The proposed General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7125 seeks to implement new procedures for referenda related to amendments of municipal charters and home rule ordinances, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill stipulates that any proposed amendment must be clearly presented on the ballot, requiring voters to respond with a "Yes" or "No," accompanied by a precise explanation of the changes. Additionally, if the amendment involves specific elements such as alterations to the election process for municipal officials or changes in residency requirements, these must be listed separately on the ballot for individual consideration.

The bill includes significant revisions to existing statutes, notably repealing subsection (f) of section 7-191 and replacing it with new language that aligns with the bill's requirements for ballot question preparation. It also modifies section 9-369 to clarify the voting process for proposed amendments. Furthermore, the bill 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 provisions require municipalities to form a committee representing diverse viewpoints to create these summaries, which must be approved by the legislative body before distribution. The bill emphasizes transparency by mandating that summaries clearly state that their publication does not imply municipal endorsement, thereby enhancing the democratic process by providing voters with balanced information.

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