Republican legislators move to curb citizen ballot initiatives

Republican state lawmakers are moving to curb citizen ballot initiatives after voters used those measures to protect abortion access, expand Medicaid, and raise wages. Legislatures in multiple Republican-controlled states are advancing bills to tighten signature rules, raise thresholds, shorten filing windows, and restrict paid petitioners. The push is a direct response to recent voter wins by ballot measure campaigns. If enacted, the measures will make it harder to place initiatives on ballots and will delay or block voter-approved changes to healthcare, abortion access, and labor standards.