Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to petitions for special elections to fill vacancies in city offices
Sponsored by the House Local Government Committee, Rep. Brett Barker (R)
Topics:Courts & civil lawCities & counties
Same legislation: HF 157
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 30, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 18, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 17, 202566–30
- 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 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary If a city has an empty elected office and voters try to force a special election through a petition, the city council can ask a judge to stop it if the term is shorter than one year. A court can decide not to hold the election if it would cost the city too much money. In those cases, the city council will fill the empty seat by appointing someone instead.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to petitions for special elections to fill vacancies in elective city offices. If a city council chooses to fill a vacancy in an elective city office by appointment and eligible electors of the city file a petition to fill the vacancy by election, the bill allows the city council to challenge the petition in district court if the remaining balance of the unexpired term is less than one year. If the district court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a special election would be unduly financially burdensome for the city, a special election shall not be called and the vacancy shall be filled by appointment.
Why it matters. City councils can challenge petitions for special elections to fill vacant elective offices if the remaining term is less than one year. If a district court finds that holding a special election would be an undue financial burden for the city, the vacancy will be filled by appointment instead.2
Senate subcommittee
Named March 19, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 12, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
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91st General Assembly