Committee advances bill to block municipal charter amendments that conflict with state law

The House Elections and Campaign Finance Committee advanced HB 913, a bill by Chairman Vaughn, after a 5-1 committee vote, sending the measure to the State and Local Government Committee for further consideration.

The bill would bar placing a proposed amendment to a municipality’s charter on the ballot if the amendment “is in violation of either the state constitution or a state law,” and it would require legal challenges over whether a proposed charter amendment violates the state constitution or state law to be heard and determined by a three-judge panel. “This bill does 2 things,” the bill’s presenter said during the committee hearing, describing the prohibition on invalid charter amendments and the three-judge-panel requirement.

Committee members asked no follow-up questions during the discussion portion of the item. After debate concluded, the committee chair called for a vote; the clerk reported five ayes and one no. The chair announced, “The ayes have it, HB0913 moves on to state and local government.”

Supporters told the committee the bill is intended to prevent local charter measures that would conflict with statewide law or constitutional provisions from advancing to voters. Opponents did not make substantive remarks on the record during the committee discussion captured in the transcript.

The measure’s procedural next step is the State and Local Government Committee. No implementation details, fiscal notes, or specific court procedures beyond the three-judge-panel requirement were specified in the committee record excerpt.

Votes at a glance

HB 0913 (Vaughn) — Committee vote: 5 ayes, 1 no; advanced to State and Local Government Committee.