What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New York voters to enact or reject laws and constitutional amendments through initiative and referendum.
Why it matters
Empowers voters to directly shape laws and constitutional amendments. This amendment would let New Yorkers bypass the legislature, giving them a formal process to propose and vote on new laws or changes to the state constitution, potentially making the government more responsive to public demands.
Adds fiscal responsibility requirements for initiatives. Any ballot initiative that spends money or reduces revenue must clearly state where funding will come from or what services will be cut, aiming to prevent unfunded mandates or vague fiscal impacts.
Sets high but achievable signature thresholds and regional requirements. To qualify a measure for the ballot, supporters must gather signatures equal to 5% (for laws) or 8% (for constitutional amendments) of the last gubernatorial vote, including at least 2,500 signatures from each congressional district, ensuring both broad statewide and regional support.
Limits legislative and executive interference with voter-approved measures. Once passed by voters, initiatives cannot be repealed or amended by the legislature for two years, and the governor’s veto does not apply—significantly strengthening direct democracy and reducing political influence over citizen-enacted laws.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Voters Propose Laws
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Voters Propose Laws
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3697
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to the constitution, in relation to providing the electors with the power of initiative and referendum
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 20 of the constitution be renumbered article 21 and a new article 20 be added to read as follows:
ARTICLE XX
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Section 1. The legislative power of this state shall be vested in the Senate and Assembly, but the people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and amendments to the constitution, and to adopt or reject the same, at the polls, independent of the legislature, and also reserve the power, at their own option, to so adopt or reject any act, or section or part of any act, passed by the legislature.
§ 2. a. The initiative is the power of the electors to propose statutes and amendments to the constitution and to adopt or reject them. Every initiative statute which mandates the expenditure of monies shall clearly state the revenues from which such monies shall be derived. Every initiative statute which mandates a reduction in revenues or expenditures shall clearly state what revenues will replace those reduced or the expenditures and services to be reduced or eliminated.
b. An initiative measure may be proposed by presenting to the secretary of state a petition that sets forth the text of the proposed statute or amendment to the constitution and is certified to have been signed by electors equal in number to five percent in the case of a statute, and eight percent in the case of an amendment to the constitution, of the votes for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election.
c. The secretary of state shall then submit the measure at the next general election held at least one hundred thirty-one days after it
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89039-01-7
S. 3697 2
qualifies or at any special statewide election held prior to that general election. The governor may call a special statewide election for the measure.
d. An initiative measure embracing more than one subject may not be submitted to the electors or have any effect except that any number of discrete initiative measures may be submitted to the electors at any general election or any special statewide election called by the governor.
§ 3. a. An initiative or referendum measure approved by a majority of the votes thereon takes effect five days after the date of the official declaration of the vote by the state board of elections unless the measure provides otherwise. If a referendum petition is filed against a part of a statute the remainder of the statute shall not be delayed from going into effect.
b. If provisions of two or more measures approved at the same election conflict, those of the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote shall prevail.
c. Any issue defeated by referendum cannot be reconsidered by the legislature for a period of two years. Any initiative measure that has been adopted cannot be repealed or amended by the legislature for a period of two years.
d. The veto power of the governor shall not extend to an initiative or referendum statute approved by the electors.
e. Prior to circulation of an initiative or referendum petition for signatures, a copy shall be submitted to the attorney general who shall prepare a title and summary of the measure as provided by law.
f. The legislature shall provide the manner in which petitions shall be circulated, presented and certified, and measures submitted to the electors within a two year passage of this amendment to the constitution.
§ 4. Initiative and referendum powers may be exercised by the electors of each municipality under procedures that the legislature shall provide.
§ 5. No amendment to the constitution, and no statute proposed to the electors by the legislature or by initiative, which names any individual to hold any office, or names or identifies any private corporation to perform any function or to have any power or duty or attempts to abolish an existing state agency, may be submitted to the electors or have any effect.
§ 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, upon all initiative and referendum petitions provided for in this article, it shall be additionally necessary to file from each congressional district of the state such petitions bearing the signatures of not less than two thousand five hundred of the electors of such congressional district.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to the constitution, in relation to providing the electors with the power of initiative and referendum
Purpose
This legislation is an amendment to the Constitution of the State of New York intended to provide electors with the power of initiative and referendum.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Article 20 of the Constitution is renumbered Article 21 and a new Article 20 is added relating to Initiative and Referendum.
Section 2. Resolved upon the concurrence of both the Senate and Assembly, that the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular Legislative Session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in conformity with Section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Justification
The use of initiative, a proposal of a new law or constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by citizen petition, and referendum, a proposal to repeal a law that was previously enacted by the legislature which is placed on the ballot by citizen petition, are two forms of ballot measures that can serve as alternatives to the enactments of elected representatives. The use of these initiatives can provide a much needed check and balances on government and the legislature.
Legislative history
2015-16: A.6321/S.4441
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Resolved upon the concurrence of both the Senate and Assembly, that the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular Legislative Session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in conformity with Section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.