HB 340 (2025)

Rewrites the law against electioneering by public employees, adding much more detail. Generally speaking this law prohibits a public official from using their office or resources for campaign purposes. This bill does include some exceptions, such as "the use of public spaces or facilities by private individuals, groups, or organizations for lawful political activities."

An amendment to the bill also prohibits public colleges and universities conducting public opinion polls or surveys with the effect of influencing voters.

The House added some of this bill to SB 213.

The Senate then rewrote the bill. Their version of the bill still prohibits public employees from issuing surveys that expressly advocate for or against any candidate, political party, or warrant article; however, the Senate bill protects the right of higher education institutions to conduct public opinion surveys.

A conference committee of representatives and senators agreed on a final, compromise version of the bill. That version of the bill prohibits public employees from "Organizing or conducting surveys that are expressly or primarily political, meaning that they have a format, questions, or other characteristics that clearly indicate a preference for one or more candidates or political parties in an election or one or more policies that are reasonably anticipated to be on the ballot or otherwise at issue in an election."