SB1733

The first election for the new seat must be held on the uniform election date in May 2027. Until then, the governor must appoint a qualified at-large commissioner within 30 days after the act takes effect. The appointment ends when the candidate elected in May 2027 qualifies to serve—not simply on election day. The act’s appointment requirement is not evidence that an appointment has actually been made. Final law, section 4.

A precinct candidate must be a bona fide resident of that precinct; an at-large candidate must be a bona fide resident of the port authority. The sworn application must also disclose that the candidate is a qualified voter who owns real property in the area. The governor’s appointee must meet those statutory qualifications. The law retains staggered four-year terms and the existing lot-drawing transition for the six precinct commissioners after new precincts are drawn: three serve two years and three four years. It does not add the at-large commissioner to that lot drawing. Final law, sections 2–4.

The introduced bill referred to the “district” and would have required the at-large candidate to reside in Calhoun County. The Senate committee substitute uses “port authority” and requires residence within the port authority instead. That substitute’s operative language remained through the Senate-passed, House committee and final versions. No separate floor amendments are indexed. Introduced; Senate substitute; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Port-authority voters gain a board member accountable to the entire authority in addition to their precinct representative. Initially the new member is chosen by the governor, not by an election. The additional seat changes board composition, but the act does not itself approve a port project, impose a tax or guarantee improved operations. Candidates and election administrators must follow the new seat’s residency and transition rules. Final law.

The March 20 introduced and March 26 substitute fiscal notes anticipate no state fiscal impact and no significant local-government fiscal impact. They do not give a dollar estimate for the additional seat or its election. SB1733 makes no appropriation; the local fiscal assessment should not be read as a promise of zero administrative cost. Introduced fiscal note; Substitute fiscal note; Final law.