Committee hears bill to grant elected officials access to multiunit residences; laid over

Senator Bridal presented Senate File 3627 to the committee on Feb. 21, proposing that elected officials — not just candidates — be allowed access to apartments, manufactured-home parks and similar multiunit residential facilities for official business.

Bridal said she encountered resistance when she sought to hold a listening session and to knock on doors as an elected official rather than as a campaigner; the bill would place elected officials on the same footing as candidates under existing statutory parameters. "People who live in apartments should also have access to their elected officials," she said.

Members raised several concerns during discussion. Senator Limmer and others warned the change could intrude on private common spaces and wanted explicit cross-references to statutory limits (lines 2.3–2.8 were cited) that constrain solicitation and set parameters for where and how visits occur. Senator Lucero asked whether the statute defines "official work" and counsel advised the term is not statutorily defined; members flagged potential ambiguity and the risk of abuse if the scope is not clarified.

Supporters, including Senator Port, said door-knocking is an important civic practice and that residents in multifamily housing should not be blocked from contact with their officials. Opponents said current campaign-access rules already address many points and that further parameters would help avoid misuse. Senator Bolden said the bill is limited to official business and would not allow setting up a table in a lobby.

The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill, giving members time to add cross-references or tighten definitions before future consideration.