Committee backs measure to require primaries for most local partisan races, with limited grandfathering

House Bill 855, as amended, was approved by the Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee and will proceed to the State and Local Government full committee.

Sponsor Representative Reeves told members the measure extends the standard that applies to statewide and U.S. congressional offices—selection by primary—to key local offices. The bill includes a grandfathering provision for counties that used party conventions in 2022 or 2024, allowing them to continue using conventions if they choose. Representative Reeves said the grandfathering was intended to address concerns from small counties and preserve local flexibility.

Committee members asked about the scope of the grandfathering and emergency exceptions for vacancies or missed filing deadlines. The sponsor said the bill preserves emergency options already in law (for example, conventions in case of death or withdrawal) and that the grandfathering applies to convention use in 2022 and 2024. The sponsor noted Wayne County as an example of a small county that has used party conventions; he said most smaller counties have traditionally used primaries.

Representative Powell raised broader concerns about changing state law to address local organizational issues and about the cost to small counties of running primaries. The sponsor said the bill was designed to balance voter access and transparency with local flexibility.

The committee adopted amendment 6387 and recorded a 5–2 vote to advance the bill; the sponsor said it will go to the State and Local Government full committee.

No speakers from outside the committee testified on the measure during the recorded proceedings.