LRB-4683/1
MPG:wlj
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
December 20, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Crowley, Hebl, Emerson,
Brostoff, Stubbs, Shankland and Sinicki, cosponsored by Senators Hansen
and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Constitution and Ethics.
AJR111,1,4 1To amend section 1 of article IV and section 17 (2) of article IV; and to create section
217 (4) of article IV of the constitution; relating to: reserving to the people the
3power of initiative to propose and approve laws at an election (first
4consideration).
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2019 legislature on first
consideration, creates a petition process by which the people may propose and
approve laws at an election. Under the amendment, the people may propose, by
petition filed with the secretary of state, laws for a vote at an election. The petition
must:
1. Be signed by qualified electors equaling at least 5 percent of the vote cast for
the office of secretary of state at the last preceding election for secretary of state.
2. Include the full text of the proposed law prepared in proper form, as provided
by law, and the entire text of the referendum question, as well as an explanatory
statement of the effect of either a “yes" or “no" vote. Upon request by any qualified
elector, the secretary of state must have the proposed law drafted in proper form and
made available to the public.
3. Be filed with the secretary of state not fewer than 120 days before the election
at which the proposed law is to be voted upon.
After verifying the petition's signatures, the secretary of state must order the
submission of the initiative law to the qualified electors of the state for their approval
or rejection at the next succeeding general election occurring subsequent to 120 days
after the filing of the petition.

If approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at the election
described above, the initiative law then must be introduced for consideration by the
legislature in the legislative session following that election. The initiative law may
not be altered or amended by the legislature and may not be partially vetoed by the
governor.
After having been introduced as proposed legislation, if the initiative law does
not then become law, the secretary of state must order the submission of the initiative
law to the qualified electors of the state for their approval or rejection at the next
succeeding general election. If approved, the initiative law becomes law.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive
legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
AJR111,2,1 1Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
AJR111,1 2Section 1 . Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR111,2,43 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power, except for the initiative power
4reserved to the people,
shall be vested in a senate and assembly.
AJR111,2 5Section 2 . Section 17 (2) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR111,2,76 [Article IV] Section 17 (2) No Except as provided in sub. (4) (d), no law shall be
7enacted except by bill. No law shall be in force until published.
AJR111,3 8Section 3 . Section 17 (4) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR111,2,139 [Article IV] Section 17 (4) (a) The people reserve to themselves the power of
10initiative to propose laws and to approve or reject those laws at an election
11independently of the legislature as provided in this subsection. The people may
12propose an initiative law by petition for a vote of the people. The petition shall satisfy
13all of the following conditions:
AJR111,2,1514 1. Be signed by qualified electors equaling at least 5 percent of the vote cast for
15the office of secretary of state at the last preceding election for secretary of state.
AJR111,3,216 2. Include the full text of the proposed law prepared in proper form, as provided
17by law, and the entire text of the referendum question, as well as an explanatory
18statement of the effect of either a “yes" or “no" vote. Upon request by any qualified

1elector, the secretary of state shall have the proposed law drafted in proper form, as
2provided by law, and made available to the public.
AJR111,3,43 3. Be filed with the secretary of state not fewer than 120 days before the election
4at which the proposed law is to be voted upon.
AJR111,3,95 (b) All signatures for a petition submitted under par. (a) must be made on paper.
6After verifying the sufficiency of the signatures for the petition, the secretary of state
7shall order the submission of the initiative law to the qualified electors of the state
8for their approval or rejection at the next succeeding general election occurring
9subsequent to 120 days after the filing of the petition.
AJR111,3,1410 (c) If approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at the election
11under par. (b), the initiative law shall be introduced for consideration by the
12legislature in the legislative session following that election. The initiative law may
13not be altered or amended by the legislature and may not be partially vetoed by the
14governor.
AJR111,3,2115 (d) If the initiative law does not become law under par. (c) at least 120 days prior
16to the next succeeding general election, the secretary of state shall order the
17submission of the initiative law to the qualified electors of the state for their approval
18or rejection at the next succeeding general election. If approved by a majority of the
19qualified electors voting at that election, the initiative law shall become law and shall
20go into effect on the 30th day after the date the election results are certified, as
21provided by law, unless a different effective date is specified in the initiative law.
AJR111,4 22Section 4 . Numbering of new provisions. If another constitutional
23amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this
24joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the

1sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict and shall
2adjust any cross-references to those provisions.
AJR111,4,5 3Be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment be referred to the
4legislature to be chosen at the next general election and that it be published for three
5months previous to the time of holding such election.
AJR111,4,66 (End)
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