What’s On My Ballot?

BallotReady
Nov 4 · 7 min read
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This year, we have a total of 36 statewide ballot measures across 8 states. Of these measures, 24 are legally binding and 12 are advisory questions.

Here at BallotReady, we’re here to help you vote informed, so we’ve compiled a guide to the measures on the ballot in Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Washington. From service animals in Texas to gambling in Colorado, keep reading to find out about the different ballot measures in 2019.

Colorado

Proposition CC: Under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), Colorado is not allowed to spend revenues collected from taxes if revenues grow faster than inflation and population. Such revenues must be refunded to taxpayers. Proposition CC proposes that Colorado should be allowed to retain this revenue and use it to fund education and transportation.

Proposition DD: This proposition would authorize betting on sports. It would also tax the casinos and sports apps accepting the bets by 10 percent. The revenues from the taxes would support the regulation of gambling addiction services as well as the Colorado Water Plan, which hopes to protect Colorado’s water sources. If the proposition does not pass, sports betting will remain illegal.

Kansas

Eliminate Revision of Census Population Amendment: Currently, the census population in Kansas is required to be adjusted for students and military personnel, who are counted in the districts where they permanently reside, rather than where they are currently attending school or stationed. This ballot measure proposes that this requirement be removed.

Louisiana

Amendment 1: Certain property in Louisiana, such as materials stored in public and private warehouses, is destined for the Outer Continental Shelf, the area in United States waters about 200 miles off the state’s coast. This means that these materials are stored within the state but are meant to be used off the coast. Under Amendment 1, such materials would be exempt from taxes.

Amendment 2: The Education Excellence Fund provides money to various schools in Louisiana. Under this amendment, such funding would be extended to three additional schools: Thrive Academy, LSU Laboratory School, and Southern University Laboratory School. Funding would also be extended to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority.

Amendment 3: The Board of Tax Appeals would be allowed to rule on constitutional issues involving taxes. If the amendment does not pass, this jurisdiction will continue to be left to courts alone.

Amendment 4: Currently, local governments in Louisiana are not allowed to give any tax exemptions besides those listed in the Louisiana Constitutions. This amendment would allow New Orleans to create a residential property tax exemption to incentivize affordable rent.

Maine

Question 1: This measure would authorize $105 million in bonds to support transportation infrastructure projects.

Question 2: This measure would allow people with physical disabilities preventing them from signing their names to use alternative signatures for initiative petitions.

New Jersey

Veterans’ Property Tax Deduction for Continuing Care Retirement Communities Amendment: Currently, veterans who were honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances are eligible for a $250 deduction from their New Jersey property tax bill. This deduction can also be claimed by spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged or who died on active duty. The proposed amendment would extend this deduction to continuing care retirement centers on behalf of the veterans living there.

Pennsylvania

Marsy’s Law Amendment: A Marsy’s Law is a constitutional set of rights protecting crime victims. These rights include the right to be protected from the accused and the right to be notified if the accused escapes or is released. This amendment would add a Marsy’s Law to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Texas

Proposition 1: Currently, elected municipal judges in one city in Texas are not allowed to serve as judges in another city at the same time. However, appointed municipal judges are allowed to do so. Proposition 1 would enable both appointed and elected municipal judges to hold more than one judgeship position at the same time.

Proposition 2: The Texas Water Development Board is currently allowed to issue bonds of up to $250 million to economically distressed areas with significant water needs if approved through a vote. Proposition 2 would allow the board to issue bonds of up to $200 million without a vote. If the proposition does not pass, bond funding will be discontinued.

Proposition 3: This proposition would allow for temporary tax exemptions for neighborhoods declared disaster areas. If this proposition passes, there will be an accompanying bill laying out more specific details, such as rates.

Proposition 4: Currently, the Texas Constitution states that a personal income tax could be implemented if a majority vote passes. Proposition 4 would ban ever putting into place a personal income tax. This ban could only be overturned by a constitutional amendment.

Proposition 5: The revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods would be used for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Texas Historical Commission. If the proposition does not pass, the legislature will continue to choose how to disperse this revenue.

Proposition 6: Currently, the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute is $3 billion. Proposition 6 would increase this number to $6 billion.

Proposition 7: The Permanent School Fund takes revenues from state-owned lands and transfers them to the Available School Fund, which gives money to school districts across the state. Currently, the maximum amount of money that can be transferred to the Available School Fund in a year is $300 million. Proposition 7 would increase this number to $600 million.

Proposition 8: This proposition would create a flood infrastructure flood to help finance flood draining, mitigation, and control.

Proposition 9: Precious metals held in precious metal depositories in Texas are currently taxed. This proposition would exempt these metals from taxation.

Proposition 10: Currently, when service animals are retired, they are classified as salvage or surplus property. This means that they can be auctioned, donated, or destroyed. Proposition 10 would allow for these animals to be transferred to a handler or other caretaker if it is in the animal’s best interest. If the proposition does not pass, these retired animals will continue to be designated as salvage.

Washington

Referendum 88: This referendum will decide whether to uphold or reject the legislature’s approval of Initiative 1000, which authorizes affirmative action in Washington.

Initiative 976: This initiative would primarily limit the registration renewal fees for vehicles under 10,000 pounds to $30 a year. There would also be other decreases in vehicle taxes and fees.

Senate Joint Resolution 8200: This resolution would give the Washington State Legislature increased powers during catastrophic incidents. Such powers would include the ability to pass laws to temporarily fill offices that were suddenly vacated by a catastrophic incident.

The following ballot measures are advisory only and not legally binding:

Advisory Vote 20: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 1087, a bill designed to tax wages by 0.58% to fund a long-term healthcare service program.

Advisory Vote 21: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 1324, a bill designed to extend the state surcharge on timber products through July 2045 from the previous expiration date of June 2024.

Advisory Vote 22: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 1652, a bill designed to require producers of architectural paint sold in 5 gallon-or-less containers to participate in and help fund paint waste management programs.

Advisory Vote 23: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 1873, a bill designed to place taxes on e-cigarettes and vapor products.

Advisory Vote 24: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 2158, a bill responsible for creating and funding the Workforce Education Investment Act. This account provides scholarships for higher education by taxing certain business activities that depend on workers having access to higher education.

Advisory Vote 25: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain House Bill 2167, a bill that raises taxes on certain financial institutions.

Advisory Vote 26: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 5581, which applies retail taxes to online retailers.

Advisory Vote 27: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 5993, which increases taxes on petroleum products.

Advisory Vote 28: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 5997, which limits the tax exemptions that residents of other states or Canada can receive while in Washington.

Advisory Vote 29: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 5998, which increases the excise tax on real property.

Advisory Vote 30: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 6004, which increases business and occupation taxes on tour operators and travel agents.

Advisory Vote 31: This vote will advise the legislature to either repeal or maintain Senate Bill 6016, which increases business and occupation taxes on certain international investment management services.

For information about your ballot measures or the more than 64,000 candidates on the ballot this November, check out BallotReady.org. And don’t forget to vote!

BallotReady is the only nonpartisan online voter guide that provides personalized, easy-to-use, and accessible information about your ballot. From the top of the ticket to the very bottom, BallotReady helps voters compare candidates based on stances on issues, biography, and endorsements. We make it easy to vote informed on every race and referendum. See every race and referendum on your Ballot here!

By Grace Lee, BallotReady Intern

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