Transcript Highlights:

• The corrected journal will be filed in the office of the Secretary.
• That correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
• This correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary. Oh, excuse me.
• The correspondence, as per usual, will be filed in the office.
• The correspondence, as per usual, we filed the office.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have eight days after the deadline to file or to report.
• For committees, not for candidates.
• a state, and who is required to file a state.
• On the filing officer may require an amendment to be filed.
• So one would be related to your filing deadline. So you're required to file a report by X date.

Committee: House Government and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2156, a campaign finance and reporting bill tied to the Secretary of State’s new software system. Members and staff walked through the bill section by section, explaining that much of the text is existing law being reorganized into a new chapter, with technical updates to make reporting easier and more consistent in the new electronic “checkbook” format. The bill also adds or clarifies several categories and definitions, including political donations and volunteer appreciation, and changes the reporting threshold from $200 to $250 to align with a separate inflation-adjustment bill. Other discussed changes included using the deposit date as the contribution receipt date, removing contributor addresses from public disclosure, adding non-statewide political parties to disclosure requirements, and adding political committees to the foreign-national contribution prohibition. The Secretary of State’s office testified that the new software is being developed with a vendor already used in other states, and that it will automatically track contributions, expenditures, balances, deadlines, and reminders, while preserving current public/nonpublic disclosure rules. Members asked about public access, enforcement, maintenance costs, training, and whether the system would allow both checkbook-style entry and aggregation; staff said both options would be available and that the system would flag discrepancies and carry amendments forward through later reports. The committee also discussed late-filing and amendment fees, keeping some existing deadlines such as the 48-hour supplemental statement, and making late fees more visible to the public. The committee adopted the proposed amendments by voice vote and then passed the bill as amended on a 13-0 roll call vote. Members expressed appreciation for the work of the bill sponsor and the Secretary of State’s office, and the chair indicated the bill would likely go to caucus and then the floor before moving to conference with the Senate if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Filing with CFIUS is mandatory for specific types of transactions, but much of the process remains voluntary
• for public office who make technical or clerical errors in their campaign filings.
• The last thing that candidate needs, that aspiring candidate who might be self-funding his or her own
• It's not about how many votes each candidate received, but making sure that the number of people who
• You're talking about a report that documents the number of results for candidates and propositions by

Bills: SB1065 , SB2117 , SB2217 , SB2363 , SB2533 , SB2742 , SB2743 , SB2881 , SB2964 , SB3013 , SB3014

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I file a habeas petition. That is correct. Go ahead. Thanks.
• Candidates and voters. 670 effort on hand-counted paper ballots.
• Because candidates and voters have lost confidence in our elections.
• then distributed because you're now just an official and not a candidate.
• We've had a mayoral candidate in Harris County.

Bills: SB108 , SB318 , SB507 , SB511 , SB533 , SB1026 , SB1386 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:32.079><c> report</c><00:43:32.480><c> filing</c> date for reporting filing report filing
• date for reporting filing report filing date.<00:43:33.359><c> First</c><00:43:33.599><c> up</c><00:43
• It requires any elected official, candidate, committee, or other individual required to file an organization
• It requires any elected official, candidate, committee, or other individual required to file an organization
• It requires a candidate or individual authorized to receive contributions on behalf of a candidate or

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2246, which would expand public financial disclosure requirements. The State Ethics Commission strongly supported the bill, saying broader disclosure could help restore public trust and potentially deter corruption, and it offered a clarifying amendment to make clear the requirement applies to board and commission members rather than all employees of listed agencies. Several organizations and individuals also testified in support. A committee member asked about the amendment, and the commission explained it was intended as a clarification rather than a substantive change. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2250, which would add homeless facilities to the locations covered by the drug-free-zone offense for promoting controlled substances. The Public Defender opposed the measure, arguing that many homeless facilities are unmarked and not easily identifiable, creating notice, fairness, and due process concerns and risking arbitrary enforcement. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying it targets distributors rather than users, that notice can be proven through evidence, and that the law is aimed at protecting vulnerable people in shelters and similar facilities. In questioning, senators asked how homeless facilities would be identified and whether the bill would cover all shelter models; the prosecutor said the definition is cross-referenced in statute and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and other groups testified in opposition, while several service and advocacy groups testified in support. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2325, which would allow courts to review and potentially reduce sentences for certain juvenile offenders after 15 years if the person is not a danger to the community. Judiciary staff said the court supports the bill’s intent but noted Hawaii’s indeterminate sentencing structure leaves no alternative sentence for a court to reduce to, suggesting the measure may need structural sentencing changes or could instead be directed to the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Public defender representatives and youth-justice advocates supported the bill, emphasizing rehabilitation, adolescent brain development, trauma, and the need for a meaningful opportunity for release. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:00.079><c> and</c> observers as well as the candidates and observers as well as the candidates
• of candidates maybe a candidate<01:18:13.520><c> Forum</c><01:18:13.880><c> where</c><01:18:14.040><
• If the union donates to certain candidates, they don't file that with the city.
• </c><02:44:32.600><c> and</c> putting on a forum for candidates and putting on a forum for candidates
• I might support the libertarian candidate once I see how low the libertarian candidate is polling.

Committee: House Election Law

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> committee heard in house file 4698. committee heard in house file 4698.
• </c> dollars to other Democrat candidates. dollars to other Democrat candidates.
• </c><00:09:44.320><c> 856</c> working on the Senate file 856 working on the Senate file 856 and<00:09
• </c> ARCAC has scre or or or candidates ARCAC has scre or or or candidates screamed<00:18:41.440><c>
• </c> candidates recommended by the ARCAC. candidates recommended by the ARCAC.

Summary: The committee took up House File 4252 and first heard a walkthrough of a DE2 amendment that largely incorporated Office of Higher Education technical and statutory cleanup items, including reporting consolidations, updates to postsecondary registration and licensing statutes, and an anti-fraud provision. New provisions in the DE2 would require public postsecondary institutions to explain developmental courses before enrollment and obtain a written acknowledgement, revise the state grant tuition cap, add a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation in FY 2027 for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and provide $5,000 one-time funding for reforestation at Bemidji State University. Fiscal staff also noted additional special revenue fund revenue and expenditures tied to licensing and registration litigation response. The main debate centered on the A8 amendment offered by Representative Rarick, which would require the governor to appoint University of Minnesota regents only from candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature fails to elect regents. Rarick argued the amendment was needed to address what he described as conflicts of interest and pay-to-play concerns in recent gubernatorial appointments. Several members questioned whether the language was constitutional, whether it actually addressed conflicts of interest, and whether it should instead refer to ARCAC-screened or ARCAC-recommended candidates. Nonpartisan staff said the governor’s appointment power is addressed in the university charter, not directly in the constitution, but could not definitively assess constitutionality if challenged. Members were divided: some supported the goal of cleaner governance but said the amendment was not ready or did not match the problem being described; others argued the legislature had failed to complete its own regent appointments and that the amendment was a response to that failure. No vote on the A8 amendment or the bill was reached in the portion provided, though a roll call was requested on the amendment and the chair indicated the bill would continue through amendment consideration before final discussion and vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• One item on the agenda today, and that is Senator Marty's Senate File 2386, which makes some changes
• So this bill would propose instead that that be one of those non-campaign disbursements that candidates
• So this bill would propose instead that that be one of those non-campaign disbursements that candidates
• Not necessarily because the candidates who win are happy to celebrate, but because others are happy to
• Not necessarily because the candidates who win are happy to celebrate, but because others are happy to

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment provides that if the only candidate to have filed for office is deceased, the office is
• not stricken from the ballot, and instead allows for write-in candidates.
• The amendment provides that if the only candidate to have filed for office is deceased, the office is
• not stricken from the ballot, and instead allows for write-in candidates.
• In this case, if there is no write-in candidate, votes for the deceased candidate are not counted and

Summary: The State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee met on February 24, 2026, for what was described as its last regular meeting of the session. The committee reviewed a large slate of bills and gubernatorial appointments, with staff briefing measures on voting rights, voter registration challenges, military justice victims’ rights, terminology changes from “alien” to “non-citizen,” shared leave for hate-crime and immigration-enforcement-related absences, civil service coverage for Washington Technology Solutions security staff, language-access services, small works roster limits, deceased candidates on ballots, postgraduate degree requirements, foreign national participation in elections, public records exemptions, and personal information protections. Several amendments were discussed, including changes to voting-rights language, county-residency requirements for voter-registration challengers, and a proposal on foreign national certifications; a satirical amendment to the terminology bill referencing “extraterrestrial” was also presented and later withdrawn. After caucus, the committee moved into executive session and took action on four gubernatorial appointments, recommending confirmation for Megan Matthews, Reedy Mukapade, Kiana Daniels, and Gauri Shratria, all subject to signatures. The committee then voted out the bills, generally on unanimous voice votes, sending most to the Rules Committee and several fiscal measures to Ways and Means. Amendments were adopted on HB 1710, HB 1750, HB 1916, and HB 2123, while the amendment to HB 2632 was withdrawn. HB 2574 and HB 2637 were noted as not being moved that day. The chair and members closed by thanking staff for their work and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> candidates for the Board of Regents. candidates for the Board of Regents.
• Although we support House File 4413's goal, we'd like to see this bill changed where all candidates that
• Although we support House File 4413's goal, we'd like to see this bill changed where all candidates that
• </c> candidates? I mean, that can happen. candidates? I mean, that can happen.
• . candidates. candidates.

Bills: HF1323 , HF4266 , HF4413 , HF3101 , HF4572 , HF4698 , HF3650 , HF2634

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You're speaking to a candidate, correct? Yes, but not the general public.
• had to pay the other candidate, and it wasn't like paying...
• They could be civilly liable to the opposing candidate.
• I just can't remember which candidates it was.
• This bill representative was filed in November, this bill was filed in November, there was plenty of

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• . candidate.
• </c> who is the best candidate for the job. who is the best candidate for the job.
• state representative may file their candidates for a special election.
• </c> no longer a requirement to file at all. no longer a requirement to file at all.
• Oh, party filing. Okay. I scratched off the wrong filing period. That was for the candidacy.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• I move House File<00:02:49.840><c> 4252</c> File 4252 File 4252 be<00:02:51.840><c> sent</c><00:02:52.080
• </c> House File 4252. House File 4252.
• </c> folks that are in the Epstein files. folks that are in the Epstein files.
• </c> candidate recommended by the ARCAK. candidate recommended by the ARCAK.
• </c> candidates screened by the ARCAK. candidates screened by the ARCAK.

Bills: HF4252

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, student aid, financial aid, grant programs, scholarships, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, community college, technical college, postsecondary institution, college affordability, student fees, athletic facilities, competitive athletics, developmental education, remedial courses, pregnant students, parenting students, priority registration

Transcript Highlights:

• The secretary will read the Senate file numbers. >> Senate file numbers 3980, 3868, 3832, and 3857.
• The Senate files have been given their second reading.
• Um, I would like, as we bring candidates forward beyond this one, Mr.
• , candidate, candidate, she's<00:20:18.080><c> uh</c><00:20:18.400><c> getting</c><00:20:18.640><c> ready
• Members, please vote. passage for Senate file number 3402. passage for Senate file number 3402.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> difficult for many because the files difficult for many because the files people<00:50:10.800><c
• </c> assignments um from teacher candidates assignments um from teacher candidates um<00:50:30.079><c
• </c> move on to House File 3421. move on to House File 3421. Representative<00:57:34.880><c> Clardy.
• </c> House File 3421 as amended. House File 3421 as amended.
• </c> support of House File 3421. support of House File 3421.

Bills: HF3421

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers, school-based experience, reading intervention, Minnesota education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So I filed the Anti-Semitism Task Force bill.
• That is the need and why I filed House Bill 111.
• Chair: Next, HB 535, Candidate Chair: qualifying by Representative Benarroch, who is out for personal
• Griffitts: Simply requiring candidates for public office in Florida to disclose whether they hold dual
• So if they know a candidate runs for office, they need to know all they can about the person in their

Transcript Highlights:

• [laughter] Senator Swedzinski will be presenting Senate File 1310 today. Senate File 1310 today.
• Uh, and I Senate File 1310 today.
• And we are next going to hear Senate File 3627. Senate File 3627.
• <01:10:40.480><c> visiting</c> candidate visiting candidate visiting as<01:10:42.320><c> in</c><01:10
• </c> candidate trying to get their support. candidate trying to get their support.

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually filed that That is correct.
• This is an actual investigation using a whistleblower photo of a candidate on the right helping a candidate
• This is an actual investigation using a whistleblower photo of a candidate on the right helping a candidate
• </c><00:25:31.679><c> on</c> whistleblower photo of a candidate on whistleblower photo of a candidate
• </c> candidates receive lensure. candidates receive lensure.

Summary: The subcommittee approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then took up several regulations. The first was a Department of Veterans Affairs regulation, with a staff amendment, to allow nurse practitioners to apply for the Veterans Affairs nurse loan repayment program year-round and to make technical drafting changes. The committee heard from the Office of Kentucky Veteran Centers, then adopted the staff amendment and approved the regulation without objection. The main item of the meeting was the Board of Optometric Examiners’ proposed amendment to 201 KAR 5:010, which would allow applicants to use the Optometry Examining Board of Canada written exam in place of part one of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam for licensure. The board said the change would improve access to care, provide an additional pathway for Canadian-trained candidates, and still require applicants to pass the remaining national board parts. Opponents, including NBEO officials, ARBO, Pearson VUE, and several optometrists, argued the Canadian exam is not equivalent, does not test the same biomedical science content, is not validated for U.S. scope of practice, and raises concerns about test security, transparency, and portability across states. They urged the committee to find the amendment deficient or vote no. Committee members questioned both sides about prior communication with the board, whether Kentucky would be the first state to adopt such a change, the rationale for the proposal, and the cost difference between the exams. Supporters said the board had received some written comments and one phone call, and that the proposal was driven by access concerns and the presence of Canadian students. Opponents said they had not had direct discussions with the Kentucky board before the hearing. No final vote on the optometry regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee heard extensive testimony and rebuttal before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trial court clerks request extensions of time to file records on appeal.
• Trial court clerks request extensions of time to file records on appeal.
• So there, this requires that certain forms be filed electronically. I see.
• </c> issues to which candidates may respond. issues to which candidates may respond.
• </c> or you were a candidate. or you were a candidate.

Bills: SB2444 , SB2446 , SB2450 , SB2453 , SB2461 , SB2457 , SB2462 , SB2313 , SB2528 , SB2532 , SB2571 , SB2678 , SB2529

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we're going to take up Tab 4, CS for SB 280 on candidate qualification by Senator Arrington.
• There is an excellent late-filed amendment, Barcode 685694.
• Is there objection to considering the late-filed amendment?
• Senators, there's a late-filed amendment, Barcode 756632.
• Is there objection to considering the late-filed amendment?

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met and considered a series of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 282 on home and service warranty association financial requirements. The bill would allow more than one collateral liability insurance policy to back a warranty license and make related financial requirement changes; an amendment clarifying policy options was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification, which creates an enforceable requirement and private right of action for party-affiliation qualification rules, and SB 7004, an open government sunset review bill that continues a public records exemption related to housing assistance program applicants or participants after disasters. The committee then took up several member bills. CS/CS/CS/SB 88 would create an opt-in framework for local governments to allow utility terrain vehicles on certain roads, with safety requirements and insurance clarification added by amendment; supporters emphasized local transportation benefits and law enforcement tools, while several senators raised concerns about misuse in urban areas, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 106 would allow substitute service through the same electronic platform used by scammers in vulnerable adult exploitation cases, with a 30-day hold clarified by amendment; it received support from elder law and advocacy groups and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 262 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code, including decanting, trustee actions, ademption by satisfaction, and homestead/community property trust treatment, and was also reported favorably. Additional bills approved included SB 402, which updates the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute by referring to armed forces as defined elsewhere in law; SB 700, which continues the public records exemption for site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species; and SB 7006, which preserves public records and meeting exemptions for building plans and related documents depicting 911, E911, and public safety radio communication infrastructure, including next-generation 911 systems. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on certain bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.