California lawmakers push bill for transparency in bond measures

California lawmakers are facing criticism for their approach to ballot measures related to taxes and bonds. In the past, some proposed laws have failed only to resurface through legislative tricks. This creates a cycle reminiscent of the game "Whac-A-Mole." A key issue revolves around how ballot measures are presented to voters. Current state law requires a brief 75-word summary that should inform voters about the financial implications of these measures. However, many sponsors have previously used this summary to promote their proposals rather than disclose the tax impacts. In 2015, Assemblymember Jay Obernolte introduced a bill aimed at making these summaries more transparent. His legislation required that initiatives clearly state how much money they would raise and how long new taxes would last. In subsequent years, he pushed for similar rules for local government measures. Despite these efforts, some lawmakers have sought to reverse these transparency rules. Senator Scott Wiener introduced a bill that would allow sponsors to avoid detailing financial impacts in the summaries. Instead, they could direct voters to a separate voter guide for tax rate information. This move raised concerns about reducing transparency. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Wiener's bill, citing worries that it would obscure vital information from voters. Despite this setback, Wiener continued to advocate for easing the rules but was unsuccessful in the 2023-24 legislative session. Now, another Democratic legislator, Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, has introduced Assembly Bill 699. This new bill allows the tax information related to bond measures to be sent via email or posted online instead of mailed to voters. Advocates believe this could make it easier to pass housing bonds by making tax increases less visible. Critics warn that misleading voters is not acceptable. As new legislative efforts emerge, the push for transparency in California’s ballot measures remains a contentious topic.