Liz Ortega
- Democratic
- Assemblymember
- District 20
Author
Under existing law, the ballot label for a statewide measure contains a condensed version of the ballot title and summary prepared by the Attorney General, including a fiscal impact summary prepared by the Legislative Analyst, followed by a listing of the names of the measure's supporters and opponents. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to create an internet website or to use other available technology to consolidate information about each state ballot measure, including a list of the top 10 contributors supporting or opposing a measure, if compiled by the Fair Political Practices Commission. This bill would require the 3 largest contributors of $100,000 or more to all committees that paid for the circulation of a statewide initiative or statewide referendum measure to also be printed on the ballot immediately following the names of the measure's supporters and opponents. The Secretary of State would be required to make a copy of the top contributors available for public examination prior to printing that information on ballots, and voters would be authorized to seek a writ of mandate requiring the identified contributors to be amended or deleted. The bill would specify words and phrases that may be left out of a top contributor's name in order to shorten the name when printed on the ballot. The bill would apply its provisions only to proposed statewide initiative or statewide referendum measures for which the Attorney General delivers a circulating title and summary to the proponents on or after January 1, 2026. To the extent the bill would increase the duties of county elections officials relative to examining initiative and referendum petitions and printing ballots, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Ortega.
Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments. (Ayes 37. Noes 22. Page 3513.)
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3477.)
Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
Senate Rule 29 suspended. (Page 2961.)
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 26. Noes 9. Page 3004.).
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (September 11).
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (September 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 2568.)
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(C).
Joint Rules 61 and 62(a) suspended. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 2731.)
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 11).
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 1317.)
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (April 23).
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
Read first time. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| AB596 | HTML |
| 02/13/25 - Introduced | |
| 03/10/25 - Amended Assembly | |
| 06/12/25 - Amended Senate | |
| 09/09/25 - Amended Senate |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 03/17/25- Assembly Labor and Employment | |
| 04/21/25- Assembly Appropriations | |
| 04/25/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 06/10/25- Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement | |
| 06/24/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 09/09/25- Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments | |
| 09/11/25- Senate Appropriations | |
| 09/12/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 09/13/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.