Proposes a state constitutional amendment to require any referendum petition or initiative petition to be signed by at least 6% of legal voters at the last general election in each legislative district.
REFERENDA AND INITIATIVES -- Proposes a state constitutional amendment to require any referendum petition or initiative petition to be signed by at least 6% of legal voters at the last general election in each legislative district.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
▶ Show statement of purpose▼ Hide statement of purpose
This Joint Resolution will ask the People to vote on more fairly distributing voter involvement in the initiative and referenda process. If passed by the People, the Joint Resolution will ensure that voters from all thirty-five legislative districts around the state are considered, versus only just over half of the legislative districts as is currently allowable. This Joint Resolution maintains the same total number of signatures that are currently required, but it will also require a minimum number of those signatures come from each of the thirty-five legislative districts around the state. The Joint Resolution addresses the current practice of "venue shopping" by well-funded activist organizations. If passed by the Legislature, the Joint Resolution will be placed on the November 2026 General Election ballot, and voters will ultimately decide whether or not to adopt the Resolution.
FISCAL NOTE
▶ Show fiscal note▼ Hide fiscal note
There will be no increase in the total number of signatures gathered and therefore counted. The existing workload will be more evenly distributed rather than being concentrated in a particular geographical area. However, cost for placing the question on the ballot can range from $0, if there is another question already on the ballot, to approximately $200,000 for a page to be printed on all statewide ballots if this Resolution is the only question on the November 2026 ballot.
LATEST ACTION
Recommitted to State Affairs
BILL INFO
- Session
- 2025
- Chamber
- senate
- Status date
- Jan 29, 2025
RELATED BILLS
More by Doug Okuniewicz
