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Committee hears bill to change Eudora library board from appointed to elected
Summary
Lawmakers heard House Bill 25-39, which would require the Eudora Community Library District board to be elected (default in even-numbered years), set term lengths and vacancy rules, and take effect July 1 if enacted. City and library officials urged support, saying the change corrects a drafting error and restores original intent.
The Committee on Local Government heard testimony on House Bill 25-39, a measure that would convert the Eudora Community Library District board from an appointed body to one elected by voters.
The bill, explained by the Revisor, would direct the city of Eudora and Eudora Township — the two municipalities that created the district — to adopt a second joint resolution establishing elections for board members. The measure, as written, sets elections in even-numbered years, provides for members’ terms and for staggered terms if desired, and establishes how vacancies would be filled. The changes would take effect July 1 if the bill becomes law.
City Manager Zach Daniels testified the bill “corrects and resets the original intention” of the district’s creation and offered the city’s full support. Eric Maggett, vice president of the Eudora Community Library Board, said the municipalities and the library back the measure and noted the board’s ability to levy taxes as a reason for elected membership.
Committee members asked whether election timing should be moved to odd-numbered years to align with local elections. The Revisor said the bill could be amended to change timing; as written it defaults to even years. Members also asked about the district’s boundaries; the Revisor and witnesses clarified the district covers the City of Eudora and Eudora Township.
A minority member raised a concern that elections might introduce politics or censorship into library governance. Maggett responded that the current appointment process already involves politics — city and township appointments — and said direct election would remove a layer of political appointment and provide clearer accountability.
On administrative questions, the Revisor said recent statute limits election dates to the primary, general and a March special election, so counties would not need to run a separate special election for library board races; city staff said Douglas County election officials reviewed the bill and raised no issues.
The committee closed the hearing on HB 25-39 and moved on to other bills. No final vote on the bill was recorded in the hearing.
The Revisor’s summary and testimony from Zach Daniels and Eric Maggett were the primary on-record explanations of how the change would work and why local leaders support it.
