California’s Recent Pay-to-Play Law Challenged in Court

Local lawmakers and industry groups have challenged California’s recently implemented pay-to-play restrictions in court this week. The new law bars County and City officials from voting on measures potentially benefitting entities that have donated at least $250 to their campaigns in the previous year. The lawsuit alleges that the State Legislature both lacked the authority to alter the initiative-passed Political Reform Act the way it did when passing the law, and unconstitutionally burdened protected speech by requiring the officials to either return the donations or recuse themselves from such matters.