents. If there is a document that is not compliant, please email the Commission Assistant requesting an ADA compliant version.
Members of the public may listen to the meeting by phone by calling (669) 444-9171; meeting ID 9856036268; or watch the meeting via Webinar at YouTube.
The meeting location is accessible to the disabled. Persons who, due to a disability, need assistance in order to participate in this meeting should, prior to the meeting, contact the Commission Assistant at (916) 322-5745 (voice), CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov (e-mail) and ADACoordinator@fppc.ca.gov. TTY/TDD and Speech-to-Speech users may dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service to submit comments on an agenda item or to request special accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please allow three business days between the request and the meeting date.