This bill amends existing laws regarding county supervisor representation plans and the process for filling vacancies in the office of county supervisor. It mandates that counties with a population of 125,000 or more, or those that host the main campus of a state board of regents institution, must adopt "plan three" for the election of supervisors, which requires members to be elected from single-member, equal-population districts. Counties not currently using plan three must submit a precinct plan to the state commissioner of elections by October 1, 2025, and the new representation plan must be drawn by the legislative services agency for implementation in the 2026 general election. Additionally, the bill changes the date for special elections related to supervisor representation plans from the first Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and it extends the deadline for completing a new representation plan from November 1 to December 31.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that vacancies on the board of supervisors in larger counties must be filled by special election, whereas smaller counties without a higher education institution may fill vacancies by appointment. The bill also clarifies internal references and updates the process for filling vacancies based on the population of the county. It is designed to ensure that representation is equitable and that the process for filling vacancies is consistent with the size and needs of the county. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 331.206, 331.207, 39.17, 69.14A, 331.201