Transcript Highlights:

• Providers are losing qualified candidates before they can even begin.
• Now I must decide: is my best candidate worth the wait?
• Part members, we are still waiting for one more author for file number one.
• File item 2, AB 276. The current vote is 5 to 0.
• File item 3, AB 319. The current vote is 5 to 0.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services met, adopted its committee rules, and then considered four items, including two consent bills. The chair opened with remarks about protecting California’s safety net and set limits on testimony. The committee rules were adopted by roll call, and the consent calendar later passed 5-0, with the remaining member’s vote added afterward for a 6-0 final tally on the rules and consent items. AB 276 by Assemblymember Bennett addressed delays in out-of-state child abuse registry background checks for children’s residential agency staff. Supporters, including the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Casa Pacifica, said long clearance times were worsening staffing shortages and causing qualified applicants to leave, while the bill would allow provisional hiring only after DOJ, FBI, and California Child Abuse Central Index clearance and without unsupervised contact with children. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill 5-0, sending it to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 319 by Assemblymember Jackson sought to improve services for foster youth with severe trauma by requiring counties to submit and update detailed plans to the Joint Interagency Resolution Team for providing effective therapeutic interventions in the least restrictive settings. A former foster youth testified in support, and a committee member noted the ongoing shortage of therapists serving foster youth. The bill was approved 5-0 as amended and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. After the consent calendar and remaining votes were completed, the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to now discuss house file We are going to now discuss house file 4148<00:47:44.240>
• a unanimous decision on a single candidate, it must advance multiple candidates forward to the full
• , it must advance on a single candidate, it must advance multiple<00:50:01.280> candidates<00:
• <01:10:10.320> going to expose I guess other candidates going to expose I guess other candidates
• Burkel renews his motion for House File Burkel renews his motion for House File 41 41 41 48<01:14

Bills: HF4148

Keywords: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• The first file for our consideration is Senate File 28, Elections, Voting Machine, and Voting System
• candidate A, seven votes for candidate candidate A, seven votes for candidate B,<00:08:59.040>
• one candidate.
• against or there's only one candidate. against or there's only one candidate.
• filed in district court. filed in district court.

Bills: SF0028, SF0030, SF0031, SF0032

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:15:12.560> candidate election period to a candidate candidate election period to a candidate
• non-candidate contributing to candidate non-candidate committees<01:17:15.280> candidates<01:
• <01:17:33.280> or contributing to candidate or contributing to candidate or non-candidate<
• committees candidates or non-candidate committees candidates or any<01:17:35.679> person<01:17
• Um, it does take time as far as... filings. And so, just to make it filings.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in order to support a local candidate? in order to support a local candidate?
• cost one dime to any of the candidates. cost one dime to any of the candidates.
• House file 2372 will matters.
• House File 62 is placed on the general register. And the next bill will be House File 2067.
• And the next bill will be House<01:04:18.720> File House File House File 2067.<01:04:20.880>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:26.440> period affiliation before the filing period affiliation before the filing period
• a third party papers for um a candidate a third party candidate<00:45:33.040> yes<00:45:33.680
• for<00:45:38.880> the nomination paper for a candidate for the nomination paper for a candidate
• The candidates and the issues simply do not remain static over time.
• The candidates and the issues simply do not remain static over time.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running in, One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running
• Which candidates were they voting for?
• That there is then an election and a different candidate wins because that candidate, you know, lots
• In other words, communities consistently come with issues to the candidates and the candidates just ignore
• Communities consistently come with issues to the candidates, and the candidates just ignore them because

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• would require uh legislative candidates would require uh legislative candidates to<00:08:09.400>
• file?
• file?
• file?
• <00:25:15.480> um<00:25:15.799> 80% candidate um 80% candidate um 80% were<00:25:18.600

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And there was an injunction filed, I'm sorry, in the order, but there was an injunction filed.
• Well, we'll do that then. >> Since one has been filed, the Secretary of State, I'll file one against
• Alabama file the...
• >> Yes, a reapportionment attorney filed an AI filing in the Supreme Court.
• One after the lawsuit, filed a... One after the lawsuit, filed a lawsuit and got it in district.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next would be House File 1665.
• Next will be House File 1917, and I will move House File 1917 before the committee.
• House File 1800 was yours, Chair Quam. House File 2073 was mine.
• filing period.
• Adjusting that late candidate filing period so for most of our cities, our school boards, our townships

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm giving you the opportunity if you all to go back in the room and hand-pick your candidate.
• I heard you mention a minute ago the 1983 case where the Democrats chose their candidates.
• I heard you mention a minute ago the 1983 case where the Democrats chose their candidates.
• You remember when I talked about handpicking candidates?
• The parties can pick their candidates any way they want to.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in simple terms, if a party finds itself without a candidate anytime from 5 minutes after the filing
• a party finds itself without a candidate a party finds itself without a candidate anytime<00:04:
• The bill states it'll start 9 months before the filing deadline and 3 weeks before the filing deadline
• The bill states it'll start 9 months before the filing deadline and 3 weeks before the filing deadline
• we get the best candidates available. we get the best candidates available.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 139 -- 00:03:15 Consideration of HB 356 -- 00:08:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee first adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 139, which would allow a political party to replace a candidate who dies or withdraws after the filing deadline but before ballot certification. Representative Decker explained the substitute as a narrow election-related fix, and the bill was then passed by the committee on an 11-yes, 1-pass vote and sent to the full House. The committee then heard House Bill 356, which would move the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) qualification test from a once-every-four-years, Frankfort-based format to administration through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System at multiple locations and times. Representative Bridges said the Department of Revenue would still write and control the exam, KCTCS would only administer it, the fiscal note was zero, and the change would improve access and convenience without weakening standards. KCTCS said it was prepared to help if directed. Members generally agreed PVAs should be tested, but some raised concerns about test integrity, whether a broader testing network could create uneven conditions, and whether the change should instead use a smaller number of regional test sites. Others supported the bill as a common-sense way to expand access and avoid forcing candidates to wait years after missing a single test date. The committee also discussed the lack of a study guide for the exam and whether that should be addressed separately. No final vote on House Bill 356 is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• committee, political action committee, or political party to file a termination statement.
• party to file a termination statement and prohibits and voids penalties and enforcement actions against
• bill by prohibiting and deeming void, retroactively, penalties against a committee for failure to file
• a filing report.
• The state can't go after the candidate; they have to go after the campaign.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House and Senate conference committees met on April 16, 2026, to reconcile differences on HB 2874, which deals with campaign finance termination statements and penalties for committees that had no contributions or expenditures. Staff explained that the Senate version retroactively voided certain penalties for late campaign finance reports if a committee certifies no activity, and the conference amendment further refined the bill by requiring public posting of committees that owe late-filing penalties, clarifying termination-statement requirements, extending the no-penalty provisions to some committees that had received contributions, and capping penalties at $5,000 per late report beginning July 1. The amendment also moved the retroactivity date, added a session-law provision, and included an emergency clause. Members discussed whether suspended accounts with no activity would be covered, and staff indicated that while not expressly named, they would likely fall within the bill’s criteria. Supporters said the measure would help clear old compliance issues from the books, improve transparency, and provide relief to smaller candidates and local officeholders who may not have the resources to manage complex campaign finance requirements. One member noted the bill would create a practical safe harbor for inactive campaigns and reduce penalties that continue to accrue on closed or empty campaign accounts. A motion was made and adopted to approve the five-page conference amendment dated April 16, 2026, at 9:03 a.m., to the Senate engrossed version of HB 2874, with authorization for technical and conforming changes recommended by the rules attorney. The motion passed by voice vote, and both the House and Senate conference committees adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll get going as people join online and continue to file through. My name is Dan Hunt.
• It really restricts them of their ability to pick their chosen candidate in a primary.
• It really restricts them of their ability to pick their chosen candidate in a primary.
• office to have candidates that aren't really candidates.
• It was filed last... ...session by Representative Cutler, who left before.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House Committee on Election Laws, chaired by Dan Hunt and co-chaired by Senator Keenan, held a hearing on 27 bills with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker. The main policy theme was expanding youth participation in elections. Senator O'Connor testified in support of Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they turn 18 before the general election. Lawan Allen of Vote 16 USA also supported bills to lower the voting age, arguing that youth voting becomes habitual, can increase turnout more broadly, and is already in place in several cities and states. Robin Chen, the lead petitioner for S. 508 and H. 814, gave extended testimony in favor of children's right to vote, saying children are affected by government decisions and should have a voice. Representative Sousa raised concerns about misinformation and the vulnerability of younger voters, but Chen responded that misinformation affects adults too and pointed to historical civil rights activism by children. Several local election-law measures were also discussed. Cynthia Hogan, Brockton’s elections director, supported a bill requiring candidates for local office to have lived in the city for a year, saying people have sometimes used business addresses or other questionable claims of residency to run for office. Representative Suzy testified in favor of H. 872, a Pembroke home-rule petition to reduce the signature threshold for a recall petition from 20% to 10% of registered voters, describing the change as a response to low-turnout local elections and not aimed at any current official. Representative Gallagher supported two Bridgewater home-rule petitions: one establishing a recall process for elected officials and another creating term limits for town councilors, both of which had been approved by the town council and would still require voter ratification in Bridgewater if adopted by the legislature. The hearing concluded without any bill votes or committee actions beyond accepting testimony. The chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until action is taken on the bills, and the committee adjourned after no further witnesses came forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:18.399> Senate to the following Senate file. Senate to the following Senate file.
• will read the Senate file numbers. will read the Senate file numbers.
• secretary will read the house file secretary will read the house file number. number. number.
• >> House file number 3489. >> House file number 3489.
• committee on house file number 4252. committee on house file number 4252.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened under call, received a prayer and pledge, and then proceeded through routine business including roll call, quorum, and messages from the House. The chamber concurred in House amendments to Senate File 3210, a human rights bill concerning disability accommodations, and then passed the bill on final passage by a vote of 42-22. The Senate also received several House messages on conference committees and returned bills, including SF 4476, SF 4612, and SF 4760, and agreed to conference committees on House File 3426 (Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriations) and House File 4252 (higher education student aid reporting). The Senate adopted committee reports and moved several bills through second reading and introduction stages. In motions and resolutions, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 86, which governs Senate business during the interim between sessions; the sponsor explained that most changes were cleanup and modernization, with one substantive change allowing the Secretary of the Senate to appoint someone to fill a vacancy in an elected officer position for the remainder of the interim. The resolution passed 57-0. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 87, commemorating deceased senators Bruce Anderson, Carrie Dietick, Alice Johnson, Bob Kurlin, Don Samuelson, James Yuland, and Ray Vander, followed by a moment of silence. The Senate then took up confirmations of three Minnesota Tax Court judges: Jane Bowman, Bradford Deopena, and Beverly Luther Quest. Supporters cited their combined public- and private-sector tax law experience, and the appointments were confirmed. Later, the chamber designated special orders and debated Senate File 3891, which would allow eggs to be donated up to 30 days past their quality assurance date to food shelves; supporters emphasized food insecurity, food waste reduction, and the bill’s support from food shelves and retailers. The bill passed 65-0. The Senate also considered House File 4240 on election administration, adopting an amendment that replaced House language with Senate language, including polling-place requirements for certain school district elections, a ban on candidates betting on their own elections, and an effective date for Three Rivers Park District reporting; the bill then passed 36-28. The chamber then began consideration of House File 4239, another elections-related bill, taking it from the table and offering an A5 amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• submit vote modifications and have filed submit vote modifications and have filed the<00:05:13.560
• I’ve filed amendments on House Committee Sub 1, and today I filed amendments on House Committee Sub 2
• So, the section says that a candidate—this is about a candidate being on the same ballot running for
• > from limit judicial candidates from limit judicial candidates from responding<00:49:58.120><
• judicial candidates judicial candidates engage<00:50:59.920> in<00:51:00.080> speech

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened, opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 96 members present, excused absent members, and approved the journal from March 4, 2026. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 50 and 191 and requested concurrence. Several bills were reported for second reading and committee action, including measures on schools, barbering, virtual currency kiosks, eminent domain, DUI, fire protection, school district reporting, teacher certification, legal representation, cost and fee reporting, dentistry, credit insurance, harmful practices, elections, child welfare, health data, Medicaid directed payments, workplace violence in health care, utilities, solid waste, carbon sequestration, and coal/energy affordability. House Bill 534 was sent to the Rules Committee after receiving prior readings, and House Bill 600 was brought up for third reading and passage. House Bill 600, relating to the collection of delinquent tax bills, was explained as allowing counties to use a consolidated procedure to collect multiple delinquent tax cases more efficiently, requiring county attorney contracts with the Department of Revenue to include that option, and extending to counties some property-tax collection tools already used by cities for delinquent and dilapidated properties. A member from Jefferson raised concerns that the bill could allow foreclosure on occupied properties and warned about potential harm to elderly or low-income homeowners; the sponsor responded that the bill was not intended to remove anyone from their property. The House passed HB 600 by a vote of 82-11, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 662, concerning regulation of low-voltage battery-charged security fences by local governments, was described as a business-friendly measure supported by the Chamber of Commerce and affected industries, intended to define the fences and reduce regulatory uncertainty in commercial and industrial zones without removing local regulation. It passed unanimously, 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 364, relating to benefits for Kentucky National Guard members, was amended by House Floor Amendment 1 to define Commonwealth emergency pay and hazardous duty for Guard members on state active duty during emergencies. Supporters emphasized compensation for Guard members responding to disasters and emergencies, and members cited recent flood and crash responses as examples of their service. The bill passed 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 534, an elections bill, was taken up with House Committee Substitute 2 adopted. The sponsor said the bill was the product of work by the Secretary of State, the Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and others, and was intended to strengthen election laws. Debate focused on a provision that would remove from voter rolls individuals convicted of felonies even while appeals are pending; one member argued this would disenfranchise people before appeals are resolved and sought to offer an amendment, but a motion to suspend the rules for that amendment failed with only 18 votes in favor. Another member said the substitute was the best version of the bill and indicated he would offer amendments, including changes to the felony-appeal language and campaign finance timing, while also seeking to remove a section requiring federal cooperation. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, before final action on HB 534 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• of that nature, and the filing fees for filing lawsuits and responses to lawsuits, et cetera, fund primarily
• I mean, I didn't file this personally against Mr. Duncan.
• Now, we could have filed a bill to combine the courts.
• We elected the candidate of our choice.
• I filed for the compensation.

Bills: SB256

Keywords: court consolidation, judicial administrative, Orleans Parish, civil district court, criminal district court, court clerk, judicial funding, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and fraud in those filings.
• in those filings.
• So filings.
• Senate 47 and 48 and House 20 and 21 have to do with candidates who are absent during the filing period
• Senate 47 and 48 and House 20 and 21 have to do with candidates who are absent during the filing period

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation was filed with one simple goal: to remove barriers so that everyday people can open
• These are voluntary contributions from people who are choosing to invest in candidates that they believe
• They know these candidates are parents.
• Members, voters deserve to know if a candidate they are voting for are citizens of any country, to tab
• , voters deserve to know if a candidate they are voting for is a citizen of any country other than the

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several election- and ethics-related bills, along with a block of gubernatorial confirmations. Senate Bill 572, by Senator Harrell, updated ethics statutes so the definition of “relative” would include foster parents and foster children; the Commission on Ethics supported the change as a recommendation, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 414, by Senator Bracey Davis, would have allowed campaign funds to be used for campaign-related child care expenses, but the sponsor said it lacked the votes to advance and temporarily postponed it. The committee also heard Senate Bill 500, by Senator Avila, which would provide FDLE protective security details for major-party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet offices through the election and transition period. Senators raised questions about definitions, current protections, and public disclosure of travel information; despite some opposition over taxpayer funding, the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 620, by Senator Mayfield, required candidates to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship when qualifying for office; testimony from a dual citizen criticized the bill as unnecessary and stigmatizing, while supporters framed it as transparency. The bill also passed favorably. Chair Gates then presented CS for SB 92, creating whistleblower-style protections for public employees who file ethics complaints based on firsthand knowledge, including remedies for retaliation; the Commission on Ethics supported it and it passed favorably. The committee also approved a slate of gubernatorial appointments en bloc. Finally, Senate Bill 564, by Senator Yarborough, would allow registered or pre-registered high school students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours; testimony from a supervisor of elections and advocacy groups supported the civics benefit, a senator asked about how it would interact with existing community service requirements, and the bill passed favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the file and pay that we stood up this month. We had a lot of stuff going on.
• Did you file time? We did you file accurately uses to correct payment.
• You have a filing due date. If you don't make that do gate, the computer said this.
• We've got a candidate we're waiting on the start date.
• Can Inc candidate declined the positions.