BALLOT WATCH
Launching Ballot Watch 2024
SCR 1006 (Prop. 311 )
(death benefit; assault; first responders.)
Sponsor: Sen. Gowan
Year Passed: 2023
Purpose: Statutorily requires Arizona to pay the sum of $250,000 to the surviving spouse or dependent of a first responder killed in the line of duty and establishes a $20 penalty fee on every criminal conviction for the purpose of providing funding for the death benefit. Effective July 1, 2025, through January 1, 2033. Learn more
SCR 1012 (Prop. 315)
(rulemaking; legislative ratification; regulatory costs)
Sponsor: Sen. Kern
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Statutorily prohibits a proposed rule from becoming effective, if the proposed rule is estimated to increase regulatory costs by more than $500,000 within five years after implementation, until the Legislature enacts legislation ratifying the proposed rule.
SCR 1015 (Prop. 134)
(initiative; referendum; signatures; legislative districts)
Sponsor: Sen. Mesnard
Year Passed: 2023
Purpose: Constitutionally requires signatures from a certain percentage of qualified electors in each legislative district, rather than in the state as a whole, to propose an amendment to the Arizona Constitution or to propose a statewide initiative or referendum.
SCR 1021 (Prop. 313)
(sex trafficking; minors; natural life)
Sponsor: Sen. Bolick
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Statutorily requires an adult who is convicted of a class 2 felony for any child sex trafficking offense, notwithstanding any other law, to be sentenced to natural life imprisonment without eligibility for any form of release.
SCR 1040 (Prop. 138)
(tipped workers; wages)
Sponsor: Sen. Mesnard
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Constitutionally allows an employer to pay any employee who customarily and regularly receives tips or gratuities from patrons a wage up to 25% per hour less than the statutorily set minimum wage if the employer can establish by the employer's records of charged tips or gratuities or by the employee's declaration for Federal Insurance Contributions Act purposes that for each week, when adding tips or gratuities received to wages paid, the employee received not less than the minimum wage plus $2 for all hours worked.
SCR 1041 (Prop. 136)
(ballot measures; challenges)
Sponsor: Sen. Mesnard
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Constitutionally allows a person to contest the constitutionality of an initiative measure or amendment in superior court and prohibits the Secretary of State (SOS) from certifying or printing an amendment or measure that is found unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction.
SCR 1044 (Prop. 137)
(judicial retention elections)
Sponsor: Sen. Gowan
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Constitutionally replaces term limits for Arizona Supreme Court justices, intermediate appellate court and superior court judges with terms of good behavior and outlines conditions that require a vote of retention for a justice or judge. Requires an intermediate appellate court judge who is subject to a vote of retention to be elected on a statewide basis. Has a retroactive effective date of Nov. 1, 2024, prohibiting the returns of any votes of retention or rejection from being included in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election official canvass and the issuance of any certificate of retention or rejection.
HCR 2023 (Prop. 312)
(property tax; refund; nuisance enforcement.)
Sponsor: Speaker Toma
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Statutorily allows, from tax year 2025 through tax year 2035, a property owner to annually apply for a refund of the amount the property owner paid for the prior tax year in primary property taxes to a city, town or county if the city, town or county fails to abate a public nuisance or enforce outlined ordinances that affect the property owner's real property as specified. Requires the State Treasurer to withhold aggregate refund amounts from affected city, town or county distribution base monies.
HCR 2033 (Prop. 133)
(primary elections; eligible candidates)
Sponsor: Rep. Smith
Year Passed: 2023
Purpose: Constitutionally determines that a Legislature-enacted direct primary election law supersedes any contrary or inconsistent provision of any charter, law, ordinance, rule, resolution or policy of any city and modifies nominee requirements for a direct primary election.
HCR 2039 (Prop. 135)
(governor; emergency powers)
Sponsor: Rep. Chaplik
Year Passed: 2023
Purpose: Constitutionally terminates any emergency powers granted to the Governor during a state of emergency 30 days after the proclamation, unless extended by the Legislature, and outlines exceptions to the automatic termination. Requires the Governor to promptly call a special session upon the presentation of a petition bearing the signature of at least one-third of each house of the Legislature.
HCR 2060 (Prop. 314)
(border; benefits; fentanyl; illegal entry)
Sponsor: Rep. Toma
Year Passed: 2024
Purpose: Statutorily makes it unlawful for a person who is an unlawful immigrant to enter Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry. Outlines requirements for the issuance of an order to return to a foreign nation, civil immunity and enforceability of unlawful immigration laws. Prohibits natural persons from submitting false documents when applying for public benefits or employment.