AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 29 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to citizen ballot initiatives.
Summary
SB115 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a citizen initiative process in Kentucky. Under the amendment, voters would be asked whether to allow citizens to propose laws by petition and place them on the ballot for approval or rejection at a regular election, independent of the General Assembly. The proposal sets the basic framework for that process, including a signature threshold of at least 2% of the state population based on the most recent decennial census, a requirement that each initiative contain only one subject, and a prohibition on initiatives that target a particular class of individuals.
The amendment also specifies how initiative measures would move through the election process. Petitions would be filed with the Secretary of State, who would then submit qualifying measures to voters. If approved by a majority, the measure would become law; if conflicting measures pass at the same election, the one with the most affirmative votes would prevail. The proposal further removes gubernatorial veto power over citizen-initiated measures and authorizes the General Assembly to enact general laws to facilitate and safeguard the initiative process, so long as those laws do not hamper or impair it.
Impact
If adopted, SB115 would significantly alter Section 29 of the Kentucky Constitution by reserving direct lawmaking power to the people through ballot initiatives, a power Kentucky does not currently have in this form. It would create new duties for the Secretary of State and county clerks related to publication, certification, and ballot placement of initiative questions, and it would establish constitutional standards governing petition content, signature requirements, and the effect of voter approval. It would also limit the General Assembly’s ability to regulate the process by allowing only facilitative, non-restrictive implementing laws.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes in the provided materials, there is no documented legislative sentiment to summarize from debate or roll call history. The measure itself reflects a pro-direct-democracy approach, but the available record does not show whether lawmakers or stakeholders expressed support or opposition. No committee action or vote history is included here to indicate the level of backing or resistance.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the creation of a citizen initiative power in Kentucky, the 2% signature threshold, and the restriction that initiatives may not target a particular class of individuals. Supporters would likely view the bill as expanding voter participation and giving citizens a direct path to enact laws, while opponents may object to shifting lawmaking authority away from the General Assembly or to the possibility of ballot-driven policy changes. The prohibition on targeting a class of individuals could also raise interpretive questions about what kinds of initiatives would be allowed or barred.