Transcript Highlights:

• So when the Secretary of State's office, um, suggested they, the elections officials start redacting
• of the election.
• administrator still may be appointed to an office or position by an elected official.
• our elected officials are, and, and, and how to just be more transparent to the voters to be more prepared
• elected official, um, you know, if there were no law against it, I wouldn't mind, you know, a younger

Bills: HB429 , HB496 , HB640 , HB657 , HB665 , HB677 , HB952

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• In elections.
• Local governments and local elected officials, such as those who...
• But in addition to those concerns, restricting the activity of local officials, many of whom are elected
• state representative, county judge, or commissioners, or their local election officials, they're trusting
• Are you here as an elected official or are you here as a candidate?

Bills: HB304 , HB401 , HB556 , HB1475 , HB1489 , HB2259 , HB2424 , HB2773 , HB2811 , HB3323 , HB304

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• He can election. I Um so that's fine. He can election.
• </c><00:15:40.160><c> We</c> to election. Our current law is okay. We to election.
• Happy to take any questions. election. So it's important for us to election.
• I hate lines on election day. I will always hate lines on election day.
• I hate lines on election day. I will always hate lines on election day.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the only M.O. that is not made up of a majority of elected officials.
• </c> made up of of a majority of elected made up of of a majority of elected officials.<00:20:35.919>
• </c> made up of a majority of elected made up of a majority of elected officials<00:21:21.600><c> from
• ><00:21:25.600><c> officials</c> or members that uh uh elected officials or members that uh uh elected
• The fact that this agency even exists with an appointment as opposed to elected officials because of

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, not a fair situation for any elected official.
• And these are elected officials. We're just going to remove them.
• Districts and they are elected officials.
• are elected officials, and we think about who oversees elected officials, I'm wondering, do we have
• It's about individual elected officials. Is that correct, Mr. Chair? Mr.

Bills: SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing, too, in here, it gives one elected official the authority to tell another elected official
• We give legislative authority to one elected official to govern another elected official, not a government
• an elected official, and he's an elected official, meaning the administrator of the mayor or police
• What they have done is been elected officials, and they've been elected officials and been stewards of
• What they have done is been elected officials, and they've been elected officials and been stewards of

Committee: Senate Judiciary B

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment modifies when a vacancy is created in the office of an elected law enforcement official
• by providing that such a vacancy is created when the elected law enforcement official has been decertified
• The amendment modifies when a vacancy is created in the office of an elected law enforcement official
• the elected law enforcement official is decertified, or if the eligibility requirements are determined
• or anything that we don't see in regards to any other state elected officials or county elected officials

Committee: House Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 505 will allow election workers, candidates, party officials, proponents, and opponents of
• a measure. to ask election officials questions regarding the election after two attempts the requesters
• In fact, Kansas' top election official or Republican who supported the bill as a state legislator now
• Officials and the election administrator for just under 10 years in Haiti.
• or as the representative of the Texas Association of County Election Officials? Both.

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It also has the secondary benefit of reducing the angst of our elected officials and staff as we try
• That would be a nice homework assignment if some elected official desires to take that on.
• The notice is posted for elections until a presidential election or redistricting occurs.
• on a very busy election day.
• So in our election, we made some changes around lobbying.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:25.840><c> 2105</c> qualifies as a local official 2105 qualifies as a local official 2105
• decision</c> to elected officials or the decision to elected officials or the decision maker<00:51:26.640
• , as well as the week of the election when election officials come to that facility.
• , as well as the week of the election when election officials come to that facility.
• , as well as the week of the election when election officials come to that facility.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Interestingly, members, no city, county, or school board elected official has asked me to support...
• Members, if we tie the hands of local elected officials as Senate Bill 12 would, who will educate us
• And maybe it will encourage more of our elected officials... ...and school board members and people like
• I don't know about you, but if I get a call from an elected official, I listen to what they have to say
• If elected officials are wasting money on lobbyists, that is a matter for them to face and explain to

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, this bill seeks to specify which elected officials would have a conflict of interest and thus
• Provides relative to limitation on the institution of prosecution, provides for elected officials, public
• officials and public and time period for prosecuting certain crimes committed by elected officials and
• Why is it only one chamber can initiate the removal of an elected official?
• So if any elected official in this state outside of the people who are already exempted in the Constitution

Bills: HR275 , HR276 , HR277 , HR278 , HR279 , HR280 , HR281 , HR282 , HR283 , HR284 , HCR112 , HCR113 , HR265 , HR266 , HR267 , HR268 , HR269 , HR270 , HR271 , HR272 , HR273 , HCR107 , HCR108 , HCR109 , HCR110 , HCR111 , SCR63 , SCR66 , SCR67 , SB414 , SB484 , SB513 , HR168 , HR174 , HR194 , HR216 , HR264 , HCR54 , HCR74 , HCR79 , HCR85 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR95 , HCR97 , HCR98 , HCR104 , SCR23 , SCR29 , SCR33 , SCR38 , HB75 , HB705 , SB54 , SB56 , SB72 , SB79 , SB97 , SB105 , SB123 , SB125 , SB129 , SB163 , SB171 , SB252 , SB287 , SB375 , SB386 , SB461 , SB466 , HR84 , HR188 , HR205 , HR3 , HR197 , HR243 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , SCR11 , SCR22 , SCR2 , SCR20 , SCR24 , SCR35 , HCR6 , HB301 , HB359 , HB657 , HB675 , HB680 , HB727 , HB39 , HB58 , HB112 , HB134 , HB155 , HB187 , HB287 , HB462 , HB782 , HB825 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB1200 , HB4 , HB623 , HB944 , HB986 , HB1098 , HB1222 , SB45 , SB58 , SB71 , SB81 , SB92 , SB100 , SB109 , SB141 , SB156 , SB181 , SB203 , SB204 , SB205 , SB207 , SB213 , SB214 , SB216 , SB229 , SB257 , SB274 , SB290 , SB304 , SB374 , SB379 , SB396 , SB410 , SB425 , SB427 , SB429 , SB479 , SB522 , SB34 , SB164 , SB172 , SB198 , SB208 , SB232 , SB281 , SB286 , SB317 , SB322 , SB334 , SB380 , SB385 , SB409 , SB417 , SB421 , SB430 , SB439 , SB447 , SB458 , SB510 , HB842 , HB633 , HB1191 , HB625 , HB1255 , HB251 , HB582 , HB646 , HB819 , HB998 , HB1257 , SB197 , SB436 , SB78 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HB284 , HB302 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , SB82 , SB89 , HB258 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441

Summary: The House met with a quorum and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several personal privileges recognizing National Police Week, fallen law enforcement officers, a young Olympic weightlifter, a community sports agent, a deceased coach, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Day, the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, aviation professionals, and a birthday tribute. The chamber also received Senate messages, committee reports, and a long series of resolutions and bills, many of which were adopted or concurred in without objection. Several measures were returned to the calendar, while others were advanced with technical or clarifying amendments. A major portion of the meeting focused on resolutions honoring or commemorating people and groups, including National Police Week, Barron Baker, Paul T. Derezel II, Coach Emilio Tese, Alpha Phi Alpha, Louisiana Realtors Day, Special Olympics Louisiana, and various memorial highway designations. The House also adopted or concurred in resolutions on topics such as DOTD signage, shrimp procurement, geothermal energy, opioid settlement reporting, hospital design standards, Medicaid redetermination flexibility, chronic wasting disease management, remote online notarization, and a task force on intestate succession. Testimony on these items was generally supportive and brief, with sponsors explaining that most were technical, commemorative, or requests for study. The chamber also took up several substantive bills and Senate amendments. Among the measures concurred in were bills on peace officer citizenship requirements, post-conviction bail limits, portable benefits for independent contractors, workforce development, construction debris burning, license plate coverings, insurance and captive insurers, oil field indemnification, and rural infrastructure financing. One notable bill, HB 39 on peace officer citizenship, drew questions about National Guard members and legal permanent residents before the House concurred in the Senate amendments by a 74-22 vote. HB 134 on harmful material and interactive computer services had its Senate amendments rejected, while HB 359 on nonaffiliated candidates was temporarily returned to the calendar. The most extended debate came on the conference committee report for HB 842, which addressed Louisiana election law in response to the federal Callais decision. Members questioned how the report would affect the current congressional election cycle, absentee ballots, qualifying dates, signature requirements, and whether the closed party primary for U.S. House races had been canceled in favor of an open primary in the fall. The sponsor explained that the report cancels the current closed party primary for congressional races, voids ballots cast in that canceled election, returns qualifying fees, lowers petition-signature requirements, and sets new dates for the open primary and runoff. The House suspended the rules to consider the report the same day it was received, and the discussion highlighted concerns about election administration, district maps, and the scope of the changes before the chamber moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• officials during the the election officials during the election. election. election.
• about election officials.
• about election officials.
• about election officials.
• </c> like all their elected officials. like all their elected officials.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The committee convened for a day of public hearings on nine bills, with plans to later execute several early bills and possibly additional measures under House Rule 44. Chair Diane Pauer outlined time limits for sponsors and testimony, announced a lunch break around noon, and noted substitute members would be arriving later. The first hearing was on House Bill 1107, which would allow municipal budget committees to have one to three alternate members. Representative Valon, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to help towns like Epping deal with quorum problems during the compressed budget season and noted that alternates are common on other local boards. The New Hampshire Municipal Association testified in support, saying the bill would increase flexibility and help fill seats. Committee members raised concerns about whether alternates should be elected, how they would be selected, whether they would be sufficiently informed to vote, and whether the bill’s one-year term language and rescission provisions were clear. The sponsor and NHMA said the process would be consistent with other local boards, that alternates would typically be appointed after elections, and that they would follow up on possible statutory clarification. The hearing closed with six remote supporters, one paper supporter, and no opposition reported. The committee then heard House Bill 1118, sponsored by Representative Colby, which would raise the daily amount municipal employees may hold before remitting funds to the treasurer from the current $1,500 limit to $3,500. Colby said the existing thresholds are outdated, have not been updated in about 20 years, and create burdens for smaller towns that must make frequent bank deposits, sometimes far from town offices. She said the bill would improve efficiency and allow staff to focus more on serving residents, while still allowing municipalities to keep lower limits if they choose. Members asked about how the remittance process works in practice, what amounts municipalities typically collect, and whether the change reflected a broader trend of updating cash-handling thresholds. The sponsor explained that the bill only changes the dollar thresholds in the relevant statutes and does not require municipalities to adopt the higher limit. The transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1118 is reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a former city commissioner and I just like to say if there is any elected official from the city
• Any elected official from the city of White Springs, I would certainly like to hear their version of
• I would like to enlighten this committee on how our citizens and their elected officials have worked
• When the lady said that no town should have all Black elected officials, my head almost split.
• So as a local elected official, we make an oath to the state and to our city.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 8, 2025, and first took up several local bills that were presented briefly and then approved without public opposition. HB 4035 would merge the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District and the Lee County Mosquito Control District, contingent on approval by voters in both districts at the 2026 election; it passed 15-0. HB 307 would extend to county property appraisers the same authority tax collectors already have to use salary savings for employee bonuses or incentives, and it passed 17-0 after testimony from property appraisers and their associations in support. HB 4047 and HB 4049 would adjust assessment caps for the Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District and the North St. Lucie River Water Control District, respectively, with inflation indexing, annual increase limits, and referendum approval requirements; both passed unanimously. The committee also adopted an amendment to the committee substitute for HB 1169, a broader water management district bill covering quorum and meeting rules, lobbying restrictions, ad valorem taxing authority for certain capital projects by referendum, budget reporting, bidding preferences, and additional oversight and funding information; the amended bill passed 16-0 and was reported favorably with committee substitute. The final and most heavily debated item was HB 4079, which would dissolve the Town of White Springs and return it to unincorporated Hamilton County. The sponsor argued the town had a pattern of mismanagement, including financial problems, audit findings, canceled elections, and public safety concerns, and said dissolution would lower taxes and preserve services through the county. Committee members asked about the town’s finances, audits, law enforcement, fire protection, debt, and whether the county could absorb services and liabilities. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of dissolution cited audit findings, alleged illegal gambling operations, double taxation for law enforcement, high administrative costs, and intimidation at meetings. Opponents, including current and former town officials and residents, said the town had made progress, had corrected audit issues, maintained reserves, and was working to restore services and governance; they asked for more time and pointed to an upcoming election. No vote was taken on HB 4079 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and their county election officials as they update the plans ahead of each statewide election.
• and their county election officials as they update the plans ahead of each statewide election.
• </c><00:10:21.519><c> County</c> election officials um and their County election officials um and their
• County election<00:10:22.200><c> officials</c><00:10:22.720><c> as</c><00:10:22.920><c> they</c><00:
• </c> really improve the process for election really improve the process for election officials<00:10:

Summary: The committee took up House File 1378, an elections administration bill, and first adopted the DE5 amendment. The author described DE5 as a negotiated package combining provisions from several bills on election administration, including notice of temporary polling locations, residence standards for people under civil commitment orders, polling place closure/change notices, absentee voting provisions, special election filing periods, and timelines for filing statements of economic interest. The committee then adopted two additional amendments, A6 and A8, both presented as technical or corrective changes; A8 restored language on off-reservation temporary polling that had been inadvertently left out. Testimony from county election officials and the Secretary of State’s office was generally supportive of the bill’s election-administration changes. Blue Earth County’s Michael Stalberger said the bill would streamline election-day work, improve absentee ballot deadlines, clarify ballot correction procedures, formalize chain-of-custody plans, and speed out-of-court remedies for ballot errors. He also raised concerns about implementation details, including the timing for first chain-of-custody plans, applying candidate filing changes to townships and school districts as well as cities, the short turnaround for college student housing lists, and whether the statewide system could handle new absentee-ballot data fields. Nicole Freeman of the Secretary of State’s office echoed support for the technical cleanup and several policy changes, including removing the permanent absentee application box from voter registration forms, clarifying ballot-board procedures, chain-of-custody planning, and the out-of-court remedy, while also flagging concerns about the absentee application cutoff, city opt-outs from absentee voting, and staffing requirements for absentee locations. Later in the hearing, members discussed a separate proposed amendment, A4/A3, dealing with prohibitions on inducements to vote or register, including lotteries or other chances to win money or goods. The author explained it was intended to clarify existing law and respond to recent examples of large-money election-related giveaways, but after discussion the chair declined to offer the amendment in committee, saying it would likely not have enough support and could be taken up later on the floor. The hearing ended with the technical amendments adopted and the bill advanced with the committee continuing broader discussions on the remaining issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:52.799><c> official</c> process works on the election official process works on the election
• c> to</c> that some election officials have had to that some election officials have had to use<00:28
• </c> the duties of many elected officials. the duties of many elected officials.
• </c><04:12:50.160><c> officials,</c> by two different election officials, by two different election officials
• We're now local election officials.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as the most important issue for elected as the most important issue for elected officials<00:08:
• Number two is the treatment of elected officials.
• officials this is treatment of elected officials this is pretty<00:20:27.960><c> clearcut</c><00:20:
• </c> time it is clear that County elected time it is clear that County elected officials<00:20:31.600
• </c><00:20:44.320><c> officials</c><00:20:44.760><c> and</c> thousands of election officials and thousands

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• uh</c><00:23:46.040><c> under</c> election official and signing uh under election official and signing
• </c> you know, if you've got two election you know, if you've got two election officials<00:31:45.920
• The total number of absentee ballots used as official election ballots.
• </c> absentee ballots used as official absentee ballots used as official election<01:31:32.440><c> ballots
• </c> discussing with various election discussing with various election officials. officials. officials

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:02:55.000><c> official</c> being witnessed by that elected official being witnessed by that elected
• accept that election result and become an elected official.
• accept that election result and become an elected official.
• accept that election result and become an elected official.
• or of the primary elections, therefore, or the city elections or the town elections by official ballot

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there are both elected and non-elected officials who serve on the committee at issue here. >> Okay
• </c> to know their elected officials. to know their elected officials.
• <c> our</c> more as elected officials to engage our more as elected officials to engage our voters<01
• </c><01:20:33.360><c> officials</c> would say we see our elected officials would say we see our elected
• officials as elected officials to door knock.

Bills: HF3884 , HF3881 , HF3882 , HF3883 , HF3363 , HF3362

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations