Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves moving municipal officer elections to even years
Summary
The Montana House State Administration Committee passed House Bill 221 as amended, which would move elections for municipal officers to even-numbered years; supporters said it could improve turnout while at least one member warned it could nationalize local races.
Representative Schubert moved that House Bill 221 do pass and introduced an amendment she said incorporated concerns raised by local clerks and recorders. Ms. Power, committee staff, told the committee the bill "moves elections for municipal officers to even years," and that there was no fiscal note and one amendment. Representative Schubert said the amendment came from a clerk and recorder and "just takes into account what the clerks kinda wanted" by striking language about odd-numbered primaries.
The amendment (HB221.1.1) was adopted by voice and the committee then voted to pass the bill as amended. Vice Chair Quarton, who described herself as "torn," said she supported higher turnout but worried that pairing municipal elections with federal contests could "nationalize our local elections that should be on local issues." That concern was the most direct opposition voiced during committee discussion.
After a roll-call count the committee reported the measure passed as amended (11 yes, 8 no) and said it will proceed to the full House for consideration. No fiscal note was reported to the committee, and committee staff did not present additional statutory references beyond the change to municipal election timing.
The bill sponsor and committee staff framed the amendment as a technical change to respond to clerk feedback; committee debate focused on turnout and whether moving municipal elections to even years would dilute attention to local contests.
House Bill 221 now heads to the full House with the committee amendment attached.
