Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what kind of additional information can go into voter guides or how it will be added.

Changing Who Writes Initiative and Referendum Summaries

This law changes who writes summaries for ballot measures from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst, but only if voters approve another measure.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the job of writing summaries for ballot measures from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst.
• Requires voter approval of SCA 3 before this change can happen.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters who read ballot summaries and voter guides.
• The Attorney General and Legislative Analyst involved in preparing these documents.

Terms To Know

Initiative

A process where citizens can propose new laws or changes to the state constitution by collecting signatures and putting it on a ballot for voters to decide.

Referendum

A process where citizens can vote to reject a law that has already been passed by their elected representatives.

Limits and Unknowns

• The change only happens if voters approve SCA 3.
• It does not say how the Legislative Analyst will be trained or funded for this new role.

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