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Senate committee advances measures on Citizens United, UC student seats and vote‑by‑mail protections
Summary
The committee moved several additional items: SJR 18 (a resolution rejecting Citizens United) and AJR 29 (opposing a federal executive order on ballot mailings) were advanced; ACA 18 (doubling UC student regent seats) also moved forward. Votes on consent items AB 1736 and AB 2421 were approved.
The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments considered multiple additional measures and advanced them for further action.
SJR 18, introduced as a joint resolution expressing disapproval of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, was presented as a non‑binding statement asking Congress to consider limits on corporate political spending. The sponsor cited OpenSecrets figures showing substantial growth in outside spending since 2008 and said the resolution "sends a strong message to the federal government." The committee advanced the resolution to the Committee on Judiciary.
ACA 18, a bipartisan constitutional amendment to increase student representation on the University of California Board of Regents by guaranteeing both an undergraduate and a graduate voting regent, drew support from student leaders and the UC Student Association; witnesses said the change would give students a stronger voice on the 26‑member board. The committee advanced ACA 18 to Appropriations.
AJR 29, presented by Assemblymember Bowman, opposed a recent federal executive order that would transfer certain ballot‑mailing responsibilities to the U.S. Postal Service and asked Congress to protect states' authority to run vote‑by‑mail systems. The sponsor called mailed ballots "safe, secure, reliable" and said California voters have embraced mail voting; the committee advanced the resolution.
The committee also approved consent calendar items AB 1736 and AB 2421. After lifting the call on multiple items and completing roll calls, the chair adjourned the hearing.
What happens next: SJR 18, ACA 18, AJR 29 and the consent bills were advanced for further review by the committees noted on the record; Appropriations and Judiciary committees will now consider appropriations or legal implications as required.
