Transcript Highlights:

• non-citizens who are registered to vote non-citizens who are registered to vote in<00:04:41.360>
• <00:05:00.240> provisionally citizenship and to vote provisionally citizenship and to vote
• voting or freeze out people if they voting or freeze out people if they think<00:07:10.479> the
• I'd like to explain my vote.
• yes, two votes no, one pass, Nine votes yes, two votes no, one pass, and<00:26:09.679> should

Keywords: HB 534 (only one on the agenda) – 00:02:08, 958, all

Summary: The House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met to consider House Bill 534, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson, with a committee substitute. Johnson said the bill was the product of interim work with the Secretary of State’s office, the State Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and other stakeholders, and that the committee substitute folded in several election-administration changes. He highlighted provisions clarifying the timeline for felony voter-roll removals, allowing the Board of Elections to work with federal agencies to identify non-citizens on the voter rolls, creating a process for those individuals to prove citizenship and vote provisionally, and changing some KREF board appointments. He also described technical campaign-finance changes and said some provisions might still be adjusted through floor amendments. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, timing, and voter privacy. Rep. Bivens questioned the cost and whether the bill could affect voter records; Johnson responded that the bill itself did not require new equipment or broad new spending, though a special election in a local government failure scenario could create costs. Rep. Hancock and Rep. Marzian argued the bill could create unnecessary burdens on county clerks and questioned whether there was a demonstrated problem to justify the changes. The county clerks’ association, through Rockcastle County Clerk Danetta Ford Allen, opposed the bill as introduced, warning that citizenship checks could wrongly remove eligible voters, that online ballot images or cast vote records could threaten voter privacy and facilitate vote buying, and that the emergency clause would force major changes too close to the May primary. Johnson defended the bill as a targeted response to a real local election failure and said the citizenship data sharing would be limited to name, date of birth, and Social Security number. He also explained that the ballot-image language was permissive and intended to let counties explore emerging technology, but he was open to removing that section or changing the effective date in a floor amendment. He further said he would consider preserving gubernatorial appointments to KREF with Senate oversight instead of shifting appointments to legislative leaders. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 with one pass to report the bill out, with several members explaining yes votes as support for moving the bill forward while expecting further cleanup, and no votes citing cost, timing, and voter-access concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no questions, the chair asked for a voice vote.
• to point out that chronic absenteeism to point out that chronic absenteeism was<01:20:25.640>
• > so<01:20:37.160> difficult The reason absenteeism is so difficult The reason absenteeism
• , When we talk about chronic absenteeism, When we talk about chronic absenteeism, for<01:25:50.160
• And for what I chronic absenteeism.

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're going to make it harder to vote absentee.
• You know, we don't want to make it harder for people to be able to exercise their right to vote absentee
• do<00:21:43.840> think right to vote. absentee which I do think right to vote. absentee which
• If someone is registered to vote and able to vote, then they need to be able to vote without presenting
• If someone is registered to vote and able to vote, then they need to be able to vote without presenting

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The committee of conference first met on Senate Bill 221, which concerned annual voter roll verification and the lookback period for checking voter registration lists. The Senate favored looking back to presidential elections to reduce the number of voters removed, while the House argued for annual verification with a one-year lookback because the voter roll database now makes the process easier and because of population mobility and student turnover. Members discussed possible refinements to the 30-day letter process and agreed to recess and return Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to continue negotiations. The committee then took up Senate Bill 213 and Senate Bill 218, both involving absentee voting and public employee electioneering restrictions. On SB 213, the discussion focused on clarifying identification/documentation requirements for absentee ballot-related applications and on a House amendment to preserve the ability of certain public employees to provide factual information to the public about official matters without violating the bill. On SB 218, the Senate wanted to remove outer envelopes from absentee voting materials, while the House supported keeping the bill but clarifying that only applicable documentation is required. Members raised concerns about voter access, clerks’ procedures, and whether the electioneering language was too broad; both bills were held over and recessed for further work. The committee also considered Senate Bill 287, which dealt with public employee electioneering and a related carve-out for factual responses by appointed public employees. The House and Senate discussed combining amendments, but the House member said the underlying bill was needed to curb partisan electioneering while still allowing factual public information. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 118, which would adjust a personal needs allowance for nursing home residents, address Hampstead Hospital employee bonuses, and create a maintenance fund for the hospital. The Senate objected to a House-added cannabis cultivation provision, saying it was unrelated to the bill and could jeopardize the measure because of the Senate’s and governor’s opposition to cannabis language; the committee recessed to revisit the issue later, with the House noting the base bill’s importance to nursing home residents and Hampstead Hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, uh, give us a roll call vote on House Bill 52, Elections and Counting for Recounts.
• >> Roll call vote.
• Representative Smith voted I via absentee. Vice Chair Pendergraft, I. Mr. Vice Chair, 7 I.
• Representative Smith voted I via >> I.
• Representative Smith voted I via absentee. absentee. absentee.

Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122

Keywords: capital construction, state funding, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, task force, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in state law, include chronic absenteeism. absenteeism as an at-risk category of students and implement
• data collection on chronic absenteeism.
• Unfortunately, chronic absenteeism has serious consequences for students.
• We know that even Even before COVID, chronic absenteeism was a problem.
• already know that there's a problem with at-risk or chronic absenteeism.

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• This essentially is a backdoor bill that turns absentee ballots into early voting.
• reasons for absentee voting when I think reasons for absentee voting when I think the<02:15:28.000
• And I don't care about the voting via absentee ballot provision.
• And I don't care about the voting via absentee ballot provision.
• I don't care about the voting via absentee ballot provision.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair is recommending an aye vote. My apologies.
• Members, this will be a vote item.
• floor, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• The chair is recommending an aye vote.
• Chair, we're going to be voting on these? Yes. Yes.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee held a final hearing on a series of Senate bills, with the chair explaining the committee’s suspense-file process and then taking up measures in regular order and later from suspense. SB 1329 on solar property tax assessment drew the most extensive testimony: the author and industry supporters said it would create statewide assessment standards, exclude intangibles, and provide certainty for solar development, while county assessors and county representatives opposed it as a statutory formula that would undercut fair market value and reduce local revenue. The bill was sent to suspense during the first portion of the hearing and later passed suspense 5-2 after amendments. SB 661, dealing with airport funding and aviation fuel tax revenues, also generated support from airport and local government representatives but opposition from airlines over the proposed distribution formula; it was referred to suspense and later passed 7-0 with amendments. SB 1172, which places guardrails on tax-sharing agreements, was supported by local governments and retailers; after the author accepted committee amendments, opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 9-1-1, a wildfire safety measure using the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report to notify fire agencies about defensible-space compliance, was supported by fire chiefs and wildfire-safety advocates but opposed by assessors; it passed 5-2 to Appropriations. SB 1408, authorizing Contra Costa County to place a transportation sales tax on the ballot, passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 1072, the housing omnibus bill, passed 7-0, and SB 1424, expanding a sales tax exemption for zero-emission vehicle fueling equipment, was held in committee after support from hydrogen and electric transportation advocates and no opposition. In suspense-file action, the committee also passed SB 1435, SB 288, SB 296, SB 420, SB 881, SB 888, SB 1053, SB 1406, and SB 1407, while SB 353 and SB 1249 were held. The chair closed by thanking members, staff, stakeholders, and a retiring consultant, and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so 10 eyes and one um ab absentee.
• Our EPC leaders voted students.
• Because you've already voted, I leaders.
• vote affirmative for Senate File 3611. vote affirmative for Senate File 3611.
• vote on your bill? vote on your bill?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, at present, we require those who want to vote absentee to provide an image of their ID along with
• <01:45:41.760> absentee need to vote absentee need to vote absentee the<01:45:43.679> opportunity
• um who want to vote absentee to provide um who want to vote absentee to provide um an<01:46:07.760
• This is a simple update that modernizes absentee voting while keeping elections secure.
• a simple update that modernizes absentee a simple update that modernizes absentee voting<01:56:15.119

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is early voting versus absentee.
• I will consider it to be germane to the bill since we are talking about absentee voting, early voting
• to vote absentee by mail, to provide relative to application, I believe, for an absentee ballot by a
• I think this deals with early voting and not absentee by mail voting.
• Absentee mail voting is, I think, the germane issue here.

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 20, 2026, with a quorum present and no minutes available for approval. The committee first heard HB 181, which would let the legislative auditor review income tax data to verify eligibility for Medicaid and, at LDH’s request, SNAP. The auditor said the work would be limited to internal data testing under sharing agreements and not disclosed to third parties. After questions about privacy and duplication, the bill was reported favorably to the floor without objection. The committee then took up HB 906 on presidential preference primaries and party nominating petitions. The Secretary of State and bill author said the measure would let major parties decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in their primaries, with 180 days’ notice to the state, and would keep party rules consistent within presidential years so elections can be programmed properly. Several senators raised concerns that the bill would disenfranchise no-party voters and give parties too much control, but supporters said both major parties had approved the approach. The committee voted 4-3 to report the bill favorably. Members also advanced HB 398, which would require the judiciary to use the federal GSA meal per diem rate instead of the current higher state judicial rate; HB 1052, which strengthens confidentiality protections for child abuse investigations handled by child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams; HB 1245, which protects witness criminal history records from unintended public release in clerk of court records; HB 202, which requires state civil service or hiring agencies to notify applicants when a vacancy is filled or they are rejected; HB 540, which requires disclosure of paid digital election advertising; HB 9, designating stuffed shrimp as a Louisiana specialty; HB 1057, extending the validity of absentee-by-mail applications for military voters from one year to two; HB 225, proposing a constitutional amendment to limit governors to two lifetime terms; HB 177, allowing retired court reporters to contract with former public employers; and HB 459, requiring disclosure when campaign materials use AI, with amendments adopted after discussion of First Amendment and campaign finance concerns. The committee also rejected an amendment to HB 1057 that would have expanded Sunday early voting in certain parishes. After the bills, the committee held confirmation hearings for James Kelly and Charles Wilkinson to the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, both of whom described education and workforce development backgrounds and were favorably received.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll take HB 1057 up on voters and voting, provides for an application to vote absentee by mail made
• This is early voting versus absentee.
• I will consider it germane to the bill since we are talking about absentee voting, early voting, and
• I think this deals with early voting and not absentee-by-mail voting.
• Absentee-by-mail voting is, I think, the germane issue here.

Bills: HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB225, HB398, HB459, HB540, HB906, HB1052, HB1057, HB1245

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, court reporter, official court reporter

Transcript Highlights:

• Absenteeism is a big challenge that we face with our students.
• So we're, we see it as an antidote to the absenteeism that we're challenged by.
• Our students' absenteeism has improved through incentives.
• my gosh our students absence absentee my gosh our students absence absentee<00:40:22.359> has
• I urge you to vote yes on this legislation. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Aly.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Voting system software, the Express link of the ESNS voting system, and the Express Vote activation card
• It's it's higher because The you have fewer people voting early vote, about 70% of people vote early,
• vote.
• In-person voting. This is about absentee ballots.
• of votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Bear voted aye via absentee. Representative Haroldson voted aye via absentee.
• Chairman Bear voted aye via absentee. Representative Haroldson voted aye via absentee.
• Chairman Bear voted I via absentee. Representative Haroldson voted I via absentee.
• Chairman Bear voted I via absentee. Representative Haroldson voted I via absentee.
• >> Chairman Bear voted I via absentee. >> Chairman Bear voted I via absentee.

Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122

Keywords: capital construction, state funding, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, task force, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides greater flexibility for cities administering absentee voting, standardizes the use
• Speaker. provides greater flexibility for sidor its cities, administering absentee voting standardizes
• Next, for absentee voting, the amendment requires voting voters who are not already registered to include
• McDonald votes aye. Momanyi-Hiltsley votes aye. >> Kozlowski votes aye. McDonald votes aye.
• France votes aye. Kozlowski votes aye. McDonald votes aye. Momanyi-Hiltsley votes aye.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 3432, a public safety bill requiring identifying equipment and insignia to be removed from emergency vehicles sold to the public. The chamber first adopted a House language amendment, then debated a broader security package that would fund judicial and courthouse security, Capitol security measures, short-term protection for legislators facing credible threats, State Patrol deficiency funding, and additional BCA analysts and investigators to assess threats statewide. Supporters framed the bill as necessary to protect public safety, democracy, and First Amendment activity at the Capitol and courthouses; they also said the package was pared down from larger requests and based on security reviews. The House adopted an A-1 amendment clarifying that BCA staff could investigate threats statewide, and later rejected a Schultz A-3 amendment that would have eliminated all appropriations in the bill. The A-3 was defeated on a 37-94 vote after the House upheld the Speaker’s ruling that a proposed school-safety secondary amendment was not germane, with that appeal decided 69-62. A major theme of debate was whether the Legislature should prioritize security for members and the Capitol before passing school safety funding. Several members argued they could not support spending tens of millions on Capitol and legislative security without first funding school safety for all students, including public, charter, private, and tribal schools. Others defended the bill as necessary because of recent threats and violence, including the June 14 tragedy, and said the Capitol security changes were based on professional recommendations. Some members also criticized the new security setup as overly restrictive or “security theater,” while supporters said the measures were needed to keep the public, staff, and lawmakers safe. After the A-3 was defeated, the bill was read for third time and members continued floor debate. The discussion remained split between those emphasizing immediate Capitol and legislative security needs and those insisting school safety should come first. Representative Agbaje then moved to table the bill, and the clerk began a roll call on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• 91% to 94%, mild absenteeism is 80% to 90%, moderate absenteeism is 51% to 79%, and severe absenteeism
• 91% to 94%, mild absenteeism is 80% to 90%, moderate absenteeism is 51% to 79%, and severe absenteeism
• 91% to 94%, mild absenteeism is 80% to 90%, moderate absenteeism is 51% to 79%, and severe absenteeism
• 91% to 94%, mild absenteeism is 80% to 90%, moderate absenteeism is 51% to 79%, and severe absenteeism
• 91% to 94%, mild absenteeism is 80% to 90%, moderate absenteeism is 51% to 79%, and severe absenteeism

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ladies and gentlemen, House Bill 859 is the bill that will eliminate the in-person absentee voting envelope
• This bill is different in that it doesn't change the days of in-person absentee voting.
• So what you will do is you will go in to vote in person absentee.
• It doesn't change the days of in-person absentee voting. It's still 45 days.
• So what you will do is you will go in to vote in person absentee.

Keywords: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency - Room 210, 3 March, 2026; 2:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1596, which Senator Johnson explained as a companion to another crypto-kiosk bill. He said the measure was being used to open the code and remove new kiosk language temporarily while lawmakers work on a regulatory framework for crypto kiosks, which are being used in scams involving callers posing as law enforcement and directing victims to deposit cash into kiosks. Members discussed the lack of reporting and registration data, the estimated number of kiosks in the state, and whether regulation might require identification and registration of the devices. The committee adopted the motion for title sufficient, do pass as amended, and reported the bill out. The committee then considered House Bill 859, which would eliminate the in-person absentee voting envelope while keeping the 45-day in-person absentee voting period and existing excuse requirements. Senator England said voters would still complete an affidavit and cast the ballot directly into an OMR machine, and he noted that circuit clerks preferred this version. The committee asked a few clarifying questions and then passed the bill, reporting it out. Next was House Bill 925, the CLEAR Act, which Senator McMahan described as a revised PEER-related bill that had been worked on with the governor’s office after a prior veto. He outlined provisions creating a PEER review program for agency rules, Medicaid transportation evaluations, a State Board of Health Professions, changes to the corporation work initiative program, and PEER subpoena and enforcement language. An amendment was adopted to delete the subpoena-related sections that had raised constitutional concerns and to retain the reverse repealer. After questions about the advisory role of the new board, the committee passed the bill as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1171, a strike-all that Senator Sparks said would mirror a Senate bill on grant transparency. The measure would require clearer grant objectives, objective eligibility criteria, disclosure of conflicts and board relationships, reporting by grantees and subgrantees, and signed documentation under penalty of perjury with CPA review. Members asked about enforcement, and Senator Sparks said improper reporting could lead to loss of funds, audits, and possible criminal consequences. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported the bill out. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1393, which would create an energy development fund at the Mississippi Development Authority for long-term infrastructure planning tied to large industrial energy users. Members asked whether the fund would cover water resources as well as electricity; the sponsor said it was intended for energy infrastructure, not water, and was aimed at large industrial projects such as steel mills. The committee adopted the strike-all and moved to report the bill out.

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes guaranteed absentee voting. It creates a statewide advanced voting period.
• establishes guaranteed absentee It establishes guaranteed absentee voting. voting. voting.
• It would make voting more convenient through guaranteed absentee voting and a structured advanced voting
• It expands access through no-excuse absentee voting, a robust advanced voting period, meeting voters
• 55.320> a<01:04:55.400> robust no-excuse absentee voting, a robust no-excuse absentee voting

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So as I mentioned, typically chronic absenteeism.
• Have you looked into a solution to absenteeism? Yes.
• a uniform definition of absenteeism?
• “And what are we doing with absenteeism?
• we had a chronic absenteeism problem, and we had a—” “We had a chronic absenteeism problem, and we had

Summary: The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met to discuss chronic absenteeism, district attendance interventions, and related truancy procedures. Chair Simon reviewed Florida’s attendance laws and escalation process, including school-based interventions, child study team meetings, referrals to the Department of Juvenile Justice, truancy petitions, and possible sanctions for parents and driving privileges. The committee heard first from University of Florida professor Dr. Chris Curran, who presented state and national absenteeism data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023-24. He emphasized that absenteeism has multiple causes, including transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family barriers, and said effective responses include early warning systems, multi-tiered supports, mentoring, and community partnerships rather than relying only on punitive measures. Members questioned Dr. Curran about whether absenteeism is a behavior or barrier issue, whether exclusionary discipline is counted, the need for a uniform definition across districts, and whether more punitive truancy enforcement is effective. He said the issue is usually a mix of barriers and choices, that excused and unexcused absences both matter for chronic absenteeism data, and that root-cause analysis and supportive interventions are generally more productive than punishment alone, though consequences can still play a role. The committee then heard from Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli and district staff, who described a highly structured attendance system built around attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, multilingual outreach, and frequent parent notifications. They said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023-24 and credited their success to early contact, community partnerships, and a strong district culture around attendance. Volusia County Schools Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a newer districtwide attendance initiative that uses automated letters, same-day notifications, data dashboards, MTSS tiers, incentives, and community supports such as bikes, washers and dryers, and faith-based partnerships. He reported Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023-24 to a projected 29% and said the district is now seeing about 20% in the first quarter of the current year. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• as other absentee voting records in New Hampshire—no more and no less.
• in the same manner as other absentee voting records.
• absentee voting records. absentee voting records.
• It aligns UOCAVA voting records with existing absentee voting standards while preserving lawful privacy
• And, uh, in the Uniform Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, there is a requirement under sections

Keywords: 1189, house, all