Committee approves 30‑day requirement for municipal councils to fill vacancies, cities seek longer window

The committee returned House Bill 2426 with a due‑pass recommendation, advancing a bill that would require a municipal council to fill a vacancy within 30 calendar days of a vacancy notice.

Representative Collin, the bill sponsor, said the requirement responds to situations — including a recent Fountain Hills council vacancy — where councils had no statutory deadline and could leave residents unrepresented for extended periods. "There needs to be some certainty with respect to when that vacancy needs to be filled," he told the committee.

Jane Ahern, representing the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, testified in respectful opposition and asked the sponsor to consider a longer timeframe. Ahern told the committee that some city and town councils do not meet frequently and can have difficulty recruiting applicants; "30 days just might not be quite enough time for some city and town councils to be able to go through the appointment process," she said, and suggested the sponsor consider increasing the period.

Isaac Glover testified in favor, describing a local case in Fountain Hills where he said a recent winner was not appointed to serve until months later. Members discussed options such as special meetings to recruit and appoint candidates.

After discussion the committee recorded four ayes and three present and returned the bill with a due‑pass recommendation; several members asked the sponsor to work with the League to propose an amendment lengthening the timeline before further consideration.