Committee OKs bill extending grand‑jury petition period, adds 10‑day protest window

The Elections and Ethics Committee approved Senate Bill 1581, which lengthens the time to gather signatures to impanel a grand jury from 45 days to 90 days and adds a 10‑day protest period for signature verification.

Representative Maynard told the committee the change aligns this petition process with other initiative petition timeframes and creates time to verify validity of signatures. Representative Dowlens asked why a protest period was being added; Maynard said it provides time to confirm signatures.

Rusty Clark, assistant secretary of the State Election Board, told the committee, "I do not believe there is a protest period at this time. All we do at the county election board level is verify those signatures when those come in." The committee voted to pass the bill.