California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed Assembly Bill 421 (AB 421), which addresses the veto referendum process, on Sept. 8, 2023. AB 421 changes how veto referendums appear on the ballot, among other provisions. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. For 2024, two veto referendums have qualified for the ballot so far.
Asm. Isaac Bryan (D-55) introduced AB 421 in Feb. 2023. The Senate voted 29-9 to pass the legislation, and the Assembly voted 55-17. In the Legislature, 99% of Democrats, minus absent members, supported the bill, and 100% of Republicans opposed the bill.
Before AB 421, when a veto referendum appeared on the ballot, voters could select “Yes” or “No”. A “Yes” vote had the effect of upholding a bill, and a “No” vote had the effect of repealing the bill. AB 421 replaced “Yes” and “No” with “Keep the law” and “Overturn the law,” respectively.
