Currently, any constitutional amendment or new constitution takes effect when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast on the measure. This constitutional amendment requires any constitutional amendment or new constitution to be approved by both a simple majority of the votes cast on the measure statewide as well as a simple majority of the votes cast in a majority of the state House of Representatives districts.

The amendment creates new restrictions relating to the activity of foreign nationals and sources connected to foreign nationals, as those terms are defined in the act, with respect to proposing and advocating for or against proposed constitutions and constitutional amendments. Specifically, it shall be unlawful for:

1. A foreign national or a source connected to a foreign national to sponsor an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment;

2. A foreign national or a source connected to a foreign national to directly or indirectly make contributions or donations of money, or make an express or implied promise to make such contributions or donations, in connection with an election on a proposed constitution or constitutional amendment or contributions in support of or opposition to a proposed constitution or constitutional amendment;

3. A foreign national or a source connected to a foreign national to directly or indirectly make an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication, whether print, broadcast, or digital media, or otherwise, related to a proposed constitution or constitutional amendment;

4. A foreign national or a source connected to a foreign national to directly or indirectly make a contribution to an individual or entity for the purpose of funding preliminary activity preceding the formation of a committee in support or opposition to proposed constitution or constitutional amendment; or

5. A person to solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a contribution or donation from a foreign national or a source connected to a foreign national, in connection with a proposed constitution or constitutional amendment.

If a constitutional amendment is proposed by initiative petition, and the petition proponent, or committee associated with the proponent, knowingly violated the foreging restrictions governing foreign activity, the amendment shall be deemed void even if it received the requisite votes for approval.

Certain provisions in this constitutional amendment are similar to the introduced SJR 74 (2024), SJR 48 (2024), SJR 59 (2024), SJR 61 (2024), and a provision in SJR 83 (2024), SJR 28 (2023), SJR 33 (2023), provisions in SJR 2 (2023), SJR 10 (2023), SJR 17 (2023), HJR 18 (2023), and HCS/HJR 30 (2023).

SCOTT SVAGERA