Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 226
Page 1 of 3
XXXX 2/6/2026 12:08 PM Jacketed
AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 29 of the Constitution of Kentucky 1
relating to citizen ballot initiatives. 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
Section 1. Are you in favor of amending the Constitution of Kentucky to 4
establish that citizens of this state can propose changes to the law through ballot 5
initiatives, provided the changes presented do not target a particular class of individuals, 6
as stated below? 7
Section 2. It is proposed that Section 29 of the Constitution of Kentucky be 8
amended to read as follows: 9
(1) The legislative power shall be vested in a House of Representatives and a 10
Senate, which, together, shall be styled the "General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 11
Kentucky[.]"; but the people reserve to themselves the initiative power to propose laws 12
and to enact or reject the same at the polls independent of the General Assembly. 13
(2) The initiative power of the pe ople may be invoked by petition that contains 14
the proposed measure set forth at length and signatures and residential addresses of at 15
least three percent of the total number of votes cast in the Commonwealth for the office 16
of Governor in the most recent gu bernatorial election. Initiative petitions shall contain 17
only one subject and cannot target a particular class of individuals. 18
(3) The initiative petition shall be filed with the Secretary of State. The 19
Secretary of State shall certify that the petition me ets the signature requirements, that 20
the signatures are valid, and that the petition complies with all other provisions of this 21
section and applicable law. Once the petition is certified, the Secretary of State shall 22
submit the measure to the voters of the State at the next regular election. 23
(4) Any measure submitted by initiative to the voters shall become law when 24
approved by a majority of the voters at the regular election. 25
(5) If conflicting measures are approved by a majority of the votes severally cast 26
for and against the measures at the same election, the measure receiving the highest 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 226
Page 2 of 3
XXXX 2/6/2026 12:08 PM Jacketed
number of affirmative votes shall become law. 1
(6) The veto power of the Governor shall not e xtend to measures enacted by the 2
people under this section. 3
(7) The General Assembly may provide by general law procedures to facilitate 4
and safeguard the initiative power of the people, but not to hamper, restrict, or impair 5
this power. 6
Section 3. This amendment shall be submitted to the voters of the 7
Commonwealth for their ratification or rejection at the time and in the manner provided 8
for under Sections 256 and 257 of the Constitution, KRS 118.415, and Sections 4 and 5 9
of this Act. 10
Section 4. Notwithstanding any provision of KRS 118.415 to the contrary, the 11
Secretary of State shall cause the entirety of the question in Section 1 of this Act and the 12
entirety of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky contained in Section 13
2 of this Act to be published at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation 14
published in this state, and shall also cause to be published at the same time and in the 15
same manner the fact that t he amendment will be submitted to the voters for their 16
acceptance or rejection at the next regular election at which members of the General 17
Assembly are to be voted for. The publication required by this section and KRS 118.415 18
shall be made no later than t he first Tuesday in August preceding the election at which 19
the amendment is to be voted on. 20
Section 5. Notwithstanding any provision of KRS 118.415 to the contrary, the 21
Secretary of State, not later than the second Monda y after the second Tuesday in August 22
preceding the next regular election at which members of the General Assembly are to be 23
chosen in a year in which there is not an election for President and Vice President of the 24
United States, or not later than the Thur sday after the first Tuesday in September 25
preceding a regular election in a year in which there is an election for President and Vice 26
President of the United States, shall certify the entirety of the question in Section 1 of this 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 226
Page 3 of 3
XXXX 2/6/2026 12:08 PM Jacketed
Act and the entirety of th e proposed amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky 1
contained in Section 2 of this Act to the county clerk of each county, and the county clerk 2
shall have the entirety of the question and the amendment, as so certified, indicated on 3
the ballots provided t o the voters in paper or electronic form as applicable to the voting 4
machines in use in each county or precinct. 5