HF248 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Elections; city, town, and school district general elections required to be conducted on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an even-numbered year; cities of the first class permitted to choose to conduct a general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of either an odd-numbered or even-numbered year; and cities, towns, and school districts required to adopt an orderly transition plan.
AI Generated Summary
This bill proposes that general elections for cities, towns, and school districts in Minnesota be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. It allows larger cities ("cities of the first class") the flexibility to choose to hold their elections in either odd-numbered or even-numbered years. When a city decides to change its election year, they must adjust the terms of current officials accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. This may result in extending some terms or having elections for certain positions occur simultaneously to align with the new schedule.
The bill also dictates that if a city chooses to change its election timing, they need to provide a notice to both the county auditor and the secretary of state about the change. Additionally, if citizens disagree with the change, they can petition for a referendum to potentially reverse the decision.
Provisions are also made for school districts. They can opt to hold primary elections to nominate school board candidates if there are more candidates than positions available. Like cities and towns, school districts are also allowed to adjust the dates of these primaries.
Finally, the bill repeals one clause from the statutes, indicating potential updates or removals of outdated provisions. Overall, the aim of the legislation is to standardize election dates and make them more consistent across various municipalities and school districts, while also providing flexibility for larger cities.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 09, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Elections Finance and Government Operations |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows cities of the first class to choose between odd or even years for elections."
],
"removed": [
"None."
],
"summary": "This bill modifies election scheduling procedures for municipal elections under section 205.07.",
"modified": [
"Changes the default municipal election year to be only in even-numbered years, unless decided otherwise by the city ordinance."
]
},
"citation": "205.07"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"None."
],
"removed": [
"None."
],
"summary": "The bill references election procedures guided by section 205.10.",
"modified": [
"Any referendum on election date changes must comply with election dates authorized by section 205.10, subdivision 3a."
]
},
"citation": "205.10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A clause clarifying election procedures based on the number of candidates."
],
"removed": [
"None."
],
"summary": "This bill alters conditions for school district primary elections under section 205A.03.",
"modified": [
"The primary election date is now specified as the second Tuesday in August in election years."
]
},
"citation": "205A.03"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"None."
],
"removed": [
"None."
],
"summary": "The bill indirectly refers to section 205A.07 for notifications regarding school district primaries.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies notification procedures for primaries organized by school districts, referencing section 205A.07."
]
},
"citation": "205A.07"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows for postponement of general elections held in odd-numbered years due to inclement weather."
],
"removed": [
"None."
],
"summary": "Modifications related to postponements due to inclement weather.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies conditions under which elections can be postponed, aligning with section 205A.055."
]
},
"citation": "205A.055"
}
]