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Senate committee OKs bill to keep recall petitioners’ addresses, signatures off published notices
Summary
The Senate committee voted to pass SB 270 as amended to the Committee on Judiciary; the bill would require elections officials to withhold street addresses and signatures from the publicly published copy of a notice of intention to recall an elected official while maintaining those records with the elections office.
Senate Bill 270, authored by Senator Anna M. Ochoa Bogh, was moved out of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments as amended and ordered to the Committee on Judiciary after a 5-0 vote.
The bill would change how recall notices are published: proponents would still file the full notice (including names, addresses and signatures) with the elections official and serve a copy on the targeted official, but the version printed in newspapers would omit signers’ street addresses and signatures. Senator Ochoa Bogh told the committee she accepted committee amendments and asked for an “aye” vote.
The bill’s lead witness, Chris Robles, a political consultant who has worked on multiple local recalls, testified the current practice produces published notices that include handwritten signatures and addresses, and that in the internet era such appearances in digital newspapers create safety and harassment risks for signers. Robles said he contacted the Secretary of State’s office and that the office’s interpretation was that signatures and information “should have always been included,” noting the quoted response: “well, it doesn't say not to.” Robles said a legislative fix was required.
Supporters told the committee the measure preserves the elections official’s access to information while reducing the public exposure of personal details that could, they said, invite intimidation. The author and witnesses emphasized that the bill would not remove the requirement to file the complete notice with the elections official and to serve the recalled official; it would only change what is published in newspapers.
Senator Allen moved the measure. The roll call recorded Senators Cervantes, Choi, Allen, Limon and Umberg voting aye. The committee left the measure on call and later the clerk recorded the motion as passed 5-0 and reported to the Committee on Judiciary.
The measure will next be considered by the Committee on Judiciary, where additional debate and any further amendments could be made.
