Bill > AB699

This bill modifies California's election laws regarding local tax and bond measures to provide more transparency and flexibility in how tax and bond information is presented to voters. Currently, when a local government proposes a tax or bond measure, the ballot must include specific financial details. This bill allows local governments to instead direct voters to the county voter information guide for detailed tax rate or bond repayment information, with the requirement that a separate "measure information statement" be mailed or electronically transmitted with the sample ballot. This measure information statement must include a concise description of the tax's purpose, expected tax rates, how rates might change over time, tax duration, estimated annual tax collection, and, for bond measures, additional details about bond debt and repayment. The bill also allows local governments to electronically transmit these materials and clarifies that any estimates or projections in the measure information do not legally restrict the actual tax implementation. Additionally, the bill provides that if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated costs, those costs will be reimbursed according to existing statutory procedures. The goal is to provide voters with clear, accessible information about local tax and bond measures while giving local governments more flexibility in how they communicate this information.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB699