AB1512 - Elections: ballot language.

Assembly Bill No. 1512 CHAPTER 303 An act to amend Sections 1004, 5020, 15122, 18333, 18513, 19608, 19724, 24906, 35762, and 72026 of the Education Code, to amend Sections 23271, 23355, 23374.5, 34876.5, 51929, 51930, 51931, and 57137 of, and to repeal and add Section 29903 of, the Government Code, to amend Sections 6463 and 6612 of, and to repeal and add Section 20104 of, the Health and Safety Code, to repeal and add Section 5105 of the Public Resources Code, to amend Sections 2965, 2973, 22740, and 22743 of the Public Utilities Code, to amend Sections 1176, 1182, 26064, and 26163 of the Streets and Highways Code, and to amend Sections 12057, 12889.2, 13417, 21929, 21931, 22171, 22173, 23224, 35520.15, 35520.19, 35884, 39931, 45276, 50976, 60385, 60414, 74099, 74101, 74467, 74833, 74850, 75063, 75065, 75444, 75936, and 76042 of, to repeal Section 42327 of, and to repeal and add Sections 21930, 22172, 25675, 25703, 45271, 48255, 75168.3, and 75393 of, the Water Code, relating to elections. [ Approved by Governor October 03, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 03, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1512, Committee on Elections. Elections: ballot language. Existing law specifies the format of language printed on ballots for various ballot measures relating to local governments, including cities, counties, school districts, and other special districts. This bill would revise these ballot language requirements. The bill would generally require the words “Yes” and “No” to be printed on separate lines of the ballot, with voting targets, to the right of or below the description of the proposal to be voted on. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1004 of the Education Code is amended to read: 1004. The resolution of the county committee approving a reduction or increase in the number of members of the county board of education shall constitute an order of election, and the proposal shall be presented to the electors of the county not later than the next succeeding election for members of the county board of education. The ballot shall contain the following words, as appropriate: “Shall the number of members of the county board of education be decreased (increased) from seven (five) to five (seven)?” To the right of or below those words, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the measure. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. SEC. 2. Section 5020 of the Education Code is amended to read: 5020. (a) (1) The resolution of the county committee approving a proposal to establish or abolish trustee areas, to adopt one of the alternative methods of electing governing board members specified in Section 5030, or to increase or decrease the number of members of the governing board shall constitute an order of election, and the proposal shall be presented to the electors of the district not later than the next succeeding election for members of the governing board. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a county committee may, by resolution, approve a proposal to establish trustee areas and to elect governing board members using district-based elections, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 14026 of the Elections Code, without being required to submit the resolution to the electors of the district for approval. A resolution adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall include a declaration that the change in the method of electing members of the governing body is being made in furtherance of the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 14025) of Division 14 of the Elections Code). The resolution shall take effect upon adoption and shall govern all elections for governing board members occurring at least 125 days after the adoption of the resolution. (b) If a petition requesting an election on a proposal to rearrange trustee area boundaries is filed, containing at least 5 percent of the signatures of the district’s registered voters as determined by the elections official, the proposal shall be presented to the electors of the district, at the next succeeding election for the members of the governing board, at the next succeeding statewide primary or general election, or at the next succeeding regularly scheduled election at which the electors of the district are otherwise entitled to vote if there is sufficient time to place the issue on the ballot. The rearranged trustee areas shall comply with the criteria and requirements in Section 21130 of the Elections Code. (c) If a petition requesting an election on a proposal to establish or abolish trustee areas, to increase or decrease the number of members of the board, or to adopt one of the alternative methods of electing governing board members specified in Section 5030 is filed, containing at least 10 percent of the signatures of the district’s registered voters as determined by the elections official, the proposal shall be presented to the electors of the district, at the next succeeding election for the members of the governing board, at the next succeeding statewide primary or general election, or at the next succeeding regularly scheduled election at which the electors of the district are otherwise entitled to vote if there is sufficient time to place the issue on the ballot. Before the proposal is presented to the electors, the county committee on school district organization may call and conduct one or more public hearings on the proposal. (d) The resolution of the county committee approving a proposal to establish or abolish a common governing board for a high school and an elementary school district within the boundaries of the high school district shall constitute an order of election. The proposal shall be presented to the electors of the district at the next succeeding statewide primary or general election, or at the next succeeding regularly scheduled election at which the electors of the district are otherwise entitled to vote if there is sufficient time to place the issue on the ballot. (e) (1) For each proposal there shall be a separate proposition on the ballot. The ballot shall contain the following words: “Shall trustee areas be established (or abolished or rearranged) in ____ (insert name) School District?” “Shall the number of members of the governing board of ____ (insert name) School District be increased from five to seven?” “Shall the number of members of the governing board of ____ (insert name) School District be decreased from seven to five?” “Shall each member of the governing board of the ____ (insert name) School District be elected by the registered voters of the entire _____ (insert name) School District?” “Shall one member of the governing board of the ____ (insert name) School District residing in each trustee area be elected by the registered voters in that trustee area?” “Shall one member, or more than one member for one or more trustee areas, of the governing board of the ____ (insert name) School District residing in each trustee area be elected by the registered voters of the entire ____ (insert name) School District?” “Shall a common governing board in the ____ (insert name) School District and the ____ (insert name) School District be established (or abolished)?” (2) To the right of or below the words describing each proposal to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposal. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. (f) If more than one proposal appears on the ballot, all must carry in order for any to become effective, except as follows: (1) A proposal to adopt one of the methods of election of board members specified in Section 5030 that is approved by the voters shall become effective unless a proposal that is inconsistent with that proposal has been approved by a greater number of voters. (2) An inconsistent proposal approved by a lesser number of voters than the number which have approved a proposal to adopt one of the methods of election of board members specified in Section 5030 shall not be effective. SEC. 3. Section 15122 of the Education Code is amended to read: 15122. (a) A brief statement of the proposition, setting forth the amount of the bonds to be voted upon, the maximum rate of interest, and the purposes for which the proceeds of the sale of the bonds are to be used, shall be printed upon the ballot. To the right of or below the statement of the proposition to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposition. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. (b) A defect in the statement, other than in the statement of the amount of the bonds to be authorized, shall not invalidate the bonds election. SEC. 4. Section 18333 of the Education Code is amended to read: 18333. The election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of this state, where applicable, without reference to form of ballot or manner of voting. The ballot shall contain the words “Shall the Union High School Library District be established?” To the right of or below those words, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposal. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. SEC. 5. Section 18513 of the Education Code is amended to read: 18513. Voting shall be by ballot, without reference to the general election law in regard to form of ballot or manner of voting. The ballots shall have printed on them the words “Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?” To the right or below the statement of the measure to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the measure. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. SEC. 6. Section 19608 of the Education Code is amended to read: 19608. The election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of this state, where applicable, without reference to form of ballot or manner of voting. The ballot shall contain the words “Shall the library district be established?” To the right of or below those words, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposal. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. SEC. 7. Section 19724 of the Education Code is amended to read: 19724. Voting shall be by ballot, without reference to the general election law in regard to form of ballot, or manner of voting. The ballots shall have printed on them the words “Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?” To the right or below the statement of the measure to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the measure. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. SEC. 8. Section 24906 of the Education Code is amended to read: 24906. There shall be printed on the ballots to be used at the election the proposition: “Shall the governing boards of (here insert the names of the districts under the control of the boards submitting the proposition) school districts be authorized to establish a plan for a joint district retirement salary for the teachers and such other employees of the districts as the governing boards or the petition determines.” To the right of or below the proposition to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. SEC. 9. Section 35762 of the Education Code is amended to read: 35762. (a) The words to appear upon the ballots used for voting upon the adoption or rejection of the proposals for the reorganization of school districts shall be “Shall the school districts be reorganized as proposed?”, or words of similar import. To the right of or below those words, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposal. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption. (b) If the plans and recommendations include a proposal for trustee areas in accordance with Section 35734, such proposal shall be considered a part of the reorganization proposition to be voted upon, and the ballot shall include wording to that effect. SEC. 10. Section 72026 of the Education Code is amended to read: 72026. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, if the governing board of a community college district finds that the boundaries of trustee areas do not conform to the district’s geography or population distribution due to annexation of territory to the district after the trustee boundaries were formed, the board may, in its discretion, order a special election seeking voter approval for rearrangement of such areas in the manner provided in this section. (b) (1) Upon adoption of a resolution by a majority of the members, the board shall call and conduct at least one public hearing on the proposed rearrangement of trustee area boundaries by publishing notice of the proposed rearrangement in accordance with Section 6061 of the Government Code. The notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to each hearing to be held and shall state the time and place of the hearing and the general nature of the proposed boundary rearrangement. (2) At the co [Text truncated for display. 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