The California Center for Nonprofit Law Blog

California Senate Bill 1454, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, modernized private security regulations for churches and other houses of worship. In the past, California law exempted religious organizations from these regulations, allowing them to use volunteers to…

The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) established the Charleston Principles in 2001. These non-binding principles are designed to guide states in developing a standardized approach to online fundraising and solicitation. More specifically, these principles address when charitable organizations…

A new California Court of Appeal decision raises questions about whether volunteers at charities may be legally reclassified as employees. This reclassification could result in greater responsibilities and liabilities for charities, including wage-and-hour laws, class actions, and Private Attorneys General…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released long-anticipated new guidance on obtaining and maintaining group tax exemptions. Revenue Procedure 2026-08 (January 20, 2026), along with the accompanying Notice of Issuance of Revenue Procedure…

As of January 1, 2026, California SB 642 amended Cal. Labor Code §§432.3 and 1197.5 to establish new rules for pay scale transparency and fair compensation for employees. More specifically, the amendments expand the definition of "wages" to include benefits…

SB 683 went into effect in California as of January 1, 2026. This bill strengthens and expands upon the state’s Right of Publicity statute found at Civil Code §3344. Under these amendments, individuals have a greater ability to protect their…

The California legislature passed SB 294, more commonly known as The Workplace Rights Know Your Rights Act ("the Act"), last year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law. The Act creates new notice and communication responsibilities for employers…

California recently updated its state laws and regulations governing online charitable fundraising platforms under Ca. Gov. Code §12599.9. As a result, companies conducting cause-related marketing programs or charitable sales promotions (CSPs) must register with the state. Understanding CSPs and Commercial…

The California legislature has passed AB 1318, which expands the definition of "qualified nonprofit organization." The legislation adds a new section to the Government Code and amends various portions of the Welfare and Institutions Code. AB 1318 went into effect…

The Little Hoover Commission (LHC), California’s independent state oversight agency, recently published policy recommendations to reform state grantmaking and nonprofit contracting processes to improve partnerships with charitable organizations. According to the LHC, current state practices create barriers that block effective…