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House approves township amendments to allow Census‑designated‑place consideration
Summary
House Bill 29 permits counties to consider Census Designated Place status as an alternative criterion when evaluating township petitions; sponsor said counties retain discretion and the bill passed 69–0 after members sought assurances it didn’t change ultimate county authority.
Representative LaVar Christiansen presented House Bill 29 as a narrow correction allowing counties to use the Census Bureau’s "Census Designated Place" designation as an alternative criterion for considering petitions for township status. Christiansen said the change gives areas with distinct identity (he cited White City) an alternative path to petition county governing bodies without changing the county’s ultimate discretion.
Representative Bigelow and others asked whether population‑percentage thresholds had been altered; the sponsor said the thresholds were repositioned in the draft and that the prior 25% threshold remains effectively unchanged. Members expressed a general sensitivity to anything touching incorporation or township status but accepted the sponsor’s assurances that the bill is technical and preserves local discretion.
Representative Christiansen waived summation and the House passed HB29 by voice vote recorded as 69 yes, 0 no; the bill will be referred to the Senate.
