Bill > AB1188

This bill aims to enhance transparency in the initiative and referendum petition process by requiring additional disclosures about petition funding and supporters. It mandates that state initiative or referendum petitions include a new notice requiring signers to confirm they have reviewed the "Official Top Funders" disclosure before signing. Each petition section must now have a checkbox for signers to confirm they have read this disclosure. The bill also expands ballot label requirements, requiring the printing of the names of the three largest contributors supporting and opposing a measure, along with a web address for accessing more detailed funding information. On the ballot, these top contributors will be listed in descending order based on their cumulative contributions. Additionally, the bill requires committees involved in circulating or advocating for or against a measure to disclose their top contributors. The Secretary of State will be responsible for identifying and making these top contributor lists publicly available before they are printed on ballots, and voters will have the right to seek amendments to the contributor lists. These provisions will apply only to statewide initiatives or referendums with an official summary date on or after the bill's effective date, and the bill includes provisions for potential state reimbursement of local implementation costs.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1188