Researcher: MHF Page 1 3/31/25
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 7125
AN ACT CONCERNING REFERENDA ON REVISIONS TO
MUNICIPAL CHARTERS AND HOME RULE ORDINANCES.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes requirements for ballot designations (i.e.
questions) for proposed changes to municipal charters and home rule
ordinances that must be submitted to a municipality’s voters at an
election (whether required by the statutes or a special act, charter, or
ordinance). It also explicitly allows complaints regarding the
preparation of these referenda to be brought in state court.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2025
BALLOT DESIGNATION R EQUIREMENTS
Question Format and Explanation
Under the bill, similar to existing law for referendum questions, the
ballot designation for a proposed charter or home rule ordinance
amendment must be “Shall (here insert the question, in a form requiring
a “Yes” or “No” response, followed by a question mark).” If the
designation as presented does not adequately explain the proposed
change or changes, the bill requires the inclusion of a precise and fair
explanation that does not advocate for or against the amendment. The
bill requires that both the designation and the explanation use simple,
precise, clear, unambiguous, and plain language.
Existing law allows municipalities, generally by vote of their
legislative bodies, to authorize similar explanatory texts or other printed
materials for referendum questions. For regional school district
referenda, only the regional board of education can authorize
explanatory text. 2025HB-07125-R000365-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 3/31/25
Proposed Amendments on Certain Subjects
Under the bill, proposed charter or home rule ordinance amendments
addressing the following subjects must appear and be described
separately on the ballot:
1. any change in election method for the municipality’s legislative
or governing body;
2. any changes on whether a municipal official is elected or
appointed;
3. any changes on a municipal official’s term length;
4. any changes regarding residency requirements for municipal
department heads;
5. the creation or elimination of a municipal board or commission,
with specific reference to each board or commission, and a
description of its authority if being created; and
6. any changes regarding public notice requirements for public
hearings related to the municipal budget process.
The bill requires the question to specifically identify each affected
position for any changes regarding (1) whether a municipal official is
appointed or elected, (2) a municipal official’s term length, or (3)
municipal department head residency requirements. For each category,
the changes may be presented as a single item if the same change applies
to multiple officials or department heads, as applicable.
SUMMARIES OF FAVORAB LE AND OPPOSING ARGU MENTS
The bill allows municipalities to prepare, print, and distribute concise
summaries of arguments for and against the proposed charter or home
rule ordinance amendment, and requires these summaries to comply
with existing law’s requirements for summaries for referendum
questions. (But unlike existing law for referendum questions, it allows
them to do this without passing an ordinance to that effect.)
The existing law authorizes municipalities, by ordinance, to provide 2025HB-07125-R000365-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 3 3/31/25
for concise summaries of favorable and opposing arguments for
approved local proposals or questions at a referendum for which
explanatory texts are prepared. The ordinance must provide for the
establishment or designation of a committee, whose members must
represent various viewpoints, to prepare the summaries.
To the extent practicable, the committee must provide an opportunity
for public comment on the prepared summaries. The summaries must
be approved by the municipality’s legislative body, or any other
municipal body designated by the ordinance, and be posted and
distributed in the same way as explanatory texts. Each summary must
contain language clearly stating that the printing of the summary does
not constitute an endorsement by, or represent the official position of,
the municipality.
COMPLAINTS
Existing law allows citizens to file a complaint with any Superior
Court judge if he or she claims to have been aggrieved in connection
with a referendum by, among other things, an election official’s ruling.
The bill specifies that for the purposes of a referendum held on a
charter or home rule ordinance amendment, an “election official”
includes the appointing authority that prepared the amendment and its
preparation is considered a “ruling.”
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/12/2025)