Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Fiscal Note
                                        Fiscal Services Division
SF 2439 – County Supervisor Districts (LSB6387SV)
Staff Contact: Joey Lovan (515.242.5925) joey.lovan@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 2439 relates to county redistricting plans. The Bill is organized into three divisions.
Division I
This Division requires counties with a population of 125,000 or more based on the most recent
federal decennial census to use plan “three” for the election of supervisors. The Bill provides
that a county with a population of 125,000 or more as of the effective date of this Bill that does
not use plan “three” as of the effective date for the election of supervisors is not required to elect
supervisors under plan “three” until the election of supervisors in 2026.
This Division also requires counties to establish a temporary county redistricting commission to
adopt a representation plan by the later of 30 days after the effective date of this Bill or May 15,
2024. The plan is required to be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) no later
than November 1, 2024, and will become effective January 1, 2025.
Division II
This Division defines how a vacancy on a board of supervisors is to be filled. A county with a
population of less than 125,000 based on the most recent federal decennial census is required
to fill the vacancy by appointment by the committee of county officers. A county with a
population of 125,000 or more based on the most recent federal decennial census is required to
fill the vacancy with a special election.
Division III
This Division makes the Bill effective upon enactment.
Background
Currently, Iowa Code section 331.206 requires county redistricting plans to be selected by the
county board of supervisors or by special election as provided in Iowa Code section 331.207.
The three plans used for the election of supervisors are as follows:
• Plan “one” — election at large without district residence requirements for the members.
• Plan “two” — election at large but with equal-population district residence requirements for
   the members.
• Plan “three” — election from single-member equal-population districts, in which the electors
   of each district shall elect one member who must reside in that district.
Currently, there are five counties with a population of 125,000 or more that would be required to
use plan “three.” Three of the five counties, Black Hawk, Johnson, and Scott, will be changing
from plan “one” to plan “three,” and two of the five counties, Linn and Polk, already use plan
“three.”
Iowa Code section 69.14A allows for the vacancies to be filled by appointment under certain
circumstances.
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Assumptions
Division I
• The three counties changing from plan “one” to plan “three” will experience an estimated
    cost between $40,000 and $80,000 per county to conform their district to plan “three.” The
    estimated cost will cover training, additional precincts, conforming ballots, and the mailing of
    new voter registration cards to all eligible voters within the county.
• There will be no additional costs to the two counties currently using plan “three.”
Division II
Counties that are required to hold special elections as a result of vacancies for their boards of
supervisors are estimated to cost between $15,000 and $90,000 per county per election. The
frequency of elections per county cannot be estimated.
Fiscal Impact
Division I
For the three counties required to change from plan “one” to plan “three” under Division I, the
one-time cost per county is estimated to be between $40,000 and $80,000 for a total one-time
cost of between $120,000 and $240,000 for FY 2025.
Division II
Counties that hold special elections for their boards of supervisors under Division II may incur a
cost of between $15,000 and $90,000 for each special election held in each county.
Source
Iowa State Associations of Counties
                                                                               /s/ Jennifer Acton
                                                                                 April 16, 2024
Doc ID 1449085
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
                                                 www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced: 331.206, 331.207, 39.17, 69.14A, 331.201