SB 2723 Summary

• Establishes the "Nonpartisan School Board Election Act" requiring all county boards of education, municipal separate school district trustees, consolidated school district trustees, and special municipal separate school district trustees to be elected in nonpartisan elections concurrent with the presidential election beginning November 2020 and every four years thereafter.

• Changes all school board member terms of office from varying lengths (five or six years) to uniform four-year terms, with all incumbent members' terms expiring January 1, 2021.

• Requires candidates to file nominating petitions signed by at least 50 qualified electors (or 20% if fewer than 100 electors exist in the district) between 60-90 days before the election, with majority vote needed to win or runoff election held three weeks later if no majority is achieved.

• Establishes that school board members must reside in and be qualified electors of the district they represent, and prohibits residents of municipal or special municipal separate school districts from voting in county board elections.

• Provides vacancy procedures allowing remaining board members to appoint replacements within 60 days, with special elections held if members cannot agree, and repeals prior election methods contained in specified code sections.