COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.:3362S.01I Bill No.:SB 1120 Subject:County Officials; Elections; Secretary of State; Political Parties Type:Original Date:March 7, 2024Bill Summary:This proposal reinstates the Presidential Preference Primary election.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND
AFFECTED
FY 2025FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028General
Revenue* $0$0$0
(More than
$8,000,000)
Total Estimated
Net Effect on
General
Revenue $0$0$0
(More than
$8,000,000)
*Costs of approximately $8 million in March 2028 (FY 2028) for holding a Presidential
Preference Primary Election.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND
AFFECTED
FY 2025FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated
Net Effect on
Other State
Funds $0$0$0$0
Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 3362S.01I
Bill No. SB 1120
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March 7, 2024
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ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND
AFFECTED
FY 2025FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated
Net Effect on
All Federal
Funds $0$0$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND
AFFECTED
FY 2025FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated
Net Effect on
FTE 0000
☒ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any
of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of
the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND
AFFECTED
FY 2025FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Local
Government$0$0$0(Unknown) L.R. No. 3362S.01I
Bill No. SB 1120
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FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Sections 115.105, 115.123, 115.755, 115.758, 115.761, 115.765, 115.767, 115.770, 115.773,
115.785, 115.904 – Reinstating the Presidential Primary
Officials from the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) assume this bill would reinstate the
presidential preference primary (PPP) election which was previously held in March of any
presidential election year.
Oversight notes section 115.785 states all costs of a presidential preference primary shall be
paid by the state and for any county with more than five hundred polling places, the state shall
assist in assuring adequate poll workers and equipment. The payment of election costs is subject
to appropriation by the General Assembly. However, if they assume that the presidential
preference primary were to be fully appropriated as it has been in years past, SOS anticipates a
cost of $8 million. Oversight has reflected, in this fiscal note, an $8 million cost due to
reinstating the requirement to hold a PPP. The next scheduled Presidential Preference Primary
election would be in March 2028 (FY28). As this election is scheduled for the first Tuesday in
March, it may coincide with the municipal primary elections held by charter counties (scheduled
for the Tuesday following the first Monday of March); in this case, proportional cost sharing
may reduce the state’s obligations for this election.
Therefore, Oversight will reflect a potential election cost for reimbursement to local political
subdivisions in FY 2028.
In addition, SOS
equipment for counties containing more than 500 polling places. For the most recent general
election held in November 2022, no county claimed to operate more than 500 polling places.
However, at least two counties did claim more than 500 precincts at that election, so there may
be a potential cost if these counties were forced to open additional polling places. The scope of
such potential cost is unknown.
Oversight notes there is no way to determine if particular counties will be operating more than
500 polling places. Therefore, Oversight will also reflect a $0 to unknown cost to the state for the
potential cost of poll workers and equipment for counties containing more than 500 polling
places.
The Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) also assumes many bills considered by the General
Assembly include provisions allowing or requiring agencies to submit rules and regulations to
implement the act. The SOS is provided with core funding to handle a certain amount of normal
activity resulting from each year’s legislative session. The fiscal impact for this fiscal note to the
SOS for Administrative Rules is less than $5,000. The SOS recognizes that this is a small
amount and does not expect that additional funding would be required to meet these costs. L.R. No. 3362S.01I
Bill No. SB 1120
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However, the SOS also recognizes that many such bills may be passed by the General Assembly
in a given year and that collectively the costs may be in excess of what the office can sustain
with the core budget. Therefore, the SOS reserves the right to request funding for the cost of
supporting administrative rules requirements should the need arise based on a review of the
finally approved bills signed by the governor.
Oversight assumes the SOS could absorb the costs of printing and distributing regulations
related to this proposal. If multiple bills pass which require the printing and distribution of
regulations at substantial costs, the SOS could require additional resources.
Officials from the Platte County Board of Elections assume the cost to hold a Presidential
Preference Primary in 2020 was $84,155.70. The cost to hold a future Presidential Preference
Primary should be near but probably higher than the 2020 amount.
Officials from the St. Louis City Board of Elections assume Cost of a citywide election is
roughly $500,000. While City of St. Louis, generally, elects municipal officers in odd numbered
years, we had "special" general election 2022 (and we will have one this coming April), most
LEAs across Missouri do have regular, even year, April General Municipal Elections. In odd
years, we are tasked with having a March Primary followed by an April General, so I can speak
from experience that this is an extremely difficult turnaround. More time between the PPP and
the April General would be more palatable and lead to better run, more efficient elections.
Officials from the Greene County Clerk’s Office assume SOS’ costs for March 2020 was
$192,162. The total cost of the March 2020 election was $266,341. As the State does not pay for
machine rental, poll pad rental, and other portions of election costs, the County costs were
approximately $74,178 for the machine rental, poll pad rental, a portion of clerk salary, a portion
of ballot supplies. With the updated increased costs since 2020, a presidential preference
primary will cost the State approximately 326,346.17 of allowable costs.
Officials from the Jackson County Election Board and St. Louis County Board of Elections
both assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their respective organizations.
Oversight notes section 115.785 states all costs of a presidential preference primary shall be
paid by the state and for any county with more than five hundred polling places, the state shall
assist in assuring adequate poll workers and equipment. Therefore, the fiscal note will reflect the
cost and reimbursement to local election authorities netting to zero.
Oversight will reflect an unknown cost to local election authorities for election expenses
(machine rental, poll pad rental, a portion of clerk salary, and a portion of ballot supplies) not
covered by state as mentioned above by the Greene County Clerk’s Office. L.R. No. 3362S.01I
Bill No. SB 1120
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Oversight only reflects the responses received from state agencies and political subdivisions;
however, other local election authorities and county clerks were requested to respond to this
proposed legislation but did not. A listing of political subdivisions included in the Missouri
Legislative Information System (MOLIS) database is available upon request.
FISCAL IMPACT – State
Government
FY 2025
(10 Mo.)
FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028GENERAL REVENUE FUNDCost - SOS §115.785
Reimbursement of local election
authority election costs for PPP $0$0$0
(More than
$8,000,000)
Cost – SOS §115.785
Additional poll workers and
equipment$0$0$0
$0 to
(Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT
ON GENERAL REVENUE
FUND$0$0$0
(More than
$8,000,000)
FISCAL IMPACT – Local
Government
FY 2025
(10 Mo.)
FY 2026FY 2027FY 2028LOCAL POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS
Revenue Gain - Local Election
Authorities - §115.785
reimbursement of election costs
for PPP $0$0$0
$0 or More
than
$8,000,000
Cost - Local Election
Authorities §115.785 - holding
PPP election
$0$0$0$0 or (More
than
$8,000,000)
Cost – Local Election
Authorities
Election expenses not covered by
State$0$0$0(Unknown)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT
ON LOCAL POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS$0$0$0(Unknown) L.R. No. 3362S.01I
Bill No. SB 1120
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FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
This act establishes a presidential preference primary election to be held on the second Tuesday
after the first Monday in March of each year in which a presidential election is held.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not
require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of the Secretary of State
Jackson County Election Board
Platte County Board of Elections
St. Louis City Board of Elections
St. Louis County Board of Elections
Greene County Clerk’s Office
Julie MorffRoss StropeDirectorAssistant DirectorMarch 7, 2024March 7, 2024