Plebiscite Plaza 2023:
Prop HH would lower property taxes across the board until 2032 and would allow the state to spend money to make up any shortfall municipalities and counties would face from the tax cuts. Depending on valuation changes in the 32 counties with the smallest increases in property tax revenue, lodging and most other nonresidential property taxes would go down in increments from 29% to 25.9 or 26.9%, agricultural property taxes would drop to 25.9 or 26.4%, renewable energy agricultural property(a new class of property) would go down to 21.9%, and residential properties would see taxes go down from 7.15% to 6.7% for many homes, 6.7% minus $40,000 or just 6.7% for primary residences and multi-family properties, and 6.7% minus $140,000 or just 6.7%, whichever's lower, for qualifying seniors. It would also send $72 million from the state's general fund to the public school fund. All of these decreases would expire in 2033. REJECTED
Prop II(that's Double I-the letter) concerns excess tax money. Back in 2020, Prop EE was passed in Colorado, a measure that levied a new tax on vapes and raised other tobacco taxes. It ended up raising $318 million in 2022, or $24 million more than was expected. Under Colorado's TABOR, or Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, that would normally mean that the excess money would have to be refunded and the taxes lowered accordingly. Legislative Democrats weren't fans of giving money back to Big Tobacco, so they put this Prop II on the ballot. Voters will choose whether to refund the money to wholesalers and distributors and lower the taxes by 11.53% or make all of Prop EE's revenue TABOR-exempt. A Yes vote here is in favour of TABOR exemption. APPROVED
Prop II(that's Double I-the letter) concerns excess tax money. Back in 2020, Prop EE was passed in Colorado, a measure that levied a new tax on vapes and raised other tobacco taxes. It ended up raising $318 million in 2022, or $24 million more than was expected. Under Colorado's TABOR, or Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, that would normally mean that the excess money would have to be refunded and the taxes lowered accordingly. Legislative Democrats weren't fans of giving money back to Big Tobacco, so they put this Prop II on the ballot. Voters will choose whether to refund the money to wholesalers and distributors and lower the taxes by 11.53% or make all of Prop EE's revenue TABOR-exempt. A Yes vote here is in favour of TABOR exemption. APPROVED
Amendment 1, up for a vote on Saturday October 14 like the three beneath, would ban the use of funds, goods, and services from foreign or NGO sources in conducting elections.
Amendment 2 would ensure the right to worship at any place of worship.
Amendment 3 would require 25% of all nonrecurring state revenue to be given to unfunded liabilities in the state's two public pension funds(one for state employees, one for teachers).
Amendment 4 would prohibit nonprofits from receiving property tax exemptions on properties that are considered uninhabitable due to disrepair as determined by the city, town, or parish the property's in. ALL APPROVED
Now for amendments up for a vote on Saturday, November 18. Amendment 1 would allow the state legislature to consider vetoed bills during a regular or special session without having to convene a separate veto session. It would also stipulate that the governor's deadline to act on a bill is based on the legislative session in which the bill is passed or vetoed. APPROVED
Amendment 2 would remove constitutional language concerning six state funds that are now inactive and move money within those funds into the state's General Fund. APPROVED
Amendment 3 would allow parishes to provide a new property tax exemption of up to $2,500 for first responders. APPROVED
Amendment 4 would allow the Legislature, by a two-thirds majority, to transfer up to $250 million from the Budget Stabilisation Trust Fund(AKA Rainy Day Fund) into paying down the state's deficit, currently projected to go up to $420 million by 2025. REJECTED
Amendment 2 would ensure the right to worship at any place of worship.
Amendment 3 would require 25% of all nonrecurring state revenue to be given to unfunded liabilities in the state's two public pension funds(one for state employees, one for teachers).
Amendment 4 would prohibit nonprofits from receiving property tax exemptions on properties that are considered uninhabitable due to disrepair as determined by the city, town, or parish the property's in. ALL APPROVED
Now for amendments up for a vote on Saturday, November 18. Amendment 1 would allow the state legislature to consider vetoed bills during a regular or special session without having to convene a separate veto session. It would also stipulate that the governor's deadline to act on a bill is based on the legislative session in which the bill is passed or vetoed. APPROVED
Amendment 2 would remove constitutional language concerning six state funds that are now inactive and move money within those funds into the state's General Fund. APPROVED
Amendment 3 would allow parishes to provide a new property tax exemption of up to $2,500 for first responders. APPROVED
Amendment 4 would allow the Legislature, by a two-thirds majority, to transfer up to $250 million from the Budget Stabilisation Trust Fund(AKA Rainy Day Fund) into paying down the state's deficit, currently projected to go up to $420 million by 2025. REJECTED
Question 1 would require voter approval for certain state entities, including the proposed state-run power company in Question 3, to incur debts of over $1 billion. APPROVED
Question 2 would prohibit election spending by foreign nations including any private or corporate entity with at least a 5% stake owned by a foreign government. APPROVED
Question 3 would effectively nationalise all energy distribution and transmission in the state. The measure would create a new state-run company called Pine Tree Power, and this company would have the right to purchase and acquire, invoking eminent domain of necessary, all private energy distribution and transmission companies. These acquisitions would begin 12 months after the measure passes or six months after the first board meeting, whichever's later. There would be a 13-member board of directors, seven of which would be elected and the six remaining would be experts with experience in utility law and management, concerns of utility employees and workers, concerns of commercial or industrial electricity consumers, technologies related to electricity, cybersecurity, and connectivity, climate mitigation and planning, and economic or social justice needs for low income or moderate income populations. They would be appointed by the elected members, all members would be Maine residents, and all terms would be for six years. Private sector operations would be handed over to a nongovernmental entity that hasn't been found unfit(the measure includes fitness criteria) for 10 years, Pine Tree Power would be exempt from income taxation, but it would pay property taxes, and it can't own any energy generation facilities unless the Public Utilities Commission grants a waiver. It could only raise funds by issuing bonds against its debt and by energy bills. Pine Tree Power would be required to give the state an annual report on its condition by April 15 at the latest, and the company could only be privatised or dissolved by law. REJECTED
Question 4 would implement a Right-to-Repair law, which means auto manufacturers would have to include owner-authorised car telemetry systems for their diagnostic software instead of the proprietary software that they often use. APPROVED
Question 5 would amend the constitution to change the deadline for judicial review of ballot petitions from 100 days after filing a petition to 100 days after the deadline for submitting petitions to the Secretary of State. APPROVED
Question 6 has a backstory that needs to be understood. Back in 1875, in an effort to clean up and consolidate constitutional provisions, a special constitutional commission asked for and got an amendment removing three sections of Article 10 from future publications while clarifying that Section 5(one of the removed sections) would remain valid. In 2005, the state made these provisions more easily accessible to the public. Sections 1 and 2 discuss the first session of Maine's Legislature while Section 5 mentions all the assorted laws and treaties that Massachusetts made that Maine's first Constitutional Convention had decided to keep. Among them, Maine vowed to continue upholding all First Nations Treaties previously made by the Massachusetts Government. The removal of this section has been a sore spot for Natives for many decades. Question 6 would amend the constitution to restore all the expurgated sections including those guaranteeing Native treaties. APPROVED
Question 7 would amend the constitution to remove the current requirement that a petition circulator or author has to be a citizen of Maine. REJECTED
Question 8 would amend the constitution to allow individuals who are currently under guardianship or conservatorship for mental illness to vote. Technically, they can do this already as the constitutional provision banning it was struck down on the federal level in Doe v. Rowe in 2001 after a 2000 ballot measure to do so was rejected. REJECTED
Question 2 would prohibit election spending by foreign nations including any private or corporate entity with at least a 5% stake owned by a foreign government. APPROVED
Question 3 would effectively nationalise all energy distribution and transmission in the state. The measure would create a new state-run company called Pine Tree Power, and this company would have the right to purchase and acquire, invoking eminent domain of necessary, all private energy distribution and transmission companies. These acquisitions would begin 12 months after the measure passes or six months after the first board meeting, whichever's later. There would be a 13-member board of directors, seven of which would be elected and the six remaining would be experts with experience in utility law and management, concerns of utility employees and workers, concerns of commercial or industrial electricity consumers, technologies related to electricity, cybersecurity, and connectivity, climate mitigation and planning, and economic or social justice needs for low income or moderate income populations. They would be appointed by the elected members, all members would be Maine residents, and all terms would be for six years. Private sector operations would be handed over to a nongovernmental entity that hasn't been found unfit(the measure includes fitness criteria) for 10 years, Pine Tree Power would be exempt from income taxation, but it would pay property taxes, and it can't own any energy generation facilities unless the Public Utilities Commission grants a waiver. It could only raise funds by issuing bonds against its debt and by energy bills. Pine Tree Power would be required to give the state an annual report on its condition by April 15 at the latest, and the company could only be privatised or dissolved by law. REJECTED
Question 4 would implement a Right-to-Repair law, which means auto manufacturers would have to include owner-authorised car telemetry systems for their diagnostic software instead of the proprietary software that they often use. APPROVED
Question 5 would amend the constitution to change the deadline for judicial review of ballot petitions from 100 days after filing a petition to 100 days after the deadline for submitting petitions to the Secretary of State. APPROVED
Question 6 has a backstory that needs to be understood. Back in 1875, in an effort to clean up and consolidate constitutional provisions, a special constitutional commission asked for and got an amendment removing three sections of Article 10 from future publications while clarifying that Section 5(one of the removed sections) would remain valid. In 2005, the state made these provisions more easily accessible to the public. Sections 1 and 2 discuss the first session of Maine's Legislature while Section 5 mentions all the assorted laws and treaties that Massachusetts made that Maine's first Constitutional Convention had decided to keep. Among them, Maine vowed to continue upholding all First Nations Treaties previously made by the Massachusetts Government. The removal of this section has been a sore spot for Natives for many decades. Question 6 would amend the constitution to restore all the expurgated sections including those guaranteeing Native treaties. APPROVED
Question 7 would amend the constitution to remove the current requirement that a petition circulator or author has to be a citizen of Maine. REJECTED
Question 8 would amend the constitution to allow individuals who are currently under guardianship or conservatorship for mental illness to vote. Technically, they can do this already as the constitutional provision banning it was struck down on the federal level in Doe v. Rowe in 2001 after a 2000 ballot measure to do so was rejected. REJECTED
Proposal 1 is an amendment that would eliminate the current maximum limit on how much debt small public school districts(meaning districts in any town or city with less then 125,000 people) could incur Currently it's 5% of full taxable property values.
Proposal 2 is another amendment that would extend the time period that sewer construction, repair, and maintenance would be excluded from how much debt a municipality could incur until 2034(currently set to expire in 2024 and routinely gets extended). BOTH APPROVED
Proposal 2 is another amendment that would extend the time period that sewer construction, repair, and maintenance would be excluded from how much debt a municipality could incur until 2034(currently set to expire in 2024 and routinely gets extended). BOTH APPROVED
Ohio will be voting on August 8 on Issue 1, an amendment that would raise the threshold for approving constitutional amendments from a simple majority to a 60% majority. It would also raise the signature threshold for constitutional initiatives to 5% of voters in all 88 counties rather than the current 44-county requirement, and it would abolish the 10-day grace period for collecting signatures if the number's found insufficient. REJECTED
In November, Ohio will vote on Issue 1, an amendment that would establish a right to reproductive decisions including abortion. Abortion could sill be banned once viability is reached, but the state wouldn't be allowed to stop any abortions considered medically necessary. APPROVED
They'll also be voting on Issue 2, a measure to legalise marijuana in Ohio. People over age 21 would be able to have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or 15 grams of concentrated marijuana. Individuals could own up to six mature plants and six seedlings in their homes, and households could have a combined total of 12 plants and seedlings. Enforcement, licensing, and regulation would be undertaken by the new Division of Cannabis Control. All sales would be taxed at 10%, and all proceeds go to the new Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Programme, which would provide licence assistance and financial support for individuals who've been disproportionately affected by enforcement of previous drug laws and want to get into the business. APPROVED
In November, Ohio will vote on Issue 1, an amendment that would establish a right to reproductive decisions including abortion. Abortion could sill be banned once viability is reached, but the state wouldn't be allowed to stop any abortions considered medically necessary. APPROVED
They'll also be voting on Issue 2, a measure to legalise marijuana in Ohio. People over age 21 would be able to have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or 15 grams of concentrated marijuana. Individuals could own up to six mature plants and six seedlings in their homes, and households could have a combined total of 12 plants and seedlings. Enforcement, licensing, and regulation would be undertaken by the new Division of Cannabis Control. All sales would be taxed at 10%, and all proceeds go to the new Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Programme, which would provide licence assistance and financial support for individuals who've been disproportionately affected by enforcement of previous drug laws and want to get into the business. APPROVED
Normally, Oklahoma doesn't make odd-numbered year appearances, but a measure got on the ballot too late for 2022. SQ 820, up for a vote on March 7, would legalise marijuana in Oklahoma. Adults over age 21 could possess, transport, or distribute up to one ounce or marijuana, eight grams of concentrated marijuana, or up to eight grams of concentrated marijuana in infused products such as edibles. People could own up to six mature plants and up to six seedlings, and a process would be set up for expungement or modification of previous marijuana-related crimes. Sales would be taxed at 15%, with most funds going to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority's implementation of this measure. Remaining funds would be distributed to the state's general fund(30%), public school grants to encourage student retention, after-school and enrichment, and campaigns against substance abuse(30%), grants to government agencies and non-profits to fund addiction treatment and OD prevention programmes(20%), the state judicial revolving fund(10%), and the city or county where the weed was sold(10%). REJECTED
Prop 1 would establish a constitutional right to farming, ranching, wildlife management, horticulture, and timbering. APPROVED
Prop 2 would allow partial(no less than 50%) or total property tax exemptions for child care facilities. APPROVED
Prop 3 would ban wealth or net worth taxes in Texas. APPROVED
Prop 4 would increase homestead exemptions on property taxes to $100,000 from the current $40,000. It would also allow the state legislature to impose limits on annual appraisal increases on non-homestead properties, allow the legislature to pass a law requiring four-year terms for elected officials of appraising bodies(such as counties) with a population of at least 75,000 people, and it would exempt education spending increases from the state appropriations limit. APPROVED
Prop 5 would rename the National University Research Fund to the Texas University Fund. It would also allocate the annual interest, earnings, and investment income from the state Economic Stabilisation Fund to it. APPROVED
Prop 6 would create the Texas Water Fund to be run by the Texas Water Development Board and used to finance water projects. APPROVED
Prop 7 would create the Texas Energy Fund, funded by the Legislature and run by the Public Utilities Commission. The fund would be used to update power plants. APPROVED
Prop 8 would create the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund, funded by the Legislature and used to finance broadband and telecommunications projects. APPROVED
Prop 9 would allow the legislature to make cost-of-living adjustments for pensioners in the State Teacher's Retirement Fund for two years. APPROVED
Prop 10 would create a new property tax exemption for personal property manufactured by medical or biomedical companies. APPROVED
Prop 11 would allow conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund county parks and recreation facilities. APPROVED
Prop 12 is a county amendment. Yes, Texas does have them, but they aren't as common as Alabama. This amendment would abolish the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County. This is up because the recently-elected treasurer of the County is a fairly Libertarian guy who ran specifically on a promise to abolish his office, which requires an amendment because Treasurer is a constitutional office for most counties. Both the state and the county will have to approve it. APPROVED
Prop 13 would raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges from age 75 to 79. It would also remove a provision that requires judges to retire at the end of their fourth year of a six-year term if they reach retirement age within that span. REJECTED
Prop 14 would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which would be financed through legislative grants, Parks and Wildlife Department grants, and through investments. This fund would be used for creating and maintaining state parks. APPROVED
Prop 2 would allow partial(no less than 50%) or total property tax exemptions for child care facilities. APPROVED
Prop 3 would ban wealth or net worth taxes in Texas. APPROVED
Prop 4 would increase homestead exemptions on property taxes to $100,000 from the current $40,000. It would also allow the state legislature to impose limits on annual appraisal increases on non-homestead properties, allow the legislature to pass a law requiring four-year terms for elected officials of appraising bodies(such as counties) with a population of at least 75,000 people, and it would exempt education spending increases from the state appropriations limit. APPROVED
Prop 5 would rename the National University Research Fund to the Texas University Fund. It would also allocate the annual interest, earnings, and investment income from the state Economic Stabilisation Fund to it. APPROVED
Prop 6 would create the Texas Water Fund to be run by the Texas Water Development Board and used to finance water projects. APPROVED
Prop 7 would create the Texas Energy Fund, funded by the Legislature and run by the Public Utilities Commission. The fund would be used to update power plants. APPROVED
Prop 8 would create the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund, funded by the Legislature and used to finance broadband and telecommunications projects. APPROVED
Prop 9 would allow the legislature to make cost-of-living adjustments for pensioners in the State Teacher's Retirement Fund for two years. APPROVED
Prop 10 would create a new property tax exemption for personal property manufactured by medical or biomedical companies. APPROVED
Prop 11 would allow conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund county parks and recreation facilities. APPROVED
Prop 12 is a county amendment. Yes, Texas does have them, but they aren't as common as Alabama. This amendment would abolish the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County. This is up because the recently-elected treasurer of the County is a fairly Libertarian guy who ran specifically on a promise to abolish his office, which requires an amendment because Treasurer is a constitutional office for most counties. Both the state and the county will have to approve it. APPROVED
Prop 13 would raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges from age 75 to 79. It would also remove a provision that requires judges to retire at the end of their fourth year of a six-year term if they reach retirement age within that span. REJECTED
Prop 14 would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which would be financed through legislative grants, Parks and Wildlife Department grants, and through investments. This fund would be used for creating and maintaining state parks. APPROVED
Question 1, to be voted on on April 4 with the next measure, would amend the constitution to allow the state legislature to define "serious harm" in relation to the conditions that a judge can impose on an accused person if they're released from jail before conviction. At the moment, judges can impose any condition they want to prevent bodily harm to others.
Question 2 would amend the constitution to allow judges to consider an accused person's previous convictions, the probability of them not appearing in court, the need to protect the community from serious harm(as defined by Question 1 if it passes), the need to protect witnesses from harm, and any potential affirmative defences before setting cash bail amounts. BOTH APPROVED
Question 2 would amend the constitution to allow judges to consider an accused person's previous convictions, the probability of them not appearing in court, the need to protect the community from serious harm(as defined by Question 1 if it passes), the need to protect witnesses from harm, and any potential affirmative defences before setting cash bail amounts. BOTH APPROVED
