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SB 13

Remove Supreme Court original jurisdiction for ballot review

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Daniel Emrich

SB 13 aimed to shift ballot review cases from the Supreme Court to lower courts, potentially speeding up dispute resolutions for voters and election officials.

(S) Died in Process
#ballotissues #courts #judgesandjustices
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 13

Summary of SB 13: Remove Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction for Ballot Review

Bill Overview

Bill Number: SB 13
Title: Remove Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction for Ballot Review
Status: Died in Process
Introduced: January 22, 2025
Classification: Bill
Subject Areas: Ballot Issues, Courts, Judges and Justices

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of SB 13 was to amend the existing legal framework regarding the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction over ballot reviews. By removing this jurisdiction, the bill aimed to streamline the process of reviewing ballots and potentially shift the responsibility to lower courts or other entities.

Key Provisions

  • Removal of Original Jurisdiction: The bill proposed to eliminate the Supreme Court's authority to directly handle cases related to ballot reviews. This change would require such cases to be addressed in lower courts first.
  • Impact on Legal Processes: The bill intended to modify how disputes regarding ballots are managed, potentially leading to quicker resolutions at the lower court level rather than through the Supreme Court.

Affected Parties

  • Voters and Election Officials: The bill would have impacted voters by potentially altering the speed and manner in which ballot-related disputes are resolved. Election officials would also need to adapt to the new legal processes for handling such disputes.
  • Judicial System: The change would have implications for the judicial system, redistributing the workload from the Supreme Court to lower courts.

Procedural Aspects

  • Legislative Timeline:
    • The bill was introduced on January 22, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education.
    • It underwent several readings and committee actions but ultimately died in process on May 23, 2025, indicating it did not advance to a vote or further consideration.
  • Effective Date: Had it passed, the bill was set to become effective on September 1, 2026.

Conclusion

SB 13 aimed to reform the judicial handling of ballot reviews by removing the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction. While it proposed significant changes to the electoral process, the bill did not progress through the legislative process and ultimately did not become law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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