CaliforniaElections: ballot disclosures.
What it does
Under existing law, the ballot label for a statewide measure contains a condensed version of the ballot title and summary prepared by the Attorney General, including a fiscal impact summary prepared by the Legislative Analyst, followed by a listing of the names of the measure's supporters and opponents. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to create an internet website or to use other available technology to consolidate information about each state ballot measure, including a list of the top 10 contributors supporting or opposing a measure, if compiled by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
More detail
This bill would require the 3 largest contributors of $100,000 or more to all committees that paid for the circulation of a statewide initiative or statewide referendum measure to also be printed on the ballot immediately following the names of the measure's supporters and opponents. The Secretary of State would be required to make a copy of the top contributors available for public examination prior to printing that information on ballots, and voters would be authorized to seek a writ of mandate requiring the identified contributors to be amended or deleted. The bill would specify words and phrases that may be left out of a top contributor's name in order to shorten the name when printed on the ballot.
The bill would apply its provisions only to proposed statewide initiative or statewide referendum measures for which the Attorney General delivers a circulating title and summary to the proponents on or after January 1, 2026. To the extent the bill would increase the duties of county elections officials relative to examining initiative and referendum petitions and printing ballots, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Where do you stand?
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Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 13Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Ortega.Latest
- Vote recorded AB 596 ORTEGA Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: fail.Lower
- Sep 13Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments. (Ayes 37. Noes 22. Page 3513.)Minor
- Sep 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3477.)
- Sep 13Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
- Sep 13In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Sep 12Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 26. Noes 9. Page 3004.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading AB596 Ortega By Cervantes. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 12Senate Rule 29 suspended. (Page 2961.)
- Sep 12Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 11From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (September 11).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 10From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (September 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 9Joint Rules 61 and 62(a) suspended. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 2731.)
- Sep 9Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- Sep 9Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(C).Minor
- Sep 9Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Sep 9Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 2568.)
- Jun 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 23From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 12Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 11From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 11).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.Minor
- Apr 29In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Apr 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 1317.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 596 McKinnor Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (April 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 19From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.Minor
- Mar 10From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.Major
- Feb 24Referred to Com. on L. & E.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced
- Sep 13Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Ortega.Latest