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Senate advances 'plain-language' ballot measure to third reading after fiscal questions from senators
Summary
SB 28, a bill meant to shorten ballot text in favor of fuller voter pamphlets (the 'plain-language ballot'), moved to third reading after senators raised a $400,000 county fiscal impact and discussed whether counties and the fiscal-analyst office were prepared for the change.
Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Senator Thatcher, was presented as a consensus solution developed with county clerks and the state elections office to shorten text on the ballot and provide more detailed information in a voter information pamphlet.
Thatcher told senators the measure would make ballot production more efficient and save printing and mailing costs while delivering fuller context to voters in a separate pamphlet. Senator Hilliard expressed concern about fiscal and analytical workload impacts, noting the fiscal note listed $0 to the state and $400,000 to counties.
"First, are the counties comfortable with the $400,000 fiscal note they're going to have to pick up?" Hilliard asked, and added a broader question about whether the fiscal-analyst office would need to do more complex (dynamic) fiscal work in the future. Thatcher said the proposal came from county clerks and county elections offices and that the committee had worked through compromises; she agreed with a senator’s suggestion to move the bill to third reading or circle it so counties could further vet the costs.
The Senate read SB 28 for a third time after floor discussion and moved it forward consistent with the committee compromise. Sponsors and opponents agreed the next step is to ensure counties and elections officials can implement the change with the fiscal resources and staffing needed.
Next steps: SB 28 will proceed to third-reading consideration and, if passed, will require county administration to implement changes in ballot production and voter information materials.
