This bill clarifies the process for submitting petitions to county commissioners requesting changes to comprehensive plans or zoning ordinances. It establishes that petitions must be filed with the county auditor, who then forwards them to a planning commission for a recommendation within 45 days (including a public hearing), after which the county board holds its own public hearing and makes a final decision. The bill essentially codifies the step-by-step procedure that petitioners and county officials must follow when requesting zoning or comprehensive plan changes.
The amendment clarifies the petition process by specifying that the county auditor must forward petitions to both the commission (or designee) and the board (or designee) for consideration, rather than just presenting them to the board, and reorganizes the procedural timeline to ensure the planning commission makes its recommendation before the board holds its final public hearing. This STRENGTHENS the bill's clarification purpose by creating a more explicit two-track review process that prevents procedural confusion about which bodies must receive and act on petitions.
This change converted the bill from its engrossed (committee) version to its enrolled (final passed) version by correcting a statutory reference from "§ 11-2-5 28" to "§ 11-2-28" and clarifying that the planning commission must make a recommendation within forty-five days of receipt rather than taking action itself, which NARROWS the commission's role to advisory only while the board retains final decision-making authority.
Other amendments
Signed by the Governor S.J. 350
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 268
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 324
Signed by the President S.J. 264
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 63, NAYS 3. H.J. 295
Local Government Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Local Government Do Pass Passed, YEAS 10, NAYS 0.
Local Government Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Local Government H.J. 208
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 162
Local Government Certified uncontested, placed on consent S.J. 1
Local Government Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0. S.J. 1
Local Government Motion to amend S.J. 1
Local Government Scheduled for hearing
Local Government Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Local Government S.J. 55
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass Amended
Local Government — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Local Government — Do Pass Amended