AB 596: Elections: ballot disclosures.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Assembly

Current Status:

Failed

(2025-09-13: Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

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 measures 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 measures 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 contributors 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.

Existing law established and requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the Department of Industrial Relations to enforce all occupational safety and health standards, as specified. Existing law establishes the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board within the department to promulgate and enforce occupational safety and health standards for the state. A violation of these standards and regulations under specific circumstances is a crime.Until February 3, 2025, existing regulations promulgated by the board, in all areas of employment except as specified, prohibit an employer from preventing any employee from wearing a face covering, including a respirator, as specified, unless it would create a safety hazard. Existing regulations define various terms for purposes of this prohibition.This bill would prohibit an employer from preventing any employee from wearing a face covering, including a respirator, unless it would create a safety hazard. Notwithstanding that provision, the bill would authorize an employer, for identification purposes, to ask any person on the worksite to momentarily remove their face covering, as provided. Consistent with the above-referenced regulations, the bill would define terms for purposes of these provisions.Because a violation of the above-described prohibition constitutes a crime, this bill 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Discussed in Hearing