Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Niello (S) , Umberg
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact scope of the measures affected by this change is not specified in the provided source material.

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 these summaries to include an estimate of how much money the proposal would affect.
Makes this change happen only if voters agree with a separate measure called SCA 3.

Who It Names or Affects

People who write summaries for initiative and referendum measures
Voters who decide whether to approve the change

Terms To Know

Initiative: A way for citizens to propose new laws or changes to existing ones.
Referendum: A process where voters can decide whether to approve a law that the state legislature has passed.

Limits and Unknowns

The change will only happen if voters agree with another measure called SCA 3.
It is not clear when or if this bill will become an official law.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-04 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 609.) (April 1).
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 1.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 458, 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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