Dodd's Bill To Limit School Board Campaign Contributions Moves Forward

ACROSS CALIFORNIA — A bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) limiting the amount of money that can be donated to candidates for school boards and special district elections passed the Assembly elections committee Wednesday and will move on to the full Assembly, Dodd's office said Friday.

Senate Bill 328, which uses the framework of a 2019 bill limiting donations to city and county offices, seeks to "ensure fairness while encouraging a more diverse field that is more reflective of the population," said Dodd in a statement.

"Getting big money out of elections for smaller community offices is essential. These well-financed campaigns favor the wealthy at the exclusion of grassroots candidates and people of color," Sen. Dodd noted.

Currently, besides three special districts that have adopted voluntary limits, California allows unlimited campaign contributions for candidates running for school boards and special district offices, according to Dodd. Receiving little media coverage and minimal scrutiny of campaign donations, these local campaigns can receive donations exceeding those given to candidates for higher office, he said.

This bill would limit the individual donations of people, businesses, or committees to $5,500— a limit equal to those set for candidates running for the state Legislature. The bill still allows local governments to vote to adjust these limits.

SB 328 has already been approved by the Senate, and the Assembly elections committee on a 6-1 vote. It faces a vote in the full Assembly before it can advance to the governor's office.

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