Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about when SCA 3 will be put to a vote by the public.

Changing Who Writes Initiative and Referendum Summaries

This law changes who writes summaries for initiatives and referendums from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst, but only if voters approve another measure called SCA 3.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the job of writing summaries for initiative and referendum measures from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst.
• Requires voter approval of SCA 3 before this change can happen.
• Allows the Legislature to add more information about candidates or other details in the voter guide with a simple majority vote instead of needing a two-thirds vote.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters who read summaries for initiative and referendum measures.
• The Legislative Analyst's office which will write the summaries.
• The Attorney General's office which currently writes these summaries.

Terms To Know

Initiative

A way citizens can propose new laws or changes to existing laws by collecting signatures and putting it on a ballot for voters to decide.

Referendum

A process where citizens vote directly on whether to approve or reject a law that has already been passed by the Legislature.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only takes effect if voters approve another measure called SCA 3.
• Details about when this will be put to a vote by the public are not clear.

Official Summary Text

SB 1225, as amended, Niello.
Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.
Existing law requires the Attorney General, upon receipt of the text of a proposed initiative or referendum measure, to prepare a circulating title and summary of the chief purposes and points of the proposed measure that includes an estimate of the financial impact of the proposed measure. Existing law requires the Attorney General to prepare a ballot title and summary for each measure that the Secretary of State determines will appear on the ballot at a statewide election.
This bill would instead require the Legislative Analyst to carry out these responsibilities. The bill would make the operation of this requirement contingent upon approval by the voters of SCA 3 of the 2025–26 Regular Session.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature
may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a
2
/
3
vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. The act also provides that, notwithstanding this requirement, the Legislature may add to the voter information guide information regarding candidates or other information.
This bill, which would permit or require additional information to be included in the voter information guide, would therefore require a majority vote.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF