The Political Subdivisions Interim Committee convened on September 16, 2025, to discuss the ongoing recodification project, which has spanned two years and involved extensive staff efforts. The meeting began with a recognition of the staff's hard work, emphasizing the importance of committee members' participation in working groups to stay informed about the changes being made.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the distinction between substantive and organizational changes within the recodification process. Representative Hansen raised a question regarding this differentiation, prompting a detailed explanation. Organizational changes were described as technical adjustments aimed at improving readability and clarity, such as renumbering sections and updating outdated language. An example provided involved simplifying terminology in the sheriff code to reduce confusion over multiple terms referring to individuals in custody.

In contrast, substantive changes were characterized as those that alter the meaning or implications of existing statutes, such as adjusting outdated fees. The committee clarified that substantive changes would not be included in the current recodification effort, which is focused on organizational updates.

As the meeting progressed, it was announced that a proposal would be made to open a committee bill file specifically for substantive changes, which would be treated as a separate bill. This decision arose from the realization that the original plan to consolidate the recodification into a single bill was impractical due to its extensive length, which had reached approximately one thousand pages. Consequently, the recodification will now be divided into five separate bills, with the sixth bill dedicated to substantive changes.

The meeting concluded with a clear path forward for the recodification project, highlighting the committee's commitment to ensuring clarity and effectiveness in legislative language while addressing necessary updates in a structured manner.