Assigned to JUDE FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.C.R. 2057
initiatives; referendums; signature requirements; counties
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally requires initiatives, constitutional amendments
and referendums to be approved by a sufficient percentage of qualified electors from each county,
rather than a sufficient percentage of qualified electors from the state, in order to be placed on the
ballot.
Background
The Arizona Constitution grants the people the power to: 1) propose laws and amendments
to the Arizona Constitution; 2) enact or reject laws and amendments at the polls, independent of
the Legislature; and 3) approve or reject any item, section or part of any act of the Legislature at
the polls. Amendments to the Arizona Constitution and the Arizona Revised Statutes may be
proposed in either legislative chamber or by initiative power. The initiative power requires 10
percent of qualified electors in Arizona to propose a measure that amends state law, and 15 percent
of qualified electors in Arizona to propose an amendment to the Arizona Constitution. Likewise,
the referendum power requires 5 percent of the qualified electors in Arizona to refer any measure
enacted by the Legislature to the ballot. When a proposed amendment is approved by a majority
of each legislative chamber or when an initiative petition is filed with the Secretary of State (SOS),
the SOS must submit the proposed amendment to a vote of the people at the next general election.
Any initiative measure or referendum becomes law when approved by a majority of votes cast and
upon proclamation of the Governor (Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt.1, § 1 and art. 21, § 1).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires initiatives for statewide measures to be approved by 10 percent of the qualified
electors from each county, rather than 10 percent of qualified electors in the state, in order to
be placed on the ballot.
2. Requires proposed amendments to the Arizona Constitution to be approved by 15 percent of
the qualified electors from each county, rather than 15 percent of the qualified electors of the
state, in order to be placed on the ballot.
3. Requires statewide referendums to be approved by 5 percent of the qualified electors from each
county, rather than 5 percent of the qualified electors of the state, in order to be placed on the
ballot.
4. Makes technical changes. FACT SHEET
H.C.R. 2057
Page 2
5. Requires the SOS to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
6. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
House Action
GOV 2/20/25 DP 4-3-0-0
3
rd
Read 3/5/25 32-26-2-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 17, 2025
ZD/ci