Relating to ballot titles.
HB 3452 shifts responsibility for drafting ballot titles for Oregon state measures from the Attorney General to the Legislative Counsel. The bill amends multiple election statutes governing initiative, referendum, recall, and legislatively referred measures so that the Legislative Counsel, rather than the Attorney General, prepares draft and certified ballot titles, handles related modifications, and participates in the Supreme Court review process when ballot titles are challenged.
The measure also updates petition procedures to align with that change. It revises how prospective petitions are filed and amended, how official petition templates are issued, and how ballot titles and measure summaries appear on petition covers, signature sheets, and in the voters’ pamphlet. The bill adds provisions for electronic signature sheet templates, requires separate treatment of paid versus unpaid circulators through different sheet colors and notices, and preserves existing rules about signature verification, circulation, and court review timelines. The new framework applies first to petitions seeking qualification for the 2028 general election ballot.
HB 3452 would amend ORS 250.045, 250.052, 250.062, 250.065, 250.067, 250.075, 250.085, and 254.085 to reassign ballot-title drafting authority from the Attorney General to the Legislative Counsel for state initiative and referendum measures. It would also change related administrative duties of the Secretary of State, including issuing templates, providing notice and comment opportunities, and printing the final ballot title on petition materials and election documents. The bill affects chief petitioners, circulators, voters reviewing petitions, and the Supreme Court’s ballot-title review process, while also authorizing official electronic signature-sheet templates.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears procedural and administrative rather than ideological, focusing on who drafts ballot titles and how petition materials are prepared. The absence of recorded votes or hearing testimony means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the supplied materials.
The main point of contention is the transfer of ballot-title drafting authority from the Attorney General to the Legislative Counsel. That change could raise questions about institutional independence, expertise, and the perceived neutrality of ballot titles, since ballot titles can influence voter understanding of measures. Another likely area of concern is the bill’s expanded petition administration rules, including electronic signature sheets and notices for paid circulators, which may be viewed as either modernization and transparency measures or as added procedural complexity for initiative sponsors.