SF 23: Requiring primary elections for the nomination of candidates for city, school district, and merged area elections, and including applicability provisions

What it does

This bill relates to nominations of candidates for elections to city, school district, and merged area offices. The bill requires candidates for such elections to be nominated by primary elections held pursuant to Code chapter (partisan S.F. nominations —— primary election). Currently such elections are nonpartisan except for special charter cities under Code chapter 420. The bill repeals other methods for the nomination of candidates, including nominations by petition and runoff elections. The bill requires political parties in school districts to hold conventions for the nomination of members to the school district central committee for the purpose of holding primary elections in school districts and merged areas. The bill applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.

Senate subcommittee · named January 12, 2023

• Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R)
• Sen. Claire Celsi (D)
• Sen. Sandy Salmon (R) · sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 0 for, 6 against

Against: Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa State Education Association; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. January 9, 2023Filed in the Senate and sent to the State Government committee
2. January 12, 2023Senate subcommittee named: Cournoyer, Celsi and Salmon