California 20252026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

AB 459 — Initiatives: qualification: electronic signatures.

Last action — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Assembly.

Prognosis

Stalled 20% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    1 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Existing law prescribes the procedures for circulating an initiative, referendum, or recall petition for signature by voters. This bill would require the Secretary of State to develop a system that allows a proponent of a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition to have the petition posted on the Secretary of State's internet website where a voter can electronically sign the petition. The bill would require the Secretary of State and elections officials to perform specified tasks in connection with the electronic circulation of petitions, including verifying the electronic signatures, as specified. By imposing additional duties on elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.

  4. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  5. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

  6. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  7. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

  8. Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  9. From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.

  10. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Failed 2 Yea · 4 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 2000
Democratic 0401
Total 2401
% of votes cast 29%57%0%14%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bennett, Steve Democratic Not Voting
Berman, Marc Democratic Nay
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Nay
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Nay
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 459 do?
Existing law prescribes the procedures for circulating an initiative, referendum, or recall petition for signature by voters. This bill would require the Secretary of State to develop a system that allows a proponent of a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition to have the petition posted on the Secretary of State's internet website where a voter can electronically sign the petition. The bill would require the Secretary of State and elections officials to perform specified tasks in connection with the electronic circulation of petitions, including verifying the electronic signatures, as specified. By imposing additional duties on elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Who sponsors AB 459?
AB 459 is sponsored by DeMaio, Carl (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 459?
This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track AB 459?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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