Transcript Highlights:

• During a month that a candidate or political committee is not participating in an election campaign,
• expenditure reports must be filed if a candidate or committee receives or expends at least $750 in the
• This includes a treasurer for a candidate in the primary or general election of that year, a political
• Finally, for reports filed between January and June, a candidate or political committee not participating
• Finally, for reports filed between January and June, a candidate or political committee not participating

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on several bills. On Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035, dealing with voting services for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters, members considered amendments affecting tribal meeting requirements and an electronic ballot portal; one amendment to study the portal rather than authorize it was adopted, while the tribal-meeting amendment was not. The bill was then reported out with a due pass as amended recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 6081, concerning nondisclosure of sex designation records, saw an amendment adopted to limit the privacy protections to survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, but the amendment was later rejected on final passage and the bill was reported out due pass. Substitute Senate Bill 6034, codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, was amended to require Senate confirmation of the executive director and was reported out due pass as amended. Senate Bill 6084 on repeat voting was reported out due pass without amendment. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5968, implementing Executive Order 25-03 on agency credentials, had one amendment adopted on annual ORIA reporting and another rejected; it was reported out due pass as amended. Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering was amended to restrict certain prop bets and to make threats tied to wagers a gross misdemeanor, then reported out due pass as amended. The committee then opened public hearings on a number of bills. The most extensive testimony was on Gross Substitute Senate Joint Memorial 8014, which calls for a U.S. investigation into the death of Aishanur Ezgi Eygi; family members, University of Washington students and staff, advocates, and others testified in support, emphasizing accountability and the need for an independent investigation, while one speaker opposed the memorial as a misuse of legislative time. The committee also heard testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5840, which would change campaign finance reporting schedules and participation rules; Public Disclosure Commission staff supported the bill as a transparency and consistency measure, while campaign treasurers and compliance officers opposed it, arguing the added reporting would be burdensome and costly. Substitute Senate Bill 6049, expanding Public Records Act exemptions for certain survivors, anonymized demographic data, and Healthy Youth Survey responses, drew support from OFM and opposition from a public-records advocate who warned against adding more exemptions. Substitute Senate Bill 6160, reducing or changing the frequency of numerous agency reports, was supported by OFM as a way to right-size reporting requirements. The committee also heard brief testimony on Senate Bill 5000 designating “The Evergreen State” as the official state nickname, Senate Bill 5325 designating the state cactus, Senate Bill 6044 recognizing Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, Senate Bill 6313 creating a Capital Centennial Stewardship Account, and Substitute Senate Bill 5827 expanding veterans’ preference documentation to include pre-discharge certification. No votes were taken during the public hearing portion, and the meeting adjourned after closing testimony on the final bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The public and candidates are able to monitor recounts in person.
• Candidates on the ballot aren't recounting the ballot.
• Um candidates on recounts um in person.
• Candidates already in statute aren't part of the recount. They are not part of the recount.
• Candidates already in statute aren't part of the recount. They are not part of the recount.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you here as an elected official or are you here as a candidate?
• I'm also a candidate, so which one preempts the other in this bill? VDVRs may...
• Certainly, as a candidate, it depends on what hat you're wearing, right?
• Some sharing of political memes on social media, and it might apply to candidates who alter their own
• Here you have a situation where you're truly changing the look. and the sound of the candidates.

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

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship proof, provisional ballot, election security, Texas, voting rights, deep fakes, misleading videos, election integrity, criminal offense, digital misinformation, deep fake, political manipulation, misinformation, artificial media, political influence, artificially generated media, election influence, Texas Election Code, healthcare reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Each party's candidates appeared on a separate ballot.
• </c><00:20:34.360><c> filings</c> accessible candidate filings accessible candidate filings website<00
• </c><00:23:22.559><c> for</c> deadline to submit their candidates for deadline to submit their candidates
• </c><00:23:30.240><c> to</c> parties and independent candidates to parties and independent candidates
• </c><01:18:38.120><c> feel</c> there's a period where candidates feel there's a period where candidates

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill allows any candidate to... Produce a final overall grade out of 100 for each candidate.
• The bill allows any candidate to be directly hired by a state agency if the candidate meets a minimum
• It's going to create a pool of candidates.
• So it allows us to redirect candidates into other places.
• It's going to create a pool of candidates.

Summary: The committee first considered the reappointment of Troy L. Campbell to the Arizona State Liquor Board. Campbell described his nearly 10 years of service, his role as chair since 2019, and his focus on fairness, public safety, and applying the law consistently. He answered questions about the board’s workload and authority, noting it hears roughly 40 to 50 cases a year and does not issue fines. With no public testimony, the committee voted 6-0 to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard several liquor and consumer-related bills. SB 1478, an annual liquor-policy cleanup bill, made technical changes to liquor statutes, including conforming the definition of cider to federal tax law and clarifying other terminology. The bill drew support from industry stakeholders and neutral testimony from the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. SB 1108 would require Swedish rounding of cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, with signage and enforcement provisions; an amendment removed an individual-item exemption and clarified tax calculations, and the bill passed as amended with support from business groups. SB 1205 would regulate private-property vehicle booting by setting signage, notice, fee, and recordkeeping requirements and making violations a misdemeanor; members raised concerns about appeals and signage on non-parking property, but the committee adopted a technical amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee also took up SB 1241, which would allow private permitting providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential projects without municipal or county approval. Supporters argued it would reduce delays and costs for homeowners and help cities focus on higher-priority work, while cities and counties opposed the bill on public-safety and local-control grounds, warning about private incentives and inspection quality. After adopting an amendment granting immunity to municipalities that rely on private providers, the committee recommended the bill do pass as amended by a 5-2 vote, with some members explaining their votes and asking for further stakeholder work. Finally, the committee heard SB 1366, which creates a Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee to review towing fees, standards, insurance, background checks, and related DPS policies, and to report recommendations by the end of 2026. Supporters said the study would help address inconsistent standards and consumer concerns before permanent changes are made. Some members objected that the study committee did not include minority-party appointments, but the sponsor said that could be addressed later. The committee adopted a strike-everything amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee then began SB 1431, a housing-design bill limiting municipal design standards and restrictions on certain shared features, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate and no final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So, I get that, but this is only for candidates whose names appear on the ballot.
• Well, you have no way as a candidate to campaign to that person because they're not home.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Yeah, cuz this is for candidates &gt;&gt; Yeah, cuz this is for candidates candidates<00
• whose name appear on the candidates whose name appear on the ballot. ballot. ballot.
• , or against a candidate, political party, or<00:45:42.840><c> measure.

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:

• But what if a member of the Electoral College doesn't vote for the candidate for president that they're
• The bill classifies all non-judicial candidates as a political party candidate for the purposes of the
• All election candidates to collect nomination signatures and list the responsibilities of the Secretary
• I do fully support giving access equal to school board candidates.
• I... ...giving access equal to school board candidates.

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2908, which would impose criminal penalties on faithless Arizona Article 5 constitutional convention delegates, require delegates to take an oath, and direct legislative and gubernatorial ratification of any approved amendment. The sponsor argued the bill adds guardrails to any future convention, while Common Cause Arizona opposed it, saying it would not meaningfully reduce the risk of a runaway convention and that any punishment scheme would be difficult to enforce. After discussion, the committee approved HB 2908 on a 5-2 vote for a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2608, a military transitional housing grant program with a $7 million General Fund appropriation in FY 2027 and changes to the military transitional housing fund. Testimony from Vets to Gov and the sponsor emphasized veteran-led management, new construction rather than motel/hotel use, and the need for housing support for transitioning service members. Several members raised concerns about similarities to prior versions and unresolved language changes, and the bill was ultimately laid on the table by vote. Next, the committee considered HB 2805, which creates a secure online portal for nomination petitions for local governing board candidates and sets related Secretary of State responsibilities. An amendment was adopted to require candidates to designate party alignment or lack thereof for portal purposes and to limit Secretary of State modification of the act. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would modernize petitioning and reflect the partisan reality of local races, while some members raised concerns about school board implications and nonpartisan races. HB 2805, as amended, passed the committee on a 5-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2775, which would bar state entities from using state assets or money to implement or enforce international organization rules, taxes, or policies, with an amendment adding restrictions on Arizona public universities’ foreign-funded agreements and creating Board of Regents oversight. Members and the sponsor discussed concerns about foreign adversary funding, especially from Chinese entities, and debated whether the oversight mechanism should be created by rule or statute. The committee decided to hold HB 2775 for further work on the language, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the committee members asked a candidate for district judge why it was the third opening in the
• And in each of those cases, both in public when discussing, interviewing candidates for district judge
• One of the committee members asked a candidate for district judge why it was the third opening in the
• And so that was a sort of question that sometimes the individual candidate himself or judge said, I'm
• And to a person, the judges who have been both many of the candidates and the ones that the governor

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• But there haven't been very many African-American Republican candidates, conservative candidates, that
• There is not one district that gives them the influence to elect a no-party candidate.
• They actually raise money for that Democratic candidate.
• I think it dilutes Democratic ability to select Democratic candidates.
• Democratic ability to select Democratic candidates in five of the districts.

Bills: SR122 , SR123 , SR124 , SCR12 , HB940 , HB221 , HCR109 , HCR58 , HB27 , HB143 , HB205 , HB259 , HB267 , HB288 , HB308 , HB403 , HB405 , HB414 , HB417 , HB478 , HB546 , HB548 , HB555 , HB557 , HB609 , HB670 , HB672 , HB740 , HB779 , HB786 , HB796 , HB812 , HB848 , HB909 , HB915 , HB917 , HB921 , HB930 , HB933 , HB938 , HB971 , HB1095 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1129 , HB1154 , HB1166 , HB1187 , HB1195 , HB1230 , SB121 , SCR22 , SCR24 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB14 , SB102 , SB133 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB200 , SB217 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB330 , SB449 , SB489 , SB521 , SB45 , SB156 , SB181 , SB203 , SB274 , SB304 , SB379 , SB396 , SB410 , SB425 , SB427 , SB436 , SB424 , SCR61 , SCR9 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR31 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB22 , HB28 , HB33 , HB41 , HB47 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB195 , HB214 , HB217 , HB233 , HB283 , HB290 , HB319 , HB324 , HB345 , HB362 , HB363 , HB368 , HB377 , HB380 , HB382 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB431 , HB441 , HB466 , HB503 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB590 , HB593 , HB618 , HB636 , HB655 , HB664 , HB685 , HB692 , HB707 , HB715 , HB732 , HB738 , HB741 , HB748 , HB776 , HB807 , HB822 , HB856 , HB860 , HB868 , HB887 , HB888 , HB905 , HB908 , HB961 , HB980 , HB990 , HB992 , HB999 , HB1000 , HB1010 , HB1146 , HB1157 , HB1233 , HB1236 , HB1243 , HB17 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB166 , HB211 , HB226 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB354 , HB399 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759 , HB789 , HB844 , HB850 , HB966 , HB1036 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a guest minister’s prayer and the pledge, and dispensed with reading the journal. The chamber then received Legislative Bureau reports on numerous House bills, many of which were reported favorably or without amendments and ordered to third reading or to the Legislative Bureau. The Senate also adopted a House concurrent resolution commending Special Olympics Louisiana by a 35-0 vote, and it took up several Senate resolutions, including one urging the Navy to use a transparent and competitive acquisition strategy to protect jobs at Conrad Shipyard, one commending Metairie Park Country Day School, one designating Early Ed Day, and one offering condolences for Carolyn Ann Cherry Moore. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 121, the congressional redistricting bill. Senator Morris presented the bill as a response to the federal court’s Calais decision, arguing the current map was unconstitutional and that the new plan should avoid race as the predominant factor while using partisan advantage, incumbency protection, compactness, contiguity, and communities of interest. Senators questioned whether the proposal effectively created a 5-1 Republican map, whether it diluted Black and Democratic voting strength, and whether it split too many parishes. Morris said the map was drawn from the 2022 plan, tweaked in committee and again on the floor, and that litigation was likely regardless of the final version. Two competing amendments drew extended debate. Senator Morris’s amendment, which further refined his map, was adopted 26-10. Senator Price then offered an alternative map based on an amicus brief and algorithmic criteria, arguing it would create two opportunity districts, split fewer parishes, avoid using race, and better reflect the state’s partisan balance; supporters said it was fairer and more compact, but it failed 10-27. After the amendments, the Senate returned to SB 121 for further questions, with members continuing to debate whether the bill’s 5-1 structure was a lawful partisan gerrymander or an impermissible racial dilution of voting strength.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current law requires a person seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate for office, at the
• The bill also authorizes a qualified candidate or political party with qualified candidates in the same
• race to bring an action based on the claim that the person seeking to qualify as a candidate did not
• Although the current law requires candidates to state such information and affirm in writing, courts
• The bill also authorize a qualified candidate or political party with qualified candidates in the same

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• giving 100 voters the ability candidates giving 100 voters the ability to<00:27:05.080><c> call</c><
• saying I want to of one candidate saying I want to recount<00:34:37.520><c> my</c><00:34:37.679><c>
• I have no trouble with candidates requesting recounts, but for someone who says, I just don't like that
• I have no trouble with candidates requesting recounts, but for someone who says, I just don't like that
• I have no trouble with candidates requesting recounts, but for someone who says, I just don't like that

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds an effective date to a provision that we already passed into law to ensure that candidates for
• It adds an effective date to a provision that we already passed into law to ensure that candidates for
• </c><00:42:00.640><c> for</c> into law to ensure that candidates for into law to ensure that candidates
• One of those will allow caucus leaders to have access to candidate street addresses from the campaign
• street addresses from the to candidate street addresses from the campaign<00:50:50.640><c> finance</

Transcript Highlights:

• Democrats without endorsing candidates; Republicans do the same thing.
• You cross over the line when you start doing certain things with candidates. Okay.
• We don't delineate between the number of candidates.
• So if they are supporting 10 candidates... ...candidates, what we're looking at is spending, total spending
• So you had more candidates on the same ballot.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1071, which creates a public records exception for certain aerospace facility and activity records, including blueprints, plans, technical data, operational documents, and security information tied to federally regulated work and contracts with the U.S. Department of War or intelligence agencies. The sponsor and several members emphasized protecting Louisiana aerospace and defense-related work, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 181, as amended, which authorizes the legislative auditor to review confidential income tax records to help LDH verify Medicaid eligibility, and, after amendment, SNAP eligibility as well. Supporters said the bill would help identify ineligible recipients, reduce fraud, and improve the state’s error rate to avoid federal penalties; opponents argued tax returns are outdated and unreliable for current eligibility, could create false flags, and might burden or discourage eligible low-income residents. After extensive debate, the committee adopted Amendment Set 2633 and reported HB 181 favorably by a 10-6 vote. Later, the committee considered HB 250, which removes the requirement that immediate family members of appointed board or commission members disclose certain employment information, while leaving existing ethics prohibitions in place. The Ethics Board said the bill would not change substantive conflict-of-interest rules, only the disclosure requirement, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 544, authorizing a citizen’s advisory referendum election, was briefly explained as a nonbinding, petition-driven local ballot question process, but the sponsor deferred it for further consideration and the committee deferred the bill. The committee also heard HB 1036, which clarifies when a group is considered a “committee” for campaign finance purposes by using a more objective spending threshold rather than the current “primary purpose” standard. Ethics officials said the change would give clearer investigative guidance without changing other disclosure rules, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, HB 210 was amended to address retroactivity concerns in a prior ethics-related provision affecting school board and local governing authority members employed by entities with contracts or business before June 5, 2024; the amendment grandfathered earlier situations while requiring disclosures going forward, and the bill was reported favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of candidates who file for local offices might be school boards, city council, board of aldermen
• A lot of the candidates who file go to the school boards, go to the city clerk's office, and they're
• If somebody feels or deems it necessary that another candidate fails to meet the requirements for such
• But candidates who are trying to make a difference, and they call the election authority, they should
• Unfortunately, money rules with elections, and the best candidates who...

Committees: House Elections , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• And we had a contrast, maybe one of the sharpest contrasts between two candidates for president.
• And we had a contrast, maybe one of the sharpest contrasts between two candidates for president.
• And we had a contrast, maybe one of the sharpest contrasts between two candidates for president.
• And we had a contrast, maybe one of the sharpest contrasts between two candidates for president.
• And we had a contrast, maybe one of the sharpest contrasts between two candidates for president.

Bills: HB1969 , HB1701 , HR1 , HR435 , SJR31 , HR436

Keywords: veterans, VA, Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide prevention, mental health, emergent suicide care, Columbia Protocol, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, title 38, adaptive prostheses, prosthetic devices, recreational activities, sports prosthetics, pension payments, veterans benefits, Veterans Affairs Committee, suicide screening, crisis care

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to avoid Christmas and New Year's Day for the filing of candidates.
• So this bill would require people to file to be a valid write-in candidate.
• And if I'm honest, I'm not really concerned about the candidates.
• I'm concerned about the people having access to vote for those candidates.
• Well, it is, but it's important, too, that the candidates get their message out.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to avoid Christmas and New Year's Day for the filing of candidates.
• Be a candidate on the ballot.
• So this bill Would require people to file to be a valid write-in candidate.
• And if I'm honest, I'm not really concerned about the candidates.
• I'm concerned about the people having access to vote for those candidates.

Summary: The chamber first established a quorum, then moved through House Bills for Perfection. The first major measure discussed was House Bill 305, which would set policies for reconsideration of library materials in public and school libraries, require appeals processes, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data, especially for minors. Supporters framed it as a local-control and parental-rights bill that largely codifies existing library practices, while some members raised concerns about the privacy language and whether materials should be removed during reconsideration. After discussion, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members then took up House Bills 2366 and 2511, a bipartisan construction-industry bill aimed at combating illegal labor and off-the-books hiring. The bill would give the Attorney General more investigative authority, including subpoena power, require complaints to be made by affidavit, and impose stronger penalties on violators. Supporters said it would protect law-abiding contractors and workers and level the playing field, while some members asked about possible overreach and whether the bill could be used against businesses unfairly. The substitute was adopted and the bills were ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2409 followed, proposing child care tax credits for contributions to providers, employer assistance, and provider expansion; it was presented as a response to Missouri’s child care shortage and workforce challenges. Members from both parties largely supported it as an economic and family policy, though one member noted the bill’s fiscal cost and contrasted it with recent budget cuts to child care subsidies. The House adopted the substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. The chamber also considered House Bill 1885, which makes changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission by adjusting membership qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules to make appointments easier while adding recusal procedures. Members said the changes would help fill vacancies and bring in knowledgeable members, and the bill was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2658 addressed telephony laws, expanding the no-call list to any phone subscriber, adding anti-spoofing provisions, and creating penalties for caller ID spoofing; an amendment adding misdemeanor penalties for spoofing was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. House Bill 1919 would require more employers to file certain tax withholding documents electronically, aligning state practice with IRS rules; it passed with support and was ordered perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 1871, an omnibus elections bill, proposed several election administration changes, including electronic receipt of notices, shifting filing deadlines away from holidays, expanding testing windows for voting equipment, protecting the confidentiality of the permanently disabled voter list, requiring tax compliance for certain local candidates, and tightening write-in candidate rules. A key amendment removed an expansion of no-excuse absentee voting to keep the fiscal note at zero; that amendment was debated at length and then adopted before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• again have less time to candidates again have less time to organize.
• It is also necessary for candidates, political parties, and advocacy groups.
• Voters need time to research candidates and study ballot measures.
• Voters need time to research candidates and study ballot measures.
• It was the candidate of their choice.

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 34 senators present. The chamber then received a House message referring House Bill 1 on primary elections to the Committee on County and Municipal Government, and moved to Senate Bill 1, also dealing with primary elections and tied to ongoing court action over Alabama’s legislative maps. Senator Elliott explained SB 1 as a prospective measure meant to set up a special election if federal courts lift injunctions on the state Senate districts, while opponents argued the bill was being rushed and could disrupt voters, candidates, absentee voters, and election administration. Much of the debate focused on whether the bill would effectively change election rules too close to an election and whether it conflicted with a 2022 statewide amendment requiring election-related changes to take effect at least six months before a general election. Supporters said the bill simply preserves the legislature’s enacted maps and responds to recent court rulings, while opponents said it could disenfranchise voters, especially military, elderly, absentee, rural, and Black voters, and that the underlying litigation and federal Voting Rights Act issues remained unresolved. Several members also referenced a Brennan Center report and broader concerns about racial turnout gaps and minority representation in Alabama. Senator Coleman offered an amendment to give the state discretion rather than mandate a special election, arguing it would better align with the current court order; the Senate rejected it on a roll call vote, 8 yeas to 25 nays. Senator Vivian Figures then offered a notice-focused amendment requiring adequate public notice before any election changes, arguing that voters need time to learn new dates, polling places, deadlines, and ballot information; that amendment also failed on a roll call vote, with the clerk announcing it did not pass. The transcript ends with further discussion beginning after the failed amendment votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this will allow us to get the best possible candidates available around the country.
• the search committee and they have been extraordinarily impressed with the quality and level of candidates
• of Idaho, the current state of Boise State University, and our university system to have these candidates
• And I think the change in this policy will ensure that maybe we can attract some of those candidates
• And I think the change in this policy will ensure that maybe we can attract some of those candidates

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 982 addresses three issues that have arisen in connection with a candidate qualifying in
• Recently, five candidates in my district in the city of River Beach were disqualified because they paid
• or for a political party or for even citizens to challenge the qualifying papers of a candidate.
• This bill limits it to candidates, so they have to put their name on the lawsuit in order to challenge
• the opposing candidate.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and temporarily postponed Senator Yarborough’s bill and Senate Bill 1170 at the sponsor’s request. The committee first considered Senate Bill 982 by Senator Bernard, which was amended to remove language the sponsor said had been declared unconstitutional in 2016. As amended, the bill addresses qualifying fee payment issues, allows qualifying fees to be paid by properly executed checks or debit cards linked to a candidate campaign account, creates a private right of action for qualifying challenges limited to candidates, and addresses campaign expenditures by debit card. Mark Heron testified in support, saying the bill would clarify recent qualifying disputes. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported SB 982 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Joint Resolution 536, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose legislative term limits of eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate, with carve-outs for current officeholders and redistricting. An amendment to change the limits to 12 years in each chamber failed on a tie vote. Public testimony was mixed but largely opposed, with speakers from county and small-county groups arguing the proposal was a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate that would override local choice and reduce institutional knowledge. Several members debated whether the eight-year limit was the right number, with some supporting term limits in principle but questioning a lifetime ban on returning to office. The resolution was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also considered Senate Joint Resolution 802, which would place on the 2026 ballot an eight-year term limit for county commissioners and school board members, with school board limits applied retroactively and county commissioner limits prospectively. An amendment to change the limit to 12 years failed. The Florida Association of Counties, a county commissioner, and representatives of the Small County Coalition testified against the measure, arguing that counties should retain local control through county charters and local referenda. Some senators supported the concept of term limits but raised concerns about imposing a uniform statewide rule on counties and school boards. After debate, the joint resolution was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators who had missed votes were allowed to register their positions on SB 982 and SJR 536, and the committee moved to rise.