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State Ballot Measure Monthly: March 2016

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Ballot Measure
Monthly
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2016 Measures
Total certified157
Total proposed1,000+

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.[1]
  • 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.[2][3][4]
  • 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.[5][6]
  • 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. [7][8]
  • 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.[9][10][11]
  • 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.[9][12][13]
  • 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.[14]
  • 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.[15]
  • 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.[16]
  • 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."[17] 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.[18] The approval of this constitutional amendment was designed to allow the implementation of Senate Bill 350 and Senate Resolution 558.[19] 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.[20][21]
  • 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."[22]

See also

Footnotes

  1. Maine Secretary of State, "Citizens’ initiative for K-12 education fund found valid with 66,849 signatures," March 2, 2016
  2. Rhode Island General Assembly, "S 2081," accessed March 8, 2016
  3. WPRO, "Gov. Raimondo sends Tiverton casino question to voters," March 4, 2016
  4. What's Up Newp, "Voters Will Decide in November if Newport Grand Goes to Tiverton," March 3, 2016
  5. Alaska Dispatch News, "PFD voter registration initiative to be bumped to November ballot," April 18, 2016
  6. State of Alaska Division of Elections, "Bill Language," accessed December 4, 2015
  7. The Washington Post, "Right-to-work measure headed for Virginia ballot," February 2, 2016
  8. 13newsnow.com, "Virginia advances right-to-work referendum," February 2, 2016
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Florida Senate, "HJR 193," accessed March 13, 2016 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "flsen" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "flsen" defined multiple times with different content
  10. Florida Politics, "Legislative-backed solar amendment cleared for ballot," March 9, 2016
  11. Florida Politics, "Jeff Brandes, Lori Berman, Ray Rodrigues launching campaign for solar power tax breaks," April 5, 2016
  12. 12.0 12.1 WCTV, "Florida Legislature Sends 3 Tax Proposals to Voters," March 9, 2016
  13. WFSU, "Ballot Measure Could Protect Seniors' Property Tax Break," March 30, 2016
  14. Utah.gov, "S.J.R. 3 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution- Property Tax Exemptions," accessed April 25, 2016
  15. Bloomberg, "Christie, N.J. Democrats Agree on Plan for Casino Ballot Measure," January 11, 2016
  16. Idaho Legislature, "House Joint Resolution 5," accessed March 30, 2016
  17. Missouri Secretary of State, "2016 ballot measures," accessed March 29, 2016
  18. Open States, "Georgia House Bill 110 (2015)," accessed March 30, 2016
  19. Open States, "Georgia Senate Bill 350 (2016)," accessed March 30, 2016
  20. Georgia General Assembly, "2015-2016 Regular Session - SR 558," accessed April 28, 2016
  21. Georgia General Assembly, "Senate Bill 350," accessed April 28, 2016
  22. Judicial Qualifications Commission, "Home," accessed March 30, 2016