Bill Text: HI HB423 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitutional Amendment; Bill Passage; Supermajority (ConAm)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [HB423 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB423-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
423 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
proposing an amendment to article III, section 15, of the hawaii state constitution to enact a supermajority voting requirement for passage of legislation proposing to raise or create taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the process of passing legislation to increase taxes to resolve budget problems is too cursory, and results in a significant burden to the people of Hawaii. The prime example was a 2011 proposed tax on pensions, which the people of Hawaii are contractually promised, have planned to receive, and expect that it not be diminished or impaired in any way.
The legislature also finds that Hawaii has the highest "sales" tax equivalent in the nation, has the third highest marginal personal income tax rate, and is listed as 39.2 per cent for combined federal and corporate tax and state corporate tax, which is only 2.4 per cent below Iowa, which ranks the worst nationally.
The legislature also finds that increasing the difficulty for passing taxes may serve as a mechanism for reducing wasteful government spending.
The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to Article III, section 15, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to enact a two-thirds supermajority requirement for passage of legislation proposing to raise taxes or create new taxes.
SECTION 2. Article III, section 15, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:
"PASSAGE OF BILLS
Section 15. No bill shall become law unless it shall pass three readings in each house on separate days. No bill shall pass third or final reading in either house unless printed copies of the bill in the form to be passed shall have been made available to the members of that house for at least forty-eight hours.
Every bill when passed by the house in which it originated, or in which amendments thereto shall have originated, shall immediately be certified by the presiding officer and clerk and sent to the other house for consideration.
Any bill pending at the final adjournment of a regular session in an odd-numbered year shall carry over with the same status to the next regular session. Before the carried-over bill is enacted, it shall pass at least one reading in the house in which the bill originated.
Passage of legislation proposing to increase the rates for any tax collected by the State or to enact a new tax to be collected by the State shall require a two-thirds vote of all members to which each house is entitled."
SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:
"Shall the Constitution be amended to include a two-thirds supermajority voting requirement for the legislature to pass laws that would raise taxes or create new taxes?"
SECTION 4. New constitutional material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with Article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Constitutional Amendment; Bill Passage; Supermajority
Description:
Proposes a constitutional amendment to include a two-thirds supermajority voting requirement for the legislature to pass laws that raise taxes or create new taxes.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
