Panel clears bill to require timely hearings for fire‑district conversion petitions

Sen. Hammer presented Senate Bill 154, saying the measure was developed with the Association of Counties and county judges to address a recurring problem of petitions being presented and then left dormant. "On basically, what the bill does is it establishes the fact that the county clerk or clerks ... is determined to be the official keeper and verifier of the signatures of the petition that would be required," Hammer said, noting some fire districts cross county lines and the clerk role clarifies recordkeeping.