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Civil law and trials ballot measures

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Voters have decided on civil law and trials ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding legal disputes between individuals, businesses, or other entities, rather than criminal offenses against the state. The topic is grouped within the criminal justice and law enforcement policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

2026

  1. Arizona Prohibit Conservators From Receiving Compensation From Restricted Persons' Estates Amendment (2026) - Potential
  2. California Establish Personal Injury Lawyer Regulations Initiative (2026) - Potential
  3. California Right to Counsel of Choice Initiative (2026) - Potential
  4. Ohio Right to Civil Action Against Government Actors and Prohibit Immunity Defenses for Constitutional Violations Initiative (2026) - Potential

2025

  1. Maine Question 2, Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Restrict Firearms and Weapons Access Initiative (2025) Approved

2018

  1. New Hampshire Question 1, Taxpayer Standing to Bring Legal Actions Against Government Amendment (2018) Approved

2016

  1. Hawaii Threshold of Financial Damage Required to Establish the Right to a Trial by Jury, Amendment 1 (2016) Defeated
  2. Washington Increased Penalties for Crimes Against Vulnerable Individuals, Initiative 1501 (2016) Approved

2014

  1. California Proposition 46, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Cap and Drug Testing of Doctors Initiative (2014) Defeated

2010

  1. Maryland Civil Jury Trials, Question 2 (2010) Approved

2006

  1. Alaska Measure 2, Cruise Ship Taxes, Fees, and Environmental Regulations Initiative (August 2006) Approved
  2. Arizona Proposition 102, Prohibit Persons in Violation of Federal Immigration Law from Receiving Punitive Damages in Civil Lawsuits Amendment (2006) Approved
  3. Maryland Civil Jury Trials, Question 3 (2006) Approved
  4. Washington Initiative 933, Property Damage Compensation from Government Regulation Measure (2006) Defeated

2005

  1. Washington Initiative 330, Limitation on Medical Malpractice Damages Measure (2005) Defeated
  2. Washington Initiative 336, Medical Malpractice Measure (2005) Defeated

2004

  1. California Proposition 64, Injury Required for Unfair Competition Lawsuits Initiative (2004) Approved
  2. Colorado Amendment 34, Damages for Property Improvements Initiative (2004) Defeated
  3. Florida Amendment 3, Compensation in Medical Liability Suits Initiative (2004) Approved
  4. Florida Amendment 7, Right to Review Records of Adverse Medical Incidents Initiative (2004) Approved
  5. Florida Amendment 8, Prohibiting Doctors Who Have Committed 3 Counts of Medical Malpractice From Practicing Medicine Initiative (2004) Approved
  6. Nevada Question 3, Healthcare Malpractice Damages Initiative (2004) Approved
  7. Nevada Question 4, Insurance Rate Reduction and Reform Initiative (2004) Defeated
  8. Nevada Question 5, Frivolous Litigation Penalties Initiative (2004) Defeated
  9. Oregon Measure 35, Healthcare Damages Limit Initiative (2004) Defeated
  10. Wyoming Healthcare Resolution, Question C (2004) Approved

2003

  1. Texas Proposition 12, Limit on Damages in Medical Lawsuits Amendment (September 2003) Approved

2000

  1. California Proposition 30, Third-Party Unfair Claim Lawsuits Referendum (March 2000) Defeated
  2. California Proposition 31, Limits on Third-Party Claimant Lawsuits Referendum (March 2000) Defeated

1998

  1. Iowa Offenses Tried Without a Jury, Amendment 2 (1998) Approved

1997

  1. Oregon Measure 49, State Prisoner Employees' Rights and Interstate Commerce for Prison-Made Products Measure (May 1997) Approved

1996

  1. California Proposition 201, Requiring Losing Parties to Pay Legal Fees in Shareholder Lawsuits Initiative (March 1996) Defeated
  2. California Proposition 202, 15% Cap on Attorney Contingency Fees Initiative (March 1996) Defeated
  3. California Proposition 207, Attorney Fees and Frivolous Lawsuits Initiative (1996) Defeated
  4. California Proposition 211, Laws Governing Retirement Savings Securities Fraud Initiative (1996) Defeated
  5. Nebraska Amendment 1, Authorize Legislature to Enforce Dispute Resolution Measure (May 1996) Approved
  6. North Dakota Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity, Measure 2 (1996) Defeated
  7. Oklahoma State Question 670, Signatures for Grand Juries Amendment (1996) Approved

1995

  1. Louisiana Liability Limits Amendment (October 1995) Approved

1994

  1. Alabama Barbour County Trial Fee Amendment (1994) Approved
  2. Arizona Proposition 103, Limits on Death or Injury Damages Initiative (1994) Defeated
  3. Arizona Proposition 301, Tort Lawsuit Rules and Limits Referendum (1994) Defeated
  4. Michigan Proposal C, Auto Insurance Coverage Referendum (1994) Defeated
  5. Virginia Question 1, Extend Statutory Time for Civil Lawsuits Involving Intentional Injuries to Minors Amendment (1994) Approved

1992

  1. Maryland Civil Jury Amount, Question 3 (1992) Approved
  2. Maryland Civil Jury Amount, Question 4 (1992) Approved
  3. Maryland Civil Jury Size, Question 1 (1992) Approved
  4. Maryland Civil Jury Size, Question 2 (1992) Approved
  5. Michigan Ballot Proposal D, Auto Insurance Rates and Lawsuits Initiative (1992) Defeated

1990

  1. Arizona Proposition 105, Automobile Accident Exemption from Right to Recovering Damages Initiative (1990) Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 1, State Liability and Lawsuits Measure (1990) Approved
  3. Oklahoma State Question 623, Modifying Jury Trials Amendment (August 1990) Approved

1988

  1. Alaska Measure 2, Civil Liability and Proportional Fault in Lawsuits Initiative (1988) Approved
  2. California Proposition 106, Attorney Fee Limit for Tort Claims Initiative (1988) Defeated
  3. Florida Amendment 10, Non-Economic Damages Limit Initiative (1988) Defeated
  4. Florida Amendment 8, Civil Traffic Hearing Officer System Amendment (1988) Approved
  5. Hawaii Right to a Jury in Civil Cases, Amendment 1 (1988) Approved
  6. Minnesota Amendment 3, Allowing Juries for Civil and Nonfelony Cases Amendment (1988) Approved
  7. New Hampshire Civil Suit Jury Trial Amendment (1988) Approved

1986

  1. Arkansas Civil Jurisdiction Increase, Proposed Amendment 64 (1986) Approved
  2. California Proposition 51, Non-Economic Damages Assessed in Lawsuits Initiative (June 1986) Approved
  3. New Hampshire Civil Suit Jury Trial Amendment (1986) Defeated

1984

  1. New Hampshire Civil Case Jury Trial Threshold Amount Amendment (1984) Defeated
  2. Oklahoma State Question 571, Damages for Injuries Resulting in Death Amendment (1984) Defeated
  3. Oklahoma State Question 576, Petitions for Grand Juries Amendment (1984) Defeated

1982

  1. Florida Amendment 3, Pre-Trial Release Amendment (1982) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 3, Sovereign Immunity Measure (1982) Approved

1980

  1. Arizona Proposition 105, Workmen's Compensation Right to Sue Amendment (1980) Approved
  2. California Proposition 5, Prohibit Contempt Citations for Media Refusing to Disclose Information Sources Amendment (June 1980) Approved
  3. Georgia Amendment 10, Default Judgment in Tort Actions Measure (1980) Approved
  4. Maryland Removal of Cases from Court, Question 3 (1980) Approved

1978

  1. Hawaii Jury Numbers and Civil Case Amounts, Amendment 1 (1978) Approved
  2. Mississippi Court Defendant Rights, Amendment 6 (1978) Approved
  3. Nevada Question 3, Property Rights of Married Couples Amendment (1978) Approved

1976

  1. New Hampshire Civil Suit Jury Trial Amendment (1976) Defeated

1974

  1. Montana Exceptions to Waiver Sovereign Immunity, C-2 (1974) Approved

1972

  1. Connecticut Question 1, Jury Makeup and Attorneys' Rights to Peremptory Challenges Amendment (1972) Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 5, Minimum Jury Size of Six Amendment (1972) Approved

1971

  1. Pennsylvania Question 1, Five-Sixths Jury Requirement for Civil Cases Amendment (May 1971) Approved

1968

  1. Georgia Amendment 13, Justice of the Peace Jurisdiction Measure (1968) Defeated
  2. Hawaii Payment for Certain Damages to Private Property, Amendment 7 (1968) Approved
  3. Oklahoma State Question 457, Petition Requirements for Grand Juries Amendment (August 1968) Approved

1966

  1. Idaho Six Man Jury, SJR 6 (1966) Approved

1964

  1. Alabama County Juries, Amendment 5 (1964) Defeated
  2. Florida Amendment 9, Civil Trials at Branch Courthouse in Dade County (1964) Approved
  3. South Dakota Referred Law 1, Native American Reservation Jurisdiction (1964) Defeated

1962

  1. Florida Amendment 4, Civil Jury Trials in Pasco County Amendment (1962) Approved

1960

  1. Florida Amendment 5, Civil Jury Trials and Administration of the Court System Amendment (1960) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 6, Civil Jury Trials in Brevard County Amendment (1960) Approved
  3. New Hampshire Jury Trial in a Civil Case, Question 3 (1960) Approved

1958

  1. Connecticut Question 2, Special Commission for Claims Against the State Amendment (1958) Approved

1956

  1. Florida Amendment 12, Civil Jury Trials in Pinellas County Amendment (1956) Approved
  2. New Hampshire Preserve Jury Trial in Civil Cases, Question 2 (1956) Approved

1944

  1. Colorado Amendment 1, Allow Women to Serve on Juries Amendment (1944) Approved

1942

  1. Oklahoma State Question 304, Damages under Workmen's Compensation Amendment (1942) Defeated

1939

  1. Georgia Amendment 6, Hearings During Judicial Vacation Measure (June 1939) Approved

1935

  1. New York Amendment 2, Jury Verdicts in Civil Cases Amendment (1935) Approved

1934

  1. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace Amendment (1934) Defeated

1922

  1. Massachusetts Question 2, Voluntary Association Lawsuits and Member Liability Referendum (1922) Defeated
  2. Missouri Proposition 18, Liability and Compensation for Workplace Injury Initiative (1922) Defeated
  3. Washington Amendment to Article I Sec. 22, Trial Location for Offenses on Public Transport Amendment (1922) Approved

1920

  1. Nebraska Amendment 1, Jury Verdicts Amendment (September 1920) Approved
  2. Utah Question 4, Permit Compensation Limits for Injuries Resulting in Death Amendment (1920) Approved

1914

  1. California Proposition 41, Miscarriage of Justice Amendment (1914) Approved
  2. Colorado Measure 3, Three-Fourths Jury Verdict and Women Jurors Initiative (1914) Defeated
  3. Nebraska Amendment 2, Jury Verdict Requirement Amendment (1914) Defeated

1912

  1. Colorado Measure 12, Contempt of Court Definition Initiative (1912) Defeated
  2. Ohio Allow Lawsuits Against the State Amendment (September 1912) Approved
  3. Ohio Limits on Wrongful Death Damages Amendment (September 1912) Approved
  4. South Dakota Measure 3, Damages for Trespass of Animals Referendum (1912) Approved

1894

  1. South Dakota Define Homestead Value and Size for Exemption from Court-Ordered Seizure Amendment (1894) Defeated

1890

  1. Minnesota Verdicts by Jury, Amendment 1 (1890) Approved

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