June 2017

2017 U.S. State Ballot Measures
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June 10, 2017

By Ballot Measures Project staff

Sixteen ballot measures have been certified for 2017 statewide ballots in seven states so far. Twenty-five measures have been certified for 2018 ballots. In the last month, nine statewide measures were certified for 2017 ballots, while two were certified to go before voters in 2018.

There will likely be between 30 and 50 statewide ballot measures in 2017, based on previous odd-numbered year elections. From 1989 through 2015, the average number of certified measures was 45, but the last decade's average dropped to 35. In 1999, the number of measures certified for statewide ballots in odd-numbered years peaked at 72.

Ballot measure certifications May 10 through June 10[edit]

2017 measures[edit]

See also: 2017 ballot measures

Sixteen statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2017 ballot in seven states as of June 10, 2017. So far, 131 proposed initiatives have been filed with state officials targeting 2017 ballots. Of that total, 103 were filed in Washington. Between May 10 and June 10, the following nine measures were certified for 2017 ballots:

• May 24, 2017 - Texas: Financial Institutions to Offer Prizes to Promote Savings Amendment

This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would authorize the legislature to allow banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to promote savings by offering customers prizes drawn at random. As of 2017, lotteries and raffles are banned in the state by the constitution, requiring the legislature to put an exception on the ballot.

• May 25, 2017 - Texas: Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of First Responders Killed in Line of Duty Amendment

This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to provide a property tax exemption for the homes of surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders killed in the line of duty. The measure does not create the tax exemption itself, but it authorizes the legislature to do so. In 2011, voters approved a measure that allowed the legislature to provide a similar exemption to spouses of totally disabled veterans.

• May 25, 2017 - Texas: Require Court to Provide Notice to Attorney General Amendment

This constitutional amendment was put on the ballot by the legislature to authorize the legislature to pass laws requiring courts to inform the state attorney general of a legal challenge to the constitutionality of a state law. The measure would also allow the legislature to pass laws requiring a waiting period of up to 45 days after notification before a ruling can be made.

• May 25, 2017 - Texas: Appointed Officer Term Expiration Amendment

This legislatively referred constitutional amendment would provide that unsalaried officials appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate cannot be in office by the end of the legislative session following the expiration of their terms. As of 2017, unsalaried appointed officials may remain in office past the expiration of their terms until a successor is appointed.

• May 30, 2017 - Texas: Definition of Professional Sports Team in Charitable Raffles Amendment

This constitutional amendment was put on the ballot by the legislature to define the term professional sports team in order to decide which charitable foundations are allowed to hold raffles. The measure would also remove a provision that required sports team charitable foundations to have been in existence on January 1, 2016, to operate a raffle.

• May 30, 2017 - Texas: Property Tax Exemption for Partially Disabled Veteran with Donated House Amendment

This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would authorize the legislature to provide partially disabled veterans a property tax exemption equal to the percentage of their disability if the veteran's home was donated to him or her by a charity for less than market value. As of 2017, partially disabled veterans were eligible for this exemption if the home was donated at no cost to the veteran.

• June 8, 2017 - Louisiana: Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Emergency Responders Killed Performing Duties Amendment

This constitutional amendment was put on the ballot by the legislature to provide a property tax exemption for the homes of surviving spouses of emergency responders killed in the line of duty. The spouse must be unmarried to be eligible for the exemption.

• June 8, 2017 - Louisiana: No Property Tax on Properties Under Construction Amendment

This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would exempt construction projects from property taxes until the construction is complete, which is defined as when the property "can be used or occupied for its intended purpose." Certain projects would not be exempt, including ones where portions or phases of the project are complete on the day property is assessed. Public service properties would also not be exempt.

• June 8, 2017 - Louisiana: Dedicate New Taxes on Fuel to Transportation Construction Fund Amendment

This constitutional amendment was put on the ballot by the legislature to place revenue from new gasoline and motor fuel taxes created on or after July 1, 2017, into a construction subfund to be used for transportation infrastructure projects. This type of measure is also known as a transportation lockbox measure, and similar measures have been approved in states such as Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New Jersey.

2015 comparison[edit]

See also: 2015 ballot measures and Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2015

By early June of 2015, 15 measures had also been certified for statewide ballots. Ultimately, 28 measures—including five citizen initiatives—were certified for the ballot in 2015. By that same time, a total of 109 proposed citizen initiatives had been filed with state officials, 73 of those having been filed in Washington.

2018 measures[edit]

See also: 2018 ballot measures

Twenty-five statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2018 ballot in 17 states as of June 10, 2017. Over the last four even-numbered years, the average number of statewide measures on the ballot was 173. There will likely be between 155 and 190 ballot measures in 2018. Between May 10 and June 10, the following two measures were certified for 2018 ballots:

• May 30, 2017 - Nevada: Crime Victims Rights

This proposed constitutional amendment was put on the ballot by the Nevada Legislature to add specific rights of crime victims, known as Marsy's Law, to the Nevada Constitution. Nevadans approved a measure that added some rights of crime victims to the constitution in 1996. Several other states have passed Marsy's Law measures, including California, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

• June 7, 2017 - Connecticut: Transportation Revenue Lockbox

This legislatively referred constitutional amendment would prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes. This type of measure has been approved in states such as Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New Jersey; and will also be on the ballot in California in 2018.

2016 comparison[edit]

See also: 2016 ballot measures and Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2016

By this time in June of 2015, 28 measures had been certified for 2016 ballots. In 2016, there was a total of 162 statewide measures on the ballot. By October of 2016, 165 measures were slated to appear on the ballot, but three of them were removed by court decisions between October and the November election.

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]