The provisions of this chapter are not applicable to:
(a) Any elected public official acting in the official’s official capacity, or any employee of the State of California acting within the scope of the employee’s employment; provided that, an employee of the State of California, other than a legislative official, who attempts to influence legislative action and who would be required to register as a lobbyist except for the provisions of this subdivision shall not make gifts of more than ten dollars ($10) in a calendar month to an elected state officer or legislative official.
(b) Any newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, book publisher, radio or television station (including any individual who owns, publishes, or is employed by any such newspaper or periodical or radio or television station) which in the ordinary course of business publishes news items, editorials, or other comments, or paid advertisement, which directly or indirectly urge legislative or administrative action if such newspaper, periodical, book publisher, radio or television station, or individual, engages in no further or other activities in connection with urging legislative or administrative action other than to appear before a committee of the Legislature or before a state agency in support of or in opposition to such action; or
(c) A person when representing a bona fide church or religious society solely for the purpose of protecting the public right to practice the doctrines of such church.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 50, Sec. 189. (AB 378) Effective January 1, 2022. Note: This section was added on June 4, 1974, by initiative Prop. 9.)