HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION B
January 26, 1999, Introduced by Rep. Patterson and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state con- stitution of 1963, by amending section 26 of article IV, to pro- vide for concurrence of 2/3 of the members of each house to raise or impose certain taxes. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state con- stitution of 1963, to provide for concurrence of 2/3 of the mem- bers of each house to raise or impose certain taxes, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state: 1 ARTICLE IV 2 Sec. 26. (1) No bill shall be passed or become a law at any 3 regular session of the legislature until it has been printed or 4 reproduced and in the possession of each house for at least five 5 days. Every bill shall be read three times in each house before 00123'99 JLB 2 1 the final passage thereof OF THE BILL. No EXCEPT AS 2 OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS CONSTITUTION, NO bill shall become a 3 law without the concurrence of a majority of the members elected 4 to and serving in each house. On the final passage of bills, the 5 votes and names of the members voting thereon shall be entered in 6 the journal. 7 (2) A BILL TO IMPOSE OR INCREASE THE RATE OF A TAX IMPOSED 8 BY THIS STATE SHALL NOT BECOME LAW WITHOUT THE CONCURRENCE OF 2/3 9 OF THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO AND SERVING IN EACH HOUSE. AS USED IN 10 THIS SUBSECTION, "TAX" MEANS A PUBLIC BURDEN IMPOSED GENERALLY 11 UPON THE INHABITANTS OF THIS STATE FOR GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSES, 12 WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PECULIAR BENEFITS TO PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS 13 OR PROPERTY. 14 Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be sub- 15 mitted to the people of the state at the next general election in 16 the manner provided by law. 00123'99 Final page. JLB