Senate Finance Committee members held a first hearing on Senate Bill 63, a measure that would add one commissioner seat to the Local Boundary Commission reserved for someone who lives in the unorganized borough and lengthen commissioner terms from five to six years.

Sponsor Sen. Mike Cronk, R., said the bill reintroduces language from last year’s House Bill 279 and responds to constituent concerns that the current commission lacks direct representation for residents of the unorganized borough. Cronk’s staff described statutory language that would require a commissioner appointed from the unorganized borough to live in and be registered to vote in the judicial district from which they are appointed and would change selection of the commission chair so members elect the chair from among themselves rather than defaulting to a member at large.

Two residents who testified in support said the commission’s recent handling of a petition involving the Hoonborough highlighted gaps in perspective and financial analysis for unorganized areas. Kathy Leary, city administrator for the City of Davis, said unorganized communities “don’t have a dedicated voice on the Local Boundary Commission” and argued that adding a commissioner from the unorganized borough would improve evaluation of potential revenue and land impacts. Colleen Stansbury, a long‑time Southeast resident, told the committee she saw “deep dysfunction” in the commission’s recent decision-making and urged the panel to approve SB63.

The Division of Community and Regional Affairs provided staff to answer questions. The committee reviewed a fiscal note described by staff as zero net fiscal impact for the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.

Chairman Hoffman closed the public hearing without taking a committee vote; the bill will return for further consideration and any future committee action was not recorded at the hearing.