If a political campaign, PAC, or ballot measure committee has ever paid you, or offered to pay you, to post about a candidate or a measure, California law requires a specific disclosure on that post. Under pending 2026 legislation, the FPPC could soon fine creators and committees directly for getting it wrong, with penalties reaching $5,000 per violation.
We put together a free, one-page PDF that covers exactly what the law requires and how to handle it, so you have something to reference the next time a committee reaches out. Here's what's in it.
What's Inside the Guide
Get the free one-page PDF reference
The exact disclosure language, both scripts for talking to a committee, and the citations, formatted as a one-page reference to keep on hand before you post.
1. When It Applies
The guide starts by covering who the disclosure requirement reaches: which kinds of payment trigger it, whether it matters if you're a full-time political influencer or a creator who took a single sponsored post, and how it applies across platforms. This is the section to check first if you're not sure the law applies to your situation at all.
2. The Required Disclosure Language
This section breaks down the four elements a compliant disclosure has to include, walks through an example, and gives you four ready-to-use phrasings you can adapt and drop straight into a caption, instead of drafting language from scratch under time pressure.
3. Where the Disclosure Must Appear
Placement matters as much as wording. This section covers where the disclosure has to sit relative to the post itself, what counts as sufficiently visible or audible, and the placement mistakes that put creators out of compliance even when their language is correct.
4. Scripts for Talking to the Committee
Getting the committee's exact legal name and FPPC ID number is often the hardest part, since it isn't always volunteered upfront. This section gives you two scripts: one for requesting that information before you post, and one for responding when a committee wants the deal kept confidential in a way that conflicts with your disclosure obligation.
5. What Happens If You Don't Disclose
This section covers current enforcement, where the FPPC has to seek a court order, and the pending 2026 legislation that would let the FPPC skip that process and fine creators and committees directly.
This reflects the law and pending legislation as of August 2026. Confirm the current status of any pending bill before relying on it, and confirm the committee's FPPC ID directly with the committee before you post.
This guide is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Whether this law applies to a specific post, and how to disclose correctly, depends on your specific facts. Consult a licensed attorney to evaluate your situation.