Bill Text: NJ ACR192 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Proposes amendment to Constitution to require each house of the Legislature to meet four times annually solely to vote on bills that provide property tax relief.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [ACR192 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-ACR192-Introduced.html

---

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 192

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  HAROLD "HAL" J. WIRTHS

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman  PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes amendment to Constitution to require each house of the Legislature to meet four times annually solely to vote on bills that provide property tax relief.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article IV, Section IV of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph. 

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

     1.    The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     Amend Article IV, Section IV by adding a new paragraph 10 to read as follows:

     10.  Each house of the Legislature shall convene a meeting in each quarter of each annual session of the Legislature solely for the purpose of holding a vote for the final passage, following third reading, of bills certified as providing property tax relief.  When a bill which is certified as providing property tax relief passes in the first house, the second house shall hold a vote for the final passage, following third reading, of that bill at any meeting within 60 days after passage in the first house. 

     The fourth meeting required to be held in the second annual session of a legislative term shall be held not less than 70 days prior to the end of the two-year legislative term.

     The Legislature shall designate by law the person or entity that shall review and certify a bill as providing property tax relief.  A bill which is certified as providing property tax relief shall not increase or impose a tax, fee, or other assessment that generates revenue.  A bill which has been certified as providing tax relief shall provide for: direct property tax relief; education spending and funding reform and unit savings; civil service reform; pension, health care benefit, or compensation reform; shared services; local government spending and funding reform and unit savings; government and ethics reform; low-income housing mandate reform; or repeal of State mandates.

     This section shall not be deemed to require the Legislature to consider for passage all property tax legislation, or prohibit the Legislature from considering for passage any property tax legislation during any time other than a quarterly session. 

 

     2.    When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

 

     3.    This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:

     There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

     a.     In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows:

     If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No."

     b.    In every municipality the following question:

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE LEGISLATURE TO VOTE ON PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to require the Legislature to meet at least four times a year to vote only on bills that provide property tax relief?      The amendment would require each house of the Legislature to meet four times a year to vote only on bills that would lower property taxes.  The Legislature would be required to meet once every quarter.
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This change to the State Constitution would require each house of the Legislature to meet four times a year to vote only on bills that would provide property tax relief.      The Legislature would pass a law to decide which person or entity will certify that the bill provides property tax relief.  If a bill which has been certified as providing property tax relief passes the first house of the Legislature, the second house would be required to vote on the bill within 60 days.      A bill certified to provide property tax relief could not increase revenue and would have to lower property taxes for taxpayers.        The bills also would have to provide for:  direct property tax relief; education spending and funding reform and unit savings; civil service reform; pension, health care benefit, or compensation reform; shared services; local government spending and funding reform and unit savings; government and ethics reform; low-income housing mandate reform; or repeal of State mandates.      This change does not require the Legislature to vote on every piece of property tax legislation, or prohibit the Legislature from voting on property tax legislation during any time other than a quarterly session.

 

SCHEDULE

 

     This constitutional amendment shall take effect at noon on the second Tuesday in January next following its approval by the voters at a general election. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This proposed amendment to the State Constitution is intended to further the goal of providing property tax relief in New Jersey. 

     The proposed amendment would require each house of the Legislature to devote four meetings a year solely to voting on bills that have been certified as providing property tax relief.  Any such bill that passes in one house would have to be voted on in the second house within 60 days after passage in the first house.

     The proposed amendment does not require the Legislature to vote on every property tax legislation, or prohibit the Legislature from voting on any property tax legislation during any time other than a quarterly session. 

     The Legislature would designate a person or entity that would have the responsibility of reviewing and certifying bills that provide property tax relief.  To be certified as providing property tax relief, the bill could not increase or impose a tax, fee, or other assessment that generates revenue and would have to effect property taxes in a positive manner for property taxpayers.  Such a bill would also have to provide for:  direct property tax relief; education spending and funding reform and unit savings; civil service reform; pension, and health care benefit, and compensation reform; shared services; local government spending and funding reform and unit savings; government and ethics reform; low-income housing mandate reform; or repeal of State mandates.