SB68 Summary

• Creates the Fair Ballot Commission with 15 members appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State, with each appointing one attorney and one private citizen, excluding other public officials.

• Commission members serve initial terms of two years (Governor, Speaker, Lieutenant Governor appointees) or four years (Commissioner of Agriculture, Secretary of State appointees), with subsequent members serving four-year terms and limited to two consecutive full terms.

• Requires the commission to post "Ballot Statements" on the Legislature's website at least 60 calendar days before statewide ballot measure votes, including the measure text, implementing legislation, ballot placement, and plain language summaries explaining effects if passed or defeated, including tax impacts.

• Ballot Statements must be approved by majority commission vote and written in plain, nontechnical language that is impartial and neither argumentative nor prejudicial; if the commission cannot agree, agreed-upon portions are posted with the chair's explanation of disagreement.

• Approved Ballot Statements must be printed and distributed like sample ballots and made available at the Secretary of State's office and each judge of probate's office no later than 55 days before the vote, with offices able to charge a printing fee.