A proposal to restructure how district parties organize failed to advance from the Political Subdivisions Committee after extended debate over precinct caucuses and the role of state party rules.

House Bill 1431, described to the committee as relating to district parties and district committees, drew partisan and procedural concern during its hearing. Representative Clamine led an amendment that removed new language and restored statutory language preserving precinct caucuses. The committee adopted that amendment on a roll call.

Several committee members objected to the broader bill language and said they had not sufficiently engaged the state's political parties. Representative Hager said the bill had been written without a mechanism to address the existence of multiple parties in the state and that many districts preferred no change. Representatives Haddleston, Bosley and others voiced concerns that the bill altered a system that works for their districts.

After members considered a do-pass motion without a second (the motion died for lack of a second), Representative Bosley moved a do-not-pass recommendation. Following debate the committee approved a do-not-pass on House Bill 1431 as amended. Representative Jonas was named the bill carrier for the record.

Committee discussion centered on whether the bill inappropriately reduced the ability of district parties to use precinct caucuses, and whether state-level rules should be able to dictate local party organization. Representative Killeen, who spoke in opposition to some of the changes, said restoring precinct caucus language was acceptable to him and that the rest of the bill contained provisions he considered more important.

The committee record shows the amendment that restored precinct caucus language carried 9–0 with 4 members absent; the do-not-pass final vote was recorded by the clerk as passing. The transcript indicates members repeatedly requested greater consultation with state parties before approving statutory changes to internal party processes.

With the do-not-pass recommendation, House Bill 1431 will not advance from committee at this time.