Senate substitutes and advances bill to allow legislative candidates to file at lieutenant governor’s office

The Senate on Feb. 18 substituted and advanced third substitute Senate Bill 28, a change to filing and ballot‑information procedures for candidates in multi‑county legislative districts.

Senator Bramble, explaining the substitute, said the proposal allows legislative candidates who represent districts spanning multiple counties to file notices of intent to gather signatures at the lieutenant governor’s office as an alternative to filing only in a county of residence. He described personal difficulty when trying to file at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and being told the notice had to go to the county clerk, which required a return trip to his home county; the substitute aims to streamline that process.

Under floor procedure, senators moved to suspend rules and the three‑reader requirement to substitute the bill on the floor. The Senate adopted the motions under suspension and substituted the third substitute for the first substitute; recorded votes and voice votes under the suspension were taken and the chamber read the bill for a third time as permitted by the constitution.

Sponsors and supporters argued the change removes an administrative hurdle for candidates in multi‑county districts; opponents did not record sustained floor opposition during the substitution and suspension actions. The substituted bill was advanced under the Senate's suspension procedures and will be considered in subsequent reading and committee steps in the House if transmitted.