Iowa Senate Bill SSB3204

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/4/24
• Refer: 4/4/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to county supervisors, concerning county supervisor representation plans and county supervisor vacancies, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2439.)

Impact

The implementation of SSB3204 would centralize and standardize the electoral procedures for larger counties, potentially enhancing representation and accountability at the local government level. The transition to the new plan will not take immediate effect but will begin with the 2026 elections for those counties currently not using the Plan Three format. This gradual implementation affords counties the time necessary to create and adapt to new districting plans without sudden disruptions in governance.

Summary

SSB3204 proposes significant changes to the way county supervisors are elected and how vacancies are managed in counties with a population of 125,000 or more, following the most recent federal census. The bill mandates that these counties must use a 'Plan Three' representation plan, which specifies that supervisors be elected from single-member districts that have equal populations. Existing laws will still apply to counties below this population threshold, allowing them to fill vacancies through appointments as dictated by current regulations.

Contention

While proponents argue that SSB3204 strengthens democratic processes by ensuring equitable representation in populous counties, critics may raise concerns over the capacity of smaller counties to adopt such a structured plan. Additionally, the requirement for a special election to fill vacancies in larger counties could lead to discussions about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of such elections versus appointments, especially in cases of sudden vacancies.