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SJ0003 • 2024

Constitutional amendment vote requirement.

A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution to add a requirement for constitutional amendments to be ratified by a majority of the electors in not less than three-fourths of the counties.

Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Laursen, D
Last action
2024-02-16
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details about the potential impacts of the bill on future constitutional amendments or any other specific limitations.

Constitutional Amendment Vote Requirement

This bill proposes to change how constitutional amendments are approved in Wyoming by requiring a majority vote from at least three-fourths of the state's counties.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes an amendment to the Wyoming Constitution.
  • Requires that any proposed constitutional amendment must be ratified by a majority of voters in not less than three-fourths of the counties.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who participate in elections where constitutional amendments are on the ballot.
  • The Wyoming Legislature, which proposes and votes on constitutional amendments.

Terms To Know

Constitutional amendment
A change to a state's constitution that needs approval from voters.
Electors
People who are allowed to vote in an election.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It is unclear how this change would affect future constitutional amendments in Wyoming.

Bill History

  1. 2024-02-16 Senate

    S Failed Introduction 14-17-0-0-0

  2. 2024-02-13 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2024-02-12 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
24LSO-0301
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0301
Numbered
2.0

Senate Joint Resolution NO. SJ0003

Constitutional amendment vote requirement.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Laursen, D, Biteman, French, Ide and McKeown and Representative(s) Allemand, Locke, Slagle and Ward

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution to add a requirement for constitutional amendments to be ratified by a majority of the electors in not less than three-fourths of the counties.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to amend Wyoming Constitution, Article 20, Section 1 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 20, Section 1.

How amendments proposed by legislature and submitted to people.

Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either branch of the legislature, and, if the same shall be agreed to by two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of each of the two houses, voting separately, such proposed amendment or amendments shall, with the yeas and nays thereon, be entered on their journals, and it shall be the duty of the legislature to submit such amendment or amendments to the electors of the state at the next general election, and cause the same to be published without delay for at least twelve (12) consecutive weeks, prior to said election, in at least one newspaper of general circulation, published in each county, and if a majority of the electors
in the state and in not less than three-fourths (3/4) of the counties
shall ratify the same, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of this constitution.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

Article 20, Section 1 of the Wyoming Constitution requires constitutional amendments to be ratified by a majority of the electors to become part of the constitution. This amendment would add a requirement for constitutional amendments to be ratified by a majority of the electors in not less than three-fourths (3/4) of the counties.

(END)

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