Tag: ballot measure
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Wyoming to vote in 2022 to allow local governments to invest in stocks and equities
On April 1, the Wyoming State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the 2022 ballot that would allow the legislature to provide by law for local governments (county, city, township, town, school district, or other political subdivision) to invest funds in stocks and equities. Legislation establishing or increasing the percentage of funds a local government could…
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Georgia legislature sends two measures to the 2022 ballot during its 2021 session
The Georgia State Legislature adjourned its 2021 legislative session on April 1, 2021. The legislature passed two measures requiring voter approval at the general election in 2022: a constitutional amendment to suspend compensation for certain public officials while they are suspended from office due to a felony indictment and a measure to expand a property…
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New York becomes third state to legalize recreational marijuana through legislative action instead of a ballot measure
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill on March 31 legalizing recreational marijuana and allowing resentencing for those convicted of certain marijuana-related charges. Both chambers of the legislature passed the bill (Assembly Bill 1248/Senate Bill 854) on March 30. New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana. In addition, South Dakota…
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Kentucky voters will decide an amendment in 2022 saying there is no right to abortion in the state constitution
The Kentucky State Legislature referred the No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment to the November 8, 2022 ballot. The amendment would add a section to the Kentucky Bill of Rights that states: “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the…
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Georgia to vote in 2022 on suspending pay for assembly members or public officials indicted for felony
Voters in Georgia will decide in 2022 whether to amend the state constitution to suspend compensation for the following public officials while the individual is suspended from office due to a felony indictment: 1. any member of the General Assembly; 2. Governor; 3. Lieutenant Governor; 4. Secretary of State; 5. Attorney General; 6. State School…
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Nevada voters will decide whether to add an equal rights amendment to the state constitution
In November 2022, Nevada voters will decide whether to add the following language to Article 1 of the state Constitution: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this State or any of its political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age,…
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New Mexico voters will decide whether to increase funding for early childhood education and public schools
On March 18, the New Mexico State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would allocate 1.25% of the five-year average of year-end market values of the money in the Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF) to early childhood education and the public school permanent fund. Revenue in the LGPF comes from…
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Deadline for Nevada State Legislature to vote on sales and gaming tax measures passes, sending the pair of initiatives to the ballot
The deadline for the Nevada State Legislature to act on two indirect initiated state statutes—the Gaming Tax Increase on Monthly Revenue above $250,000 Initiative and the Sales Tax Increase for Public Schools Initiative—was Friday, March 12. The legislature did not enact the measures by the deadline, which sent them to the ballot in November 2022.…
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Kentucky legislature certifies amendment to authorize changes to legislative session end dates and special sessions
On March 15, the Kentucky State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to voters in November 2022 that would authorize the legislature to change legislative session end dates through a three-fifths vote in each chamber. It would also authorize the House speaker and Senate president to jointly call a special legislative session for up…
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Ballot measures proposed in response to coronavirus and emergency powers
The coronavirus pandemic has shaped the political landscape of the United States, including the powers of governors and state legislatures. Changes have been proposed in response to the pandemic or pandemic-related regulations and restrictions. Some of these changes, such as state constitutional amendments, require ballot measures for ratification. Others are citizen-initiated proposals, meaning campaigns collect signatures…