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Debate over initiative reforms: SB 5973 would ban pay‑per‑signature and require 1,000 verified signatures before a title

State Senate Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee · January 20, 2026
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Summary

SB 5973 would bar paying signature gatherers per signature, allow hourly/contract pay, permit citizen suits for violations, and require 1,000 verified signatures before a ballot title is issued. Supporters argued it curbs fraud and aggressive tactics; opponents warned it could raise barriers to citizen initiatives.

Senators spent significant time on Jan. 20 considering Senate Bill 5973, the Initiative Integrity Act, which proposes three related changes: ban per‑signature compensation for petition circulators (allow hourly/salary/contracted pay), authorize citizen suits with civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation) for pay‑per‑signature compensation violations, and require…

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