Author: Victoria Antram
-
Campaign behind a California initiative to require healthcare union members to approve of union political spending files signatures
The California Hospital Association is sponsoring a citizen-initiated state statute that would require healthcare labor unions to inform members annually how member dues are being spent on political activities, specifically spending on state and local ballot measures, and require a majority of members to approve such expenditures. The campaign submitted more than 900,000 signatures for…
-
Campaign to make permanent additional income tax to fund public education in California submits signatures
A campaign sponsored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) submitted more than 1.6 million signatures on April 28 for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would make permanent the additional income tax enacted with the approval of Proposition 30 in 2012, which funds education and early childhood programs. The additional income tax is set to expire…
-
California Secretary of State certifies first ballot initiatives of the 2026 cycle; voters to decide on increasing the vote requirement for initiated special local taxes and a new homeownership loan program
The California secretary of state announced on April 21 that two ballot initiatives had qualified for the November ballot — the first initiatives to qualify this election cycle in California. One is an initiated constitutional amendment that would increase the vote requirement to pass citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority (50%+1) to a…
-
Maryland voters to decide on an amendment related to eminent domain for highway or transit purposes in November
The Maryland State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to voters that would authorize the state legislature to pass a law acquiring property on behalf of the state Roads Commission or the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) if the commission or MTA determines it is needed for highway or transit purposes. The owner of the…
-
Maryland State Legislature replaces an amendment related to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities with an updated version and sends changes to collective bargaining for state employees to voters in November
The Maryland State Legislature voted to refer two constitutional amendments to voters in November. The first amendment (Senate Bill 933) would repeal the amendment (House Bill 788) referred to the ballot during the 2025 legislative session. Both amendments were designed to allow the chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities to appoint former members to…
-
SEIU-UHW submits signatures for California ballot initiatives capping executive pay and requiring clinics to spend 90% on patient care
Service Employees International Union — United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) filed signatures for two citizen initiatives that would enact laws limiting executive pay and requiring clinics to spend 90% of their revenue on patient care. Initiative #25-0008, also referred to as the Clinic Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, would require nonprofit federally qualified health centers…
-
Kentucky voters set to decide on amendment limiting governor’s pardon power in November
The Kentucky State Legislature voted on April 1 to send a constitutional amendment to voters in November that would prohibit the governor from issuing a pardon or commuting a sentence 60 days before the gubernatorial election and up to the fifth Tuesday succeeding the election. The amendment would also change the language of the section…
-
Alabama becomes the 24th state to enact a law prohibiting foreign nationals or governments from contributing to ballot measure committees
Alabama enacted House Bill 214 (HB 214) on March 17, becoming the 24th state to pass a ban on foreign spending in ballot measure elections. HB 214 prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions related to ballot measures, prohibits recipients from accepting those contributions, and makes violations a Class C felony. It passed unanimously in the…
-
One-fourth of indirect initiatives were approved by state legislatures between 2018 and 2025; 12 currently pending before state legislatures
There are nine states that authorize indirect initiatives, either statutes or constitutional amendments, where citizen-proposed ballot measures are first presented to state legislatures. Between 2018 and 2025, 40 indirect initiatives were certified to state legislatures. Ten were approved by state legislatures, while 17 were approved and 13 were rejected by voters. For the 2026 ballot,…
-
Campaign submits signatures in California for a ballot initiative to issue bonds for a homeownership loan program
California Coalition for Homeownership submitted over 900,000 signatures to county officials for verification for a ballot initiative that would issue $25 billion in revenue bonds to fund a homeownership loan program for households with incomes that do not exceed 200% of the area median income for families of similar size. The campaign is sponsored by…