Lawmakers delayed a bill Tuesday that aimed to standardize election petition deadlines.
They raised concerns about changing election rules while candidates were already gathering signatures.
House Bill 1095, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Reimer, R-Chamberlain, would move up filing deadlines for municipal and school board nominating petitions to give election officials more time to verify petitions and prepare ballots. The bill also includes an emergency clause that would make the changes effective immediately.
Reimer told the House State Affairs Committee the proposal is intended to address election administration problems created by last year’s consolidation of local elections.
“What election officials need most is clarity and time,” Reimer said. “Late filings, unclear deadlines, and last minute changes create uncertainty, increase the risk of error, and place added strain on already limited resources.”
County and municipal election officials testified in support, saying current timelines make it difficult to meet statutory deadlines for ballot preparation and absentee voting.
Thomas Oliva, Hughes County finance officer, said the changes are a response to House Bill 1130 passed last year.
“We had to really work together and figure out how we were gonna change our processes to fit that bill,” Oliva said. “I believe what everybody has put together here really does bring some consistency.”
Christine Lehrkamp, director of elections for the Secretary of State’s Office, warned that the 2026 calendar creates a severe time crunch.
“Due to the deadlines that are in statute right now, the auditors will not have the ballots in time to begin absentee voting,” Lehrkamp said.
However, several lawmakers expressed concern about the bill’s emergency clause and the impact on potential candidates who are already circulating petitions.
Rep. Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham, said changing deadlines midstream could create confusion and unfairness.
“If we go in as incumbents and we pass this law in the middle of the petitioning process and we chop off two weeks worth of petitioning, that could look really bad and it could look like we’re shutting the dooron potential competition.” Gosch said.
After extended discussion, the committee voted unanimously to defer HB 1095 until Monday, Feb. 2, giving the sponsor time to work on possible changes.