Representative Ben Koppelman, sponsor of House Bill 1424, told the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee that his amendments shift initial responsibility for reviewing endorsement challenges from state agencies to the political parties themselves.

Koppelman described an approach where a district chairman would sign a certificate of endorsement and forward it to the state committee; the state committee then would have at least seven days to wait and, if a protest was filed, investigate via an “inquiry committee” and either resolve or return the certificate to the district with instructions to correct deficiencies. "If there is substance, then they have then they take the next 7 days to investigate," Koppelman said.

Koppelman argued the change respects party autonomy and aligns with court precedent that a state may not completely deny a party the ability to choose its nominee. He described the change as creating a 14-day process (seven days to allow protests and seven days to investigate) before the certificate is forwarded to the secretary of state.

Representative Carls described a district scenario where a convention chose an unknown candidate and then the candidate who obtained signatures won the primary; he asked whether the second candidate in that example could still appear on the primary or general ballot. Koppelman responded that under his proposal, if the party followed its process and produced a valid certificate, the endorsed candidate would occupy the party’s path unless the party failed to endorse or the endorsement was invalidated.

The committee adopted Koppelman’s amendments by roll call (motion recorded as carrying 11-1-1), but later in the meeting members debated the bill’s broader effect on party processes and grassroots participation. Representative Carls, Representative Vedder and others voiced concerns that the changes could reduce voters’ choices in primaries and shift power away from broader participation. After debate, the committee recorded a motion of do not pass on House Bill 1424; the roll call for the do-not-pass motion carried 7-5-1.

Koppelman said the bill is meant to create clarity around party endorsement procedures and help parties resolve internal disputes before they reach state officials. The bill and its amendments will appear in the committee record and proceed according to regular legislative process with the committee’s recommendation.