The proposed General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7125 aims to enhance the procedures for referenda related to amendments of municipal charters and home rule ordinances, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill requires that any proposed amendments presented for a vote must be clearly stated on the ballot, allowing voters to respond with a "Yes" or "No," accompanied by a fair and precise explanation of the changes. Additionally, if the amendment involves specific issues such as changes to the election process, residency requirements, or the creation or elimination of municipal boards, these must be listed separately on the ballot for individual voter consideration.

The bill includes significant modifications to existing statutes, notably repealing subsection (f) of section 7-191 and replacing it with new provisions regarding ballot question preparation. It also amends section 9-369 to clarify the voting process for proposed amendments, ensuring compliance with the new requirements. Furthermore, it repeals the previous language in subsection (c) of section 9-369b, which allowed municipalities to prepare summaries of arguments for local proposals without oversight. The new language mandates that municipalities establish a committee representing diverse viewpoints to prepare these summaries, which must be approved by the legislative body and allow for public comment, thereby promoting transparency and balanced representation in the referendum process.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-191, 9-369
GAE Joint Favorable: 7-191, 9-369
File No. 365: 7-191, 9-369
PD Joint Favorable: 7-191, 9-369