02/04/2025

Senate Bill 63

Lead Sponsors: Senator Theresa Gavarone and Senator Bill DeMora

Status: Passed the Senate, 27-5 (May 14, 2025); Second hearing in House General Government (June 10, 2025)

Description: The bill prohibits the state from using the ranked-choice election format and penalizes municipalities and charter counties that decide to use the format. If the Secretary of State determines that a charter county or municipality utilized the ranked-choice format, the Secretary must inform the Tax Commissioner, who then is to withhold the government's entire Local Government Fund payment each month until the local government rescinds the use of ranked-choice. The withheld LGF payment is deposited into the state GRF.

The bill defines "ranked-choice" as a system where:

1. Voters rank candidates on the ballot in order of preference.
2. Tabulation proceeds in rounds, with one or more candidates nominated or elected in each round and one or more last-place candidates defeated.
3. Votes are transferred from nominated, elected, or defeated candidates to the voter's next-ranked candidate or candidates in order of preference.
4. Tabulation ends when a candidate receives the majority of the votes cast or when the number of candidates nominated or elected equals the number of offices to be filled, as applicable.

CCAO Position: No position (as of October 2025)