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State Ballot Measure Monthly: March 2021
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By Ballot Measures Project staff
This edition of the State Ballot Measure Monthly covers certifications and a selection of notable ballot measure news from Feb. 18 through March 15.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Number of certifications in past years
Odd-numbered years:
- An average of four measures were certified for odd-year ballots by this point from 2011 through 2019.
- An average total of 31 statewide measures were eventually certified for odd-year ballots from 2011 to 2019.
Even-numbered years:
- An average of 10 measures were certified for even-year ballots by this point from 2011 through 2019.
- An average total of 172 statewide measures were eventually certified for odd-year ballots from 2010 to 2020.
2021 certifications
From Feb. 18 through March 15, zero statewide ballot measures were certified.
2022 certifications
From Feb. 18 through March 15, five statewide measures were certified.
March 4:
- South Dakota Three-Fifths Voter Approval Requirement for Ballot Measures Increasing Taxes or Fees Amendment (June 2022) - This amendment would require a three-fifths (60%) supermajority vote for the approval of ballot measures (constitutional amendments and state statutes) that increase taxes or fees or that would require the state to appropriate $10 million or more in the first five fiscal years. The requirement would apply to citizen-initiated measures and legislatively referred measures.
- The South Dakota Senate voted 18-17 to refer this amendment to voters. Eighteen Republicans were in favor. All three Democrats and 14 Republicans were opposed. The South Dakota House approved the amendment 51-17. Fifty-one Republicans were in favor. All seven Democrats and 10 Republicans were opposed.
- Ballotpedia has tracked 124 proposals in the 2021 legislative sessions of 34 states to change laws governing ballot initiatives, veto referendums, referrals, local ballot measures, and recall. change laws governing ballot initiatives, veto referendums, referrals, local ballot measures, and recall.
- Legislators in seven states—Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota—introduced proposals to enact or increase supermajority requirements for ballot measures.
- Legislators in Idaho, Missouri, Montana, and Oklahoma introduced bills to increase initiative and referendum signature requirements or signature distribution requirements.
- Legislators in Arizona, Mississippi, and North Dakota introduced bills to enact single-subject rules for ballot initiatives.
March 5:
- Utah Constitutional Amendment A, Emergency Session Appropriation Limits Measure (2022) - This amendment would increase the limit on appropriations the state legislature can make in an emergency session from 1 percent of the previous fiscal year's budget to 5 percent. It would also exempt emergency federal funding and any appropriations that decrease total spending for the year from the limit.
- In 2018, voters approved Amendment C to allow the legislature to call itself into an emergency special session. The 2018 amendment also enacted the 1% limit on appropriations and cuts during such sessions. The legislature referred the amendment to the ballot, and voters approved it 63.4% to 36.6% on November 6, 2018.
- In 2020, the Utah Legislature convened for four special sessions to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The governor called two of the sessions, which means the appropriation limits contained in Amendment C did not apply, and the legislature was able to appropriate larger amounts, including federal emergency funding. The legislature called the other two sessions under the authority granted and limits set by Amendment C.[1]
- Three constitutional amendments related to coronavirus events and conflicts have been certified for future ballots in Pennsylvania and Utah. Voters in Pennsylvania will decide the ballot measures on May 18, 2021. Both measures resulted from conflicts between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled General Assembly over the governor’s emergency powers and the legislature’s role in emergency orders.
- There are also proposed constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives that could make the ballot in at least five additional states. In Arizona, the Senate passed an amendment to limit the governor's emergency declarations to 30 days unless the legislature votes to extend them. The Arizona House voted to refer a ballot measure that would allow the legislature to modify or terminate the governor's emergency order. Other citizen-initiated measures related to the governor’s emergency powers have been filed in California, Maine, and Michigan.
March 12:
Two campaigns submitted enough signatures by the Nov. 17, 2020 deadline to qualify ballot initiatives for the November 2022 ballot in Nevada. Since Nevada's process for initiated state statutes is indirect, the initiatives were sent to the legislature. The legislature had until March 12 to vote on the initiatives. Because the legislature did not enact the measures by the deadline, they will appear on the November 2022 ballot.
- Nevada Gaming Tax Increase on Monthly Revenue above $250,000 Initiative (2022) - This initiative would increase the tax rate on monthly gross gaming revenue above $250,000 to 9.75% for nonrestricted gaming licensees. Currently, 6.75% is the tax rate for the highest gaming revenue bracket of $134,000 per month or above.
- Nevada Sales Tax Increase for Public Schools Initiative (2022) - This initiative would increase the state's Local School Support Tax—a sales tax—by 1.5 percentage points. It would dedicate revenue to public schools. The new total Local School Support Tax rate under the initiative would be 4.1%.
March 15:
- Kentucky Legislative Session Length Amendment (2022) - This amendment would allow the state legislature to change the end date of a legislative session through a three-fifths (60%) vote in each chamber. It would also authorize the House speaker and the Senate president to call a special legislative session of up to 12 days. In Kentucky, each chamber of the legislature must approve an amendment by a three-fifths (60%) vote to refer it to voters. The Kentucky Senate approved the amendment 31-4 on March 1, and the Kentucky House approved it 78-16 on March 15.
See also
- 2021 ballot measures
- 2022 ballot measures
- List of ballot measures by state
- List of ballot measures by year
- Ballot initiatives filed for the 2021 ballot
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2021
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2022
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2021
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2022
Related articles
Footnotes
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