Gov. Code, § 84502 · Article 5. Disclosure in Advertisements
Gov. Code, § 84502
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) (1) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013, other than a political party committee or a candidate controlled committee established for an elective office of the controlling candidate, shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name of the committee as it appears on the most recent Statement of Organization filed pursuant to Section 84101.
(2) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013 that is a political party committee or a candidate controlled committee established for an elective office of the controlling candidate shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name of the committee as it appears on the most recent Statement of Organization filed pursuant to Section 84101 if the advertisement is any of the following:
(A) Paid for by an independent expenditure.
(B) An advertisement supporting or opposing a ballot measure.
(C) A radio or television advertisement.
(D) A text message advertisement that is required to include a disclosure pursuant to Section 84504.7.
(b) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 82013 shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name that the filer is required to use on campaign statements pursuant to subdivision (o) of Section 84211.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), if an advertisement is a printed letter, internet website, or email message, the text described in subdivisions (a) and (b) may include the words “Paid for by” instead of “Ad paid for by.”
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), if an advertisement is a text message, the text described in subdivisions (a) and (b) may include the words “Paid for by” or “With,” instead of “Ad paid for by.”
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if an advertisement is a video advertisement that is disseminated over the internet, is a print advertisement that is larger than those designed to be individually distributed subject to subdivision (b) of Section 84504.2, is an electronic media advertisement subject to subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3, or is a text message advertisement subject to Section 84504.7, then the text for the name of the committee may be shortened by either of the following:
(1) Displaying only enough of the first part of the committee name to uniquely identify the committee. If the committee is a sponsored committee, then the name displayed must include the portion of the committee name that identifies the sponsor or sponsors, unless all of the sponsors are disclosed on the ad as top contributors as required by Section 84503. For example, if ACME Corporation is not listed as a top contributor, then a committee named “Yes on 99, Californians for a Better Tomorrow, a coalition of X, Y, and Z. Sponsored by ACME Corporation” may be disclosed as only “Yes on 99, Californians for a Better Tomorrow. Sponsored by ACME Corporation.”
(2) If the advertisement is paid for by a committee that has top contributors and is subject to Section 84503, then the committee name may be replaced by displaying the words “Committee ID” followed by the committee’s identification number.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 887, Sec. 9. (SB 1360) Effective January 1, 2023. Conditionally superseded; see amendment by Stats. 2025, Ch. 278.
Another version listed by the Legislative Counsel
Conditionally operative pursuant to Sec. 78 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 278.
(a) (1) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013, other than a political party committee or a candidate controlled committee established for an elective office of the controlling candidate, shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name of the committee as it appears on the most recent committee registration filed pursuant to Section 84101.
(2) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013 that is a political party committee or a candidate controlled committee established for an elective office of the controlling candidate shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name of the committee as it appears on the most recent committee registration filed pursuant to Section 84101 if the advertisement is any of the following:
(A) Paid for by an independent expenditure.
(B) An advertisement supporting or opposing a ballot measure.
(C) A radio or television advertisement.
(D) A text message advertisement that is required to include a disclosure pursuant to Section 84504.7.
(b) Any advertisement not described in subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3 that is paid for by a committee pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 82013 shall include the words “Ad paid for by” followed by the name that the filer is required to use on campaign reports pursuant to subdivision (o) of Section 84211.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), if an advertisement is a printed letter, internet website, or email message, the text described in subdivisions (a) and (b) may include the words “Paid for by” instead of “Ad paid for by.”
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), if an advertisement is a text message, the text described in subdivisions (a) and (b) may include the words “Paid for by” or “With,” instead of “Ad paid for by.”
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if an advertisement is a video advertisement that is disseminated over the internet, is a print advertisement that is larger than those designed to be individually distributed subject to subdivision (b) of Section 84504.2, is an electronic media advertisement subject to subdivision (b) of Section 84504.3, or is a text message advertisement subject to Section 84504.7, then the text for the name of the committee may be shortened by either of the following:
(1) Displaying only enough of the first part of the committee name to uniquely identify the committee. If the committee is a sponsored committee, then the name displayed must include the portion of the committee name that identifies the sponsor or sponsors, unless all of the sponsors are disclosed on the ad as top contributors as required by Section 84503. For example, if ACME Corporation is not listed as a top contributor, then a committee named “Yes on 99, Californians for a Better Tomorrow, a coalition of X, Y, and Z. Sponsored by ACME Corporation” may be disclosed as only “Yes on 99, Californians for a Better Tomorrow. Sponsored by ACME Corporation.”
(2) If the advertisement is paid for by a committee that has top contributors and is subject to Section 84503, then the committee name may be replaced by displaying the words “Committee ID” followed by the committee’s identification number.
History (another version listed by the Legislative Counsel)
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 278, Sec. 49. (AB 808) Effective January 1, 2026. Conditionally operative pursuant to Sec. 78 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 278.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=84502.
- Text hash
- sha256 fe70e32c7699b88d1b48353ba38751104392597a6b28ffd032645f9f8969bad5
- Composed by
- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
- the Legislative Counsel lists 2 versions of this section; the version shown is the one in force by its history, the other is under "Another version listed by the Legislative Counsel" (conditional)
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Government Code
- Gov. Code, § 82013Printed as Section 82013
- Gov. Code, § 84101Printed as Section 84101
- Gov. Code, § 84211Printed as Section 84211
- Gov. Code, § 84503Printed as Section 84503
- Gov. Code, § 84504.2Printed as Section 84504.2
- Gov. Code, § 84504.3Printed as Section 84504.3
- Gov. Code, § 84504.7Printed as Section 84504.7
Cited by 10 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Gov. Code, § 84502. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Government Code
- Gov. Code, § 84305Printed as Section 84502 or 84504.3
- Gov. Code, § 84501Printed as Sections 84502 to 84509, inclusive
- Gov. Code, § 84504Printed as Sections 84502, 84503, 84506.5, and 84514
- Gov. Code, § 84504.1Printed as Section 84502 | Sections 84502 and 84503 | Sections 84502, 84503, and 84514
- Gov. Code, § 84504.2Printed as Sections 84502 and 84503 | Sections 84502, 84503, 84506.5, and 84514
- Gov. Code, § 84504.3Printed as Section 84502 | Sections 84502, 84503, 84506.5, and 84514
- Gov. Code, § 84504.4Printed as Section 84502
- Gov. Code, § 84504.5Printed as Section 84502 | Sections 84502, 84506.5, and 84514
- Gov. Code, § 84504.7Printed as Sections 84502, 84503, and 84506.5
- Gov. Code, § 84505Printed as Sections 84502, 84503, and 84506.5
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