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HB 35

Relating to a requirement that the ballot for an election to amend the state constitution include an estimate of the fiscal impact to the state of the proposed amendment.

89th Legislature, 1st Called Session (2025) Introduced by Carl Tepper

HB 35 mandates fiscal impact estimates on constitutional amendment ballots to inform voters of proposed amendments' budgetary effects before voting.

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#elections--general(i0310) #legislativebudgetboard(v0161) #secretaryofstate(v0042)
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Bill Summary · HB 35

Legislative bill overview

HB 35 requires that ballots used in elections for proposed state constitutional amendments must include an estimate of the fiscal impact that the amendment would have on the state budget. This disclosure would appear directly on the ballot itself, giving voters information about the financial consequences of their vote before casting it.

Why is this important

Voters currently decide on constitutional amendments with varying levels of understanding about their financial implications. By requiring fiscal impact estimates on the ballot, this bill aims to provide voters with concrete budgetary information at the moment of decision, potentially leading to more informed electoral choices on major policy changes. This addresses a transparency gap, particularly for amendments with significant spending or revenue consequences.

Potential points of contention

  • Accuracy and objectivity concerns: Determining fiscal impact estimates is complex and involves assumptions about implementation, behavioral responses, and economic conditions. Disagreement may arise over whose estimates appear on ballots and whether they adequately reflect different scenarios.
  • Space and clarity challenges: Ballots have physical and cognitive limitations. Adding fiscal estimates could create readability issues and questions about how complex financial projections should be simplified for average voters.
  • Timing and feasibility: Producing reliable fiscal estimates requires legislative analysis time. This could create delays in election scheduling or pressure to complete analyses under tight deadlines with incomplete information.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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