HSB 717 (LSB 6836YC (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by taxation, including by modifying provisions related to the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school improvement advisory committees, the sale of public bonds, statewide school infrastructure funding, open enrollment, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards, and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS —— DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    Section 1.  Section 24.2A, subsection 4, paragraph b, subparagraph (3), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   (3)  If the political subdivision is a school district, notice of the public hearing shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days prior to the hearing in a newspaper published in the school district, if any, and if not, then in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district; provided, however, that if the school district has a certified enrollment of less than or equal to one thousand two hundred students in the current school year, then the school district may instead publish notice of the public hearing not less than ten nor more than twenty days prior to the hearing on the school district’s internet site, in each attendance center within the school district, and in the school district’s central administrative office if the central administrative office is not an attendance center.
    Sec. 2.  Section 257.18, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  An instructional support program that provides additional funding for school districts is established. A board of directors that wishes to consider participating in the instructional support program shall hold a public hearing on the question of participation. The board shall set forth its proposal, including the method that will be used to fund the program, in a resolution and shall publish the notice of the time and place of a public hearing on the resolution. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper which is a newspaper of general circulation in the school district. At the hearing, or no later than thirty days after the date of the hearing, the board shall take action to adopt a resolution to participate in the instructional support program that describes the method that will be used to fund the instructional support program for a period not exceeding five years or to direct the county commissioner of elections to submit the question of participation in the program for a period not exceeding ten years to the registered voters of the school district at an election held on a date specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph “c”. If the board submits the question at an election and a majority of those voting on the question favors participation in the program, the board shall adopt a resolution to participate and certify the results of the election to the department of management.
    Sec. 3.  Section 257.29, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  An educational improvement program is established to provide additional funding for school districts in which the regular program district cost per pupil for a budget year is one hundred ten percent of the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year and which have approved the use of the instructional support program established in section 257.18. A board of directors that wishes to consider participating in the educational improvement program shall hold a hearing on the question of participation and the maximum percent of the regular program district cost of the district that will be used. The hearing shall be held in the manner provided in section 257.18, Code 2026, for the instructional support program. Following the hearing, the board may direct the county commissioner of elections to submit the question to the registered voters of the school district at an election held on a date specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph “c”. If a majority of those voting on the question favors participation in the program, the board shall adopt a resolution to participate and shall certify the results of the election to the department of management and the district shall participate in the program. If a majority of those voting on the question does not favor participation, the district shall not participate in the program.
    Sec. 4.  Section 279.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Except as provided in paragraph “b” and subsection 2, vacancies occurring among the officers or members of a school board shall be filled by the board by appointment. A person so appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified at the next regular school election, unless there is an intervening special election for the school district, in which event a successor shall be elected at the intervening special election, in accordance with section 69.12. To fill a vacancy occurring among the members of a school board, the board shall publish notice on the board’s internet site and in the manner prescribed by section 279.36, stating that the board intends to fill the vacancy by appointment but that the electors of the school district have the right to file a petition requiring that the vacancy be filled by a special election conducted pursuant to section 279.7. The board may publish notice in advance if a member of the board submits a resignation to take effect at a future date. The board may make an appointment to fill the vacancy after the notice is published or after the vacancy occurs, whichever is later.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  279.8C  Board of directors —— access to information.
   1.  The board of directors of a school district shall have access to and may review any of the following:
   a.  The curriculum associated with any instruction provided to students enrolled in the school district.
   b.  Materials located in a library operated by the school district, including a library located in a classroom.
   2.  A school district shall not prohibit a member of the board of directors of the school district from attending classes taught by teachers employed by the school district to observe classroom instruction, not for the purpose of evaluation, if the member has provided reasonable prior notice to the superintendent and principal of the attendance center in which the classes are taught and to the teacher providing the instruction.
   3.  a.  A school district shall not prohibit a member of the board of directors of the school district from accessing materials used in a professional development program that the school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, requires employees of the school district to attend. This paragraph shall not be construed to authorize a member of the board of directors of the school district to access an individual teacher professional development plan developed pursuant to section 284.6 or any materials related to an intensive assistance program a teacher is required to participate in pursuant to section 284.8.
   b.  A school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, shall provide copies of materials used in a professional development program that the school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, requires employees of the school district to attend to a member of the board of directors of the school district upon request. This paragraph shall not be construed to require a school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, to provide copies of an individual teacher professional development plan developed pursuant to section 284.6, or any materials related to an intensive assistance program a teacher is required to participate in pursuant to section 284.8, to a member of the board of directors of the school district.
   4.  For purposes of this section, “professional development program” means the same as defined in section 256.145.
    Sec. 6.  Section 279.20, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The board of directors of a school district may delegate the authority to hire support personnel and sign the support personnel employment contracts, if applicable, if the board adopts a policy authorizing the superintendent to perform such duties and specifying the positions the superintendent is authorized to fill.  The board of directors of a school district and the superintendent, if authorized pursuant to this subsection, may use electronic signatures and electronic contracts pursuant to chapter 554D and facsimile signatures when entering into the contracts described in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the term “support personnel” includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, custodians, educational associates, and clerical and food service employees.
    Sec. 7.  Section 279.35, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   279.35  Publication of proceedings.
   1.  The proceedings of each regular, adjourned, or special meeting of the board, including the schedule of bills allowed, shall be published after the adjournment of the meeting in the manner provided in this section and section 279.36, and the publication of the schedule of the bills allowed shall must include a list of claims allowed, including salary claims for services performed. The schedule of bills allowed may be published on a once monthly basis in lieu of publication with the proceedings of each meeting of the board. The list of claims allowed shall must include the name of the person or firm making the claim, the purpose of the claim, and the amount of the claim. If the purpose for the claims is the same, two Two or more claims made by the same vendor, supplier, or claimant may be consolidated if the number of claims consolidated and the total consolidated claim amount are listed in the statement. However, the board shall provide at its office upon request an unconsolidated list of all claims allowed.
   2.  Salaries paid to individuals regularly employed by the district shall only be published annually on the district’s internet site and the publication shall must include the total amount of the annual salary of each employee and must remain on the district’s internet site for at least thirty days after publication. The secretary shall furnish a copy of the proceedings to be published publish a link to the publication within two weeks following the adjournment of the meeting.  The link must be prominently displayed on the district’s internet site.
    Sec. 8.  Section 279.41, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, the board of directors of a school corporation may take action to deposit moneys received as provided in subsection 1 in any account maintained by the school corporation after holding a public hearing on the proposed action of the board. The board shall publish notice of the time and place of the public hearing in the same manner as required in section 24.9.
    Sec. 9.  Section 280.12, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2026, are amended by striking the subsections and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   2.  Utilize the recommendations of the school improvement advisory committee to determine school district or accredited nonpublic school needs, including but not limited to all of the following:
   a.  Major educational needs.
   b.  Student learning goals.
   c.  Long-range and annual improvement goals.
   d.  Desired levels of student performance.
   e.  Harassment or bullying prevention goals.
   3.  Monitor school district and accredited nonpublic school progress toward meeting the goals described in subsection 2.
    Sec. 10.  Section 291.1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   291.1  President —— duties.
   The president of the board of directors shall preside at all of its meetings, sign all contracts made by the board, and appear on behalf of the corporation in all actions brought by or against it, unless individually a party, in which case this duty shall be performed by the secretary. The president or the president’s designee shall have the authority to enter into original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant to chapter 554D and sign, using an original or signature, facsimile signature, or an electronic signature, as defined in section 554D.103, all school district payments drawn and authorize electronic funds transfers as provided by law. The board of directors, by resolution, may designate an individual, who shall not be the secretary, to sign payments or authorize electronic funds transfers on behalf of the president pursuant to this section.
DIVISION II
BOND SALES

    Sec. 11.  Section 75.2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   75.2  Notice of sale.
   When public bonds are offered for sale, the official in charge of the bond issue shall, by advertisement published at least once, the last one of which shall be not less than four nor more than twenty days before the sale in a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale, give notice of the time and place of sale of the bonds, the amount to be offered for sale, and any further information which the official deems pertinent by publishing the time and place of sale of the bonds, the amount to be offered for sale, and any additional information the official deems pertinent to the bond issue not less than four nor more than twenty days before the sale in at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale.
    Sec. 12.  Section 75.14, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   75.14  Electronic bidding.
   Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this chapter, including section 75.3, a public body authorized to issue bonds, notes, or other obligations may elect to receive bids to purchase such bonds, notes, or other obligations by means of electronic, internet or wireless communication; a proprietary bidding procedure or system; or by facsimile transmission to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body, in each instance as may be approved by the governing body and provided for in the notice of sale. An electronic bid shall be submitted in substantial conformity with the requirements of chapter 554D and any rules adopted pursuant to that chapter with respect to the acceptance of electronic records by a governmental agency. Additionally, before approving the use of an electronic bidding procedure, the public body shall find and determine that the specific procedure to be used will provide reasonable security and maintain the integrity of the competitive bidding process, and facilitate the delivery of bids by interested parties under the circumstances of the particular sale.
DIVISION III
SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS

    Sec. 13.  Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (02)  Teacher salary supplement funds received under section 257.10, subsection 9.
    Sec. 14.  Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph d, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   d.  Expenditures from the flexibility account shall be approved by resolution of the board of directors of the school corporation and shall be included in the budget certified in accordance with chapter 24. Before the board of directors may adopt the resolution approving expenditures from the flexibility account, the board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed resolution. The proposed resolution must state the original source and purpose of the funds, the proposed use of such funds, the amount of the proposed expenditure, and the fiscal year from which the transfer of such funds to the flexibility account occurred. The proposed resolution must also include a certification that the statutory requirements for each original source of the money proposed to be used have been met, have been repealed, or are no longer in effect. The board shall publish notice of the time and the place of the public hearing in the same manner as required in section 24.9. The department of education shall prescribe the form for public hearing notices. A copy of the resolution shall be provided by the board to the department of education and shall be made available by the board for any audit performed under chapter 11. 
    Sec. 15.  Section 298A.12, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  If the sum of the fees collected under section 279.49 for participation in a before and after school program and other moneys deposited in the fund as the result of the before and after school program exceeds the amount necessary to operate the before and after school program, the excess amount may, following a public hearing, be transferred by resolution of the board of directors of the school corporation for deposit in the general fund of the school corporation to be used for school district general fund purposes. The board shall publish notice of the time and the place of the public hearing in the same manner as required in section 24.9. The resolution transferring the excess amount shall state the original source and purpose of the funds, the method used to establish fee amounts for the before and after school program under section 279.49, subsection 4, the proposed use of such funds, and the amount of the transfer. The department of education shall prescribe the form for public hearing notices. The board shall provide a copy of the resolution to the department of education and shall make the resolution available for any audit performed under chapter 11. A transfer under this subsection does not increase a school district’s authorized expenditures as defined in section 257.7.
DIVISION IV
STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

    Sec. 16.  Section 423F.3, subsection 4, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  The revenues received pursuant to this chapter shall be expended for the purposes specified in the revenue purpose statement. If a board of directors has not approved a revenue purpose statement, the revenues shall be expended in the order listed in subsection 1 except that the payment of bonds for which the revenues have been pledged shall be paid first. Once approved, a revenue purpose statement is effective until amended or repealed by the foregoing procedures. A revenue purpose statement shall not be amended or repealed to reduce the amount of revenue pledged to the payment of principal and interest on bonds as long as any bonds authorized by sections 423E.5 and 423F.4 are outstanding unless funds sufficient to pay principal, interest, and premium, if any, on the outstanding obligations at or prior to maturity have been properly set aside and pledged for that purpose.  A school district affected by a reorganization under chapter 275 that has issued bonds under section 423E.5, Code 2023, or section 423F.4 and that has not approved a revenue purpose statement shall first use revenues to make timely and sufficient payment of principal and interest, and premium if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
    Sec. 17.  Section 423F.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Bonds issued on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be sold at public sale as provided in chapter 75, or at a private sale, without notice and hearing. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be published not less than ten four nor more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper which is a newspaper of general circulation in the school district at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale.  This paragraph does not apply to the refinancing of bonds.
DIVISION V
OPEN ENROLLMENT

    Sec. 18.  Section 282.18, subsection 17, Code 2026, is amended by striking the subsection.
    Sec. 19.  APPLICABILITY.  This division of this Act applies to applications and notifications related to open enrollment submitted under section 282.18 on or after the effective date of this division of this Act.
DIVISION VI
COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD

    Sec. 20.  Section 441.2, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   441.2  Conference board.
   In each county and each city having an assessor there shall be established a conference board. In counties the conference board shall consist of the mayors or a designated member of a city council of all incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed by the county assessor; one representative from the board of directors of each high school district of containing a high school in the county, who is a resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of the conference board as to their representative; and members of the board of supervisors. In cities having an assessor the conference board shall consist of the members of the city council, school board the board of directors of each school district containing a high school in the city, and county board of supervisors. In the counties the chairperson of the board of supervisors shall act as chairperson of the conference board, in cities having an assessor the mayor of the city council shall act as chairperson of the conference board. In any action taken by the conference board, the mayors of all incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed by the county assessor shall constitute one voting unit, the members of the city board of education board of directors of each school district containing a high school in the city or one representative from the board of directors of each high school district of containing a high school in the county shall constitute one voting unit, the members of the city council shall constitute one voting unit, and the county board of supervisors shall constitute one voting unit, each unit having a single vote and no action shall be valid except by the vote of not less than two out of the three units.  In any action taken by the conference board, if a city or a county contains only one school district containing a high school, the members of or the representative of the board of directors of the school district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit. The majority vote of the members present of each unit shall determine the vote of the unit. The assessor shall be clerk of the conference board.
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 entities supported in whole or in part by taxation, including by modifying provisions related to the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school improvement advisory committees, the sale of public bonds, statewide school infrastructure funding, open enrollment, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards.
   DIVISION I —— SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS —— DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Current law requires each political subdivision to set a time and place for a public hearing on the political subdivision’s proposed property tax amount for the budget year. Under current law, school districts are required to publish such notice not less than 10 nor more than 20 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper published in the school district, if any, and if not, then in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district. The bill provides that if the school district has a certified enrollment of less than or equal to 1,200 students in the current school year, then the school district may instead publish notice of the public hearing not less than 10 nor more than 20 days prior to the hearing on the school district’s internet site, in each attendance center within the school district, and in the school district’s central administrative office if the central administrative office is not an attendance center.
   Current law requires the board of directors of a school district that wishes to consider participating in the instructional support program established pursuant to Code section 257.18 to hold a public hearing on the question of participation. The board strikes this provision.
   Code section 279.6 provides a process to fill vacancies occurring among the members of a school board. This process requires, among other things, the publication in a newspaper of notice stating that the board intends to fill the vacancy by appointment. The bill requires notice to be provided by publication on the board’s internet site as well.
   The bill authorizes the board of directors of a school district to have access to and review the curriculum associated with any instruction provided to students enrolled in the school district, and materials located in a library operated by the school district.
   The bill provides that a school district shall not prohibit a member of the board of directors of the school district from attending classes taught by teachers employed by the school district to observe classroom instruction if the member has provided reasonable prior notice to the superintendent, the principal, and the teacher providing the instruction.
   The bill provides that a school district shall not prohibit a member of the board of directors of the school district from accessing materials used in a professional development program that the school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, requires employees of the school district to attend. The bill requires a school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, to provide copies of materials used in a professional development program that the school district, or an administrator employed by the school district, requires employees of the school district to attend to a member of the board of directors of the school district upon request.
   The bill defines “professional development program” to mean a course or program which is offered by a person or agency for the purpose of providing continuing education for the renewal or upgrading of a practitioner’s license.
   The bill authorizes the board of directors of a school district and the superintendent, in certain specified circumstances, to use electronic signatures and electronic contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D (electronic transactions) and facsimile signatures when entering into contracts to hire support personnel.
   Current law requires the proceedings of each meeting of the board of directors of a school district, including the schedule of bills allowed, to be published after the adjournment of the meeting. Under current law, the publication of the schedule of the bills allowed shall include a list of claims allowed, including salary claims for services performed. The bill modifies this provision to provide that the schedule of the bills allowed must include only a list of claims allowed. The bill provides that the list of claims allowed must include the name of the person or firm making the claim and the amount of the claim. The bill also provides that salaries paid to individuals employed by the school district shall only be published annually on the district’s internet site and the publication must include the total amount of the annual salary of each employee and must remain on the district’s internet site for at least 30 days after publication. The secretary is required to publish a link to the publication within two weeks following the adjournment of the meeting. The link must be prominently displayed on the school district’s internet site.
   Current law requires the board of directors of a school district to take action to deposit moneys received under Code section 279.41(1) (schoolhouses and sites sold —— funds) in any account maintained by the school district after holding a public hearing on the proposed action of the board. The bill strikes the requirement to hold a public meeting.
   The bill modifies provisions related to the duties of school improvement advisory committees, including by requiring school improvement advisory committees to monitor school district and accredited nonpublic school progress toward meeting certain specified goals.
   The bill authorizes the president of the board of directors of a school district, or the president’s designee, to enter into original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D and sign, using an original, facsimile, or electronic signature, all school district payments drawn and authorize electronic funds transfers as provided by law.
   DIVISION II —— BOND SALES. Current law provides that when public bonds are offered for sale, the official in charge of the bond issue shall give notice of the time and place of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any further information which the official deems pertinent by publishing an advertisement in a newspaper. The bill modifies this provision to require the official in charge of the bond issue to give notice of the sale by publishing the time and place of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any additional information the official deems pertinent to the bond issue in at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale.
   Code section 75.14 provides that, notwithstanding contrary provisions of Code chapter 75 (authorization and sale of public bonds), a public body authorized to issue bonds or other obligations may elect to receive bids to purchase such bonds or other obligations by means of electronic communication, a proprietary bidding procedure, or by facsimile transmission to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body. The bill adds a reference to Code section 75.3 (sealed and open bids) to the notwithstanding provision.
   DIVISION III —— SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS. The bill authorizes school districts to transfer all or a portion of the unexpended and unobligated teacher salary supplement funds to the school district’s flexibility account within the general fund. Current law requires that before the board of directors of a school district may adopt a resolution approving the expenditures from the flexibility account, the board must hold a public hearing on the proposed resolution. The bill strikes this requirement.
   Current law requires that if the sum of the fees collected under Code section 279.49 (child care programs) for participation in a before and after school program and other moneys deposited in the child care fund as the result of the before and after school program exceeds the amount necessary to operate the before and after school program, the excess amount may be transferred by resolution of the board of directors of the school corporation for deposit in the general fund of the school corporation to be used for school district general fund purposes, following a public hearing. The bill strikes the requirement that a public hearing be held prior to this transfer.
   DIVISION IV —— STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. The bill requires a school district affected by a reorganization that has issued bonds under Code section 423E.5 (school infrastructure funding formula —— bonding), Code 2023, or Code section 423F.4 (borrowing authority for school districts) and that has not approved a revenue purpose statement to first use revenues to make timely and sufficient payment of principal and interest and premium, if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
   The bill provides that bonds issued under Code chapter 423 (statewide school infrastructure funding) on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be sold at public sale or private sale, without notice and hearing, and notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be published not less than 4 nor more than 20 days before the public hearing in at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale. The bill provides that this provision does not apply to the refinancing of bonds.
   DIVISION V —— OPEN ENROLLMENT. Current Code section 282.18(17) provides that the deadlines associated with the submission of open enrollment applications and notifications do not apply to a child whose parent or guardian is filing a notification that the parent or guardian intends to open enroll the child in a public school in another school district for purposes of receiving full-time instruction under Code section 265.43 (online learning program model). The bill strikes this provision. The bill applies to applications and notifications related to open enrollment that are submitted on or after the effective date of the division. Under current Code section 282.18 (open enrollment), a parent or guardian is required to send notification to the district of residence that the parent or guardian intends to enroll the parent’s or guardian’s child in a public school in another school district by March 1 of the preceding school year for students entering grades 1 through 12, or by September 1 of the current school year for students entering kindergarten or for prekindergarten students enrolled in special education programs and included in the school district’s basic enrollment.
   DIVISION VI —— COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARDS. Current law provides that each county and each city having an assessor shall have a conference board. Current law also provides that in counties, the conference board shall consist of the mayors of all incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed by the county assessor, one representative from the board of directors of each high school district of the county, who is a resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of the conference board as to their representative, and members of the board of supervisors. The bill modifies this provision to require that the conference board consist of the mayors or a designated member of a city council. The bill also modifies this provision by replacing references to high school districts with references to school districts containing a high school.
   The bill strikes the requirement that the board of directors of a high school district appoint a representative for a one-year term and notify the clerk of the conference board as to the identity of the representative.
   The bill provides that, in any action taken by the conference board, if a city or a county contains only one school district containing a high school, the members of or the representative of the board of directors of the school district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit.