CA AB 459
deadInitiatives: qualification: electronic signatures.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did CA AB 459 pass?
No. CA AB 459 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process (2026-02-02). Latest recorded action (2026-02-02): From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
What is CA AB 459 about?
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 CA AB 459?
DeMaio is the primary sponsor of CA AB 459.
Description
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.
- Introduced
- 2025-03-28
- Latest action
- 2026-02-02 — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- DeMaioauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2025-02-06
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
2025-02-07
From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.
2025-03-28
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-03-28
Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
referral-committee
2025-04-01
Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
referral-committee
2025-04-08
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-09
Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
referral-committee
2025-04-30
In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
committee-passage-unfavorable
2026-01-31
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
failure
2026-02-02
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
committee-passage,failure
Versions
Documents
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- text/html
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
Votes
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-30 · fail · 2-4
Member-level votes (7)
- Lackey: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Solache: no
- Pellerin: no
- Stefani: no
- Berman: no
- Bennett: other
Reconsideration.
2025-04-30 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Macedo: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Solache: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Berman: yes
- Bennett: other
- Stefani: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
Use this data
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