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Minutes for HB2539 - Committee on Ethics, Elections and Local Government
Short Title
Qualifications for candidates seeking certain statewide offices.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 7, 2018
Chairperson Bowers opened the hearing on HB2539. Mike Heim, staff revisor, presented a briefing on the bill. Questions from the Committee were addressed by staff and Bryan Caskey.
Representative Carpenter testified in support of HB2539. Representative Carpenter stated he worked with Mr. Ethan Randleas, one of the teenage governor candidates, to draft the original language of the bill. Representative Carpenter indicated this bill will go into effect after this year's election so that moving forward there are minimum requirements in place for these types of elections. (Attachment 1)
After questions by the Committee were addressed, the hearing continued.
Bryan Caskey testified in support of HB2539. Mr. Caskey stated the Secretary of State's office is in favor of setting minimal qualifications for statewide office holders. Mr. Caskey discussed at what point candidates become a qualified elector. Mr. Caskey indicated the Secretary of State's office believes this should not go into effect until after the 2018 elections. (Attachment 2)
Questions by the Committee were addressed by Mr. Caskey.
Aaron Coleman testified in opposition of HB2539. Mr. Coleman discussed the previous conferees' testimony. Mr. Coleman concluded his testimony by stating he wanted to show this is a bipartisan issue that everybody can agree on. Mr. Coleman drew attention to three quotes in his written testimony indicating the quotes essentially say you have to fight unjust laws. (Attachment 3)
After Mr. Coleman addressed questions from the Committee, Chairperson Bowers closed the hearing on HB2539.
