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

In addition to these new requirements, the bill amends existing statutes by repealing certain sections to align with the new procedures, including the municipal clerk's obligation to file a statement with the Secretary of the State regarding ballot designations. The term "election official" is expanded to include the appointing authority responsible for ballot preparation, and the bill clarifies that the designation of ballot questions must follow the new guidelines. The bill also modifies subsection (c) of section 9-369b, removing the previous allowance for municipalities to prepare summaries of arguments for local proposals without a committee. Instead, municipalities must now form a committee representing diverse viewpoints to create these summaries, which must be approved by the legislative body and allow for public comment. Overall, the bill aims to improve transparency and public engagement in the municipal 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