Category: Ballot measures

Denver appears to have become the first city to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms.   Although early reporting showed Denver Initiative 301 behind by several points, the final unofficial report on Wednesday revealed the measure has a lead of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, which is a margin of 1,979 votes out of a total of 176,661.…

According to preliminary vote counts, voters in Denver were rejecting a citizen initiative to allow resting, sheltering oneself, eating or exchanging food, and occupying one’s own car in outdoor public places without limits or penalties enforced by the city or county, law enforcement, or any other entity. The initiative was failing by 84 percent to…

On Tuesday, Columbus voters approved a total of five bond issues ranging from $50 million for neighborhood development projects to $425 million for public service, including roads, trash, equipment, real estate, and landscaping. In total, voters approved $1.03 billion in new bond debt. The bond issues will require an estimated 5.04 mills ($5.04 per $1,000…

The Colorado Legislature gave final approval to House Bill 1327 on May 3, sending it to the 2019 ballot for voters to decide.   House Bill 1327 would authorize sports betting in Colorado and authorize the legislature to create a 10 percent tax on sports betting proceeds to be levied on those who conduct sports…

Voters in three Dallas-Fort Worth jurisdictions approved bond packages ranging from $44.7 million to $1.1 billion in the general election May 4.   Approval of Proposition A in the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) authorizes $1.1 billion in bonds to construct, improve, and equip school buildings. The DCCCD chancellor, Joe May, recommended the bond…

Voters in El Paso, Texas, approved Proposition A on Saturday, permanently prohibiting development on the 1,107 acres known as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Twelve (TIRZ 12). TIRZ 12 includes the Franklin Mountains, Transmountain Road, and Lost Dog Trail. According to unofficial election night results, 89 percent of voters favored preserving TIRZ 12 as open…

An amendment to remove the authority of local governments to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons will appear on the 2020 ballot in Montana. The measure was designed to be sent to voters if an identical bill, House Bill 325, was vetoed by Democratic Governor Steve Bullock. Bullock vetoed HB 325 on May 3, 2019.…

On May 2, 2019, the Colorado state legislature gave final approval to Senate Bill 263, which moved a legislatively referred bond issue from the 2019 ballot to the 2020 ballot. The bond issue was designed to authorize the state to issue transportation revenue anticipation notes (TRANs)—a specific type of bond debt—in the amount of $2.337…

On May 1, 2019, the Illinois State Senate approved a constitutional amendment that would repeal the state’s constitutional requirement that the state personal income tax be a flat rate across income. Instead, the amendment would allow the state to enact legislation for a graduated income tax. Voters would address the constitutional amendment at the general…

The Texas State Legislature has referred its first constitutional amendment to the ballot for the election on November 5, 2019. The constitutional amendment, which received unanimous approval in the state legislature, would allow law enforcement agencies to transfer a dog, horse, or another animal to the animal’s handler if the transfer is in the animal’s…