Bills › 91st General Assembly
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to citizen initiatives to amend the Constitution of the State of Iowa
Sponsored by Sen. Matt Blake (D), Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D), Sen. Zach Wahls (D), Sen. Cindy Winckler (D), Sen. Mike Zimmer (D)
Topics:State government
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Stopped: Approved in committeeDid not pass
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Passes again next General AssemblyThe same wording, after an election
- Next: Voters decideOn the next general election ballot
Did not pass It didn’t pass both chambers before the General Assembly ended. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
R. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to citizen initiatives to amend the Constitution of the State of Iowa. The amendment allows a petitioner who collects a number of signatures from qualified electors equal to percent of the total number of ballots cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election, including signatures from a number of qualified electors from at least one-half of all counties in this state equal to percent of the total number of ballots cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election in that county, to submit the proposed constitutional amendment to the secretary of state for submission to the electorate at a general election.
Read the full explanation
The amendment allows a petitioner to include with a proposed constitutional amendment an argument of no more than 300 words in support of a proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment requires the general assembly, or the governor if the general assembly is not in session, to appoint a person to submit an argument of no more than 300 words in opposition to the constitutional amendment. The amendment requires the proposed constitutional amendment, along with the arguments for and against the proposed constitutional amendment, to be published in the same manner as a constitutional amendment proposed by the general assembly. For proposed constitutional amendments that violate certain principles enumerated in the resolution’s amendment, the resolution’s amendment requires electors to both approve the right of the petitioner to propose the constitutional amendment and to approve the proposed constitutional amendment. The proposed constitutional amendment only takes effect upon the approval of both questions by a majority of qualified electors casting votes thereon. and exclusive jurisdiction over challenges to petitions and signatures for constitutional amendments proposed by initiative. The amendment creates a timeline for the challenge of petitions and signatures, the resolution of such challenges, and the curing of insufficient petitions. The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (92nd) for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 26, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Lobbying
3 for · 1 against · 1 undecided · Who →