The Attorney General prepares a circulating title and summary of the chief purpose and points of a proposed initiative measure. Proposed initiative measures are cleared for circulation on the day the circulating title and summary is sent to the initiative proponent(s). No petition may be circulated for signatures before it has been cleared to do so by the Attorney General.
Please note: Counties have 8 business days after the filing of a petition to determine the total number of signatures affixed to the petition and transmit this information to the Secretary of State's office (Elections Code section 9030(b)). If no signatures are submitted, a proposed initiative measure will fail on the 9th business day after its circulation deadline.
1977. (24-0001A2)
REQUIRES FUTURE VOTE ON WHETHER CALIFORNIA SHOULD BECOME INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Summary Date: 01/23/25 \ Circulation Deadline: 07/22/25 \ Signatures Required: 546,651
Proponent(s): Marcus Evans
If enacted, this measure places the following question on November 2028 ballot: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?” If at least 50% of registered voters participate in that election, and at least 55% vote “yes”, it would constitute “a vote of no confidence in the United States of America” and “expression of the will of the people of California” to become an independent country, but would not change California’s current government or relationship with the United States. Creates commission to report on California’s viability as independent country. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Around $10 million dollars in one-time election-related costs and to form the new commission on national sovereignty and independence. Around $2 million in annual state costs to operate the commission. (24-0001A2.)
1978 (25-0001)
REQUIRES EARTH SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Summary Date: 04/09/25 \ Circulation Deadline: 10/06/25 \ Signatures Required: 546,651
Proponent(s): Dale McClure
Requires all K-12 public schools, including charter schools, to provide students with thirty hours of education, training, and hands-on learning relating to sustainability or care of the Earth, every two years. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Costs likely not exceeding the low tens of millions of dollars during initial implementation, then declining over time, for public schools to purchase materials and make adjustment to their science lessons. The costs would vary based on the degree to which schools already cover environmental sustainability topics and provide hands-on learning activities. (25-0001.)
1979 (25-0003)
INCREASES ETHNIC STUDIES REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Summary Date: 05/30/25 \ Circulation Deadline: 11/26/25 \ Signatures Required: 546,651
Proponent(s): Emeka Ogbatue
Under current law, undergraduate students at the California State University (CSU) must complete one three-unit ethnic studies course to graduate. This measure would change CSU’s graduation requirements to require, beginning in the 2030-2031 academic year: (1) undergraduate students to complete two ethnic studies courses (one three-unit lower division course and one three-unit upper division course); and (2) graduate students to complete one three-unit ethnic studies course. Prohibits the Legislature from reducing the number of required courses for graduation or altering required course curriculum. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state costs in the tens of millions of dollars annually during initial implementation of the measure, with the bulk of costs phasing out over time. (25-0003.)
1980 (25-0002A1)
RESTRICTS INSURANCE DENIALS FOR PHYSICIAN-RECOMMENDED MEDICAL CARE. INCREASES INSURERS’ POTENTIAL LIABILITY. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Summary Date: 05/30/25 \ Circulation Deadline: 11/26/25 \ Signatures Required: 546,651
Proponent(s): Paul Eisner
Prohibits health insurers from delaying, denying, or modifying physician-recommended medical care if doing so could seriously harm the patient. Permits only licensed physicians to make coverage decisions. In lawsuits challenging coverage decisions, places burden on insurer to prove it did not violate the law; awards triple damages and attorney’s fees for violations. The measure does not define key terms (e.g., “insurer”, “medical procedure”) and its full scope therefore is uncertain and may be subject to litigation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Either limited or extensive effect on state and local government health care costs, potentially from the hundreds of millions of dollars to as much as the billions of dollars annually, depending on how courts interpret the measure and how insurers react to the measure’s new restrictions. (25-0002A1.)
*Elections Code section 9034 requires that once proponent(s) of a proposed initiative measure have gathered 25% of the number of signatures required (currently 136,663 for an initiative statute and 218,661 for a constitutional amendment) proponent(s) must immediately certify that they have done so under penalty of perjury to the Secretary of State.
Upon receipt of the certification, the Secretary of State must provide copies of the proposed initiative measure and the circulating title and summary to the Senate and the Assembly. Each house is required to assign the proposed initiative measure to its appropriate committees and hold joint public hearings, at least 131 days before the date of the election at which the measure is to be voted on. However, the Legislature cannot amend the proposed initiative measure or prevent it from appearing on the ballot.
