HF 1598

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 05/03/2011 04:37pm

A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution by adding a section to
article IV; requiring a three-fifths vote to enact a law imposing or increasing
certain taxes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.

An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted, a section shall be added to article IV to read:

Sec. 27.

Passage of a law that increases the general rate or expands the taxable base of
a state tax on income or sales or increases property taxes requires the vote of three-fifths
of the members of each house of the legislature. A law increases property taxes if the law:

(1) increases a property tax rate or levy set or mandated under state law; or

(2) authorizes a governmental unit to impose or increase a property tax rate or levy
without voter approval.

Passage of a law that creates a new tax of statewide applicability also requires the
vote of three-fifths of the members of each house of the legislature.

This section does not apply to a single law that increases income, sales, or property
taxes or imposes a new tax, if the law also decreases taxes and does not, on a permanent
basis, increase the total amount of revenues estimated to be raised from state taxes and
property taxes.

Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.

The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2012 general
election. The question submitted must be:

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prevent the legislature from
increasing state income, state sales, or property taxes unless approved by a three-fifths
(60%) vote in each House?

	Yes .
	No . "