CA AB596

Requires the 3 largest contributors of $100,000 or more to committees that paid for circulating a statewide initiative or referendum petition to be printed on the ballot following the list of supporters and opponents

Authorizes the Secretary of State to shorten contributor names using approved abbreviations and by removing legal entity designators, geographic terms, and other non-essential words

Mandates the Secretary of State make the identified top contributors available for public examination before ballots are printed, with voters able to seek a writ of mandate to amend or delete identified contributors

Applies only to statewide initiative or referendum measures for which the Attorney General delivers a circulating title and summary to proponents on or after January 1, 2026

Provides for state reimbursement to local agencies if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated costs