The bill amends existing laws regarding the election of city council members in municipalities, specifically focusing on the requirements for filing ordinances related to these elections. It introduces new provisions that mandate the governing body of a municipality to file an ordinance describing the election of council members with the county clerk by August 31 of the calendar year preceding the election. Additionally, cities of the first class must file such ordinances by January 1, 2026. The bill stipulates that once an ordinance is filed, no changes can be made to the election process until a new ordinance is passed and filed by the same deadline. If a city fails to file the required ordinance, its council members will be elected at large.

The bill also includes similar filing requirements for cities of the second class and modifies the language regarding the role of the county board of election commissioners to ensure that qualified electors in each ward have access to voting precincts. Overall, the legislation aims to standardize the process for municipalities in electing council members and ensure compliance with filing deadlines to maintain orderly elections.

Statutes affected:
SB 297: 14-43-307, 14-43-308, 14-43-309, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-103
Act 283: 14-43-307, 14-43-308, 14-43-309, 14-44-103(b), 14-44-103