CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 398Introduced by Senator UmbergFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 18107.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 398, as introduced, Umberg. Voter registration.Under existing law, it is a crime for a person to receive money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration if the person fails to sign the affidavit and include certain other information, including the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that has agreed to pay the money or other valuable consideration.This bill would make it a crime, punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for a person to knowingly or willfully pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 18107.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 398Introduced by Senator UmbergFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 18107.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 398, as introduced, Umberg. Voter registration.Under existing law, it is a crime for a person to receive money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration if the person fails to sign the affidavit and include certain other information, including the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that has agreed to pay the money or other valuable consideration.This bill would make it a crime, punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for a person to knowingly or willfully pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 398
Introduced by Senator UmbergFebruary 14, 2025
Introduced by Senator Umberg
February 14, 2025
An act to add Section 18107.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 398, as introduced, Umberg. Voter registration.
Under existing law, it is a crime for a person to receive money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration if the person fails to sign the affidavit and include certain other information, including the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that has agreed to pay the money or other valuable consideration.This bill would make it a crime, punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for a person to knowingly or willfully pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Under existing law, it is a crime for a person to receive money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration if the person fails to sign the affidavit and include certain other information, including the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that has agreed to pay the money or other valuable consideration.
This bill would make it a crime, punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for a person to knowingly or willfully pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 18107.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 18107.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
SECTION 1. Section 18107.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
18107.5. (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration for another person to register to vote is guilty of a crime.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), other valuable consideration includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.
(b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 2.