In a move that could crack open one of Sacramento’s quieter back rooms, two California lawmakers are pushing matching transparency bills that would finally let the public see the letters lobbyists and advocacy groups file to support or oppose legislation. These documents, known as position letters, are already submitted through a secure online portal that staff and legislators can access, but regular Californians cannot. Supporters say putting the letters online would give voters a much sharper view of who is really trying to shape state law.
Assemblymember Greg Wallis introduced AB 2063 on Feb. 18, and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan followed with AB 2557 on Feb. 20. Both measures would require that position letters submitted through the Legislature’s portal be added to the materials the Legislative Counsel must post online, and Wallis’ bill specifies that the change would begin with the 2027–28 Regular Session. California Legislative Information now lists AB 2063 alongside AB 2557, which also appears in the state’s California Legislative Information system.
Portal access and why transparency backers pushed the bills
CalMatters reports it spent more than a year asking the Legislature for copies of the letters filed through the portal, only to be turned down under existing rules. That denial effectively kept the records hidden from public view. According to CalMatters, the outlet’s Digital Democracy database plans to add the letters if they ever become public, which transparency advocates say would make it far easier to track who is lining up for or against each bill.
The pitch from the bill authors and some good-government groups is fairly straightforward: position letters often include suggested changes, technical fixes and policy arguments that reveal a bill’s likely real-world impact. Assemblymember Wallis told CalMatters he was surprised the documents were not already public. Some longtime lobbyists, on the other hand, warn that handling and posting hundreds of letters could strain committee staff and raise privacy concerns, especially for individuals who sign on.
How the position-letter portal works
The Legislature operates a position-letter portal that lets registered lobbyists, organizations and individuals upload letters tied to specific bills. Advocacy groups frequently use the system to send identical or customized letters to committee staff and bill authors in bulk. A public-facing guide from a state agency and other stakeholder materials walk users through registration types and submission steps. Los Angeles Community College District publishes one such guide, pointing readers to the portal, explaining who can register and outlining how to upload a letter…