What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow voters to veto recently enacted tax or fee laws through a petition and referendum process.
Why it matters
Empowers citizens to challenge new taxes or fees. This amendment would give New Yorkers a direct way to block recently passed tax or fee increases, shifting some power away from legislators and toward voters, which could impact future fiscal policy and budgeting.
Requires broad statewide support for petitions. By mandating that at least half of the petition signatures come from outside New York City, the process ensures that both urban and non-urban populations are represented, potentially preventing a single region from dominating tax policy decisions.
Temporarily suspends targeted tax or fee laws. Once a valid petition is filed, the challenged law is put on hold until a statewide vote, creating uncertainty for government agencies and programs that depend on the revenue from these measures.
Could lead to more frequent statewide referendums. By opening up the possibility for direct voter vetoes of fiscal measures, the amendment could result in more ballot initiatives and greater public scrutiny of tax and fee legislation, influencing how lawmakers craft and communicate such laws.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Voters to Overturn Laws
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
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 Overturn State Laws
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7343
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GARBARI- NO, MONTESANO, RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to article 1 of the constitution, in relation to establishing a procedure for a people's veto of laws enacted by the legislature
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 1 of the constitution be amended by adding a new section 19 to read as follows:
§ 19. People's veto. 1. Petition procedure; petition for people's veto. Notwithstanding any other section of this constitution to the contrary, upon a written petition of the electors of the state, the number of which shall not be less than 5 percent of the total vote for governor cast in the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such petition, filed in the office of the secretary of state, on or before the ninetieth day after a bill shall have become law pursuant to article 4, section 7 of this constitution, which increases, extends, imposes, or revives any tax, fee, assessment, surcharge or any other such levy or collection, requesting that such law or part or parts thereof, be referred to the people, such law or part or parts thereof as are specified in such petition shall not take effect until 30 days after the governor shall have announced by public proclamation that the same have been ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at a general election. At least one-half of the signatures shall be from electors residing outside of a city with a population of one million or more.
2. Effect of referendum. The effect of any law or part or parts thereof as are specified in such petition shall be suspended upon the filing of such petition. If it is later finally determined, in accordance with any procedure enacted by the legislature, pursuant to the constitution, that such petition was invalid, such law or part or parts thereof shall then take effect upon the day following such final determination.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89030-01-9
A. 7343 2
3. Referral to electors; proclamation by governor. As soon as it appears that the effect of any law or part or parts thereof has been suspended by petition in manner aforesaid, the governor by public proclamation shall give notice thereof and of the time when such measure is to be voted on by the people, which shall be at the next general election, not less than 60 days after such proclamation.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.