Substitute Senate Bill No. 1185 is an act that introduces amendments to government administration and election statutes, with an effective date of October 1, 2023. The bill corrects grammatical errors, updates commission names, clarifies data definitions, revises council compositions, and mandates timely payments to small contractors. It also addresses administrative details such as eligibility for awards, petition misrepresentation, and technical changes by the Legislative Commissioners' Office. Notably, the bill modifies the appointment process for the executive director of the Office of Military Affairs, designates March as Peace Corps Month, and allows the Secretary of the State to update forms as necessary.

The bill significantly revises procedures for handling absentee ballots, including the delivery and counting of ballots, and standardizes the process by removing provisions specific to the 2020 state election and events held between June 23, 2021, and November 3, 2021. It also details the preservation and destruction of election materials, outlines the process for electors to vote in person if they've withdrawn their absentee ballot, and standardizes the publication requirements for election warnings. Furthermore, the bill updates the notification and post-election procedures, including the warning process for state and municipal elections, and streamlines the recanvassing of votes. Lastly, it amends the duties of moderators in municipal elections, repeals certain temporary provisions, and allows municipalities to change their election dates with terms of officials adjusted accordingly. The bill was approved on June 7, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 2-129, 4-67o, 4-5, 9-139b, 9-140c, 9-147a, 9-150b, 9-159o, 9-159r, 9-225, 9-226, 9-307, 9-309, 9-311, 9-314, 9-435, 9-150e
GAE Joint Favorable: 2-129, 4-67o, 4-5, 9-139b, 9-140c, 9-147a, 9-150b, 9-159o, 9-159r, 9-225, 9-226, 9-307, 9-309, 9-311, 9-314, 9-435, 9-150e
File No. 500: 2-129, 4-67o, 4-5, 9-139b, 9-140c, 9-147a, 9-150b, 9-159o, 9-159r, 9-225, 9-226, 9-307, 9-309, 9-311, 9-314, 9-435, 9-150e
Public Act No. 23-22: 2-129, 4-67o, 4-5, 9-139b, 9-140c, 9-147a, 9-150b, 9-159o, 9-159r, 9-225, 9-226, 9-307, 9-309, 9-311, 9-314, 9-435, 9-164c, 9-150e