Senate elections committee advances bills on ballot language, billboard disclaimers, campaign security and voting access; votes recorded

Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments members heard testimony on multiple election-related bills on the committee agenda and moved several to the next stage, while taking public and organizational testimony on proposals affecting ballot language, disclosure formats for political billboards, use of campaign funds for security, campaign finance technology, voting-rights enforcement and voter services.

The hearing opened with Assemblymember Stephanie presenting AB 699, focused on how the 75-word ballot-label limit affects measures with tiered tax structures or phased bond financing. "Current law requires jurisdictions to fit complex financial disclosures into a 75 word ballot label," Assemblymember Stephanie said. She described the bill as "a simple, good government fix" that would allow jurisdictions with complex measures to direct voters to the voter guide for fuller, plain-language explanations rather than forcing detailed distinctions into the ballot label itself.

Supporters for AB 699 included GT Herichmack, policy director for the Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, and Rebecca Killeen, legislative advocate for the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, who told the committee that local bonds and parcel taxes are central to funding affordable housing and school facilities and that the 75-word limit can leave voters confused. Amy Garrett of the California Association of Realtors testified in respectful opposition, saying she preferred expanding the ballot label rather than moving material to a voter guide that some voters may not read. Trent Lang of the California Clean Money Campaign and Savannah Jorgensen of the League of Women Voters said they were working with the author on clarifying amendments.

AB 950, presented by Assemblymember Salacha, would update disclosure formatting for billboard political advertisements. Audrey Ryticek of the California State Outdoor Advertising Association and Trent Lang of the California Clean Money Campaign described the bill as a negotiated compromise that would preserve disclosure of top funders while allowing space-saving measures —…