HB1401 Summary

• Municipalities with populations under 40,000 must adopt ordinances by July 1, 2015 to stagger alderman and trustee terms, with alternating 2-year and 4-year terms by ward beginning at the first election after July 1, 2015.

• Prohibits municipalities under 40,000 population from reducing alderman or trustee terms from 4 years to 2 years by referendum or any other means, effective upon this act's passage.

• Modifies referendum procedures in sections 3.1-10-65 and 3.1-10-75 to carve out exceptions for municipalities under 40,000 population regarding term length changes.

• Establishes that in municipalities under 40,000 population, aldermen from even-numbered wards serve 2-year terms while those from odd-numbered wards serve 4-year terms, with all subsequent terms being 4 years.

• Applies staggered term requirements to municipalities with minority representation plans and to cities under 100,000 population adopting such plans.