Category: Ballot measures
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Constitutional amendment to prohibit wealth or net worth taxes in Texas headed to November ballot
The Texas Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to prohibit any future legislation from enacting a wealth or net worth tax. This amendment was introduced as House Joint Resolution 132 on March 13, 2023. On May 2, the state House passed HJR 132 by a vote of 101-45 with four not voting. All Republicans…
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Minnesota voters to decide on extending lottery revenue dedication for Environment and Natural Resource Fund through 2050
Voters in Minnesota will be asked to keep providing revenue from state-operated lotteries to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund through 2050. The dedicated revenue source is set to expire at the end of 2024. The constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot at the general election on Nov. 5, 2024. It’s the first measure…
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Texans to decide on state parks funding in November
The Texas Legislature took the final vote to send a constitutional amendment establishing the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to voters in November. The trust fund would consist of money appropriated to the fund by the legislature; gifts, grants, and donations received for the fund; and investment earnings on interest earned. The trust fund would be…
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Lawsuit filed challenging proposed Colorado property tax ballot measure set for Nov. 2023 election
Advance Colorado and Englewood City Council member Steven Ward filed a lawsuit on May 15, 2023, in Denver County District Court, challenging the property tax measure recently placed on Colorado’s Nov. 2023 ballot. The lawsuit alleges that the measure violates the state’s single-subject rule, which requires ballot measures to concern a single subject, and alleges…
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An amendment to abolish a county treasurer in Texas is set to appear on the November ballot for the first time since 1987
The Texas Constitution provides that the office of county treasurer may be abolished via a constitutional amendment. Galveston County may be the next county to join nine others that previously abolished the office of treasurer in November. The last time Texans decided on such an amendment was in 1987 with the abolition of county treasurers…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of May 16, 2023, 13 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states for elections in 2023. That’s five more measures than the average number (8) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 34 statewide measures have been certified in 18 states. That’s five…
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Three Oregon senators become ineligible for re-election under Measure 113 as the legislative walkout continues
On May 15, three senators involved with the walkout—Daniel Bonham (R), Dennis Linthicum (R), and Brian Boquist (I)—accrued their 10th unexcused absences, a threshold making them ineligible to be re-elected to a subsequent term under Measure 113, a ballot measure Oregon voters approved in 2022. The walkout began on May 3 when all but two…
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Texas voters will decide in November whether the state will have the second-highest mandatory retirement age for state judges at 79
The Texas State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. ballot that would increase the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 75 to 79—the second-highest retirement age in the country, excluding those with no mandatory retirement ages. Vermont adopted in 2003 the highest retirement age for state judges at…
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Missouri voters to decide on ballot measure for property tax exemptions for childcare facilities
In Missouri, a constitutional amendment that would allow childcare establishments to be exempt from property taxes was certified for the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot. On May 12, 2023, the Missouri House of Representatives voted 91-27 to pass the amendment. It previously passed the Missouri State Senate by 33-0 on March 23, 2023. To propose a…
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Ohio 60% supermajority amendment to appear on the ballot on Aug. 8
An amendment that would require a 60% majority from voters to approve constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot in Ohio on Aug. 8, 2023. The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate both voted on May 10, 2023, to send the measure to the ballot. The House voted 62-37 to pass the…