Video & Transcript Research : 'absentee voting'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- So we advocate for robust and efficient post-election audits that can validate voting.
- It's really about auditing votes.
- Now and under any conceivable audit, just because there were so many votes to audit.
- And under any conceivable audit, just because there were so many votes to audit.
- Similarly, you know, towns run the voting machines, but the State Board conducts the audits.
Summary:
The Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on election security bills, focusing first on S. 517 and H. 876, which would strengthen Massachusetts’ post-election audit process. Testimony from the Brennan Center, Common Cause Massachusetts, Verified Voting, and the League of Women Voters supported expanding audits to include all ballot types, increasing audit frequency from every four years to every two years, requiring statewide audit reports to be posted within 30 days and kept online for six years, and allowing municipalities to conduct audits under state standards. Witnesses also praised the bill’s creation of a work group to study risk-limiting audits and other improvements, emphasizing public confidence, transparency, and the ability of audits to detect errors or deter fraud.
Committee members asked detailed questions about how Massachusetts compares with other states, how risk-limiting audits differ from current tabulation audits, how audits are selected and expanded if discrepancies appear, and what the costs and mechanics of different audit methods would be. Witnesses explained that current audits are typically random, hand-count-based checks of selected contests and batches of ballots, that risk-limiting audits use statistical sampling and can escalate to a full recount if needed, and that Massachusetts’ local-control structure makes a collaborative work group useful. They also noted that audits generally confirm results but can uncover errors that do not change outcomes, and occasionally more serious problems.
The committee then heard testimony on H. 832, which would authorize the Secretary of the Commonwealth to take emergency actions affecting elections during declared emergencies. Supporters said the bill would create a clear statutory process for rescheduling or adjusting elections during severe weather or other crises, including allowing emergency absentee ballot accommodations for civilian responders, and would reduce the need for court intervention. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing, and the meeting ended with adjournment after no additional testimony was offered.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- amendment on a straw pole vote of 902. amendment on a straw pole vote of 902.
- The vote in our School of Public Health.
- Our voting economic development. Our voting committee<00:43:45.680>
was <00:43:46.240>902. - chronic absenteeism. chronic absenteeism.
- an act relating to chronic absenteeism an act relating to chronic absenteeism in<00:54:14.079>
Summary:
The House opened with a devotional reading by Theo Novak, a student and Vermont Poetry Out Loud finalist, followed by several announcements, including a welcome for the guest speaker and a reminder about a freshman legislator gathering and the day’s corporate cup road closures. The House then postponed action for one legislative day on Senate Bill 208, relating to law enforcement identification; Senate Bill 212, relating to portable water supply and wastewater system connections; and House Bill 639, relating to genetic data privacy.
The main floor action centered on House Bill 648, banking, insurance, and securities. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee presented Senate amendments and its own further amendments, including clarifications to consumer reinvestment reporting and a proposal to extend and then effectively end the moratorium on new cryptocurrency kiosks in Vermont. The committee described extensive testimony and data on crypto kiosk fraud, money laundering, and consumer losses, and also added a new licensing framework for merchant cash advance providers. Ways and Means reported the fiscal impact would be very small. After a brief question about the $1 million exemption threshold for commercial financing, the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment with further amendment thereto.
The House also passed Senate Bill 243, distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project, in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then took up Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee described updates to the definition of tobacco substitutes, creation of a wholesale licensing system under the Department of Liquor and Lottery, tighter controls on online sales, and bans on deceptive products that resemble school supplies, food, smartphones, inhalers, or video games. The committee heard testimony from health, enforcement, industry, and advocacy witnesses and voted 11-0 in favor. Human Services then proposed a strike-all amendment to the committee report, with further consideration to continue.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Juvenile Justice Oversight Council (10-8-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:04:10.319>
is systems. 30% chronic absenteeism is systems. 30% chronic absenteeism is - I just looked at my numbers absenteeism.
- started tracking chronic absenteeism. started tracking chronic absenteeism.
- chronic absenteeism what it was. So it chronic absenteeism what it was.
- reduction in chronic absenteeism. reduction in chronic absenteeism.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:00
Roll Call: 00:00:08
Agency Updates: 00:01:27
Truancy: 00:01:43, 958, all
Summary:
The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on October 8, 2025, approved the minutes from the August 29 meeting, and then focused its agenda on truancy and chronic absenteeism. Chad Butler, director of pupil personnel for Meade County and president of the Kentucky Department of Pupil Personnel directors, said chronic absenteeism remains a major problem statewide, citing recent Kentucky rates around 28% to 30% and noting that schools are trying to identify best practices to get students back in class. He said causes appear to include post-COVID social-emotional distress and confusion about when students should stay home, and he described a local effort to use a Healthy Kids Clinic model to keep some students in school when possible. In response to questions, he said chronic absenteeism has only been tracked seriously in the last two to three years and that House Bill 611 appears to have increased the number of youth entering the court system for habitual truancy; AOC said it would provide county-by-county data and outcomes later in the meeting.
The council then heard from John Tyson of Alabama, a former Mobile district attorney, who described the Helping Families Initiative as a school-community partnership designed to address truancy and related behavior issues without arrest. Tyson said Alabama defines chronic absence as missing 10% of the school year and emphasized that the program is preventive rather than punitive, using warning letters, family engagement, assessments, individualized intervention plans, and referrals to community services. He said the program has operated since 2003, now includes 20 district attorneys and 44 school systems, and served more than 95,000 students, 73,000 families, and 162,000 parents in the most recent year. Tyson reported that in Mobile County the program was associated with a 3.15% attendance improvement in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in the issue in 2024-25, along with a 50% reduction in truancy and 58% reduction in chronic absenteeism, and he said the program produced a large return on investment.
Tyson also stressed that student absenteeism wastes tax dollars and that better attendance improves educational outcomes and community safety. He described the program’s use of a case-management database, real-time data tracking, and more than 1,000 referral agencies, and said the model is intended to be replicated statewide. He closed with examples of students whose attendance and family circumstances required coordinated support rather than punishment, including a teen mother and a disruptive child, to illustrate his view that schools, courts, and social services should work together to address underlying needs and keep children in school.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Feb 16th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
A&B Education Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative McCane votes aye. Members wishing to vote or change your vote, declare the vote.
- Members wishing to vote or change your vote, declare the vote. 7-0-nay.
- Members wishing to vote or change your vote... Members wishing to vote or change your vote?
- Members wishing to vote or change your vote. President Tedford votes aye.
- Now members wishing to vote or change your vote. Close the vote. Declare the vote.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EDN Public Hearing - Thu Feb 6, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- vice chair vote I any members voting vice chair vote I any members voting no<01:30:10.560>
okay - <01:30:46.239>
no vice chair vote I any members voting no vice chair vote I any members voting - Bill<01:31:04.119>
962 the vote voting on House Bill 962 the vote voting on House Bill 962 - Chair and vice chair vote aye. Any members voting no? Any members voting in reservation?
- Bill<01:33:25.920>
987 the vote voting on House Bill 987 the vote voting on House Bill 987
Summary:
The House Committee on Education met on February 6 at 2:00 p.m. and heard testimony on a series of education-related bills. HB 1200, which would codify teacher ratios in statute, drew support from the Department of Education, the Democratic Party of the Education Caucus, and 11 individuals; no opposition was noted and the committee moved on without questions. HB 1344, concerning mandatory FAFSA completion, received testimony from the Department of Education, Hawaii P20, and a University of Hawaiʻi student who cited unclaimed Pell Grant funds and low FAFSA completion rates as reasons to support the bill. Committee members asked about current outreach efforts, and DOE and P20 described FAFSA tracking data, hotlines, email support, school-based FAFSA nights, and coordination with counselors; members also raised concerns about federal education funding and Pell Grants.
The committee then heard HB 1499, which would authorize staff and volunteers to administer certain medications. The Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi nursing leadership, and the Hawaii State Center for Nursing all testified in support, along with several individuals and the Democratic Party Environmental Caucus. The next measure, HB 902 on the Public Safety Power Shutoff program, was supported by DOE, the Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric, but it prompted extensive questioning from the Vice Chair about whether taxpayers should fund a study to help schools remain open during shutoffs. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would help DOE assess impacts in wildfire-risk areas and noted its wildfire safety strategy, outreach efforts, and potential community resource centers, while the Vice Chair argued the utility should bear more of the cost.
The committee also heard HB 961, a bill on school libraries and a CASS pilot program, with DOE offering comments and HSTA and the Hawaii Library Association strongly supporting it. HSTA argued certified librarians are important for literacy, research, and digital literacy, and said many schools lack them because of cost; the association and 14 individuals testified in support. HB 962, a related bill on DOE libraries and the system, also drew support from DOE, HSTA, and the Hawaii Library Association, with 15 individuals in support. Finally, HB 730, concerning the Civil Rights Compliance Branch, received support from DOE, White Children’s Action Network, AAW of Hawaiʻi, and many individuals. Testifiers said the branch needs more resources and training and handles more than Title IX, including Title VI, Title VII, and ADA matters. A student plaintiff in a Title IX lawsuit described unequal treatment in athletics and facilities, and another supporter said the bill would help ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/5/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- government could staff their absentee government could staff their absentee ballot<00:10:10.680>
- recorded on that cast vote record.
- recorded on that cast vote record.
- That was the vote, anyway. Votes pass.
- anyway uh votes pass we will uh be vote anyway uh votes pass we will uh be re<01:40:19.440>
re
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 4/27/26 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Please vote green. much. Please vote green.
- Mohamud Noor Mohamud Noor votes aye. Mohamud Noor votes votes votes aye.
- on election day and the absentee or earlier voting locations established.
- on election day and the absentee or earlier voting locations established.
- Representative Freiberg continued: Absentee voting spaces and absentee ballot board spaces are not infinite
Summary:
The House first took up House File 1794, which would remove the post-graduate collaborative practice requirement for advanced practice registered nurses. The author and several supporters argued the bill would reduce barriers to practice, improve access to primary care and mental health services, especially in rural areas, and align Minnesota with other states. Supporters cited backing from APRN organizations and said the Board of Nursing had no concerns, while opponents, led by Representative Liebling, argued the current one-year collaborative period is a patient-safety safeguard that gives new APRNs needed experience working with physicians before practicing independently. After debate and questions about how the current requirement works in practice, the House passed the bill 119-12.
The House then considered House File 4595, which changes licensure reciprocity rules for marriage and family therapists. Representative Schumacher said the bill would expand access to mental health care at no cost by making it easier for qualified out-of-state therapists to obtain Minnesota licenses, eliminating a five-year waiting period and other barriers while maintaining standards through background checks and a jurisprudence exam. Supporters, including Representatives Bierman and Gilman, emphasized workforce shortages and the value of more therapy access for families and relationships. The Board of Marriage and Family Therapy was noted as neutral, and the bill passed unanimously, 133-0.
Finally, the House began debate on House File 4493, which would authorize pharmacists to initiate, prescribe, administer, and dispense certain drugs for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine/Suboxone. Representative Baker said the bill would save lives by allowing people to access treatment immediately through local pharmacies, especially in greater Minnesota, and help them through withdrawal when they are most likely to seek help. The transcript cuts off during the opening of discussion on this bill, before any vote or final action is shown.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- students to prevent chronic absenteeism students to prevent chronic absenteeism we<00:13:20.720>
- specifically to Chronic absenteeism specifically to Chronic absenteeism including<01:09:29.799><
- the complexity of chronic absenteeism the complexity of chronic absenteeism and<01:36:36.280>
- <01:57:13.800>
begin <01:57:14.079>to absenteeism begin to absenteeism begin to increase - contributing to this uh absenteeism contributing to this uh absenteeism anyway<01:58:43.239>
Summary:
The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools.
Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026.
In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee 2nd Revision: Agenda Revised: 10:30 a.m. Ethics Commission
A&B General Government Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Our current voting system remains secure.
- voting.
- or in-person absentee.
- Read about is regarding absentee voting, but that really isn't applicable to Oklahoma because our law
- That's preventing from being able to potentially vote, register to vote in multiple states.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
FULL INTERVIEW: Election Protection | Senator Liz Boldon Apr 17th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- to vote, um, anyone who updates their address, anyone who relies on mail-in voting.
- to vote, um, anyone who updates their address, anyone who relies on mail-in voting.
- voting, and allows for multilingual information related to elections and voting.
- 17-year-olds, permanent um, absentee 17-year-olds, permanent um, absentee uh,<00:06:49.680>
voting - Um, we have passed and voting.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Education Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 09:36 am
Transcript Highlights:
- It removes criminal penalties for an 18-year-old for chronic absenteeism and makes a number of technical
- What if the absenteeism continues? I mean, what if the services don't work?
- What if the absenteeism continues? So you're talking about the court itself?
- One concern I believe that I have is just the changing definition from truancy to chronic absenteeism
- What would the changing this definition to chronic absenteeism do with the ability for the courts to
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its prior meeting and then took up House Bill 5537, a bill to repeal several obsolete or outdated code sections. Counsel explained that the bill would remove provisions related to professional development, a behavioral interventionist pilot program, county lists of facilities for child daycare, and high school graduation rates, with a proposed amendment adding another outdated education code section from 1923. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 5537 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass as amended.
The committee then considered House Bill 4656, which would shift truancy policy toward chronic absenteeism and earlier intervention. Counsel said the committee substitute would replace punitive status-offense treatment with wraparound services, student support specialists, and a new child-in-need-of-supervision process, while also ending compulsory attendance at age 18 and removing criminal penalties for 18-year-olds. Members questioned how the new thresholds would work, including the role of attendance directors, prosecutors, judges, and the Department of Human Services, and whether the bill would change current diversion funding or court authority.
Witnesses from Fayette County, Greenbrier County, and Taylor County largely opposed the bill or urged caution. The Fayette County attendance director said current truancy procedures, including school-based probation and court involvement, help secure family participation and services, and warned that removing the status offense would weaken enforcement. A Greenbrier County probation officer said diversion programs are effective and that court involvement often leads to needed services. A Taylor County juvenile prosecutor said status-offense jurisdiction gives courts meaningful leverage and flexibility, and asked that counties be allowed to keep existing approaches that work locally. After testimony, the committee voted to report HB 4656 to the full Senate without recommendation and with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Education, then adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Oct 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Through a series of initiatives, we continue to work to reduce our chronic absenteeism rate.
- At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate was 33%.
- I love to hear about your goals for absenteeism.
- So, as a legislature, what can we do to help you meet your goals when it comes to absenteeism?
- It's three votes. That's sad.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- H. 822 is an act relative to absentee voting.
- voting.
- voting.
- booth, and vote.
- booth, and vote.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on several election-related bills, with most testimony focused on voting access, ballot administration, and election procedures. Senator Driscoll testified for S. 509, a Randolph home rule petition to require bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole, and Randolph officials and community members strongly supported it, saying it would improve access, confidence, and participation for Haitian Creole speakers. Other speakers, including advocates and residents, described language barriers as a form of voter suppression and urged favorable action.
Leader Donato testified on H. 822, which would remove the word “physical” from the absentee voting disability standard, and on a bill to raise the signature threshold for creating political designations and allow dormant designations to be dissolved. Senator Rausch testified on several bills, including one expanding the State Ballot Law Commission’s jurisdiction over presidential primary candidate placement and a broader elections infrastructure bill that would change registration deadlines, primary dates, reporting systems, ballot design, mail voting procedures, and voter outreach. Representative Cattelda also testified on a bill to rename the ballot title for governor’s councilor to “governor’s counselor.”
The Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, through Tom Joyce and Ben Kaufman, said it supported a number of the bills and offered local election administration expertise. Former Representative Lenny Mera and Sandra Cato testified for S. 536, a bill on accountability for defective and spoiled ballots, citing a disputed 2022 Revere recount and arguing that spoiled ballots should be documented and publicly inspectable so improperly rejected ballots are not lost. Emma Chinman of Partners in Democracy supported multiple reforms, including the elections infrastructure bill and a bill allowing unenrolled voters to serve on boards of registrars. After testimony concluded, the committee accepted written testimony by email and then adjourned without taking any votes.
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Education Interim Committee - November 19, 2025
Education Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Excuse me, Senator Fillmore, I think we need your vote. Okay.
- Obviously, absenteeism is a huge thing that comes up.
- And so maybe it's not even absenteeism we need to look at.
- And so if there was a way for them to be... ...absenteeism is in these high-achieving kids.
- If there's going to be no votes, it's going to be the same process.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/14/2026)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Education Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 09:36 am
Education
Transcript Highlights:
- It removes criminal penalties for an 18-year-old for chronic absenteeism and makes a number of technical
- What if the absenteeism continues? I mean, what if the services don't work?
- What if the absenteeism continues? So you're talking about the court itself?
- One concern I believe that I have is just the changing definition from truancy to chronic absenteeism
- What would the changing this definition to chronic absenteeism do with the ability for the courts to
Summary:
The committee met, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then took up House Bill 5537, a repeal bill that removes several obsolete code sections related to professional development, a behavioral interventionist pilot program, child daycare facility lists, and high school graduation rates, and also adds another outdated section to the repeal list. After adopting the committee amendment, the committee voted to report HB 5537 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass as amended.
The committee then spent most of its time on House Bill 4656, which would replace the current truancy status-offense framework with a chronic absenteeism and child-in-need-of-supervision model. Counsel explained that the bill shifts the focus toward earlier, preventative intervention, including wraparound services, student support specialists, and a new definition of chronic absenteeism tied to failed interventions, lack of meaningful contact, grade-level impact, or absences reaching 10% of instructional days. Senators questioned how the new process would work, how it would affect court authority, prosecutors, juvenile drug courts, and whether it would change the role of schools and DHHS.
Witnesses from Fayette, Greenbrier, and Taylor counties testified. School attendance and juvenile justice officials generally said the current truancy process and court involvement help secure family participation and services, and they warned that removing the status offense could weaken enforcement and reduce the ability to compel participation in interventions. They described existing diversion programs, improvement periods, and court-supervised services as effective tools, with Greenbrier reporting that most diversions do not result in petitions. The committee ultimately voted to report HB 4656 to the full Senate without recommendation and with a further recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Education. The committee then adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Apr 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The second one is a call out for what's been mentioned around chronic absenteeism.
- So, what are the rates of chronic absenteeism right now?
- Do they have any effect on absenteeism or attendance?
- Our current chronic absenteeism rate for school year 2025 is 33%.
- Indicated that 33% is the chronic absentee rate.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Election Law Subcommittee Work Session (03/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
- Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
- Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
- voting.
- Yeah, relative to eligibility for absentee voting. Is there a motion? Yes, I'd like to move to ITL.
Summary:
The House Election Law Subcommittee met to review its report and vote on eight bills concerning voter registration, absentee voting, domicile qualifications, photographic identification, and related election procedures. The chair explained that the subcommittee’s mission was to consolidate and reconcile the bills, review constitutional and federal-law issues, and issue recommendations. Members thanked the chair, legislative staff, and outside contributors for the report and supporting materials, including research memos and testimony. The report was expected to be formally issued later in the week, with the bill recommendations finalized at the meeting.
The subcommittee first voted on House Bill 27, relative to absentee ballots, where members discussed a proposed bipartisan follow-up bill to clarify language for voters in jail and correctional facilities. The bill was recommended ought to pass by a 3-2 vote. House Bill 289, on domicile qualifications for voting, and House Bill 323, requiring government-issued photographic identification to vote, were both retained by unanimous 5-0 votes. House Bill 385, concerning a prior voting law, was recommended inexpedient to legislate by a 3-2 vote after members cited constitutional concerns and cost. House Bills 418, 618, and 684 were each recommended inexpedient to legislate unanimously, with members saying the subcommittee was consolidating overlapping bills into one measure per topic.
The final bill, House Bill 686, requiring identification when requesting an absentee ballot, was retained unanimously for further work over the summer and review by the full Election Law Committee in November. After completing all eight votes, members said the process helped them better understand the issues and that there was substantial bipartisan agreement on many principles, even where they differed on implementation. The meeting concluded with thanks and no further action beyond the subcommittee recommendations.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - First Called Session Aug 4th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Please vote from your desks and for yourself. Clerk, ring the bell.
- All those in favor, vote aye. All those opposed, say nay. Members, actually this is a record vote.
- Segaran voting aye. You have a good day. Thank you, sir. Show the Speaker voting aye.
- Speaker, I move that the Sergeant-at-Arms or officers appointed by her send for all absentees whose attendance
- Members, you've heard the motion; this is a record vote. Clerk, ring the bell. Sugaran voting aye.
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all
TX
Texas 89th 1st C.S.
89th Legislative Session - First Called Session Aug 4th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Please vote from your desks and for yourself. Clerk, ring the bell. Have all members registered.
- All those in favor vote aye. All those opposed say nay. Members, actually, this is a record vote.
- So Garin voting aye. Show the Speaker voting aye.
- Speaker, I move that the Sergeant at Arms or officers appointed by her send for all absentees whose attendance
- This is a record vote. Clerk, ring the bell. Seguin voting aye.
Summary:
The House convened amid a quorum failure and a forceful statement from the Speaker criticizing absent members for leaving the state and delaying action on urgent issues such as disaster recovery, flood-related deaths, and human trafficking. The Speaker said the House would use all available rules to compel attendance, including a call of the House and civil arrest warrants if necessary. The chamber then opened with prayer and the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags.
Representative Garin moved to place a call on the House until consideration of HB 4 on third reading was completed. The motion was adopted by record vote, 86 ayes and 6 nays, and the doors were locked. Garin then moved that the Sergeant at Arms or appointed officers send for all absent members not excused, with warrants of arrest if necessary, continuing beyond adjournment until further order of the House. That motion also prevailed by record vote, 85 ayes and 6 nays.
While under the call, members needed written permission to leave the chamber. The Speaker granted permission for members registered present to leave and return the next day. The House then adjourned without objection until 1 p.m. Tuesday.