As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. J. R. No. 11

2025-2026

Representative Ferguson

A J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

Proposing to amend Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to decrease the number of votes required for a veto override.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, three-fifths of the members elected to each house concurring herein, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, in the manner prescribed by law at the special election to be held on May 4, 2027, a proposal to amend Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to read as follows:

ARTICLE II

Section 16. If the governor approves an act, he the governor shall sign it, it becomes law and he the governor shall file it with the secretary of state.

If he the governor does not approve it, he the governor shall return it with his the governor's objections in writing, to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and may then reconsider the vote on its passage. If three-fifths a majority of the members elected to the house of origin vote to repass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections of the governor, to the other house, which may also reconsider the vote on its passage. If three-fifths a majority of the members elected to the second house vote to repass it, it becomes law notwithstanding the objections of the governor, and the presiding officer of the second house shall file it with the secretary of state. In no case shall a bill be repassed by a smaller vote than is required by the constitution on its original passage. In all cases of reconsideration the vote of each house shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered upon the journal.

If a bill is not returned by the governor within ten days, Sundays excepted, after being presented to himthe governor, it becomes law in like manner as if he the governor had signed it, unless the general assembly by adjournment prevents its return; in which case, it becomes law unless, within ten days after such adjournment, it is filed by himthe governor, with his the governor's objections in writing, in the office of the secretary of state. The governor shall file with the secretary of state every bill not returned by him the governor to the house of origin that becomes law without his the governor's signature.

The governor may disapprove any item or items in any bill making an appropriation of money and the item or items, so disapproved, shall be void, unless repassed in the manner prescribed by this section for the repassage of a bill.

EFFECTIVE DATE

If adopted by a majority of the electors voting on this proposal, Section 16 of Article II amended by this proposal shall take effect immediately and the existing version of Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio shall be repealed effective immediately.

SCHEDULE

The amendments to Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio in part substitute gender neutral for gender specific language. The gender neutralizing amendments are not intended to make a substantive change in the Ohio Constitution. The gender neutral language is to be construed as a restatement of, and substituted in a continuing way for, the corresponding gender specific language existing prior to adoption of the gender neutralizing amendments.