AB 1188: Elections: statewide initiative and referendum petitions: disclosures.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires the inclusion of an Official Top Funders disclosure with any petition proposing certain types of ballot measures, including a state initiative or referendum, for which the circulation is paid for by a committee, as defined. Existing law requires a petition to include a notice informing a person to sign only if it is the same month for which the Official Top Funders disclosure is applicable or if the person has seen the disclosure for that month.

This bill would require a state initiative or referendum petition to also include a notice informing a person to sign only if they have reviewed the Official Top Funders disclosure. The bill would require each section of a state initiative or referendum petition to include a space for signers to check a box to confirm that they have read the Official Top Funders disclosure.

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 a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a state ballot measure or state candidate that raises $1,000,000 or more for an election to disclose the committee’s top 10 contributors on the Fair Political Practices Commission’s website, until the Secretary of State certifies a particular online filing and disclosure system, at which point the contributors would be disclosed on the Secretary of State’s website.

This bill would require the 3 largest contributors to all committees formed in support of a statewide initiative or referendum measure, the 3 largest contributors to all committees formed in opposition to the measure, and the address for the website identifying committees’ top 10 contributors 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 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 the effective date of the bill. 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. January 31, 2026Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
3. May 23, 2025In committee: Held under submission.
4. May 14, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
5. May 6, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. May 5, 2025Read second time and amended.
7. May 1, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (April 30).
8. March 25, 2025Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
9. March 24, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.
10. March 24, 2025Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
11. February 24, 2025Read first time.
12. February 22, 2025From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.