A bill for an act relating to the establishment of satellite absentee voting stations on school property.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Judd Lawler

HF 245 bars satellite absentee voting sites on school property when a school ballot question appears in the same election; counties must reject such petitions, limiting access.

Subcommittee: Harris, Lundgren and McBurney.

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HF 245 — Summary

Bill at a glance

Bill number: HF 245

Title: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of satellite absentee voting stations on school property

Status: Introduced, referred to State Government

Introduced: February 6, 2025

Primary sponsor: Lawler

Subject: Absentee voting, school-related bonds and levies, county government, public education funding

Purpose and intent

HF 245 seeks to restrict the establishment of satellite absentee voting stations on school property in situations where a school ballot question is being voted at the same election. Specifically, it adds a constraint to prevent such satellite sites if the site is on school property and the ballot includes a school-issued question (bond, instructional support program, educational improvement program, physical plant and equipment levy, or public education and recreation levy).

Key provisions and changes

Amended provision: Section 53.11, subsection 1, paragraph c, adds a new subparagraph (5).

New rule: If the person requesting a satellite absentee voting site proposes a site that is located on school property, and a school ballot question appears on the ballot to be voted at that election, the county commissioner of elections must reject the petition to establish the satellite absentee voting station.

Scope of affected school questions: The rule applies to bonds, instructional support programs, educational improvement programs, physical plant and equipment levies, and public education and recreation levies issued by any school.

Who/what is affected

County election officials: Specifically the county commissioner of elections, who would be required to reject petitions for satellite voting sites under the described conditions.

Potential satellite voting sites: Sites on school property would be disqualified from hosting satellite absentee voting stations during elections with school ballot questions.

School-related ballots: Any school bond or levy questions on the ballot could trigger the prohibition.

Voters: In practice, voters may face changes or reductions in the availability/location options for satellite absentee voting when school measures are on the ballot.

Practical and policy implications

Accessibility vs. restrictions: The bill prioritizes avoiding the appearance of impropriety or conflicts of interest by avoiding satellite sites on school property when school funding questions are on the ballot. This may reduce convenient access to satellite absentee voting in certain communities, especially where school properties are common polling or planning sites.

Operational impact: Election offices would need to review petitions for satellite sites with the added condition and reject those that meet the specified criteria.

Procedural status and timeline

Introduced: February 6, 2025

Next steps: Referred to the State Government committee for consideration. If passed, it would become part of state law upon enactment.

Notes

The accompanying explanation clarifies the bill’s intent to reject an otherwise valid petition when the site is on school property and school ballot questions are present at the election. The text does not specify an effective date beyond enactment.