Constitutional Amendments - Proposes constitutional amendment to allow people to propose laws by initiative. -

SJR 40 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Tennessee voters to directly propose new laws through a petition process, bypassing the General Assembly. It requires initiative petitions to gather signatures from at least 5% of voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election, file 6 months before an even-year November election, and cover only one subject. If approved by a majority of voters, the proposed law would then be sent to the General Assembly, which must act within 90 days - approving it (making it law July 1), rejecting it, or taking no action (which also makes it law). Failed initiatives cannot be resubmitted for 4 years, and rejected laws cannot be resubmitted for 2 years. This change would directly affect all registered voters (as petitioners) and the General Assembly (as the body reviewing proposals).