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Committee advances amendment to require special election for lone lieutenant governor vacancy
Summary
Sen. Gavan told the State Government Committee SB 271 would require a special election to fill a lieutenant governor vacancy that occurs during the first two years of a term so voters elect both governor and lieutenant governor; the committee approved the measure by voice vote.
The State Government Committee advanced SB 271 after Sen. Gavan told members the measure would add a provision to the state constitution requiring a special election if only the lieutenant governor’s office is vacant during the first two years of a governor’s term. Sen. Gavan said the special election would occur during a presidential election cycle so it would not add separate election costs and would let voters choose both offices rather than leaving the post vacant.
Sen. Gavan described the proposal as a fix to what he called a difficult situation when the lieutenant governor’s post is empty and the president pro tempore must assume additional duties. Representative Butler seconded the motion; the committee approved the bill by voice vote with no roll-call recorded in the transcript.
The measure was presented as a constitutional amendment and sponsor remarks referenced past occurrences when the line of succession required expanded duties for legislative leadership. The committee took no formal amendments on the floor and moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally for SB 271 in the transcript; the clerk announced the bill passed by voice vote. The next step for the bill is the regular legislative process outside committee.
