Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to elections to fill vacancies in elective county and city offices
Sponsored by the House Local Government Committee
Topics:Elections & votingState governmentCities & counties
Same legislation: HSB 639
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 28, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 28, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 23, 202673–16
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to vacancies in elected county and city offices. If a county board of supervisors or city council chooses to fill a vacancy in an elective office by appointment, the bill allows eligible electors of a county or city to submit a petition to fill the vacancy by a special election only if the remaining balance of the unexpired term is at least six months. The bill requires a county board of supervisors or city council that receives a written affirmation more than days before the next general election that an elected officer intends to resign after the next general election but before the expiration of the officer’s term of office to, by majority vote, declare that the office is vacant as of the date contained in the affirmation.
Read the full explanation
The office will then appear on the ballot at the next general election with the description, “To Fill Vacancy”. The person elected at the general election will assume office as of the date of the vacancy and after a certificate of election is issued and the person has qualified by taking the oath of office, and shall serve the balance of the unexpired term.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 26, 2026. On March 5, 2026 it recommended amendment and passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
3 for · 1 against · 8 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Study bill
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.