Member Policy Alert: SB 1439

Information about the impacts of SB 1439 limiting political contributions to local elected officials and candidates, the potential challenges created for our members, and the Chamber’s process to ensure that our organization and the Chamber PAC are not affected by the new rules.

Beginning in January 2023, SB 1439 requires local elected officials to recuse themselves from license, permit, contract, or other entitlement decisions involving a person who contributed more than $250 to their political campaigns within the 12 months before the decision and prohibits accepting or soliciting contributions over $250 from those parties for 12 months after a final decision. Although well intended, this restriction means that if you make a contribution to a friend’s campaign, or to someone you believe is the best local elected official, that official would have to recuse themselves from voting on any business you have before the Council or elected body. This also applies if you own a company seeking a government contract or renewing a contract and extends to any subcontractor working with you or your company.

The Chamber Political Action Committee (PAC), which is a separate organization from the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, has worked with a law firm specializing in political law and election law compliance to review the PAC’s Charter and Bylaws and to make any recommendations necessary so that the Chamber, the PAC, its officers, and its Executive Committee do not run into issues with SB 1439. The review completed by our attorney affirmed that the PAC has the tools in place to ensure that Chamber members from various components of the local development community and others who may have a license, permit, contract, or other entitlement decisions before a local government body can support the Chamber or the Chamber’s PAC without triggering the voting requirements of SB 1439. The review also affirmed that the Chamber PAC is following best practices to ensure that it is and has been legally compliant in its political involvement.

You can support the Chamber PAC by attending our Chamber PAC Fundraiser on November 17, 2023 at Paradise Ridge Winery or by making donations to the PAC:

Make a corporate contribution to the Chamber PAC

Make an individual contribution to the Chamber PAC

If we can answer any questions about the Chamber PAC or our process to ensure compliance with SB 1439, please use the contact form below.