Transcript Highlights:

• the ones that are problematic, when you get to 20, and then you have people that can turn in their absentee
• To 20, and then you have people that can turn in their absentee ballot all the way up until the Friday
• If everyone voted early or voted absentee and you have fewer than 20, then this would apply for that
• with 20 or less voters and you get down to the day before the election and all of them turn in an absentee

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills dealing with judicial vacancies, travel reimbursement, election administration, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection; it allows the Supreme Court to reappoint a retiring judge on an ad hoc basis to finish cases or provide urgent coverage, while not changing other laws that prevent a judge from returning to the same seat after retiring or resigning. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was reported as amended after the committee adopted a new amendment removing lodging from the bill, leaving only meal reimbursement limits tied to the federal GSA rate. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk was also reported favorably; it would create per diem pay for legislators doing legislative business outside session and raise statewide elected officials’ salaries using a formula tied to university president pay. The committee deferred Senate Bill 41, which would have extended the deadline for public bodies to publish open-meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, after the author said he wanted more time to work with opponents. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, which would have created public-records exceptions for certain university searches, research, and donor information, drew substantial questioning and testimony from the press and members; after amendments narrowed the scope, the committee ultimately held the bill for further work rather than voting it out. Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, was reported favorably; it requires public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including at least two contacts, a mailing address, email addresses, a website if available, and a phone number, without requiring public funds for member phones. On election-related bills, Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller was reported favorably as amended. It allows precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place when both use the same ballot, with Secretary of State Landry saying it would preserve voter privacy, reduce costs, and be seamless for voters. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter was also reported favorably; it increases the number of election commissioners allowed in closed party primaries to match staffing needs created by the new system. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, which makes certain crime-scene photos, audio/video recordings, and digital images nonpublic except by court order or clerk access, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. House Bill 906 by Representative Billings was reported favorably as amended; the amendments let party state central committees decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in party primaries, require notice to the Department of State, and make participation rules consistent across the party’s related races, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The committee also deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the ones that are problematic, when you get to 20, and then you have people that can turn in their absentee
• ballot all the way up until the... ...to 20, and then you have people that can turn in their absentee
• If everyone voted early or voted absentee and you have fewer than 20, then this would apply for that
• with 20 or less voters and you get down to the day before the election and all of them turn in an absentee

Bills: HB398 , HB906 , HB1201 , SB41 , SB47 , SB106 , SB210 , SB218 , SB220 , SB248 , SB289 , SB397

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers, website disclosure, official journal, Louisiana public bodies, parish board of election supervisors, Department of State elections hotline

Transcript Highlights:

• An individual who votes by absentee ballot must submit a copy of their identification documents with
• both the request for and the submission of the absentee ballot.
• The absentee ballots. And that is a summary of the Save America Act, which is before Congress.
• registering, when updating their registration, when applying for, and then again for submitting an absentee

Committee: House Special Committee on Redistricting

Summary: The Special Committee on Redistricting held a public hearing on House Concurrent Resolution 48, which urges support for the federal SAVE Act. Representative Michael Davis presented the resolution, explaining that the bill would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, photo identification to vote, and additional procedures for absentee voting and name-change issues. He argued the measure would protect election integrity and prevent non-citizens from voting, while noting that the resolution simply expresses support for the federal legislation already passed by the U.S. House. Committee members from both parties questioned Davis extensively. Supporters said the proposal would add a needed citizenship verification layer and cited examples of non-citizen voting or mistaken registration. Opponents argued that Missouri already requires voter ID, that non-citizen voting is rare, and that the SAVE Act would create burdens, costs, and potential disenfranchisement for married women, students, rural residents, elderly voters, disabled voters, military families, and others who may lack easy access to birth certificates, passports, or other documents. Several members also raised concerns about federalism, the cost to election officials, and whether the resolution belonged in a redistricting committee. The committee then heard public testimony. Witnesses opposed to HCR 48, including representatives of the League of Women Voters and several individual voters, said the measure would make voting harder and could require duplicate or repeated documentation, affidavits, or separate systems for different election types. One witness testified in favor, saying proof of citizenship is easy to provide and would help ensure fair and honest elections. After all testimony and questions, the chair closed the hearing; no vote or other action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The United States Department of Education defines chronic absenteeism as a student missing 10% or more
• House Bill 1367 will help school districts find and pinpoint root causes of chronic absenteeism, provide
• uniform statewide attendance policy that clearly defines types of absences and addresses chronic absenteeism
• We definitely need consistent definitions surrounding student absenteeism.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of education bills focused on transparency, accountability, attendance, school start times, student well-being, and career planning. HB 1321, by Rep. Salsman, would remove public-records and public-meeting exemptions for university presidential searches, eliminate the Board of Governors from those searches, require Board of Governors members to file full financial disclosures and be Florida residents, and expand syllabus posting requirements; it passed 15-0. HB 1079, by Rep. Botana, as amended, broadened eligibility for dropout retrieval programs to include students who withdrew and did not reengage in education, and it also passed 15-0 after a strike-all amendment and supportive testimony from a program provider. The committee also approved PCS for HB 969, by Rep. Kassel, which shifts evaluation of school mental health services to the Department of Children and Families and requires more detailed outcome data, surveys, and reporting related to the Mental Health Assistance Allocation program; it passed 15-0. HB 1367, by Rep. Booth, creates a statewide attendance policy with uniform definitions and reporting requirements to address chronic absenteeism; it passed 15-1 after support from business and education groups and some concern about state control over district policy. PCS for HB 261, by Rep. Gerwig, revises the 2023 middle and high school start-time law by allowing districts to document compliance efforts and unintended consequences rather than fully meet the mandated later start times; it passed 16-0. The most debated bill was HB 1483, by Rep. Valdez, which would align Florida’s school grading scale with the familiar 90/80/70/60 letter-grade standard over a five-year transition and require school grades to appear on student report cards. Supporters argued the current scale is misleading and too lenient, while opponents warned it would sharply increase failing school labels, create costs and turnaround mandates, and confuse parents and students. Despite extensive testimony from school board members, teachers, students, and advocacy groups on both sides, the bill passed 12-4. The committee then quickly approved HB 1245, a one-year Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program for three universities with the highest share of Pell-eligible students, and HB 571, which expands career planning, paid work experience, and credit-transfer review for students; both passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my question is about chronic absenteeism.
• Last year, we saw a 10% improvement in our chronic absenteeism. We were last in the nation.
• We've moved up a little bit, but we're still among the highest chronic absenteeism rates in the country
• I think that its downstream effects are on everything from absenteeism to substance misuse prevention

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Call the absentees. Alvarado Gil. Choi. Thank you. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Seyarto? No.
• Call the absentees. Alvarado Gil. Choi. Thank you. Alvarado-Gil? Choi? No. Grove? No. Pérez?

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests, including students from Florence High School’s Law Academy, a fourth-grade class from Holy Spirit School, and Brigadier General Nick Brown of Marine Corps Installation West/Camp Pendleton. The chamber also handled routine business, including a motion to remove AB 1389 (Rubio) from the inactive file. The main floor action was on two gubernatorial appointments. Andrew Rakestra was confirmed to the Board of Environmental Safety by a vote of 28-0, and Indira Cameron Banks was confirmed to the Civil Rights Council by a vote of 28-8. Senators also announced upcoming budget subcommittee meetings on resources/environmental protection/energy, health and human services, judicial branch funding and court facilities, and state administration/general government. The Senate then took up adjourn-in-memory tributes. Senator Archuleta honored Yoshi Nakamura, a World War II veteran, educator, artist, and community activist whose life included service in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and decades of teaching in Whittier and at Rio Hondo College. Senator Blakespear honored Dr. Rosemary George Strayley, a longtime international development and women’s rights advocate who served in the Peace Corps, worked with major global institutions, and co-founded Run Women Run. The Senate expressed condolences and agreed to memorialize both individuals.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> experienced in Shakapei and the absentee experienced in Shakapei and the absentee votes<00:11:03.920
• There's a change of the in-person absentee ballot drop-off time from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• There's a change of the in-person absentee ballot drop-off time from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• There's a change of the in-person absentee ballot drop-off time from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• In this bill, we are rolling back the absentee ballot drop-off deadline from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:44.240><c> ballot</c><00:24:44.720><c> applications</c><00:24:45.640><c> affidavit</c> absentee
• ballot applications affidavit absentee ballot applications affidavit envelopes<00:24:46.840><c> and<
• The ability to obtain a list of absentee voter applicants already exists in the existing statutes, and
• <04:05:06.199><c> ballots</c> absentee ballots absentee ballots um<04:05:09.760><c> there</c><04:05:10.359
• </c><04:06:12.720><c> ballot</c><04:06:13.080><c> application</c> um absentee ballot application um absentee

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:59.200><c> uh</c> their calendar so you can vote uh their calendar so you can vote uh absentee
• </c><00:22:00.960><c> Can't</c> absentee when you have a chance.
• Can't absentee when you have a chance.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to a recent article in The Hill, absenteeism often stems from students feeling they are already
• Additionally, issues like illness and home problems contribute to absenteeism, along with many misconceptions
• We know it will help absenteeism.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we've done, I've seen at counties like absentee boards, for instance, the county chairs will
• appoint Republicans and Democrats to an absentee board because the sealed adage is trust, but verify.
• have been appointed or nominated, they're vetted by the state party or county party to go do an absentee

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill modifies eligibility criteria for West Virginians temporarily living abroad to vote absentee
• To vote absentee ballots in state and local elections, the bill would require that the individual was
• Those individuals would be eligible to vote absentee in state and local elections.
• The bill further clarifies the eligibility for absentee voting in federal elections to include certain
• Eligibility would be consistent under the bill with the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes the absentee votes there.
• There's a change of the in-person absentee ballot drop-off time from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• is material or related to an election during the period beginning on the first—first day of the absentee
• circulating a petition—now if the petition is being circulated outside of that voting, first day of absentee
• In this bill, we are rolling back the absentee ballot drop-off deadline from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see silence when it comes time to allow folks to participate in democracy by voting absentee without
• providing a particular reason for doing so or for voting absentee or for voting early.
• /c><00:30:24.440><c> without</c><00:30:24.720><c> providing</c><00:30:25.600><c> a</c> by voting absentee
• without providing a by voting absentee without providing a particular<00:30:26.080><c> reason</c><00
• or or or for or for voting absentee or or or for voting<00:30:31.800><c> early.

Bills: SB1

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• The high chronic absenteeism rate was presented as evidence to the court.
• But absentee rates, we can't control those.
• So, all these things that you're saying, what do they do about absenteeism?
• Absenteeism. It's great. I mean, we have kids coming and going all the time, and it's absenteeism.
• Absenteeism, we've got to get our kids there, and we have to figure out how.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the roll call used for suspension of rules on Senate Bill 1397, with 66 ayes and 1 absentee
• Hearing none, the roll call used for suspension of rules on Senate Bill 1397, with 66 ayes and 1 absentee
• Hearing none, the roll call used for suspension of rules on Senate Bill 1397, with 66 ayes and 1 absentee

Transcript Highlights:

• We see it in chronic absenteeism, we see it in mental health struggles, we see it in fear following kids
• We see it in chronic absenteeism, we see it in mental health struggles, we see it in fear following kids

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills related to wildfire recovery, fire safety, and school threat response. SB 904 would codify emergency coordination procedures used after the L.A. County and Palisades fires, including identifying permitting and building code requirements that can slow rebuilding after wildfire disasters. The author said it would not eliminate protections but would streamline recovery; Climate Action California opposed the bill, while the chair noted concerns about balancing efficiency with safeguards. The bill was later advanced on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1299, which would create a clearer statutory framework for certifying and training fire sprinkler fitters. Supporters from the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Pipe Trades Council said the measure would ensure only properly trained and certified workers install sprinkler systems, addressing safety risks and litigation that weakened existing regulations. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 9-0 to the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee. SB 1181 proposed a voluntary pilot allowing schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers in several Central Valley counties, with privacy protections and a reporting requirement before expansion. The author tied the bill to youth violence, social media threats, and the need to connect warning signs before tragedies occur. Senators Rubio and the chair spoke in support, citing fusion center successes in preventing attacks; there was no opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar, and all measures were reported out on unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and address the growing issue of chronic absenteeism, which is often tied to undiagnosed or poorly
• . such as absenteeism.
• service learning, project-based experiences can improve student achievement and reduce chronic absenteeism
• <00:35:16.880><c> chronic</c> achievement and reduce u chronic achievement and reduce u chronic absenteeism
• Data from other states such absenteeism.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The chronic absenteeism framework of effective practices no longer applied.
• The chronic absenteeism framework of effective practices no longer applied.
• The chronic absenteeism framework of effective practices no longer applied.
• H.930, an act relating to addressing and preventing chronic absenteeism.
• H.930, an act relating to addressing and preventing chronic absenteeism.

Transcript Highlights:

• safe-at-home participants to register to vote, update voter registration, and request a mail-in absentee
• 04:30.160><c> mail-in</c> registration, and request a mail-in registration, and request a mail-in absentee
• </c> absentee ballot. absentee ballot.

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum present, approved the minutes without objection, and then reviewed a series of administrative regulations from multiple agencies. Most of the regulations received staff-suggested amendments and were approved without objection, including fish and wildlife rules on fishing limits and deer hunting on local government property, veterinary board changes to responsible party and veterinary manager requirements, election procedures for safe-at-home voters, attorney general regulatory relief rules, emergency gasoline tax pricing, public pensions updates, controller fraud-prevention policies, physical therapy licensure and English proficiency standards, school nutrition and fee-waiver rules, public health conference procedures, and Medicaid waiver regulations. Several agencies briefly identified themselves and answered procedural questions, but most items drew no substantive opposition. The Board of Veterinary Examiners regulation included an agency amendment that removed a proposed limit on the number of facilities a veterinary manager could oversee. The Department of Education regulations updated fee waiver and meal program procedures, while the Department of Public Health regulation clarified notification and conference-request procedures. The Department of Revenue and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority items were largely technical or conforming changes, including a special-needs trust definition added for consistency with Senate Bill 85. The most extensive discussion involved the Department for Medicaid Services’ 1915C child waiver regulations. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified in opposition to the waiver’s lack of participant-directed services, arguing that consumer-driven services such as respite and community living support are required and especially important in rural areas and for higher-acuity children. Cabinet representatives responded that the waiver is intended to provide wraparound services to keep children in homes and communities, that it has CMS approval, and that the program is limited to 100 slots with about 21 participants already enrolled. Members did not move a deficiency motion, and the chair indicated the regulations would continue through the process. The meeting adjourned after setting the next meeting for Tuesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.