HF 2239 (LSB 6734HH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2239

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the organization of congressional district conventions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 43.97, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Elect delegates to the next ensuing regular state convention and to all district conventions of that year upon such ratio of representation as may be determined by the party organization for the state, district or districts of the state, as the case may be. Delegates to district conventions need not be selected in the absence of any apparent reason therefor. Delegates shall be persons who are or will by the date of the next general election become eligible electors and who are residents of the county.
    Sec. 2.  Section 43.102, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   Each political party may shall hold a congressional district convention upon the call of the state party chairperson to do all of the following:
    Sec. 3.  Section 43.102, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Transact such other business as required by law, or as required or permitted by the party’s state constitution or bylaws, or the rules of the convention.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  43.105  District platform and bylaws.
   1.  Each congressional district convention held by each political party pursuant to section 43.102 shall adopt a district platform, a copy of which shall be transmitted to the party’s state central committee for consideration during the adoption of the state party’s platform pursuant to section 43.111, subsection 1.
   2.  Beginning in the year 2027, there shall be established at or prior to each political party’s district convention a district central committee composed of the chair and co-chair of each county central committee in the district. The district central committee shall elect a chair, co-chair, secretary, and such other officers as the district central committee may determine. The term of office of an officer begins at the time specified by the state party’s constitution or bylaws and continues for two years and until the officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless the officer dies, resigns, or is sooner removed by the district central committee for inattention to duty or incompetency.
   3.  Each district central committee shall enact bylaws to govern the committee’s operation. A copy of the bylaws shall be kept on file at the office of the state commissioner. Amendments to a district central committee’s bylaws shall upon adoption be filed in the same manner as the original document.
   4.  Each district central committee may organize at pleasure for political work as is usual and customary with such committees and provide for cooperation with party auxiliary bodies.
   5.  There shall be no proxies at a congressional district convention.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the organization of congressional district conventions by political parties. The bill requires each political party to hold a congressional district convention to elect or nominate members of the party’s central committee, make nominations to fill vacancies on the general election ballot, and transact other business as required by law or required or permitted by the party’s state constitution, bylaws, or rules of the convention.
   The bill also requires a congressional district convention to adopt a district platform, which shall be transmitted to the party’s state central committee for consideration during the adoption of the state party’s platform. Beginning in 2027, the bill requires each district convention to establish a district central committee composed of the chair and co-chair of each county central committee in the district, which shall elect officers. The term of a district central committee officer shall be two years and until the officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless the officer dies, resigns, or is removed. The bill also requires a district central committee to enact bylaws, a copy of which shall be kept on file at the office of the state commissioner of elections. The bill allows a district central committee to organize at pleasure for political work as is usual and customary with such committees and provide for cooperation with party auxiliary bodies. The bill prohibits the participation of proxies at a congressional district convention.