SB 1225

Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary

This bill would transfer the job of writing official titles, summaries, and cost estimates for ballot measures from the state Attorney General to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, but only if California voters first approve a related change to the state constitution. The goal is to make ballot measure descriptions more neutral and easier for voters to understand.

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 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.