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Committee backs restrictions on municipal changes to city-manager authority after elections
Summary
The House Political Subdivisions Committee unanimously recommended House Bill 109 to limit certain municipal actions affecting city manager appointments and dismissal between a municipal election and the incoming administration taking office, while permitting interim or acting appointments.
The House Political Subdivisions Committee voted unanimously to recommend House Bill 109, "Municipal Election Amendments," which limits some municipal actions affecting city managers between a municipal election and the incoming administration taking office.
Representative Abbott, sponsor of HB 109, said the bill aims to "preserve the status quo" between the election and the new administration’s start date so an outgoing administration cannot take actions that would tie the hands of incoming officials. Abbott cited national headlines about outgoing administrations, saying the measure addresses that concern at the city level.
During the committee’s questions, Representative Peterson confirmed the bill’s scope relates to the period after election certification and before new officials are sworn in. Abbott said the bill would prevent appointing a permanent, long-term city manager or adopting ordinances that would make it harder to remove or replace a city manager during that period. Abbott also said a city could appoint an acting or interim city manager if a vacancy arose in the interim, but the bill would bar permanent long-term appointments during that transition.
No members of the public spoke on HB 109. Representative Ward moved the committee recommend HB 109 favorably; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. Summation was waived.
