New Jersey Senate Bill SCR60

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum.

Impact

If enacted, this amendment would facilitate an enhanced pathway for public involvement in legislative processes, allowing citizens to act directly on issues that affect them. The process would require that to qualify for submission, petitions for constitutional amendments must gather signatures equating to at least 10% of the gubernatorial election votes, while those for laws would need 6%. Notably, the requirements stipulate that signatures must be collected from specific regions of the state to ensure broad statewide representation.

Summary

SCR60, also known as the Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 60, proposes an amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution to establish a statewide initiative and referendum process. This constitutional amendment aims to empower the citizens of New Jersey with the ability to propose new laws or constitutional amendments directly to the Legislature. If the Legislature does not take action within two months on a proposed measure, the amendment mandates that the proposal be placed directly on the ballot for a public vote.

Contention

One of the key points of contention regarding SCR60 is its potential implications on existing legislative authority and mechanisms. Critics may argue that such direct voting measures could undermine the role of elected representatives, leading to instability or challenges in governance. Additionally, the proposed amendment expressly excludes initiatives related to certain zoning and siting regulations, which may limit its application in some important civic matters. The debate likely revolves around balancing effective governance with enhanced public participation.