California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB72 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 72Introduced by Assembly Member JacksonDecember 12, 2024 An act to add Section 2601 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 72, as introduced, Jackson. Elections: Bengali.Existing state and federal law, including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to provide language assistance to voters in order to access voting information, register to vote, and cast their votes at the polling place. Existing law requires a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in languages other than English if the Secretary of State has determined that doing so is appropriate, as specified. This bill would require elections officials to provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it. By increasing duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 2601 is added to the Elections Code, to read:2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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3	3	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 72Introduced by Assembly Member JacksonDecember 12, 2024 An act to add Section 2601 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 72, as introduced, Jackson. Elections: Bengali.Existing state and federal law, including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to provide language assistance to voters in order to access voting information, register to vote, and cast their votes at the polling place. Existing law requires a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in languages other than English if the Secretary of State has determined that doing so is appropriate, as specified. This bill would require elections officials to provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it. By increasing duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
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9	9	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
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11	11	Assembly Bill
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13	13	No. 72
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15	15	Introduced by Assembly Member JacksonDecember 12, 2024
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17	17	Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson
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20	20	An act to add Section 2601 to the Elections Code, relating to elections.
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22	22	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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24	24	## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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26	26	AB 72, as introduced, Jackson. Elections: Bengali.
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28	28	Existing state and federal law, including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to provide language assistance to voters in order to access voting information, register to vote, and cast their votes at the polling place. Existing law requires a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in languages other than English if the Secretary of State has determined that doing so is appropriate, as specified. This bill would require elections officials to provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it. By increasing duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
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30	30	Existing state and federal law, including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to provide language assistance to voters in order to access voting information, register to vote, and cast their votes at the polling place. Existing law requires a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in languages other than English if the Secretary of State has determined that doing so is appropriate, as specified.
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32	32	This bill would require elections officials to provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it. By increasing duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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34	34	The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
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36	36	This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
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38	38	## Digest Key
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40	40	## Bill Text
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42	42	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 2601 is added to the Elections Code, to read:2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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44	44	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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46	46	## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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48	48	SECTION 1. Section 2601 is added to the Elections Code, to read:2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
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50	50	SECTION 1. Section 2601 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
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52	52	### SECTION 1.
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54	54	2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
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56	56	2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
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58	58	2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
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62	62	2601. An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
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64	64	SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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66	66	SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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68	68	SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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70	70	### SEC. 2.