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Committee approves 25% turnout threshold for off‑year local bond elections, removes 12‑month lockout
Summary
Lawmakers advanced House Bill 79 to require at least 25% voter participation (plus one) of the most recent general-election turnout for a political subdivision before an off‑year bond election can be approved, and the committee removed a 12‑month lockout for reoffering a proposal.
Representative Skylar Stivar introduced House Bill 79 to add a voter-participation threshold for bond elections held on days other than a general election. The engrossed proposal requires that, for such off‑year bond questions to be approved, a majority of ballots cast must favor the proposal and the total ballots cast must equal at least 25% plus one of the number of qualified electors who voted in the political subdivision in the immediately preceding general election.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray testified in favor, citing low turnout examples and urging broader voter participation for large financial decisions. Gray noted the 2023 Laramie County Fire Authority bond election that had only 347 votes cast out of 7,173…
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