HB 597: Special Elections

GENERAL BILL by Gottlieb; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Campbell

Special Elections; Revises timeframe during which vacancy must be filled by candidates qualifying within timeframes provided by general law; requires Governor to call special primary election & special election under certain circumstance; requires Governor to fix dates of special election after vacancy occurs; requires Governor to consult with Secretary of State & supervisor of elections before setting special election dates; authorizes qualified electors to file petition in circuit court seeking judicial determination of election date under specified conditions; provides that court has authority to fix & declare dates for special election; removes authority of Governor, President of Senate, & Speaker of House of Representatives to waive specified timeframes if all parties concur; requires Governor to fix dates to coincide with already scheduled election; requires that special elections to fill certain vacancies be held no later than election for which resigning officer seeks to qualify; provides that certain persons are deemed elected; requires Governor to consult with certain supervisors of election, in addition to Secretary of State, before declaring date of special election; requires that such order be issued within specified timeframe after occurrence of vacancy.

Current Bill Version Posted: 12/2/2025 02:33 PM

• Related Bills (1)

  Bill Number Subject Filed By Last Action and Location	Relationship Learn more about bill relationships
  S 460 by Polsky Special Elections Last Action: 3/13/2026 S Died in Rules	Identical

• Citations - Statute (2)

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  100.111	Filling vacancy.	Page 2 (pdf)
  100.141	Notice of special election to fill any vacancy in office.	Page 8 (pdf)

• Bill History

  S = Senate, H = House

  12/2/2025	H	• Filed
  12/12/2025	H	• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
  1/13/2026	H	• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  3/13/2026	H	• Died in Government Operations Subcommittee