SB 398 passed the Senate floor unanimously before arriving at Newsom’s desk. On the other hand, SB 42 had opposition from several Republican senators who claimed it diverts public funding from other issues. “These new laws further protect Californians’ voices and civic participation in what makes our state and our country great,” Newsom said. SB 398, also known as the Criminalizing Lotteries for Voter Registration, makes it a crime to offer money or valuable incentives to someone in exchange for registering to vote. According to Umberg, only charter cities are allowed to establish public financing programs, while others are banned under a 1988 initiative.