Substitute Senate Bill No. 1515 establishes the Municipal Election Accountability Board (MEAB) within the Secretary of the State's office to enhance oversight and accountability in municipal election administration. The board will consist of 15 members, including the Secretary of the State and the Executive Director of the State Elections Enforcement Commission, along with 13 appointed members with expertise in election law and administration. The bill introduces new legal language that allows for referrals to the MEAB from various state entities and citizens when there is a reasonable likelihood of irregularities in election administration. The board is required to conduct preliminary reviews of these referrals and can hold hearings to determine if violations occurred, with the authority to impose varying levels of oversight on municipalities based on their findings.

The bill outlines a tiered oversight system ranging from Tier I to Tier IV, with increasing levels of intervention and requirements for municipalities. For example, Tier I municipalities must develop mitigation plans and provide mandatory training for election officials, while Tier IV municipalities will have elections fully administered by the board. The MEAB is mandated to adopt regulations by January 1, 2026, to implement these provisions. The bill does not specify any deletions from current law but introduces significant new provisions aimed at improving election integrity and accountability. Additionally, it includes fiscal impacts, estimating costs for the Secretary of the State's office and potential costs for municipalities based on the level of oversight imposed.