(a) “Ballot title” is the name of a statewide initiative measure or measure proposed by the Legislature, or, in the case of a statewide referendum measure, the question included in the ballot label and the ballot title and summary.

(b) (1) “Ballot title and summary” means, for a statewide initiative measure or measure proposed by the Legislature, the summary of the chief purpose and points including the fiscal impact summary of any measure that appears in the state voter information guide. The ballot title and summary for a statewide initiative measure or measure proposed by the Legislature shall include a statement of the measure’s fiscal impact. The ballot title and summary for a statewide initiative measure or measure proposed by the Legislature shall not exceed 100 words, not including the fiscal impact statement.

(2) (A) For a statewide referendum measure, “ballot title and summary” means the ballot title that is in the form of a question followed by a summary of the chief purpose and points of the law proposed to be overturned that appears in the state voter information guide. The ballot title shall be posed in the form of a question as follows: “Should California keep or overturn a law passed in [enter year statute was enacted][followed by no more than 15 words stating the general subject or nature of the law]?” The ballot title shall be followed by a summary containing the chief purposes and points of the law proposed to be overturned, including the fiscal impact statement. The ballot title and summary for a statewide referendum measure shall not exceed 100 words, not including the fiscal impact statement.

(B) The ballot title and summary that appears in the state voter information guide for a statewide referendum measure shall be followed by the measure’s top funders as set forth in subclause (II) of clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9086 of this code and subclause (II) of clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of § 88002 of the Government Code.

(c) (1) “Circulating title and summary” means the text that is required to be placed on a petition for signatures that is either one of the following:

(A) The summary of the chief purpose and points of a proposed initiative measure that affects the Constitution or laws of the state, and the fiscal impact of the proposed initiative measure.

(B) The summary of the chief purpose and points of a referendum measure that affects a law or laws of the state, which includes the ballot title that is in the form of a question as follows: “Should California keep or overturn a law passed in [enter year statute was enacted] [followed by no more than 15 words stating the general subject or nature of the law]?” The ballot title shall be followed by a summary containing the chief purposes and points of the law proposed to be overturned.

(2) The circulating title and summary shall not exceed 100 words, not including the fiscal impact summary for a statewide initiative measure.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 162, Sec. 3. (AB 421) Effective September 8, 2023.)