HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION J

June 03, 2025, Introduced by Reps. Outman, Wortz, Rigas, DeBoyer, Fairbairn, Frisbie, Harris, Steele, Borton, BeGole, Paquette, Carra, DeSana, Johnsen, Markkanen, Cavitt, Bohnak, Prestin, Martin, Jenkins-Arno, Roth, Hoadley, Bruck, Maddock, Schriver, Beson, Schmaltz, St. Germaine, VanderWall and Greene and referred to Committee on Appropriations.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending section 28 of article IX, to modify the legislature's limits on state spending according to a certain formula.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to modify the legislature's limits on state spending according to a certain formula, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:

article IX

Sec. 28. (1) The legislature is limited in state spending each fiscal year according to either of the following, whichever allows for less spending:

(a) No expenses of state government shall be incurred in any fiscal year which exceed the sum of the revenue limit established in Sections sections 26 and 27 of this Article article plus federal aid and any surplus from a previous fiscal year.

(b) The maximum annual change in spending in the sum total of all appropriations bills each fiscal year is limited to the previous fiscal year's base multiplied by the sum of the annual change in inflation and the growth in the population and voter-approved revenue changes.

(2) Any revenue collected by this state in excess of the amount allowable to be spent under subsection (1) must be returned to the citizens of this state in a manner as provided by law.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Growth in the population" means the percentage change in state population in the immediately preceding calendar year as determined by the annual federal estimates. For purposes of this subdivision, the federal estimate must be adjusted every 10 years according to the official federal census.

(b) "Previous fiscal year's base" means the lesser of either of the following:

(i) The previous fiscal year's revenue.

(ii) The previous fiscal year's spending limit as described in subsection (1)(b).

(c) "Voter-approved revenue changes" means any changes to the revenues of this state made by an amendment that becomes part of this constitution under section 2 of article XII.

Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be submitted to the people of the state at the next general election in the manner provided by law.