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SB-162 • 2026

Elections.

Elections.

Budget Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review (S) - ()
Last action
2025-09-17
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 115, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on penalties for county officials who certify results too early or what happens if costs exceed $100,000.

Special Election Rules and Funding

The law sets rules for a special election on November 4, 2025, including when results can be certified and funds the Secretary of State to report costs.

What This Bill Does

  • Holds a statewide special election on November 4, 2025.
  • Allows local elections scheduled for November 4, 2025, to join with the statewide election if called by August 8, 2025.
  • Requires county officials not to certify results of both the statewide and local elections until at least 28 days after the election.
  • Gives $100,000 from state funds to the Secretary of State for reporting final costs by April 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters participating in the special election on November 4, 2025.
  • County elections officials responsible for certifying results.
  • The Secretary of State who must report on election costs.

Terms To Know

Certify
To officially confirm and approve the final results of an election.
General Fund
A main account in a government budget that holds money for various expenses, including elections.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if costs exceed the $100,000 allocated.
  • It is unclear how local elections will be affected if they do not join with the statewide election.
  • There are no details on penalties for county officials who certify results too early.

Bill History

  1. 2025-09-17 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 115, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-09-17 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-15 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 0. Page 2957.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 19. Page 3338.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    Withdrawn from committee.

  9. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 96 suspended. (Ayes 56. Noes 19. Page 3164.)

  10. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET.

  11. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on BUDGET.

  12. 2025-03-20 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  13. 2025-03-20 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 451.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  14. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  15. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to second reading.

  16. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Withdrawn from committee. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 384.)

  17. 2025-02-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on B. & F. R.

  18. 2025-01-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 23.

  19. 2025-01-23 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 162, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.
Elections.
A special election will be held throughout the state on November 4, 2025. Existing law authorizes consolidation of a local election for the submission of any question, proposition, or office to be filled, which was called by a district, city, or other political subdivision on or before August 8, 2025, and scheduled to be held on November 4, 2025, with the statewide special election. Existing law prohibits a county elections official from certifying the results of the statewide special election before the 28th calendar day following the election.
This bill would also prohibit a county elections official from certifying the results of a local election called by a district, city, or other political subdivision on or before August 8, 2025, and scheduled to be held
on November 4, 2025, before the 28th calendar day following the election.
Existing law requires the Secretary of State to report on the final costs of the statewide special election to the Director of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee no later than April 1, 2026.
This bill would appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund to the Secretary of State for purposes of that report.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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