Bill
HJR 1013
HJR 1013 would increase the voter approval threshold to amend the Oklahoma Constitution from 50% to 60%, making it more difficult to alter the state's fundamental law.
HJR 1013 is a joint resolution that proposes changes to the requirements for amending the Oklahoma Constitution. The bill would amend the state constitution to increase the voter approval threshold for future constitutional amendments, and make changes to the filing and ballot title process.
The main provisions of HJR 1013 include:
Voter Approval Requirement: The bill would increase the required voter approval for amending the Oklahoma Constitution from a simple majority (more than 50%) to a three-fifths (60%) supermajority.
Ballot Title Requirements: HJR 1013 would require the ballot title for any proposed constitutional amendment to be filed with the Secretary of State at least 90 days before the election, and prohibit the ballot title from being changed within 60 days of the election.
Filing Deadline: The bill would set a filing deadline of 5:00 PM on the first Tuesday in August for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to be placed on the November general election ballot.
If passed, HJR 1013 would make it more difficult to amend the Oklahoma Constitution by requiring a higher threshold of 60% voter approval, rather than a simple majority. This could make it harder for both citizen-initiated and legislatively-referred amendments to be approved by voters.
The changes to the ballot title requirements and filing deadlines could also impact the initiative process by introducing new procedural hurdles and time constraints.
Overall, the bill is aimed at making it more challenging to alter the state constitution through the amendment process.
HJR 1013 is currently in the second reading stage, where it has been referred to the Rules committee for further consideration. As a joint resolution, the bill would need to be passed by a three-fifths majority in both the Oklahoma House and Senate before being referred to a statewide vote of the people.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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