Proposing a constitutional amendment specifying the authority of the attorney general to prosecute any criminal offense prescribed by the laws of this state.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by David Lowe

The bill would constitutionally authorize the attorney general to prosecute all criminal offenses prescribed by state law.

Referred to State Affairs

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Bill Summary: HJR 150

Basic information

Bill type: Joint Resolution (constitutional amendment)

Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment specifying the authority of the attorney general to prosecute any criminal offense prescribed by the laws of this state

Status: Referred to State Affairs

Introduced: February 21, 2025

Version / Actions:

2025-02-21: Filed
2025-03-19: Read first time
2025-03-19: Referred to State Affairs

Purpose and intent

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to formally specify that the attorney general (AG) has the authority to prosecute any criminal offense mandated by state law. In other words, it would elevate and explicitly authorize the AG’s office to prosecute all criminal prosecutions under state statutes, potentially centralizing prosecutorial authority at the state level.

Key provisions and changes (as implied by the bill’s description)

Amend the state constitution to explicitly vest in the AG the authority to prosecute all criminal offenses prescribed by state law.

The proposal is a constitutional change, not a typical statute, meaning it would override existing statutory allocations of prosecutorial authority if enacted.

Specific mechanisms, scope limitations, transition provisions, or delineations of jurisdiction (beyond “any criminal offense prescribed by the laws of this state”) are not detailed in the provided information.

Affected parties and potential impacts

Primary affected entity: Office of the Attorney General, which would have broad prosecutorial authority.

Secondary effects:

State and local prosecutors, including district attorneys or equivalents, who may have current or historical prosecutorial roles.
Law enforcement agencies across the state.
Defendants and victims in criminal cases, who may experience changes in charging decisions, case processing, and prosecutorial practices.
State budget and operations, due to potential changes in caseload distribution and resource needs within the AG’s office.

Procedural and timeline aspects

As a proposed constitutional amendment, the process would typically involve passage by the legislature and ratification by voters in a statewide referendum. The current status shows:

Introduction and filing on February 21, 2025
First reading on March 19, 2025
Referral to the State Affairs committee on March 19, 2025

No further committee action or floor votes are listed in the provided information. If advanced, the measure would proceed through standard constitutional amendment procedures (often requiring a supermajority in the legislature and subsequent voter approval).

Notes

This summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and the actions taken to date. Additional text from the bill would clarify any limitations, transitional rules, or further procedural steps.