HF 5184

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/02/2024 11:52am

A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution by adding a section to
article XI; prohibiting state spending in excess of inflation and population growth.

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

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment
is adopted, a section shall be added to article XI, to read:
new text end

new text begin Sec. 16. new text end

new text begin The maximum biennial percentage change in state spending must not exceed
inflation plus the percentage change in state population. State spending shall be determined
as all expenditures and reserve increases, excluding: federal funds; excess revenue refunded
to taxpayers; reserve transfers or expenditures; expenditures approved by the people after
2024; and expenditures of gifts or court-ordered damage awards. Inflation shall be determined
as the total percentage change in the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer
Price Index for Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington for all urban consumers and all items,
or its successor index, for the previous two calendar years. The percentage change in state
population shall be determined as the total percentage change for the previous two calendar
years according to federal estimates and adjusted every decade to match the federal census.
new text end

new text begin Any excess revenue must be returned to taxpayers in the form of property tax refund or
permanent tax rate reductions. The legislature may exceed the spending limitation for one
biennium by a vote of 60 percent or more in each body.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2024 general election.
The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit state spending increases in
excess of inflation and population growth?
new text end

	new text begin Yes . new text end
	new text begin No . new text end	new text begin " new text end