House committee recommends requiring legislative consultation on election procedures manual
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Summary
Lawmakers recommended SB 12-37, which would require the secretary of state to consult legislative committees and county recorders on the election procedures manual; supporters argued consultation would reduce litigation, critics called it overreach.
The Committee of the Whole recommended Senate Bill 12-37 receive a do-pass report after floor debate over how much legislative oversight the secretary of state should have over the election procedures manual.
Representative Collin supported the bill, arguing committees and legislators have useful expertise and that requiring consultation would make the manual less likely to prompt litigation. Opponents said the secretary of state, an independently elected official, is the proper administrator of elections and that mandating legislative review would amount to overreach. Representative Gillette cited the need for notification and legislative involvement and suggested court losses by the secretary of state’s office underscored the bill’s necessity.
The committee adopted the recommendation that SB 12-37 receive a do-pass report and placed the bill on the calendar for third reading.
Why it matters: The bill would change the process for producing the statewide election procedures manual (EPM) by formalizing legislative consultation. Supporters said the change could produce a more robust EPM and reduce litigation; opponents warned it would politicize election administration.
What’s next: SB 12-37 was reported out of the Committee of the Whole and placed on the House calendar for third reading.
