Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Changes in 2016 to laws governing ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
This page lists changes and proposed changes in 2016 to laws governing the initiative and referendum process. It also lists changes and proposed changes to laws concerning legislative referrals, ballot measure-related campaign finance, and other laws related to ballot measures and recall. Given the complexity of the initiative process, these laws can address a wide range of initiative-related law, including:
- The legal right of citizens to initiate statutes, amendments or veto referendums.
- Signature and distribution requirements for placing measures on the ballot.
- Regulations governing signature collection and petition circulators.
- Campaign finance requirements for initiative, referendum and recall campaigns.
- Administrative rules, involving filing deadlines, fiscal analyses, petition forms, etc.
Note: This database is only periodically updated. For the status of a single bill, click the title to view its current status.
As of December 30, 2016, Ballotpedia was covering 160 bills concerning ballot measure and recall law that were proposed or reconsidered during the 2016 legislative sessions of 35 states. Of the bills being tracked, 139 bills were defeated, 25 were approved, and 10 bills were carried over to the 2017 legislative session. Many laws covered in 2016 were carried over from 2015 legislative sessions.
Several laws were proposed in Arizona to make the initiative process more difficult or to allow the legislature to more easily alter or repeal initiatives and referendums, but none were approved.
Moreover, bills designed to establish or expand the powers of initiative, referendum and recall were proposed in several states. None were approved. Other legislative efforts proposed campaign finance reform, petition drive deadline changes, petition circulator restrictions, and more. Moreover, a citizen initiative in Colorado was approved and implemented a distribution requirement for initiated constitutional amendments and a supermajority requirement for all constitutional amendments.
The map below shows states (colored in blue) in which legislators proposed bills related to ballot measure and recall law in 2016. States in which more bills were proposed are displayed in a darker shade:
Approved legislation
Arizona House Bill 2015: Was designed to prevent early ballots for local elections being received by voters before voter information pamphlets are received.- Colorado Amendment 71: Implemented a distribution requirement for initiated constitutional amendments and a supermajority requirement for all constitutional amendments.
- Idaho House Bill 372: Was designed to add "to existing law to provide that any regulation regarding the use, disposition or sale or any prohibition, restriction, fee or taxation of auxiliary containers at the retail, manufacturer or distributor setting shall be done only by statute enacted by the Legislature." This proposal was part of a larger trend featuring state and local governments struggling against each other to claim control over issues such as fracking, minimum wage and LGBT issues.
- Idaho House Bill 463: Was designed to amend existing law "to revise obsolete language and to prohibit political subdivisions from establishing minimum wages higher than the minimum wages provided by state law." This proposal was part of a larger trend featuring state and local governments struggling against each other to claim control over issues such as fracking, minimum wage and LGBT issues.
- Indiana Senate Bill 279: Was designed to increase the number of signatures from property owners or registered voters needed to initiate a debt service remonstrance or debt service referendum and makes changes to the local referendum election schedule.
- Maryland Senate Bill 459: Official synopsis: "Altering specified campaign finance law definitions to include campaign finance activity relating to prospective questions to be placed on the ballot; prohibiting a chief election official from certifying a petition if the petition sponsor fails to provide proof of filing a specified campaign finance report; repealing specified requirements that a statement of contributions and expenditures for a petition be filed at the time the petition is filed; etc."
- Maryland House Bill 963: Official synopsis: "Altering specified campaign finance law definitions to include campaign finance activity relating to prospective questions to be placed on the ballot; prohibiting a chief election official from certifying a petition if the petition sponsor fails to provide proof of filing a specified campaign finance report; repealing specified requirements that a statement of contributions and expenditures for a petition be filed at the time the petition is filed; etc." HB 963 was cross-filed with SB 459 and the two bills have the same provisions.
- Massachusetts House Bill 3784: "An Act providing for recall elections in the town of Shirley"
- Michigan Senate Bill 776: Was designed to eliminate a state elections code provision that allows initiative petitioners to prove signatures collected outside of the standard 180-day window are valid and use them to qualify initiatives for the ballot, thereby limiting the circulation window for initiatives strictly to 180 days.
- Ohio House Bill 463: Was designed to change the procedure for the recall of municipal officers and restricts county charter petitions by requiring them to only concern "the exercise of only those powers that have vested in, and the performance of all duties imposed upon counties and county offices by law." HB 463 contained many other provisions unrelated to ballot measure law as well. Opponents argued that this provision would be used to prevent local charter petitions with anti-fracking provisions. Others stated that the provision restricting charter petitions could also be used to block marijuana-related laws from local charters.
- South Dakota House Bill 1036: "Revise certain provisions concerning campaign finance requirements."
- South Dakota Senate Bill 65: "Revise the procedure for a municipal recall petition."
- South Dakota House Bill 1033: "Revise certain provisions concerning elections and election petitions and to declare an emergency."
- South Dakota House Bill 1037: "Revise certain provisions concerning petitions for initiated constitutional amendments, initiated measures, and candidates."
- Tennessee Senate Bill 1219: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires a summary of a constitutional amendment to precede the question on the ballot instead of requiring a summary for only those questions exceeding 300 words in length. - Amends TCA Section 2-5-208."
- Tennessee House Bill 681: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires a summary of a constitutional amendment to precede the question on the ballot instead of requiring a summary for only those questions exceeding 300 words in length. - Amends TCA Section 2-5-208."
- Utah House Bill 10: "Expands the political subdivisions that are subject to local initiatives and referenda; removes the requirement that an initiative or referendum petition contain a statement that a person signing the petition has read and understands the law to which the initiative or referendum relates; establishes and modifies deadlines relating to the local initiative and referendum process;" as well as other provisions.
- Utah House Bill 198: "Addresses requirements relating to preparing and publishing arguments for or against a ballot proposition; describes the duties of an election officer in relation to a ballot proposition and arguments for or against a ballot proposition; modifies deadlines relating to ballot propositions, arguments, and public meeting requirements."
- Wyoming Senate File 30: Was designed to require all proposed citizen initiatives to be written in the form required for legislative bills. This required format is outlined in Wyoming Statutes Section 8-1-105.
Legislation by state
| Legend |
 = This legislation is still pending. = This legislation was carried over to the next session. = This legislation was approved. = This legislation was defeated or is dead.
|
Alabama
- Alabama Senate Bill 86: "Colleges and universities, local boards of education, schools prohibited from using public funds to advocate for or against ballot measures"
- Alabama House Bill 27: Was designed to require statewide ballot measure statements to be posted on the website of the Alabama Secretary of State rather than the website of the Alabama State Legislature.
- Alabama House Bill 501: Was designed to amend Alabama Constitution to allow for the recall of the "Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, and members of the Legislature."
- Alabama Senate Bill 371: Was designed to amend the Alabama Constitution and authorize the legislature "to provide by general law for recall of elected state officials."
Alaska
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Alaska
- Alaska House Bill 75: "An Act relating to possessing, using, displaying, purchasing, growing, processing, transporting, and transferring marijuana; relating to assisting another person 21 years of age or older in activities related to marijuana; relating to established villages and to local option elections regarding the operation of marijuana establishments; and providing for an effective date."
Arizona
- Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2024: Was designed to require a 60 percent supermajority vote of the people to approve any citizen-initiated ballot measure that would legalize a drug considered a controlled substance by federal law in 2014. This proposed constitutional amendment would have required voter approval after being passed by the legislature and was designed, in part, to specifically target imminent initiative efforts to legalize marijuana. A similar law was proposed in 2015 but was not approved.
- Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2047: Was designed to amend the Arizona Constitution to require 25 percent of signatures for initiative and referendum petitions to be from counties with a population of fewer than 500,000 people. To be enacted, this distribution requirement would have had to be approved by the legislature and by the voters at the next general election.
- Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2043: Was designed to amend the Arizona Constitution to allow the legislature to alter laws passed through initiative and referendum by any majority vote greater than the majority of state electors that approved the relevant initiative or referendum. It was also designed to remove the requirement that all legislative changes to approved initiatives or referendums must "furthers the purposes" of the voter-approved laws, except for ballot measures approved by a two-thirds (66.67%) vote. This bill would have only applied to initiatives and referendums approved in 2016 or after. To be enacted, this law would have had to be approved by the legislature and by the voters at the next general election.
- Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2023: Was designed to allow legislators to repeal initiatives or referendums through a three-fifths supermajority vote. It was also designed to allow legislators to alter initiatives and referendums through a three-fifths supermajority vote instead of a three-fourths supermajority. Moreover, the bill would have removed the requirement that legislative amendments to initiatives and referendums “further the purposes” of the original ballot measures. To be enacted, this law would have had to be approved by the legislature and by the voters at the next general election.
- Arizona House Bill 2580: Was designed to require the publication of certain election information on the website of the secretary of state. It was also designed to allow the electronic submission of arguments in favor or opposing state ballot measures.
- Arizona House Bill 2015: Was designed to prevent early ballots for local elections being received by voters before voter information pamphlets are received.
- Arizona Senate Bill 1035: Was designed to eliminate the requirement that petition circulators sign and affirm an affidavit before a public notary and replace the words "affidavit of verification" with "statement of verification" in the law. A similar law was proposed in 2015 but was not approved.
- Arizona House Bill 2428: Was designed to require the electronic submission of arguments in favor or opposing state ballot measures.
- Arizona Senate Bill 1175: Was designed to prevent the original source of campaign contributions from being concealed.
California
- California Assembly Bill 700: Was designed to reform election campaign advertisement disclosure laws.
- California Senate Bill 283: Was designed to require the state's legislative analyst to prepare the ballot title and summary for any ballot measure instead of the state's attorney general.
- California Assembly Bill 1296: Was designed to establish direct initiative for cities, counties and special districts instead of an indirect process. In other words, under AB 1296, any local initiative petition that was certified by the appropriate elections official to have a sufficient number of valid signatures would have gone directly before voters, rather than having the possibility of first being approved by the relevant local legislative body.
- California Assembly Bill 884: Was designed to apply to "statewide initiatives that the Attorney General has determined would likely result in a violation of an individual’s constitutional rights." This bill was designed to require signatures to be included in public records and accessible to public inspection. It was also designed to require the Attorney General to include his opinion that the initiative would violate constitutional rights in the ballot label and ballot title on the petition and requires a statement explaining that a signature attached to the petition would be subject to the California Public Records Act. It also removed a provision in California elections law that prohibits petition signatures from being used for any other purpose than to qualify an initiative for the ballot. This proposal was introduced partly in response to the “Sodomite Suppression” Initiative filed in 2015.
- California Assembly Bill 535: "Existing law requires the Attorney General to provide a ballot label and a ballot title for each measure to be submitted to the voters at a statewide election. Existing law requires the Attorney General to prepare a summary of the chief purposes and points of each statewide ballot measure as part of the ballot title. This bill would impose specified requirements with respect to the content of the ballot title and summary required to be prepared by the Attorney General." (Official summary)
- California Senate Bill 611: Was designed to make "technical, nonsubstantive changes" to the section of law addressing circulation requirements for initiative and referendum petitions.
- - Vetoed California Senate Bill 1094: Was designed to "require a person who solicits signatures for a proposed initiative measure and does not receive money or other valuable consideration for the specific purpose of soliciting signatures of electors to make additional declarations, as specified."
- California Assembly Bill 2265: Was designed to authorize the county counsel to prepare a 75-words-or-less summary that explains what a "yes" and "no" vote for a local county ballot measure would mean.
- California Assembly Bill 2045: Was designed to make "technical, nonsubstantive changes" to portion of law addressing initiative petitions filings.
- California Senate Bill 965: Would make "technical, nonsubstantive changes" to portion of law addressing circulating the title and summary of initiatives.
- California Assembly Bill 1457: Would make "technical, nonsubstantive changes" to portion of law addressing petition circulators, certifications, and the use of signatures.
Colorado
- Colorado Amendment 71: Implemented a distribution requirement for initiated constitutional amendments and a supermajority requirement for all constitutional amendments.
- Colorado House Bill 16-1071: Was designed to give counties the power of initiative and referendum similar to the power enjoyed by voters in municipalities. It was rejected by the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives.
Florida
- FLorida Senate Bill 1404: Was designed to amend the Florida Constitution to allow initiated state statutes. As of 2016, Florida allowed initiated constitutional amendments but not initiated state statutes.
- Florida House Joint Resolution 609: Was designed to amend the Florida Constitution to allow initiated state statutes. As of 2016, Florida allowed initiated constitutional amendments but not initiated state statutes.
- Florida House Joint Resolution 7113: Proposed an amendment to the Florida Constitution to specify that the power to expand gambling in Florida is "reserved to people." It would have prohibited "expansion of gambling unless proposed and approved as constitutional amendment by initiative petition."
- Florida Senate Bill 1100: Was designed to prevent local tax referendums from going on special election ballots and require a 60 percent supermajority to enact local tax referendums at primary elections.
Georgia
- Georgia Senate Resolution 330: Was designed to "provide for public initiative referendums; to provide for procedures, number of signatures required, verification methods, form of petition, form of ballot question, and other related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes."
Hawaii
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
- Hawaii House Bill 418: Was designed to establish the powers of initiative, referendum and recall.
- Hawaii Senate Bill 220: Was designed to require corporations to have approval from a majority of shareholders before contributing to any political committees, including ballot measure campaign committees. It also contains provisions that would require corporations to give notice of approved contributions to shareholders and allow shareholders that voted against the contribution to demand a prorated reimbursement. The bill would also prohibit "a corporation from making a contribution if the majority of its shares are owned by persons who are prohibited from making contributions under state law or taking political positions due to investments with the State or county."[1]
- Hawaii Senate Bill 202: Was designed to amend "the reporting requirements of non-candidate committees to include identification of a ballot issue being advocated for or against."[2]
- Hawaii Senate Bill 1344: Was designed to change laws governing "campaign spending."
- Hawaii Senate Bill 2701: "Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Provide For Recall."
- Hawaii House Bill 2441: "Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Provide For The Recall Of Public Officers."
- Hawaii House Bill 1970: "Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Provide For Recall."
- Hawaii Senate Bill 2754: "Proposing Amendments the Constitution Of The State Of HawaiiTo Provide For Direct Initiative."
Idaho
- Idaho House Bill 463: Was designed to amend existing law "to revise obsolete language and to prohibit political subdivisions from establishing minimum wages higher than the minimum wages provided by state law." This proposal was part of a larger trend featuring state and local governments struggling against each other to claim control over issues such as fracking, minimum wage and LGBT issues.
- Idaho House Bill 372: Was designed to add "to existing law to provide that any regulation regarding the use, disposition or sale or any prohibition, restriction, fee or taxation of auxiliary containers at the retail, manufacturer or distributor setting shall be done only by statute enacted by the Legislature." This proposal was part of a larger trend featuring state and local governments struggling against each other to claim control over issues such as fracking, minimum wage and LGBT issues.
- Idaho Senate Bill 1299: Was designed to apply certain requirements concerning campaign finance reports and other reports required of state candidate and state ballot measure committees to apply to local ballot measure committees and recall committees.
Illinois
- Illinois House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4: Was designed to put before voters an amendment that would remove the state's restriction on initiated constitutional amendments allowing them to only affect "structural and procedural subjects" contained in Article IV of the Illinois Constitution. In other words, it would change the initiative power in Illinois from a very narrowly restricted, largely unused process to a process that could actually affect many areas of state law. HJRCA 4 would also decrease the signature requirement to qualify initiatives for the ballot from eight percent to five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial election. The bill would require any initiated constitutional amendment to be approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment.[3]
- House Bill 174: "Provides the Local Government Dissolution Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a non-home rule unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property, and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to provide exceptions for the Local Government Dissolution Act."[4]
- Illinois House Joint Resolution 54: Was designed to propose a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to establish the power of recall for all Illinois state executive offices and all members of the state legislature, rather than just applying to the governor. It was also designed to remove a provision requiring a certain number of signatures from members of the legislature to successfully launch a recall petition campaign.
- Illinois House Joint Resolution 55: Was designed to propose a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to replace the state's provisions for recall of the governor with provisions that allow the recall of all Illinois state executive offices, all members of the state legislature and local government officials.
- Illinois House Joint Resolution 56: Was designed to propose a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to establish the power of recall for all Illinois state executive offices and all members of the state legislature, rather than just applying to the governor. It was also designed to remove a provision requiring a certain number of signatures from members of the legislature to successfully launch a recall petition campaign.
- Illinois House Joint Resolution 23: Was designed to propose a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to establish the power of recall for all Illinois state executive offices and all members of the state legislature, rather than just applying to the governor. It was also designed to remove a provision requiring a certain number of signatures from members of the legislature to successfully launch a recall petition campaign.
- Illinois Senate Joint Resolution 22: Was designed to propose a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to establish the power of recall for all Illinois state executive offices and all members of the state legislature, rather than just applying to the governor. It was also designed to remove a provision requiring a certain number of signatures from members of the legislature to successfully launch a recall petition campaign.
- Illinois Senate Bill 2254: Local official recall.
- Illinois House Bill 5993: Allows for the recall of a mayor or village president.
- Illinois House Joint Resolution 44: "Provides for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers and members of the General Assembly. Changes the signature requirements for affidavits and petitions for recall of the Governor and expands them to include all State Executive Branch officers and members of the General Assembly. Proposes to amend the Local Government Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the recall of all elected officials of any school district, community college, or unit of local government."
Indiana
- Indiana Senate Bill 279: Was designed to increase the number of signatures from property owners or registered voters needed to initiate a debt service remonstrance or debt service referendum and makes changes to the local referendum election schedule.
- Indiana Senate Joint Resolution 10: Was designed to establish the powers of initiative and referendum for constitutional amendments and state statutes. To become effective, this bill would have to be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and a statewide election.
- Indiana House Bill 1287: Was designed to prohibit elections about local ballot measures during the year following a presidential election. It was written to take effect after 2017, making 2021 the first year for which it would have applied.
Kansas
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
- Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003: "Constitutional amendment; extend recall elections to elected judicial officers." This proposed amendment would have required approval by the state's voters if it had passed in the legislature. It also would have required a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in both branches of the state legislature.
- Kansas Senate Bill 79: Concerned the electronic publication of propositions to amend the constitution.
Kentucky
- Kentucky House Bill 147: Was designed to alter campaign finance laws.
Maine
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Maine
- Legislative Document 742: "Resolution, Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of Maine To Require That 5 Percent Of Signatures On A Direct initiative Of Legislation Come From Each County;" this bill was carried over from the 2015 legislative session.
Maryland
- Maryland Senate Bill 459: Official synopsis: "Altering specified campaign finance law definitions to include campaign finance activity relating to prospective questions to be placed on the ballot; prohibiting a chief election official from certifying a petition if the petition sponsor fails to provide proof of filing a specified campaign finance report; repealing specified requirements that a statement of contributions and expenditures for a petition be filed at the time the petition is filed; etc."
- Maryland House Bill 963: Official synopsis: "Altering specified campaign finance law definitions to include campaign finance activity relating to prospective questions to be placed on the ballot; prohibiting a chief election official from certifying a petition if the petition sponsor fails to provide proof of filing a specified campaign finance report; repealing specified requirements that a statement of contributions and expenditures for a petition be filed at the time the petition is filed; etc." HB 963 was cross-filed with SB 459 and the two bills have the same provisions.
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts House Bill 3784: "An Act providing for recall elections in the town of Shirley"
- Massachusetts House Bill 577: "An Act relative to limiting contributions to ballot question committees"
- Massachusetts House Bill 3640: "An Act providing for recall elections in the town of Bolton"
- Massachusetts Senate Bill 1957: "An Act providing for recall elections in the town of Erving"
- Massachusetts House Bill 561: "An Act to establish a citizens' initiative review commission"
- Massachusetts House Bill 1570: Was designed to dictate that no initiative can propose a constitutional amendment that restricts the rights "set forth in this constitution to freedom and equality, or the right of each individual to be protected by society in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, according to standing laws."
- Massachusetts Senate Bill 57: Was designed to dictate that no initiative can propose a constitutional amendment that restricts the rights "set forth in this constitution to freedom and equality, or the right of each individual to be protected by society in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, according to standing laws."
Michigan
- Michigan Senate Bill 776: Was designed to eliminate a state elections code provision that allows initiative petitioners to prove signatures collected outside of the standard 180-day window are valid and use them to qualify initiatives for the ballot, thereby limiting the circulation window for initiatives strictly to 180 days.
- Michigan Senate Bill 535: Was designed to prohibit and establish penalties for "a circulator misrepresenting the contents of a ballot question or recall petition and a circulator misrepresenting whether he or she is a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer."
- Michigan Senate Joint Resolution K: This bill was designed to clarify the state's already existing provision preventing the use of the veto referendum power against appropriation bills.
- Michigan House Bill 4756: Was designed to dictate that both bills and indirect initiatives approved by the legislature take effect 90 days after they are filed with the secretary of state, unless they are approved by an immediate effect vote, which requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote of the legislature.
- Michigan House Joint Resolution U: Was designed to dictate that both bills and indirect initiatives approved by the legislature take effect 90 days after they are filed with the secretary of state, unless they are approved by an immediate effect vote, which requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote of the legislature.
- Michigan Senate Bill 640: Repealing the requirement that recall petitioners be registered voters in Michigan.
- Michigan House Bill 5696: The official title of the bill was "Elections; petitions; process for counting duplicate petition signatures; provide for, and eliminate penalties."
- Michigan House Bill 5700: The official title was "Elections; recall; board of county election commissioners to determine if reasons in recall petition against a county officer are factual and of sufficient clarity; provide for, and modify time to notify an officer whose recall is sought of the recall petition."
- Michigan House Bill 5703: The official title was "Elections; recall; provision related to recalled candidate as the nominee of the party; remove, and eliminate recall primary election."
Minnesota
- Minnesota Senate File 539: "Recall elections for school board members authorization; school board authority to remove members elimination"
- Minnesota House File 1962: "Recall elections for school board members authorization; school board authority to remove members elimination"
- Minnesota House File 208: "Prohibiting use of public funds to promote or defeat a ballot question; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 5; 10A."[5]
- Minnesota Senate File 327: The Senate version of HF 208; "Prohibiting use of public funds to promote or defeat a ballot question; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 5; 10A."[6]
Missouri
- Missouri House Bill 2341: Was designed to establish "a recall process for elected officials of 4th class cities."
- Missouri House Joint Resolution 78: Was designed to propose "a constitutional amendment to allow an elected official of this state or any of its political subdivisions to be removed from office by recall petition."
Nebraska
- Nebraska Legislative Bill 214: Was designed to establish electronic signature collection for initiative and referendum petitions. Supporters said the bill would increase access to the initiative process and allow petition drives to succeed without huge financial support. Opponents argued that it would make the initiative process too easy and result in a large number of badly written laws going before voters.
- Nebraska Legislative Resolution 379CA: "Constitutional amendment authorizing recall of state elective officers"
- Nebraska Legislative Bill 687: "Provide procedures for recall of state elective officers"
- Nebraska Unicameral Resolution 399: "Constitutional amendment to require cities and villages to obtain voter approval before pledging taxes for the payment of indebtedness related to redevelopment projects," requiring voter approval for enactment.
New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 112: "Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum."- New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 40: "Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for enactment of laws concerning property tax reform, campaign finance, lobbying, government ethics, and elections procedure by Statewide initiative and referendum."
- New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 74: "Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum for directing State fiscal restraint."
- New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 22: "Proposes constitutional amendment to change signature requirement for recall petition."
- New Jersey Assembly Bill 203: "Changes date when a recall election may be initiated from 50th to 90th day preceding completion of first year of term of office."
- New Jersey Assembly Bill 202: "Changes signature requirement for recall petition."
- New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution 96: Would provide for the initiative and referendum process in the state.
- New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution 74: "Proposes constitutional amendment to provide Statewide initiative and referendum for directing State fiscal restraint."
- New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 221: "Proposes constitutional amendment to establish initiative process for limited purpose of overturning New Jersey Supreme Court decisions and repealing statutes."
- New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 213: "Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for direct initiative and referendum process for bills and joint resolutions vetoed by Governor."
New Mexico
- New Mexico House Bill 211: Was designed to establish uniform state laws "preempting local laws, policies and resolutions from regulating certain terms of private-sector employment," such as minimum wage, minimum number of paid sick days, and healthcare benefits.
New York
- New York Senate Bill 4441: Was designed to "[provide] electors with the power of initiative and referendum."
- New York Assembly Bill 6321: Was designed to "[provide] electors with the power of initiative and referendum."
- New York Assembly Bill 279: "Establishes a procedure for a people's veto of [tax] laws enacted by the legislature."[7]
- New York Senate Bill 879: "Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state Constitution."
- New York Assembly Bill 4091: "Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state constitution."
- New York Senate Bill 1084: "Provides for the recall power of the electors to remove an elective officer."
- New York Senate Bill 942: "Provides for recall; empowers the electors with the ability to remove elective officers."
- New York Assembly Bill 1726: "Provides for the recall power of the electors to remove an elective officer."
- New York Assembly Bill 4929: "Provides for initiative and referendum and recall; empowers the electors with the ability to propose statutes and amendments to the constitution, approve or reject statutes or parts of statutes, and remove elective officers."
- New York Senate Bill 2725: "Provides for initiative and referendum and recall; empowers the electors with the ability to propose statutes and amendments to the constitution, approve or reject statutes or parts of statutes, and remove elected officers."
- New York Senate Bill 3293: "Relates to town elections and permissive referendums."
- New York Assembly Bill 5066: "Authorizes a mandatory referendum where a legislative body of a local government is amending or adopting local laws relating to an increase in taxes pursuant to state authority."
- New York Assembly Bill 5085: "Authorizes a permissive referendum to be initiated by the local government or voters where a legislative body of a local government is amending or adopting local laws relating to the increase of taxes, fines, fees or surcharges pursuant to state legislative authority."
- New York Senate Bill 8969: "Provides for recall of elected officials"
- New York Assembly Bill 3839: "Repeals certain provisions regarding the adoption of a new or revised city charter proposed by a charter commission which limit the submission of questions to a city's qualified electors; eliminates the rule that provides that whenever a city charter commission puts a proposal on the local ballot, all other local referendum proposals are barred from the ballot."
North Carolina
- North Carolina House Bill 111: "An act to allow the recall of members of the Stanly County Board of Education."
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma House Bill 2587: "Initiative and referendum; eliminating Attorney General from ballot title review process; effective date."
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 158: "Modifying procedures for circulation of petitions for signatures; stating time periods; requiring certain notifications;"
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 566: "Modifying procedures for petition circulation; stating time period; requiring notification."
- Oklahoma Senate Joint Resolution 13: "Constitutional amendment; modifying percentages of voters required to propose certain measures. Ballot title." Would decrease signature requirements.
- Oklahoma House Bill 1159: "Initiative and referendum; modifying time limit for filing; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 1306: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 1307: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 1308: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 1309: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 1892: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 2201: "Initiative and referendum; creating the Initiative and Referendum Reform Act; effective date."
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 158: "Initiative and referendum; modifying procedures for circulation of petitions; requiring notifications. Effective date."
- Oklahoma House Bill 3055: "Providing for recall and removal of school district board of education members."
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 1563: "Providing [for] municipal recall process" in cities and towns.
Ohio
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Ohio
- Ohio House Bill 463: Was designed to change the procedure for the recall of municipal officers and restricts county charter petitions by requiring them to only concern "the exercise of only those powers that have vested in, and the performance of all duties imposed upon counties and county offices by law." HB 463 contained many other provisions unrelated to ballot measure law as well. Opponents argued that this provision would be used to prevent local charter petitions with anti-fracking provisions. Others stated that the provision restricting charter petitions could also be used to block marijuana-related laws from local charters.
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1093: "An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in provisions relating to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and for explanation of ballot question; and, in ballots, further providing for form of official election ballot."
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1677: "An Act amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for recall election of State and local officers, for recall petition process, for review of recall petitions, for recall election and for prohibited practices."
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1676: "A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for recall of elected public officers."
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1749: "A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for action by Lieutenant Governor as Governor and for vacancy in office of Lieutenant Governor; and providing for an initiative to recall elected Statewide officers."
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 92: "A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, authorizing the use of the indirect initiative and referendum as powers reserved to the people."
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 11: "An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further providing for definitions, for organization of political committees, for registration and for reporting; in primary and election expenses, providing for limitations on contributions; in primary and election expenses, further providing for late filing fees and certificates of filing, for contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations and for reports by business entities and publication; in primary and election expenses, providing for independent expenditures; and providing for corporate political accountability."
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1980: "An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; in primary and election expenses, further providing for definitions, for organization of political committees, for registration and for reporting; in primary and election expenses, providing for limitations on contributions; in primary and election expenses, further providing for late filing fees and certificates of filing, for contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations or unincorporated associations and for reports by business entities and publication; in primary and election expenses, providing for independent expenditures; and providing for corporate political accountability."
- Pennsylviana House Bill 705: "An Act relating to corporate political accountability; and providing for shareholder vote on corporate political activities, for notification to shareholders of corporate political activities, for public disclosure of corporate political duties, for board approval for corporate political expenditures and for applicability to foreign corporations."
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Senate Bill 2620: Was designed to establish "a process for the establishment of voter initiative and referendum proposal and also for a process of submitting said proposals to the secretary of state, the general assembly and the governor for approval."
- Rhode Island Senate Resolution 19: Was designed to "propose an amendment to the state constitution, by establishing a voter initiative process to allow voters to initiate proposed legislation which would, upon a majority vote of the electorate, become law."
South Carolina
- Senate Joint Resolution 22: Was designed to amend the South Carolina Constitution "so as to establish a specified procedure for the enactment or repeal of laws and constitutional amendments by initiative petition and referendum and to provide exceptions."
- Senate Joint Resolution 32: Was designed to amend the South Carolina Constitution "to establish a specified procedure for the enactment or repeal of laws and constitutional amendments by initiative petition and referendum and to provide exceptions."
South Dakota
- South Dakota House Bill 1036: "Revise certain provisions concerning campaign finance requirements."
- South Dakota Senate Bill 65: "Revise the procedure for a municipal recall petition."
- South Dakota House Bill 1033: "Revise certain provisions concerning elections and election petitions and to declare an emergency."
- South Dakota House Bill 1196: "Create a deadline for the preparation of statements for municipal referendum ballots."
- South Dakota House Bill 1037: "Revise certain provisions concerning petitions for initiated constitutional amendments, initiated measures, and candidates."
- South Dakota House Bill 1241: "Purpose: revise certain provisions regarding the petition signatures required for initiated measures and referred laws."
Tennessee
- Tennessee Senate Bill 1068: Was designed to increase "from 15 days to 30 days, the amount of time in which to cure a defect in the documentation required to initiate a petition for a recall election."
- Tennessee House Bill 688: Was designed to increase "from 15 days to 30 days, the amount of time in which to cure a defect in the documentation required to initiate a petition for a recall election."
- Tennessee Senate Bill 1219: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires a summary of a constitutional amendment to precede the question on the ballot instead of requiring a summary for only those questions exceeding 300 words in length. - Amends TCA Section 2-5-208."
- Tennessee House Bill 681: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires a summary of a constitutional amendment to precede the question on the ballot instead of requiring a summary for only those questions exceeding 300 words in length. - Amends TCA Section 2-5-208."
- Tennessee Senate Bill 1605: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires that the ballot description of any proposed constitutional amendment contain the full text of each section of the constitution the proposed amendment would alter or delete. - Amends TCA Title 2."
- Tennessee House Bill 1796: "Constitutional Amendments - As introduced, requires that the ballot description of any proposed constitutional amendment contain the full text of each section of the constitution the proposed amendment would alter or delete. - Amends TCA Title 2."
Utah
- See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Utah
- Utah House Bill 11: "Provides that the deadline for filing an application to circulate a referendum petition challenging a state law occurs five days after the later of: the last day of the legislative session at which the law passed; the day on which the governor signs the law; or the day on which the law becomes a law because the governor fails to veto or sign the law; extends the effective date, under certain circumstances, of a state law challenged by referendum;" as well as other provisions.
- Utah House Bill 10: "Expands the political subdivisions that are subject to local initiatives and referenda; removes the requirement that an initiative or referendum petition contain a statement that a person signing the petition has read and understands the law to which the initiative or referendum relates; establishes and modifies deadlines relating to the local initiative and referendum process;" as well as other provisions.
- Utah House Bill 198: "Addresses requirements relating to preparing and publishing arguments for or against a ballot proposition; describes the duties of an election officer in relation to a ballot proposition and arguments for or against a ballot proposition; modifies deadlines relating to ballot propositions, arguments, and public meeting requirements."
- Utah House Bill 488: "Notification Requirements for Ballot Proposals"
Washington
- Washington Senate Bill 6139: "Concerning electronic signatures for initiative and referendum petitions."
- Washington House Bill 1438: "Permitting cities, towns, and counties to prohibit the production, processing, and sale of marijuana under Initiative Measure No. 502 only by public vote."
- Washington House Bill 1941: "Providing for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections." Without this bill, a three-fifths supermajority would continue to be required at all elections. Under this bill, a three-fifths supermajority would still be required to approve bond issues at special elections.
- Washington House Bill 1942: "Relating to ballot measures regarding required information and filing fees."
- Washington House Joint Resolution 4204: Is a companion bill in the House to Senate Joint Resolution 8201 above. The resolution would propose a constitutional amendment that would require future initiatives having to do with state expenditures or state revenues to not upset the budget of the state. In other words, under the amendment, initiatives would have to propose ways to pay for themselves. If the resolution is approved by a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in the legislature, it would go to the voters, where a simple majority would be required to pass the amendment.
- Washington House Bill 1364: "Establishing a citizens' initiative review pilot program."[8]
- Washington Senate Bill 5535: "Establishing a citizens' initiative review pilot program."
- Washington House Bill 1412: "Concerning municipalities prohibiting the operation of recreational marijuana production, processing, and retail facilities within their jurisdictional boundaries."
- Washington House Bill 1228: "Requiring fiscal impact statements for ballot measures."
- Washington House Bill 1229: Would require a fiscal impact statement for initiatives and dictate where and when the statement must be displayed.
- Washington Senate Bill 5715: "Including the contents of fiscal impact statements in the ballot title for certain initiative measures."
- Washington Senate Bill 5528: Would establish that "a political committee may not receive seventy percent or more of its aggregate funds from another political committee, directly or through any combination of other political committees."[9]
- Washington Senate Bill 5153: "Increasing transparency of campaign contributions." The bill would define "incidental committees" as any person or organization that, while not being registered directly in support of or opposition to a candidate or ballot measure, might incidentally contribute to a candidate or ballot measure either directly or through another organization or committee. The bill would also require such "incidental committees" to file with the appropriate state commission if they expect to or actually make contributions and expenditures of more than $25,000 for statewide campaigns and $5,000 for any other campaigns.[10]
- Washington House Bill 1175: Would make it a class C felony to deliberately make a contribution or expenditure that requires disclosure according to state law "in such a way as to conceal the identity of the source of the contribution."[11]
- Washington House Bill 1323: "Repealing advisory votes."
- Washington Senate Bill 5375: "Requiring disclosure by entities that compensate for petition signatures."
- Washington House Bill 1463: "Requiring disclosure by entities that compensate for petition signatures."
West Virginia
- West Virginia House Joint Resolution 8: "To amend the State Constitution to enable the people of the State of West Virginia to reserve to themselves the powers of initiative, referendum, and recall, to enable the people to propose laws and Constitutional amendments, to attempt to reject statutes enacted by legislative bodies, and to recall elected officials, all through the circulation and filing of petitions and through elections held thereon."
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Assembly Bill 730: Was designed to prevent local laws restricting or banning use of plastic bags and other containers.
- Wisconsin Assembly Bill 164: Was designed to dictate that local initiatives "must be submitted to the electors at the next election that is at least 70 days from the date on which the council or board must act" on the sufficient petition.
Wyoming
- Wyoming Senate File 35: Was designed to remove the state's ban on paying signature gatherers for referendum petitions according to the number of signatures they collect.
- Wyoming Senate File 30: Was designed to require all proposed citizen initiatives to be written in the form required for legislative bills. This required format is outlined in Wyoming Statutes Section 8-1-105.
See also
- Difficulty analysis of changes to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2025 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2024 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2023 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2022 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2021 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2020 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2019 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2018 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2017 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2015 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2014 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2013 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2012 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2011 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2010 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2009 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2008 to laws governing ballot measures
- Changes in 2007 to laws governing ballot measures
- Analysis of 2025 changes to laws governing ballot measures
- Analysis of 2024 changes to laws governing ballot measures
Footnotes
- ↑ Hawaii Legislature, "Senate Bill 220," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Hawaii Legislature, "Senate Bill 202," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Illinois Legislature, "House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Illinois Legislature, "House Bill 174," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 208," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "Senate File 327," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Times Union, "Bill would give New Yorkers final say," February 16, 2015
- ↑ Washington Legislature, "House Bill 1364," accessed January 26, 2015
- ↑ Komo News, "Bill would require ballots to list costs of state initiatives," February 9, 2015
- ↑ LegiScan, "Senate Bill 5153," accessed January 26, 2015
- ↑ LegiScan, "Washington House Bill 1175 Text," accessed January 26, 2015
