Bill Text: NJ ACR82 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 82

Introduced

Bill Title: Amends State Constitution to require four-fifths majority vote of Legislature to submit constitutional amendment to voters during lame duck session.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 5)

Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [ACR82 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2026-ACR82-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 82

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

Amends State Constitution to require four-fifths majority vote of Legislature to submit constitutional amendment to voters during lame duck session.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article IX 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 IX by adding a new paragraph 8 to read as follows:

8. Between the earliest day on which, by law, a legally qualified voter of this State may cast a ballot at the general election for members of the General Assembly held in the year of the second annual session of a Legislature and the commencement of the next succeeding Legislature, the Legislature shall not approve any proposed amendment or amendments for submission to the people, unless the proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by four-fifths of all the members of each of the respective houses.

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 REQUIRING FOUR-FIFTHS MAJORITY VOTE TO SUBMIT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO VOTERS DURING LAME DUCK SESSION

YES

Do you approve amending the Constitution to require a four-fifths majority vote of the General Assembly and the Senate to submit a constitutional amendment to the voters during a lame duck session?

A lame duck session happens at the end of the second year of a Legislature. It begins on the first day that voters are eligible to vote at a general election for members of the General Assembly. It ends when the new Legislature begins on the second Tuesday in January following the election.

A four-fifths majority of the General Assembly and the Senate will be required to approve a constitutional amendment for submission to the voters. This means 32 votes in the Senate and 64 votes in the General Assembly.

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT

This constitutional amendment would require a four-fifths majority vote of the General Assembly and Senate to approve a constitutional amendment for submission to the voters during a lame duck session.

Currently, amendments require a three-fifths majority vote to be submitted to the voters, or a simple majority vote in consecutive legislative years. This means 24 votes in the Senate and 48 votes in the General Assembly for a three-fifths majority. It means 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the General Assembly for a simple majority.

This amendment would require a four-fifths majority vote to approve future amendments for submission to the voters. This means 32 votes in the Senate and 64 votes in the General Assembly.

STATEMENT

This constitutional amendment proposes to amend the State Constitution to require a four-fifths majority vote in order to approve a constitutional amendment for submission to the voters during a lame duck session of the Legislature.

Currently, amendments require a three-fifths majority vote to be submitted to the voters. This means 24 votes in the Senate and 48 votes in the General Assembly. An amendment can also be submitted to the voters if the amendment receives a simple majority vote in each house in sequential legislative years. This means 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the General Assembly.

This amendment would require a four-fifths majority vote to approve future amendments for submission to the voters. This means 32 votes in the Senate and 64 votes in the General Assembly.

As defined by the amendment, the lame duck sessions begins on the first day that voters can cast a ballot at the November general election for members of the General Assembly, and ends when the new Legislature begins on the second Tuesday in January following the election. A lame duck session only occurs in the second year of a Legislature.