Substitute Senate Bill No. 393 proposes amendments to the procedures for conducting special elections to fill vacancies in the offices of U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and probate judges due to the death of the incumbent. The bill mandates that the Governor must issue writs of election within a timeframe of no less than seven days and no more than seventeen days following the vacancy caused by death. This requirement applies equally to vacancies in the Senate and House of Representatives. Additionally, the bill ensures that elections for these vacancies do not coincide with regular state or municipal elections, thereby clarifying the timing of such elections.

The legislation also modifies existing legal language by repealing certain subsections and replacing them with new provisions that specify the conditions under which elections will be held. Notably, it maintains the existing timeline for vacancies caused by resignations while establishing that for probate judge vacancies due to death, writs must also be issued within the seven to seventeen-day window. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and is designed to streamline the process for filling vacancies while ensuring timely elections, without imposing any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.