Author: Victoria Antram
-
What is a state constitution?
A state constitution is the governing document of a U.S. state, comparable to the United States Constitution, which is the governing document of the United States. Some states have had multiple constitutions, and since each state drafts its own, there is great diversity between them, though all have some basic concepts in common. Twenty states…
-
California voters will decide on dueling initiatives backed by Uber and trial attorneys in November
Two initiatives, with rideshare companies and trial attorneys taking opposing sides of the campaigns, qualified for the November ballot in California on June 17. One initiative sponsored by Uber would require car accident victims to receive at least 75% of the total amount of damages recovered; establish standards for the recovery of medical expenses based…
-
California billionaire’s tax qualifies for the November ballot; competing measures pending signature verification
California voters are set to decide on a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of the state’s billionaires in November. The secretary of state reported on June 17 that at least 980,438 of the more than 1.6 million signatures filed were valid, qualifying the ballot initiative. The SEIU-UHW is sponsoring the initiative. The tax…
-
California initiative that would make changes to the environmental review process established by CEQA qualifies for the November ballot
The California Secretary of State announced that a ballot initiative proposing to amend the California Environmental Quality Act by modifying environmental review processes qualified for the ballot on June 16. The Committee to Build an Affordable California, the campaign supporting the initiative, submitted 942,967 signatures, of which the secretary of state projected 77.5% are valid,…
-
Campaign behind a ballot initiative to prohibit corporations from political spending in Montana submits signatures
A campaign submitted 50,000 signatures to county officials on June 16 for verification to qualify a ballot initiative that would prohibit nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations, and all entities doing business in Montana from contributing to campaigns, ballot measure elections, or political parties. The initiative classifies these entities as artificial persons…
-
California voters set to decide third ballot measure since 2012 to maintain top marginal tax on high incomes to fund public education
The California Secretary of State announced that a ballot initiative to make permanent the state’s top marginal tax rates on higher incomes, which are set to expire in 2031, has qualified for the November ballot. This will be the third ballot initiative related to this income tax, which was enacted in 2012 with the approval…
-
Campaign behind Montana ballot initiative to add nonpartisan judicial elections to the state constitution submits signatures for November
Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts filed signatures for a ballot initiative that would add a section to the Montana Constitution stating that “Judicial elections shall remain nonpartisan.” Montana has used nonpartisan judicial elections since 1936. If the amendment is approved by voters in November, making judicial elections partisan would require another voter-approved constitutional amendment to enact.…
-
California initiative to require healthcare union members to approve of union political spending qualifies for the November ballot
A ballot initiative, sponsored by the California Hospital Association (CHA), to require healthcare labor unions to inform members annually how member dues are being spent on political activities, specifically spending on state and local ballot measures, and require a majority of members to approve such expenditures qualified for the November ballot on June 5. The…
-
Montana voters have decided on 266 ballot measures since statehood in 1889
Between 1889, when Montana became a state, and 2025, Montana voters decided on 266 ballot measures. Of those, 165 (62%) were approved, and 101 (38%) were defeated. The Montana State Legislature voted to refer 163 ballot measures to the state ballot between 1889 and 2025, while 99 citizen initiatives were on the statewide ballot. Additionally,…
-
Campaign behind initiative to criminalize hunting, fishing, and any intentional injury to animals in Oregon submits required number of signatures
The campaign behind a ballot initiative to criminalize hunting, fishing, and any intentional injury to animals in Oregon submitted over 120,000 signatures as of May 20. The initiative, referred to by the sponsors as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, would amend Chapter 167 of the Oregon Revised Statutes to…