Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes timelines and procedures, as well as appropriates funding for redistricting in California.

Highlights:

• Requires the Secretary of State to make in-lieu-filing-fee petition forms for the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election available beginning December 19, 2025 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Secretary of State to prepare a calendar of key election dates, deadlines, and requirements for the nomination of candidates by the date that in-lieu-filing-fee petition forms are made available (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the list of registered voters provided by counties for the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election is not required to include voters’ party preference if the Secretary of State determines it is infeasible to include that information by a certain date (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits candidates for the office of Representative in Congress from designating the word “incumbent” to appear under their name on the ballot in the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election (Sec. 1).

• Amends the deadline for a person to file nomination documents for an office if the current office holder does not file nomination documents, and specifies that this change only takes effect if Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA 8) of the 2025-2026 regular session is approved by voters and another state adopts a new congressional district map that takes effect after August 1, 2025 (Sec. 1).

• Repeals all provisions described above on January 1, 2027 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a special election on November 4, 2025 to present ACA 8 to voters, and specifies that local elections called on or before August 8, 2025 may be consolidated with this statewide special election (Sec. 2).

• Requires the impartial analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst for the state voter information guide for the special election to include content regarding 2021 and 2025 congressional district maps (Sec. 2).

• Requires counties that conduct all-mailed ballot elections using vote centers to maintain at least one vote center for the special election, with the following specifications (Sec. 3):

• At least one vote center must be maintained for every 30,000 registered voters from November 1, 2025 to November 4, 2025;

• At least one vote center must be maintained for every 60,000 registered voters from October 25, 2025 to October 31, 2025; and

• Other counties may consolidate polling places at a maximum ratio of one for every 10,000 registered voters.

• Appropriates funds from the General Fund to the Controller for costs incurred by counties in conducting the special election, and to the Secretary of State for costs to administer the special election (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that the amount of funds appropriated will be determined by the Director of Finance (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately as an urgency statute (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes timelines and procedures, as well as appropriates funding for redistricting in California.

Highlights:

• Requires the Secretary of State to make in-lieu-filing-fee petition forms for the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election available beginning December 19, 2025 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Secretary of State to prepare a calendar of key election dates, deadlines, and requirements for the nomination of candidates by the date that in-lieu-filing-fee petition forms are made available (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the list of registered voters provided by counties for the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election is not required to include voters’ party preference if the Secretary of State determines it is infeasible to include that information by a certain date (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits candidates for the office of Representative in Congress from designating the word “incumbent” to appear under their name on the ballot in the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election (Sec. 1).

• Amends the deadline for a person to file nomination documents for an office if the current office holder does not file nomination documents, and specifies that this change only takes effect if Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA 8) of the 2025-2026 regular session is approved by voters and another state adopts a new congressional district map that takes effect after August 1, 2025 (Sec. 1).

• Repeals all provisions described above on January 1, 2027 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a special election on November 4, 2025 to present ACA 8 to voters, and specifies that local elections called on or before August 8, 2025 may be consolidated with this statewide special election (Sec. 2).

• Requires the impartial analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst for the state voter information guide for the special election to include content regarding 2021 and 2025 congressional district maps (Sec. 2).

• Requires counties that conduct all-mailed ballot elections using vote centers to maintain at least one vote center for the special election, with the following specifications (Sec. 3):

• At least one vote center must be maintained for every 30,000 registered voters from November 1, 2025 to November 4, 2025;

• At least one vote center must be maintained for every 60,000 registered voters from October 25, 2025 to October 31, 2025; and

• Other counties may consolidate polling places at a maximum ratio of one for every 10,000 registered voters.

• Appropriates funds from the General Fund to the Controller for costs incurred by counties in conducting the special election, and to the Secretary of State for costs to administer the special election (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that the amount of funds appropriated will be determined by the Director of Finance (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately as an urgency statute (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text