Democratic legislators have introduced a bill to put before voters the option of reducing the percentage required to pass a state budget down to a simple majority, a move likely to set off a battle in both the legislature and at the ballot box.

Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) introduced the bill Wednesday, saying inaction on the state budget could be laid at the feet of the two-thirds majority requirement to pass a budget.

"Californians of all ideologies can see that the state's budget process is antiquated and in desperate need of reform," Steinberg said in a statement. "The State Senate will make necessary changes to the way we craft a budget this year, but changing the two-thirds budget vote requirement to majority vote is crucial to getting California's fiscal house in order for the long run."

The bill, ACA 4, would allow a simple majority to pass a budget as long as it was done by the often-missed June 15 deadline stated in the state constitution. A two-thirds majority would still be required after that.

A two-thirds requirement would also still be necessary for any bills related to new revenue for the state, such as through taxes or fees.

If passed by the state Legislature -- where because it's a constitutional amendment, it would need a two-thirds vote -- the measure could go before voters as soon as next June, when a special statewide election is tentatively scheduled for voters to sign off on budget tweaks approved earlier this year.

By floating the measure, Democrats are gambling that voter frustration with nearly annual budget delays will motivate them to discard a provision of state governance for nearly 70 years.

Republicans, usually in the minority in the legislature, have used the two-thirds requirement to keep Democrats from passing a budget without including GOP input.