People › State Senate
Joshua Botts Newman
Senator, State Senate
Form 700 statements
Findings
Worth a look Lobbying · the statement
Lobbying reports name $726.93 in gifts to them in 2024 from 3 sources this statement doesn't list
Lobbyist employers' reports to the Secretary of State (Cal-Access) list activity expenses that benefited them in 2024, $50 or more from each of these sources, none named among the statement's gifts or travel: WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION $459.63 (lodging); CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES $202.30 (dinner); Sempra and its Affiliates: San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company $65 (holiday wreath sent to district office).
What to check- Whether they attended or accepted it: the report is the lobbyist employer's account.
- What Schedule D doesn't require (Form 700 instructions): gifts returned within 30 days; free admission and food at an event where they made a speech, from its organizer; up to two tickets to a campaign or 501(c)(3) fundraiser from the organization holding it; informational material; plaques worth less than $250.
- Whether it's on the statement under another name.
- That the report's beneficiary is this person (matched by name and office).
WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION $459.63 CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES $202.30 Sempra and its Affiliates: San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company $65 Rule: Lobbying gifts not on the statement
“A gift is reportable if its fair market value is $50 or more. In addition, multiple gifts totaling $50 or more received during the reporting period from a single source must be reported.”Form 700 (2025/2026), Instructions – Schedule D ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Late or missing · the statement
Filed 6 days after its due date (2024-12-30)
This leaving statement for Senator was due 2024-12-30 and filed 2025-01-05.
What to check- Whether the due date shown was extended, or the statement was filed on paper first.
- The filing officer decides whether a late fine applies.
Rule: Filed after the due date
“The filing officer who retains originally-signed or electronically filed statements of economic interests may impose on an individual a fine for any statement that is filed late. The fine is $10 per”Form 700 (2025/2026), Late Filing ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Amendments · the statement
Amends an earlier statement
This is an amendment. The original stays on file; what changed is in the amendment itself.
What to check- Compare with the original statement for the same year.
Rule: An amended statement
How this rule works
Context Travel payments · the statement
Lists $11,444.61 in travel paid by others (3 payments)
Largest: Vietnam ($10,623.14, California Foundation on the Environment & the Economy), Las Vegas, NV ($448, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)), Lake Tahoe, CA ($373.47, Institute of Governmental Advocates (IGA)). 3 of 3 are listed as gifts.
What to check- Who paid, and for what: speeches, conferences and nonprofit-paid travel are treated differently (Schedule E instructions).
- Whether the paying organizations have business before the office.
Travel: California Foundation on the Environment & the Economy $10,623 p.2Travel: Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) $448 p.2Travel: Institute of Governmental Advocates (IGA) $373 p.2
Rule: Travel paid by others
“Travel payments from third parties (not your employer).”Form 700 (2025/2026), Types of reportable interests ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Amendments · the statement
Amends an earlier statement
This is an amendment. The original stays on file; what changed is in the amendment itself.
What to check- Compare with the original statement for the same year.
Rule: An amended statement
How this rule works
Context Behested payments
Of $17,878 paid at their request since 2024: 1 source ($10,000) is a registered lobbyist employer
Payments made at their request (Form 803) from sources that also appear in Cal-Access: California Charter Schools Association ($10,000 to California Problem Solvers Caucus Action Fund; lobbyist employer).
What to check- Context: behested payments are legal and public; this puts two public records side by side.
- Whether the official later acted on matters involving these sources.
- The full Form 803 reports (available from the FPPC on request).
- California Charter Schools Association paid $10,000 to California Problem Solvers Caucus Action Fund · registered lobbyist employer
Rule: Behested payments from donors or lobbyist employers
“Unlike gifts and contributions, there are no limits on the amount of payments an official may behest.”FPPC, Reporting Behested Payments – Form 803 ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Behested payments
What Joshua Botts Newman reported others paying at their request (FPPC Form 803) since 2024: $17,878 in 2 payments to 2 recipients. Officials report a source that pays $5,000 or more in a year; there is no limit.
Largest recipients: California Problem Solvers Caucus Action Fund $10,000 · Senate Education Committee Informational Hearing $7,878
| Paid by | To, for | Amount |
|---|
California Charter Schools Association
Sacramento · registered lobbyist employer | California Problem Solvers Caucus Action Fund · Fundraising Event
Charitable · 2024-04-20 | $10,000 |
LA 84 Foundation - Play Equity Fund
Los Angeles | Senate Education Committee Informational Hearing · The event was an informational hearing.
Legislative · 2024-09-27 | $7,878 |
From the FPPC's Form 803 data (search and download). “Campaign donor” links to a donor who gave to two or more 2026 state candidates.
Reported by lobbying interests
What lobbyist employers, lobbyists and lobbying firms told the Secretary of State they spent on Joshua Botts Newman since 2024: $1,168 across 7 items from 7 sources. Each amount is their share as the report gives it. Matched by name and office.
| Reported by | What, when | To them |
|---|
WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION
$460 in all | LODGING at OJAI VALLEY INN · 2024-10-09 · report | $459.63 |
INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCATES
$373 in all | LODGING - SPEECH GIVEN at RITZ CARLTON HIGHLANDS COURT · 2024-09-26 · report | $373.47 |
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
$202 in all | DINNER at ELLA DINING ROOM · 2024-04-08 · report | $202.30 |
Sempra and its Affiliates: San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company
$65 in all | Holiday Wreath Sent to District Office at Southern California Gas · 2024-12-06 · report | $65 |
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
$43 in all | Lunch at Prelude Kitchen & Bar · 2024-04-18 · report | $42.50 |
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$13 in all | Drinks at Camden Spit & Larder · 2024-06-10 · report | $13.05 |
PANDA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
$12 in all | LUNCH EVENT at VALLEY LUXURY EVENTS · 2024-05-20 · report | $12 |
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