Senate Bill No. 1539, introduced by Bettencourt, amends the Election Code to establish new requirements and procedures for contests of elections regarding proposed constitutional amendments. Key changes include the stipulation that the filing of an election contest does not suspend the implementation of a constitutional amendment approved by a majority of votes cast. Additionally, a new subsection mandates that trial courts must issue a written ruling on pretrial motions within 30 days of filing, and the trial date cannot be set earlier than 45 days after the contested election. However, the trial court must ensure that the judgment is filed no later than 180 days after the election date.

The bill also modifies the court's responsibilities in the event of a contest, requiring the court to direct the governor to declare the election valid or void within 10 days after the judgment becomes final. Furthermore, if an appeal is filed, the appellate court must resolve the matter within 60 days of the judgment becoming final. These changes will apply to contests filed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, while contests filed before this date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 233.014 (Election Code 233)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 233.014 (Election Code 233)
Engrossed: Election Code 233.014 (Election Code 233)