PRESS RELEASE

PR26-92
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2026
Contact: sospress@sos.ca.gov

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces Proponent Withdraws Initiative to Restrict Political Spending by Health Care Unions 

Sacramento, Calif. – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. announced today that an initiative eligible for the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot has been withdrawn by the proponent.  

The Attorney General's official title and summary of the measure is as follows:  

RESTRICTS POLITICAL SPENDING BY HEALTH CARE UNIONS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Prohibits certain large health care unions from political spending over specified amounts regarding state or local ballot measures without following certain member consent requirements. Requires these unions to provide members annual notice describing prior-year political spending. Requirements apply only to unions, not employers. Imposes monetary penalties on unions as follows: (1) for violations of member consent requirements, the amount spent in violation of the requirements; and (2) for violations of member notice requirements, $1,000 per member (e.g., a $50,000,000 penalty if union does not provide notice to 50,000 members). Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased annual state costs, potentially in the range of millions of dollars, with some costs paid for by penalties created by the measure. (25-0021A1.) 

Pursuant to Elections Code section 9604(b), proponents may withdraw an initiative at any time before the Secretary of State certifies it as qualified. 

The proponent of the initiative is Carmela Coyle. The proponent may be contacted c/o David Simon at dsimon@calhospital.org. 

For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in California, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-qualify-initiative/. 

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