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The new CAL-ACCESS modernizes and streamlines the lifecycle of lobbyist activities, replacing paper-based and manual processes with a fully digital experience.
Previously, lobbyists had to complete a paper form and submit it to their firm or employer, which then compiled it with other lobbyist forms before forwarding everything to the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS). This process often caused delays and relied heavily on administrative coordination.
Registration – With the new CAL-ACCESS system, lobbyists can create their own accounts, sign in, register, link themselves to an employer, and view both their personal profile and employer information in one place. The system flags filing errors before submission, allowing users to correct them right away. This direct access streamlines onboarding, gives lobbyists greater control over their records from the outset, and helps employers complete their internal processes without delay.
The new CAL-ACCESS landing page and My Filers tab, where the user can register as a filer:
 Photos – Another key enhancement is the streamlined photo submission and credentialing process. Currently, once a new lobbyist completes registration and meets all requirements, they must separately request an ID card from the Senate building, submit a photo, and wait for SOS processing before receiving their ID badge.
In the new CAL-ACCESS system, users can upload a photo directly during registration. The photo is then immediately available online, reducing delays in issuing legislative ID badges. This integrated process simplifies the user experience, saves time, and reduces administrative effort for both lobbyists and staff.
 Disclosure – Disclosure reporting will receive the most transformative upgrade. In the current Cal-Online system, users enter transactions individually, which is time-consuming and prone to inefficiencies. When the new CAL-ACCESS goes live, lobbyists can upload multiple transactions at once by uploading a comma-separated values file (.csv), which can be created in Microsoft Excel. This dramatically reduces the time required for reporting. The system will provide real-time validation and feedback, alerting users immediately if data is incomplete or incorrect. The process for entering a single transaction online has also been significantly improved, with filings now validated instantly to increase accuracy and eliminate delays caused by corrections.
Renewal – Renewals have also moved from a paper-based process to a streamlined digital workflow. Previously, SOS had to manually process thousands of renewal forms, often resulting in significant backlogs and delays. Renewal documents submitted by the year-end due date would take several weeks to be processed and reflected as active in CAL-ACCESS. With the new system, lobbyists can complete renewals online through a process similar to initial registration, resulting in immediate processing. This eliminates bottlenecks and uncertainty, and ensures timely updates.
Lobbying Directory – Finally, the lobbyist directory has evolved from a static, cumbersome resource into a dynamic, user-friendly tool. Previously, users had to search through a large PDF document containing thousands of entries, making the search process slow and difficult to navigate. The new system offers an online, searchable database where users can quickly find individuals or organizations and view associated photos in a single interface. This significantly improves accessibility, search speed, and overall usability.
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