Voter Transparency in Ballot Measures

Plain English: This amendment requires that ballot titles for measures reducing state tax revenue must clearly warn voters about the likely reduction in funding for specific programs.

• Ballot titles for tax-cutting measures must start with a warning phrase stating there will be a reduction to a specific tax and an estimated loss of state revenue.
• The title must list the three largest areas where state spending is likely to decrease due to the lost money, unless the measure already names enough programs to cover that cost.
• If a ballot measure specifies which public services it wants to cut, those services must be listed in the title along with other affected program areas if needed.

• The amendment states these estimates are not legal restrictions on how the state creates its budget.
• The exact wording for calculating 'likely' effects depends on future fiscal impact statements which are not included in this text.

Plain English: This amendment would require the official ballot title for any measure that cuts state taxes to clearly list how much money is lost and which three biggest government programs will lose funding.

• Ballot titles must start with a specific phrase stating there will be a reduction in tax revenue.
• The title must include the exact percentage of the tax cut for the first full year it takes effect.
• The title must list an estimated dollar amount of money lost and name the three largest areas where state spending would drop.
• If the measure names specific programs to be cut, those must also appear in the ballot title without causing legal issues about having too many topics.

• This amendment was voted down (lost) and did not become part of the final bill.
• The text does not explain how officials would calculate or agree on which programs are the 'three largest' if they change over time.

Plain English: This amendment would let supporters of certain tax or spending ballot measures submit a draft title early, which the Title Board must mostly keep unless it breaks legal rules.

• Supporters can now send in a draft title before the official meeting for measures that lower state taxes or increase state spending.

• This amendment was voted down and did not pass, so these changes are not part of the law.
• The text does not explain exactly what legal rules the Title Board must follow when changing the draft title language.

Plain English: This amendment changes the bill to require that ballot information for certain voter measures must describe how they will affect state spending instead of just identifying them.

• The bill now requires a description of likely effects on state expenditures for initiated measures that increase costs without providing enough money or cuts elsewhere.
• Specific sections listing other types of financial impacts were removed from the text.

• The amendment removes several lines and paragraphs, but the full original list of what was deleted is not provided in this summary to explain exactly which specific categories are no longer included.
• The exact definition of 'de minimis' or small administrative costs mentioned in the text is not explained.