The Finance and Taxation committee voted unanimously (6‑0) to approve an amendment to House Bill 14‑82 and to give the bill a due‑pass recommendation as amended. The bill, as amended, would require most local bond elections to be held only on the same date as a primary or general election, establish a 64‑day notice requirement, and formalize county coordination and cost‑sharing for bond election administration.

Vice Chair Rummel, who presented the amendment, told the committee the amendment breaks out different procedures for municipalities that follow the county election process (cities, counties, public school districts, park districts) from rural fire protection districts, townships, and recreation service districts, which follow different processes. Rummel said the amendment aligns HB 14‑82 with language the legislature already adopted in House Bill 11‑38, which affects election timing and notice requirements.

Members discussed operational and administrative impacts. Rummel noted that while most park districts and cities already have agreements with counties, many public school districts—168 in the state—do not have county agreements; the presenter said 33 school districts currently have agreements in place. Committee members heard that moving bond elections to primaries and generals centralizes administration with counties, which could reduce the number of standalone elections and potentially lower aggregate costs, but it also increases county workload and requires coordination across counties for districts that cross county lines.

The amendment also clarified whether bond questions must appear on the same physical ballot or may appear on separate ballots when a school district spans multiple counties; the amendment permits differing ballot arrangements to accommodate cross‑county districts. The amendment removes duplicate language about spoiled or blank ballots, and Legislative Council confirmed the removal is acceptable because the same treatment is specified elsewhere in election law.

Procedural actions: the committee rescinded its prior committee action on a previous version, voted to adopt Amendment 25.0546.01005, then voted to give HB 14‑82 a due‑pass recommendation as amended. Senator Rummel moved the due‑pass motion; Senator Wallin seconded; the clerk recorded a unanimous roll call in favor. The committee asked Senator Rummel to carry the amended bill to the floor.

Implementation considerations: presenters and staff said counties would initially bear administrative costs of consolidated bond elections but may share costs with the political subdivisions holding the bond questions. The presenter and Legislative Council indicated the 64‑day notice will be workable because bond counsel and sponsors commonly plan bond elections well in advance.

No final enacted law resulted from the committee vote; the committee’s action was a recommendation to advance the amended bill to the floor.