What's happening
This bill would require a two-thirds legislative vote for any bill creating non-recurring state or local revenue, amending current majority-vote rules.
Why it matters
Raises the threshold for passing certain revenue bills. By requiring a two-thirds majority for any bill creating non-recurring state or local revenue, the amendment makes it significantly harder to pass temporary or one-off revenue measures, such as special fees, one-time taxes, or asset sales.
Limits legislative flexibility in budget crises. This higher voting bar could restrict the state and local governments’ ability to respond quickly to fiscal emergencies or unexpected shortfalls, as temporary revenue measures often serve as stopgaps.
Shifts power to legislative minorities. Because a two-thirds vote is harder to achieve, minority parties would gain more leverage over decisions involving non-recurring revenues, potentially increasing gridlock or necessitating greater bipartisan negotiation.
Potentially impacts funding for urgent or unforeseen needs. Important but time-sensitive spending—such as disaster relief or emergency infrastructure repairs—might face delays or be blocked if tied to non-recurring revenue sources needing supermajority approval.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Supermajority for One-Time Revenues
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.
Supermajority for One-Time Revenue
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Robert Oaks
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4146
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- 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 section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to the procedure for voting non-recurring revenue items taxes
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the opening paragraph of section 14 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall have been printed and upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the governor, or the acting governor, shall have certified, under his or her hand and the seal of the state, the facts which in his or her opinion necessitate an immediate vote thereon, in which case it must nevertheless be upon the desks of the members in final form, not necessarily printed, before its final passage; nor shall any bill, except as provided in this section, be passed or become a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the legislature; nor shall any bill which provides revenue to the state or any political subdivision thereof in a manner that is non-recurring, be passed or become a law, except by the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature voting separately; and upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereof shall be allowed, and the question upon its final passage shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the ayes and nays entered on the journal.
§ 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89062-01-7
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 section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to the procedure for voting non-recurring revenue items taxes
Purpose
Requires that any bill which provides revenue to the state in a non-recurring manner shall pass by a two-thirds majority in order to become law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 14 of article 3 of the Constitution to provide that any bill which generates revenue to the state in a non-recurring manner must pass by the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature voting separately.
Section 2 outlines the procedure for amending the Constitution.
Justification
The use of "one-shot" revenues as a means of balancing the state budget must be stopped. The use of non-recurring revenue streams to balance the budget has contributed greatly to our over $ 9 billion deficit. Raiding $391 million budget, delaying state income tax returns and gambling on a tax amnesty program all turned out poorly for the taxpayers of this state. This legislation will curtail the use of these budgetary gimmicks and will compel the governor and legislative leaders to craft a fiscally responsible budget.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
The foregoing amendment will 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.