85300.5.
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a state or local government agency, or an agent of the agency, shall not expend public money for a public communication that clearly identifies a candidate or ballot measure, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (A) A mass mailing.
(B) Bumper sticker.
(C) Billboard.
(D) Flyer.
(E) Mass media communication such as a television, electronic, or radio advertisement.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “clearly identified” has the same meaning as in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 82025.
(b) This section does not preclude the expenditure of public money for any of the following communications:
(1) A mass mailing permitted under Section 89002.
(2) An agency report containing the agency’s internal evaluation of a measure sent in response to a member of the public’s request.
(3) A department view presented by an agency employee upon request by a public or private organization at a meeting of the organization.
(4) A discussion or an announcement of the agency’s position at a public
meeting or within the agenda or hearing minutes prepared for the meeting.
(5) A written argument filed by the agency for publication in the voter information guide pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 9000) of the Elections Code, whether or not sent to a voter.
(6) A republication of the full voter information guide prepared pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 9000) of the Elections Code.
(7) A communication containing only the impartial analysis of the measure prepared by law for the ballot or voter information guide.
(8) A communication conveyed by a form of mass media regularly provided by the agency, such as an electronic agency newsletter, government access television, or social media page, that is either of the
following:
(A) A communication other than a mass mailing that contains the candidate’s image or identifies the candidate by name but does not reference the candidate’s campaign or qualifications for office.
(B) An impartial communication that clearly identifies its funding source containing only a description of the intended actions of the agency’s governing body, including budget cuts or allocations, to be implemented upon the approval or defeat of a ballot measure and any resulting increase or decrease in taxes or similar public fees or charges.
(9) A communication specifically authorized by state or federal law.