Voter Transparency in Ballot Measures

The bill requires that certain language appear in the ballot title for an initiated statewide measure that would increase state expenditures but does not identify and provide for a sufficient source of revenue or sufficient reductions in state spending for specific public services or program areas to account for the increased expenditures (measure that increases state expenditures). The ballot title for a measure that increases state expenditures must include language identifying the 3 largest program areas of state expenditures for which state expenditures will be reduced if the measure passes, which must be in a format substantially similar to the following language: "... will reduce state expenditures for program areas that include (the 3 largest areas of program expenditure) by an estimated (projected dollar figure of reduction to those areas in the first full fiscal year that the measure will cause the reduction) ...". If the ballot measure specifies the public services or programs that are to be reduced, those public services or programs must be stated in the ballot title.

The bill also requires the ballot information booklet entry for a measure that increases state expenditures to include a description of the measure's projected effect on the 3 largest areas of program expenditure of the state and modifies existing statutory language to mirror this change.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)