Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0040 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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4	4	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 40
5	5	By Yarbro
6	6
7	7
8	8	SJR0040
9	9	000304
10	10	- 1 -
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to propose an amendment to the Constitution of
13	13	Tennessee, to provide for the people to propose
14	14	laws by initiative.
15	15
16	16	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL
17	17	ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18	18	CONCURRING, that a majority of all the members of each house concurring, as shown by the
19	19	yeas and nays entered on their journals, that it is proposed that the Constitution of Tennessee
20	20	be amended by adding the following new Article:
21	21	Article XII.
22	22	Section 1. The people reserve power to propose laws by initiative, independent
23	23	of the general assembly.
24	24	Section 2. Initiative petitions proposing laws shall be signed by a number of
25	25	registered voters equal to or greater than five percent (5%) of votes cast in the state for
26	26	the office of governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. Every such petition
27	27	shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than six (6) months before the election
28	28	at which it is to be voted upon and shall contain the full text of the law. Petitions for laws
29	29	shall contain not more than one (1) subject which shall be expressed clearly in the title.
30	30	The secretary of state shall certify the validity of the petition within sixty (60) days of
31	31	receipt.
32	32	Section 3. Initiatives may only be placed on the ballot in an election held on the
33	33	first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in an even-numbered year.
34	34	Section 4. Any proposed law by initiative that receives approval from a majority
35	35	of those voting on the proposed law shall be submitted to the general assembly. The
36	36	general assembly shall, within ninety (90) days of convening in regular annual session
37	37	after the initiative has received approval from a majority of those voting, either approve
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39	39
40	40	- 2 - 000304
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42	42	the law by a majority of those voting in each chamber, reject the proposed law by a
43	43	majority of those voting in each chamber, or take no action. If the general assembly
44	44	approves the law or takes no action, the proposed law shall be considered enacted and
45	45	shall take effect the first day of July after the approval or inaction. If the general
46	46	assembly rejects the law, it shall not take effect.
47	47	Section 5. Any law proposed by initiative that fails to receive approval from a
48	48	majority of those voting shall not appear on the ballot as an initiative again for at least
49	49	four (4) years. Any law proposed by initiative that is rejected by the general assembly
50	50	shall not appear on the ballot as an initiative again for at least two (2) years.
51	51	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the foregoing be referred to the One Hundred
52	52	Fifteenth General Assembly and that this resolution proposing such amendment be published in
53	53	accordance with Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee.
54	54	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Senate is directed to deliver a copy
55	55	of this resolution to the Secretary of State.