2024 Legislative Session Dates
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Key Takeaways:

  • Voters in some states are reviewing enacted legislation from the previous session and deciding whether to exercise their right of citizen veto on those measures or not.
  • The “popular” or “veto” referendum is a relatively rare ballot measure available in 23 states. Using the veto referendum, citizens can place a measure on the ballot that will, if approved, repeal specific statutes that the legislature previously enacted.
  • This year, California is the only state to have certified any upcoming statewide referendums so far for the 2024 ballot. Now that the secretary of state’s office has qualified these referendums for the ballot, both laws are unenforceable until the voters weigh in, nearly two years from now.

While lawmakers are busy debating proposed legislation, voters in some states are reviewing lawmakers’ successes from last session and deciding whether to exercise their right of citizen veto on those measures or not. 

The “popular” or “veto” referendum is a relatively rare ballot measure available in 23 states. Using the veto referendum, citizens can place a measure on the ballot that will, if approved, repeal specific statutes that the legislature previously enacted. Similar to the direct initiative process, where citizens can bypass state legislatures to place proposed statutes (in 14 states) or constitutional amendments (in 16 states) directly on the ballot for voter approval, states require proponents of a veto referendum to collect a certain number of signatures by a certain date, among other requirements, to qualify a referendum for the upcoming ballot. 

Notably, Maryland and New Mexico are the only two states that offer a veto referendum as the only access its residents have to a statewide direct democracy process (i.e., no direct initiatives or recalls).

This year, California is the only state to have certified any upcoming statewide referendums so far. Voters in California will see at least two referendums on their 2024 ballot. The first is an effort to repeal last year’s FAST Recovery Act, which creates a council to set minimum industry standards on wages, working hours, and other conditions for fast-food workers statewide. The second referendum would repeal a law banning new oil and gas drilling near homes, schools, and hospitals. Now that the secretary of state’s office has qualified these referendums for the ballot, both laws are unenforceable until the voters weigh in, nearly two years from now. Read the full article here.

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