SB 1234 Summary

• Establishes the Constitutional Defense Council consisting of the governor (chair), attorney general, one gubernatorial appointee, and appointees from the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, plus two advisory members.

• Council purpose is to restore state sovereignty, maintain dual sovereignty principles, and protect individual liberty by holding quarterly public meetings to review federal preemption, court rulings, federal authority, strategic litigation, interstate compacts, and Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

• Creates a process for the council to receive and evaluate public complaints regarding alleged unconstitutional federal actions that violate citizens' constitutional rights or interfere with state powers over education, law enforcement, health care, property rights, and other reserved state functions.

• Establishes the Constitutional Defense Council Fund, continuously appropriated and exempt from appropriation lapsing, funded by a percentage of the Attorney General's budget to pay for litigation, expert witnesses, and council expenses approved by majority vote.

• Requires monthly financial reports to council members and legislative leadership, annual activity reports to the Speaker, Senate President, and Governor, and grants taxpaying state residents legal standing to sue to compel the council to fulfill its statutory duties.