HCR 41 Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendments to establish a legislative initiative process allowing citizens to propose new laws or amend existing laws through petition, separate from constitutional amendments which remain legislature-only.

• Requires initiative petitions to be signed by qualified electors equal to at least 20% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election over a nine-month period, with no more than 10% of signatures from any single county.

• Prohibits initiatives from proposing constitutional changes, modifying the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System, affecting right-to-work protections, creating local/special laws, or dedicating revenues or making appropriations.

• Requires initiative sponsors to identify revenue sources and specify which programs must be reduced or eliminated to fund the proposal; limits ballot to two initiative measures per election.

• Allows legislature to adopt or amend initiatives with a two-thirds vote, otherwise places certified initiatives on ballot; exempts approved initiatives from gubernatorial veto requirements.