HB 7037 Summary

• Municipal governing bodies may choose to hold elections on the same date as the general election, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years, or the third Tuesday in March in odd or even-numbered years.

• Municipalities requiring runoff elections must use one of three specified formats: initial election 10 weeks before general election with runoff on general election day, or initial election 10 weeks before November election with runoff in November, or initial election 10 weeks before March election with runoff in March.

• Counties with special acts establishing non-standard municipal election dates must transition all municipalities within their jurisdiction to the third Tuesday in March.

• State law preempts all conflicting local laws, charters, and ordinances regarding municipal election dates, making this the sole method for establishing such dates in Florida.

• Incumbent municipal officers' terms extend until the next municipal election held under this act, taking effect July 1, 2020; repeals section 101.75 and amends recall election procedures to allow concurrent scheduling with municipal elections.