Legislative wrap-up 03/08/19

Bill changes times for school elections, again

A bill that moves starting times for school board elections and referendums to 7 a.m. moved out of Senate committee March 6 and awaits action in the full Senate.

House Bill 11 is similar to one signed into law last year, but it makes some technical corrections including changing the starting time for school board elections and referendums to 7 a.m. with polls closing at 8 p.m.

The bill already passed unanimously in the House in January.

Bill proposes moving state primaries to April

A bill to move primary elections for state, county and municipal offices to the fourth Tuesday in April awaits a decision in Senate committee.

House Bill 41 would move primaries to the same date as presidential primaries held in presidential election years. The bill also changes dates for a minor political party to file and changes the time after which voters are not allowed to change their political affiliation. In January, the bill passed a full House vote 36-5.