State Ballot Measure Monthly: March 2016

Ballot Measure Monthly
2016 Measures
Total certified	157
Total proposed	1,000+

By Brittany Clingen

Nineteen statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in March. Therefore, at the end of March, the total count for ballot measures in 2016 stood at 78. As has been the trend so far this year, the number of certified measures for 2016 is still down from the 88 measures that were certified by this time in 2014. By the end of March, at least one signature filing deadline had passed in nine states.

March certifications and news

• Maine Public Education Surcharge Initiative: If this initiated state statute is passed by voters in November, the measure would approve an additional 3 percent surcharge on the portion of any household income exceeding $200,000 per year. For example, a household with an income of $280,000 would have to pay 3 percent of $80,000 annually. Revenue would be earmarked to fund public education.

• Rhode Island Question 1: This state statute was referred to the ballot by the state legislature on March 4. If it is approved by voters in November, it would allow for a gaming facility in the town of Tiverton. The facility would be licensed as a pari-mutuel facility and would have state-operated video lottery games and casino gaming. If approved, the measure would require that the state receive 15.5 percent of table games and 61 percent of video lottery terminal revenues. In addition, Tiverton would keep one percent of table game and 1.45 percent of video lottery terminal revenues and be guaranteed at least $3 million annually, with any discrepancies to be paid out of the state's share. The question will have to be approved by voters statewide and voters in Tiverton.

• Alaska Voter Registration Amendment: Alaska's Voter Registration Amendment was originally slated to appear on the August primary ballot. However, because the legislature extended its session, the ballot measure was pushed back to the November ballot. There must be a 120-day period in between the end of a legislative session and the election in which a ballot measure will appear. If the measure is approved in November, it would allow people to register to vote or update their voter registration when submitting an annual permanent fund dividend application.

• Virginia Question 1: If approved by voters in November, this measure would add a section to the constitution that would make it illegal for workplaces to require mandatory labor union membership for employees as a condition for employment. Virginia currently has a right-to-work statute that bans employers from requiring union membership. Supporters seek to add right-to-work regulations to the Virginia Constitution to prevent future lawmakers from undoing the state's current laws, according to media reports.

• Utah Amendment B: Referred to the ballot on March 8, this legislatively referred constitutional amendment would modify certain provisions and language relating to distribution, investment, and expenditure for the State School Fund and the Uniform School Fund.

• Florida Amendment 4: Set to go before voters on the August primary ballot, this measure would provide tax exemptions for solar power and other renewable energy equipment included in home values for property taxes. The measure would also exempt solar energy devices in commercial and industrial properties. The tax exemptions would begin in 2018 and continue for 20 years. The state currently has an ad valorem tax abatement for solar and renewable energy devices on residential property, but this amendment would allow for significant expansion of renewable energy production.

• Florida Amendment 3: This legislatively referred constitutional amendment would provide property tax breaks to first responders who have been permanently disabled in the line of duty. Currently, this type of property tax break is applicable only to surviving spouses of first responders or members of the military who were killed in the line of duty.

• Florida Amendment 5: If approved by voters in November, this measure would provide eligible senior citizens with property tax breaks by allowing home values to remain fixed after application for the exemption. The measure would provide the tax break for homes valued at less than $250,000 owned by individuals over the age of 65 who have lived in the home for at least 25 years.

• Utah Amendment C: This measure was referred to the ballot by the Utah Legislature on March 10. If approved by voters in November, it would allow the state legislature to exempt personal property leased by the state by modifying the relevant language in the Utah Constitution.

• New Jersey Public Question 1: This legislatively referred constitutional amendment would allow the New Jersey Legislature to pass laws that would allow for two additional counties to each have one new casino, thereby ending a four-decade monopoly in Atlantic City. This issue was largely voted on along party lines, with 15 out of 17 “no” votes in the Assembly coming from Republicans and four out of six “no” votes from Republicans in the Senate. Republican Governor Chris Christie was involved in brokering a compromise and ultimately signed off in support of the amendment.

• Alabama Amendment 8: This legislatively referred constitutional amendment was placed on the ballot on March 17. If approved by voters in November, it would prohibit employers from rejecting applications based on the membership or non-membership of the prospective employees in a labor union.

• Kansas Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment: If approved by voters in November, this legislatively referred constitutional amendment would write into the Kansas Constitution the right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife.

• California "Fair Wage Act of 2016" $15 Minimum Wage Initiative: With the certification of this initiated state statute on March 22, California joins the contentious $15 minimum wage debate. If approved by voters in November, the measure would increase the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2021. However, the measure could be withdrawn from the ballot prior to going before voters due to the passage of a $15 per hour minimum wage law by the California State Legislature.

• Idaho Legislative Administrative Rules Amendment: If approved by voters, this legislatively referred constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to review, approve and reject administrative rules in the legislature. The measure would also provide that legislative approval or rejection of any administrative rules not be subject to a veto by the governor. Administrative rules are regulations that are usually written and implemented by various agencies or commissions in the executive branch of government that are tasked with enforcing certain legislation. Administrative rules are supposed to assist in the enforcement of legislation rather than enact new and independent laws.

• Missouri Constitutional Amendment 1: If approved by voters in November, this automatic ballot referral would renew the existing sales and use tax of 0.1 percent for 10 years. The revenue from the tax goes toward conservation efforts, and the measure was designed to "continue to generate approximately $90 million annually for soil and water conservation and operation of the state park system." Constitutional Amendment 1 was automatically referred to the 2016 ballot. This measure originated with a 1984 constitutional amendment. Due to the wording of this original amendment and subsequent iterations, the measure must be reapproved by voters. It is automatically referred to the ballot every 10 years. Previous versions of this amendment were approved in 1988, 1996, and 2006. If the measure is not approved in 2016, it will not be referred to future ballots.

• Georgia Amendment 4: This measure would dedicate revenue from fireworks sales taxes to trauma care, fire protection services, and public safety. The Georgia State Legislature legalized the sale of fireworks in 2015 through House Bill 110. The approval of this constitutional amendment was designed to allow the implementation of Senate Bill 350 and Senate Resolution 558. Senate Resolution 558 was designed to call for the proceeds of excise taxes raised from fireworks sales to be used for trauma care, fire services, and local public safety purposes. Senate Bill 350 was designed to specify the percentage of the proceeds that each of these areas would receive.

• Washington Carbon Emission Tax: This Initiative to the Legislature was referred to the ballot on March 29. If approved by voters in November, it would impose a carbon emission tax on the sale or use of certain fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity.

• Washington "Restoring the Voice of We the People" Initiative: Another Initiative to the Legislature, this measure would urge the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that reserves constitutional rights for people and not corporations. Those in support of this measure are in favor of overturning the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

• Georgia Amendment 3: If approved by voters in November, this measure would replace the Judicial Qualifications Commission with a new commission designed by the General Assembly. Georgia's original Judicial Qualifications Commission, which would be replaced with a new commission if voters approve this measure, was created through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in 1972. According to the sponsors of House Resolution 1113, the legislation that would be implemented by voter approval of the measure, the Judicial Qualifications Commission needs to be overhauled because it has "lost credibility."

See also

• Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2016
• 2016 ballot measures
• Potential 2016 ballot measures
• Local ballot measure elections in 2016

Footnotes

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