Sponsor seeks 500‑word cap and stricter petition verification for citizen constitutional amendments

Senator Mark Johnson presented proposed language for SJR 24, described as a package of changes aimed at making citizen-initiated constitutional amendments more readable and harder to pass without broad geographic support.

Johnson said the proposal would limit citizen-drafted constitutional amendments to 500 words (he noted the Bill of Rights is about 483 words), require signatures in 50 counties rather than 15, raise petition-signature thresholds to three‑quarters of the designated percentage of electors in each county, and require approval not only by a statewide majority but also by a majority of counties. He said those changes are intended to address voter confusion about complex ballot measures.

The proposal would also strike the provision that forbids additional affidavit or verification requirements and would remove the so‑called cure period for signature defects, making petitions required to be sufficient when filed. Johnson said the amendment would explicitly authorize the General Assembly to enact penalties for perjury, forgery and other fraudulent practices in petition drives and to take measures the legislature deems necessary “to maintain public order, protect public safety, protect private property, or maintain the integrity of the democratic process.”

Johnson told the committee that some prior amendments (he referenced a chain of amendments including a later amendment he called “101” correcting an earlier problem) had already fixed issues related to funding for certain projects and that he planned to withdraw two other resolutions (SJR 19 and SJR 23) because legislative changes removed the need for them. He asked committee members for questions and said he would circulate draft language to committee staff.

Committee members did not sign up to testify for or against SJR 24 during this hearing. No committee vote occurred.