Transcript Highlights:

• members if not Vice chair for the vote members if not Vice chair for the vote voting<02:18:08.000
• vote voting on House Vice chair for the vote voting on House Bill<02:21:11.160> 398<02:21:12.040
• members if not Vice chair for the vote members if not Vice chair for the vote voting<02:24:45.760
• Bill<02:26:54.800> 132 for the vote voting on House Bill 132 for the vote voting on House
• members if not Vice chair for the vote members if not Vice chair for the vote voting<02:30:05.200

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 4000, the Judiciary’s biennium budget bill for FY 2026-2027. Judiciary Director of Policy and Planning Brandon Kimura testified in strong support, outlining operating requests of about $6.17 million in FY 26 and $6.25 million in FY 27, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $9.9 million in capital improvements. He described funding needs for specialty courts, preparations for the Wahiawa District Court, an additional district court judge and staff for Kona, cybersecurity upgrades, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, statewide priority items, and restoration of several essential staff positions. He also said the Judiciary was seeking an additional $2 million for the Children’s Justice Center relocation lump sum because updated estimates had risen to about $8 million. The committee also discussed potential impacts from uncertain federal funding and asked for written follow-up on those risks and on the capital request, including coordination with Budget and Finance. Several organizations and individuals testified in support of the Judiciary budget, including the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, and legal service providers. Mioko Eto asked for an additional $1 million for civil legal service providers, explaining that the current funding is spread across multiple providers and that the need remains high. David Copper of Legal Aid supported the request, citing statewide demand, 105 staff, 7,100 cases closed in the past year, and 15,000 calls received, while noting that many people seeking help cannot be served because of capacity limits. He also said recent federal funding disruptions and proposed cuts could affect legal services and related programs. Committee members asked about the Criminal Justice Research Institute’s mission; Kimura said its primary statutory role is to build a database focused on pre-trial reporting and data analysis, though it is also working on probation and mental health-related projects. No vote or final action on HB 4000 was taken in the hearing excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• voting and the acceptance of mail ballots.
• location, removing language outlining procedures for early and mail-in voting and ballots, adding a
• location, removing language outlining procedures for early and mail-in voting and ballots, adding a
• counting because Arizona has been asking for faster voting results.
• And I want to know that it might be able to fight to the mail. I don't know.

Summary: The committee heard concurrence and Senate-amendment explanations on a series of House measures. HCR 2001 would place a constitutional question before voters on election-related changes, including limiting voting to U.S. citizens, banning foreign national election contributions, requiring government-issued ID, and allowing ballot tabulation at the voting location; supporters described it as an election-security and faster-counting measure, while members noted possible county costs and the need for future appropriations if approved. HB 2305 on private towing was described as a statewide response to predatory towing, with Senate changes delaying local rate updates and creating a study/reporting framework for towing enforcement. HB 2321 would require DCS to place security freezes on children’s credit records, but the Senate removed the appropriation. HB 2397 revised HOA/condominium sale-notice procedures, and HB 2398 required insurance coverage for peer-to-peer or charter watercraft rentals while clarifying that ordinary boat ownership would not be mandated to carry insurance. The committee also reviewed HB 2406, which the Senate struck and replaced with confidentiality protections for records involving deceased minors and minor victims of child abuse; HB 2408, which revised nursing board complaint and expungement procedures, added complainant confidentiality protections, and required public posting of policy statements; and HB 2755, which was substantially rewritten to facilitate the sale of underperforming state trust lands by allowing certain lessees to apply to purchase parcels through an appraisal-and-auction process. Members discussed a specific Dairy Queen/state land parcel example as the practical impetus for HB 2755. HB 2957 would bar governments from requiring digital/mobile driver licenses for services and limit ADOT’s retention and use of identity documents and biometric data, with the sponsor emphasizing privacy and federal-law carveouts. Finally, HB 4005 would require AI instruction in schools, with the Senate expanding it from district-level instruction to grade-specific student requirements and directing ADE on curriculum development. Supporters framed AI literacy as essential for students’ future competitiveness and ethical use, while opponents objected to the mandate and questioned its fit for charter schools and core academics. The meeting ended after the committee moved through the bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We open the mail. We process the mail. We apply it to accounts. Wednesday. We open the mail.
• Not voting. Seven aye, zero nay, zero not voting.
• Senator Epstein, explain my vote, please. I'm going to vote yes.
• Seven aye, zero nay, zero not voting. 6-1, right? She voted no, right? No, she voted aye.
• Seven, aye, zero, nay, zero, not voting. 6-1, right? She voted no, right? No, she voted aye.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Arizona Auditor General’s sunset review of the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The audit found some strengths, including timely licensing and complaint resolution in the sample reviewed and rules that matched statutory curriculum requirements, but it also identified a major finding that the board had imposed inconsistent discipline for similar violations and lacked documentation for deviations from its disciplinary guidelines. Other issues included missing reciprocity education requirements, weak application quality control, incomplete school and establishment oversight, and compliance concerns involving open meeting law, public records, and conflicts of interest. The report made 25 recommendations total, including two tied to the disciplinary finding and three suggested statutory changes on esthetics scope of practice, cease-and-desist authority, and eyelash technician training. The board’s executive director said the board agreed with the findings, had already implemented several recommendations, updated disciplinary policies and conflict-of-interest procedures, and was working on legislation and rule changes. After questions about enforcement consistency, licensing verification, cash handling, complaint volume, and conflict disclosures, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend the board be continued for six years, until July 1, 2032. The committee then took up the Arizona Department of Gaming, the Arizona Racing Commission, and the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission together. The Auditor General reported that the department correctly distributed more than $158 million in tribal contributions in fiscal year 2024 and issued event wagering licenses to reviewed applicants, but found several problems: the department did not consistently obtain and review independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements, and lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes. The review also found delays in distributing Compact Trust Fund payments to some tribes, gaps in IT security and horse-racing license checks, and incomplete fee-setting and public-records practices. The report made 36 recommendations to the department, six to the Racing Commission, and 13 to the Boxing and MMA Commission, and all three entities said they agreed and would implement them. In response, the Department of Gaming director said the agency was already making changes, including a historical look-back on operator audits, updated guidance to operators, a new constituent services unit and complaint-tracking process, and improved conflict-of-interest training and forms. She also explained the Compact Trust Fund dispute, saying the department administers the fund but the beneficiary tribes must agree on the revenue baseline formula, which has been complicated by COVID-era closures; no Category Three distributions had yet been made. Committee members asked about possible revenue losses, penalties, and the status of 2024-2025 audits, as well as prediction markets and whether they are legal under Arizona’s event wagering framework. The director said the department had issued cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed prediction-market operators, would review licensed operators for suitability if needed, and would continue to enforce Arizona law. The transcript ends while questioning on prediction markets is still underway, before any vote on the gaming-related reviews is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure extends the deadline to register to vote by mail from 30 to 10 days prior to a primary or
• This extends the deadline to register to vote by mail from 30 to 10 days prior to a primary or general
• This extends the deadline to register to vote by mail from 30 to 10 days prior to a primary or general
• This extends the deadline to register to vote by mail from 30 to 10 days prior to a primary or general
• vote by mail from 30 to 10 days<02:11:46.719> prior<02:11:47.000> to<02:11:47.119>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2020, so many Democrats voted by mail because of the pandemic that we changed the law.
• We changed the law to make sure that everyone had to first register every year to get a vote-by-mail
• But they weren't happy because so many Democrats voted by mail. So let's change the law.
• Let's make it harder to vote by mail.
• And as a result, the law to this day, not as many people are voting by mail because they don't have it

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, and retiring Senate staff, including Pastor Gary Austin. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators would not need to plan on being in Tallahassee the following week. The chamber then moved to third reading and returned messages from the House later in the day. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, the citizen initiative/constitutional amendment bill. Sponsors said the measure was intended to address fraud in the petition process, citing investigations, arrests, pleas, and open cases involving paid circulators and invalid petitions. Opponents argued the bill would make citizen-led amendments far more difficult, expensive, and risky, warning it would chill grassroots participation, burden supervisors of elections, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed efforts. Supporters responded that the bill preserved grassroots petitioning, placed reasonable guardrails on paid circulators and sponsors, and included a provision barring public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot initiatives. The bill passed 28-10. The Senate also passed several education measures unanimously, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy. Later, the chamber concurred in House amendments on several bills: stem cell therapy legislation clarifying permitted therapies and penalties for improper use of fetal or embryonic tissue; an EKG requirement bill for student athletes with exemptions and partnership options for districts; and a cardiac emergency response bill that renamed the school emergency plan and removed a bill title honoring Rafe McCrone. These measures passed by wide margins, generally 37-0 or 38-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• to get voting.
• Every vote cast by an illegal non-citizen is a vote that cancels out the vote of a lawful American citizen
• You can then vote in person here or request a vote-by-mail ballot from our office.
• We want students to vote. Imagine now they try to vote.
• We want students to vote. We want everyone to vote. Everyone's been voting just fine.

Bills: S0174, S1342, S1334, S1362, S1602, S1604

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, transit-oriented development, housing affordability, mixed-use zoning, urban development, traffic congestion, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud, vertiports, aviation, airport infrastructure, economic development, veterans

Summary: The committee first heard CS for SB 1342 on transit-oriented development by Senator Rouson, which seeks to expand housing near fixed transit corridors by updating TOD definitions and applying Live Local-style land-use principles to those areas. An amendment narrowed definitions, limited the bill to land-use and development regulations, removed a private cause of action, and added exclusions for environmentally sensitive areas, historic properties, and military installations. Supporters said the bill would increase housing supply near existing infrastructure and maximize the state’s transit investments, while local government groups and city leagues opposed it as a sweeping preemption of local zoning authority that could force high-density development without public hearings or adequate infrastructure planning. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up CS for SB 1334 on elections by Senator Grall, which would require documentary proof of citizenship in voter registration and related election processes, update how citizenship is verified through REAL ID and the SAVE database, clarify that paper ballots are the primary voting method, and add other election-related changes such as candidate eligibility rules and timelines. Two technical amendments were adopted. During extended questioning, senators raised concerns about how documents would be submitted and stored, whether voters without Florida IDs or REAL IDs—especially students, disabled voters, seniors, and homeless Floridians—could be flagged or burdened, and what fiscal and workload impacts the bill would have on supervisors of elections and state agencies. Supporters argued the bill would streamline verification and reduce duplicate paperwork, while many public speakers and some senators said it would create barriers to voting, increase costs, and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The transcript ends during debate on the bill, before a final vote is shown. Later, the committee considered CS for SB 1362 on advanced air mobility by Senator Harrell. A strike-all amendment aligned the bill with the House version and added vertiports and charging systems as eligible projects for public-private partnership funding, with FDOT authorized to fund certain vertiport costs within available resources. The bill drew support from industry and local representatives, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 174, which designates a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and directs FDOT to install markers at an estimated cost of $2,400. The bill prompted significant debate over whether Kirk’s legacy warranted a state road designation, with opponents citing his controversial statements and arguing the honor was political and divisive, while supporters said the designation recognizes civic engagement near FIU and is symbolic rather than regulatory. The transcript ends during debate on SB 174, before any final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every vote cast by an illegal non-citizen is a vote that cancels out the vote of a lawful American citizen
• You can then vote in person here or request a vote-by-mail ballot from our office.
• We want students to vote. Imagine now they try to vote.
• Then the window for the supervisors of elections to send the vote-by-mail ballots is the following week
• We want students to vote. We want everyone to vote. Everyone's been voting just fine.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 1342, a transit-oriented development bill intended to expand housing near fixed transit corridors. The sponsor said the measure builds on the Live Local Act by reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging private investment around transit investments. An amendment was adopted that narrowed definitions, limited the bill to land use and development regulations, removed a private cause of action, and exempted certain sensitive areas including military installations and environmentally sensitive lands. Supporters argued the bill would increase housing supply and maximize the return on state transit spending, while local government groups and other opponents warned it would preempt local zoning, impose uniform density rules, and create infrastructure, evacuation, and public input concerns. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 1334, an elections bill that would require documentary proof of citizenship in certain voter registration and verification processes, update candidate qualification rules, require U.S. citizen markers on driver licenses and ID cards, and clarify that paper ballots are the primary voting method. Two technical amendments were adopted. The sponsor said the bill would streamline verification by allowing agencies to rely on Real ID and DHSMV records, reduce duplicate documentation, and improve communication between state systems. Senators questioned the fiscal impact, data-sharing procedures, storage of sensitive documents, effects on students, disabled voters, and people without driver licenses or Real IDs. A large number of public speakers opposed the bill, arguing it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled people, low-income residents, naturalized citizens, and people with name changes, while a smaller number supported it as an election integrity measure. The bill was ultimately not finished in the portion of the transcript provided, but the committee continued taking testimony and questions. Later, the committee took up CS for SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. A strike-all amendment was adopted to align the bill with the House version and authorize FDOT to fund vertiports and charging systems as part of public-private partnerships, including up to 80% of the non-federal share when federal funds are available and up to 100% if FDOT elects to do so. The sponsor framed the bill as helping Florida lead in advanced air mobility, and the measure was reported favorably with support from industry and local government representatives. Finally, the committee heard SB 174, which would designate a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and direct FDOT to install markers at an estimated cost of $2,400. The sponsor said the designation was tied to Turning Point USA activity at FIU and civic engagement. Several senators objected in debate, arguing Kirk was divisive and that the state should reserve road memorials for figures more broadly deserving of honor; others defended the designation as symbolic and non-regulatory. The transcript ends during the sponsor’s closing remarks, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Counties are also responsible for administering in-person absentee voting and absentee voting by mail
• by<00:26:20.320> mail voting and absentee voting by mail voting and absentee voting by mail
• throughout the absentee voting period, both in person and by mail.
• by mail in record numbers, this was the highest rate of absentee voting that we've seen for any election
• of Voters voted early or by mail of Voters voted early or by mail inperson<00:40:02.440> absentee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• out confirmation mailings to anyone who hasn't responded.
• It's not just going to be a big thing for voting.
• I'm always asked to do mailings to residential, and we use commercial mailing instead.
• I'm always asked to do mailings to residential, and we use commercial mailing instead.
• And highway and the town clerk's office for all the voting databases, et cetera.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held a hearing on September 22, 2025 focused on preparations for the 2030 census, with an emphasis on Massachusetts’ role in building a complete address list and improving local participation in census-related address review programs. Chair Brownsberger and witnesses from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, the UMass Donahue Institute, Watertown, and MassGIS described the importance of accurate address data for congressional apportionment, federal funding, and state and local planning. They also discussed the first major upcoming step, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project, and the later Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process, both of which rely on municipalities reviewing and correcting census geography and address files. John Rosenberry of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office said outreach to cities and towns is beginning now, with a likely December start for the block boundary process based on the 2020 cycle. He stressed that local officials, clerks, building inspectors, housing authorities, and GIS staff should be engaged early, especially to capture new development and conversions created under the state’s housing policies. Susan Strait of UMass Donahue explained that LUCA allows local governments to compare their address lists with the Census Bureau’s master address file, and that Massachusetts had very high participation in 2020; she cited examples where local review added hidden or newly built housing units and noted that Boston later corrected a group-quarters undercount of about 6,000 students through a post-census review program. In response to questions, she clarified that those corrections affected annual estimates and funding formulas, but not the 2020 apportionment count. Watertown City Manager George Proakis described how local address review is complicated by accessory dwelling units, single-family to two-family conversions, and large multifamily projects, and urged continued state support for local governments doing this work. Dan Marrier of MassGIS then outlined the Massachusetts Master Address Database, explaining that it combines multiple sources, including E911, assessor, voter, and municipal data, to create a standardized residential address repository used for census preparation and other state functions. He said the database has helped improve census accuracy, including by updating more than one million Census Bureau address-point locations before 2020, and noted that local municipalities remain the final authority on addresses even as MassGIS standardizes and reconciles variants across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Served by certified mail.
• Sixyes, zero, no, one not voting. Members, by a vote of 6 to 0, you pass 2090.
• I vote aye. Senator Epstein, explain my vote? Senator Epstein, I do need to learn more.
• Explain my vote? Yep.
• Five ayes, zero no, do not voting. Aye. Five ayes, zero no, do not voting.

Bills: HB2089, HB2090, HB2092, HB2120, HB2138, HB2173, HB2273, HB2693, HB2786

Keywords: retirement benefits, health insurance, premium payment, Arizona State Retirement System, contingent annuitant, long-term disability, benefits limitations, disability compensation, social security, retirement system, elected officials, ASRS, eligibility waiver, age 65, property tax exemption, disability, veterans, widows, income limits, Arizona Revised Statutes

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to consider several bills and two Arizona State Retirement System nominees. It first passed House Bill 2173, which allows taxpayers and tax officers to communicate electronically about proposed property tax corrections or claims, with an acknowledgement required when responses are sent electronically. The committee then recommended confirmation of Thomas J. Connolly and Charles Essex to the ASRS Board, both receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support after brief introductions and no substantive opposition. The committee next approved several ASRS-related bills: House Bill 2089 clarifies that the ASRS health insurance premium subsidy applies only when coverage is not already subsidized; House Bill 2090 changes the disability definition tied to long-term disability benefits by removing the requirement that the 24 months occur within a five-year period; and House Bill 2092 shifts the 30-day waiver window for certain members age 65 or older from the date of hire to the date they become eligible to participate. All three passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes. The committee also passed House Bill 2120, with a technical amendment, allowing Social Security Administration disability determination letters to be used to certify eligibility for the property tax exemption for persons with disabilities. House Bill 2693 drew the most debate. It revises Arizona’s bona fide association health plan and multiple employer welfare arrangement provisions to align with ERISA rather than the rescinded 2018 federal AHP rule, and an amendment added a feasibility study by the Arizona Department of Administration on state employee and school district health plans. Supporters argued the bill would expand affordable, voluntary coverage options for small businesses and increase buying power; opponents raised concerns about consumer protections, preexisting conditions, and the history of association health plans. The committee ultimately passed the bill as amended on a 5-1 vote. Later, the committee passed House Bill 2138, which clarifies that workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters traveling directly to or from work applies to state, municipal, fire district, and fire authority firefighters. It also passed House Bill 2273, a one-time $300 income tax rebate for certain Pinal County residents funded from remaining escrowed transportation-related monies; members discussed whether the remaining funds should instead be directed to roads, but the bill advanced on a 3-2 vote. Finally, House Bill 2786 passed unanimously, exempting rental income from required college textbooks from transaction privilege tax under the personal property rental classification.

Transcript Highlights:

• an I vote. an I vote.
• Thank you. ...but half of people exercised the option to vote by mail.
• Now, mail ballot voting carries significant costs tied to undeliverable ballots.
• Uh and we ask for a no vote. vote. vote.
• Or, if you don't want to vote by mail, you can vote in person weeks before the election or on election

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports advancing or disposing of bills. Committee actions included favorable referrals for measures such as House Bills 1336, 1069, 1227, 1314, 1132, 1342, 1196, 1224, and Senate Bill 178, while Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 1308 were postponed indefinitely. The chamber also adopted a motion allowing current Joint Budget Committee members to leave while the Senate remained in session. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 134, a bill concerning fees imposed by payment card networks, after a close 18-17 vote. Supporters argued it would help restaurants and other small businesses by limiting swipe fees on sales tax, while opponents warned it would not lower consumer costs and could trigger litigation and broader conflicts among financial institutions, payment processors, and businesses. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 165 on species conservation funding, Senate Bill 138 on reducing administrative burdens in the health care system, Senate Bill 172 on the Front Range passenger rail district, House Bill 105 on reducing barriers in the Labor Peace Act and eliminating Colorado’s second union-election requirement, House Bill 106 on designating higher education institutions as thriving institutions, and House Bill 1312 on peace officer participation and POST-related changes. The Senate then moved into committee of the whole for second-reading consent calendar bills and adopted House Bills 1235 and 1299. Later, House Bill 1113 on election law modifications was taken up in committee of the whole; amendments were adopted to update terminology, extend Secretary of State review time for petitions, and exempt special districts from a recording fee. The bill’s sponsor and supporters described it as a technical and security-focused update to election administration, emphasizing voter access, anti-intimidation protections, and data safeguards. The transcript ends while debate on House Bill 1113 continues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Election Day, and 5.4% voted absentee through mail.
• on Election Day, 2% to 4% voted by mail, and somewhere between 13% to 19% voted early in person.
• Election Day, and 5.4% voted absentee through mail.
• > and 5.4% voting absentee through mail and 5.4% voting absentee through mail and voters<00:40
• voted by mail and Election Day 4 to 6% voted by mail and somewhere<00:41:47.400> between<00:41

Keywords: Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20 Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44 Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56 Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup. Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.

Transcript Highlights:

• to vote for this. to vote for this.
• a vote. And we do that during session. a vote. And we do that during session.
• <00:20:10.880> I'll<00:20:11.120> vote going to do it, I'll vote it.
• I'll vote going to do it, I'll vote it. I'll vote for<00:20:11.520> it.
• And I vote I...

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Rules Committee met to consider a proposed Senate Rule 15-9 prohibiting campaign contributions in Senate-controlled areas of the Capitol, prompted by concerns about lobbyists and others distributing checks to legislators while legislation is pending. The chair read a leadership statement condemning campaign contributions during session when donors’ interests are under consideration, saying such conduct creates at least the appearance of impropriety and undermines public trust. The initial draft would bar soliciting, offering, delivering, accepting, or receiving campaign contributions in Senate-controlled spaces such as the chamber, gallery, floor, corridors, lounge, lobby areas, and committee rooms. Senator Barlo raised concerns about defining the Senate’s authority and the scope of the prohibited areas, asking whether the rule would apply year-round, during interim meetings, or to online donations received while in the building. Other members responded that the Senate could only regulate areas under its control and that the rule should focus on the Capitol building itself, where fundraising should not occur. The chair noted that many other states have similar restrictions, and members discussed whether the rule should also cover campaign contributions during legislative session, not just inside the building. Senators Guru, Rothfus, and Biteman generally supported a stronger rule aimed at preventing vote buying and preserving the integrity of the institution, while acknowledging the need to refine language for enforcement and scope. The committee reviewed examples from Alaska and Wyoming’s constitutional bribery language, and staff and members proposed revised wording that would prohibit any person from knowingly soliciting, offering, delivering, accepting, or receiving campaign contributions in the state capital complex at any time, and separately prohibit senators from knowingly soliciting or knowingly accepting contributions by affirmative act during regular or special session. The discussion ended with no final vote taken, and members indicated they would continue working on the language with staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I respectfully request your aye vote.
• For these reasons, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• So I don't know how they're generating this mail into the U.S. mail.
• Certified mail under the USPS, you can obtain a tracking number for the certified mail.

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard a series of bills, many focused on homeowners associations (HOAs), along with measures on self-defense, design-professional litigation, mobile home park claims, senior housing, and DEI. Several bills were presented only or discussed with amendments, and the committee repeatedly noted ongoing work with authors and stakeholders. The committee also established quorum partway through the hearing and took up a consent calendar of several unrelated bills, which passed. AB 2584, on civil immunity for lawful self-defense, was presented as a work-in-progress. The author and a UFC/public-safety witness argued that people hesitate to intervene because of fear of civil liability, while committee members said California already has strong self-defense and Good Samaritan laws and that the proposal could create confusion. The bill was not advanced at that time, with the chair emphasizing further conversations. AB 1684, which would prevent HOAs from restricting homeowners’ ability to install or replace compliant cooling systems, drew support from the author, a constituent statement, and supporters from the California Department Association and others; an HOA group opposed unless amended, citing association property rights and grid/power concerns. Members generally supported the concept, and the author said amendments addressed damage and code-compliance issues. AB 1892, a technical cleanup bill clarifying HOA duties on utility repairs, election notices, and electronic voting timelines, passed unanimously as amended. AB 2050, requiring a formula for HOA reserve funding and a phase-in period, also passed with broad support; witnesses said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments, insurance and mortgage problems, and deferred maintenance, while members framed it as a consumer-protection and affordability measure. AB 2106, extending certificate-of-merit protections for design professionals and requiring California-licensed experts in certain cases, passed with strong support from engineers, architects, landscape architects, and civil-justice groups. AB 2145, directing HCD to study seniors’ need and desire to downsize, passed after lenders and financial groups moved from opposition to neutral with amendments; supporters said it could help unlock larger homes for younger families. AB 2238, aimed at deterring meritless failure-to-maintain lawsuits against mobile home park owners by shifting fee exposure to attorneys, passed after amendments narrowed its focus. Supporters said some firms were using vague demand letters and frivolous claims to force settlements and raise insurance costs; opposition said the bill still needed refinement to protect meritorious resident claims. AB 2439, prompted by two authors’ own HOA payment problems, passed despite opposition concerns about community-wide certified-mail requirements and personal liability for board members; supporters said better notice is needed when payment processors change and that liens and collections can be unfairly imposed without notice. AB 2579, responding to the earlier $100 cap on HOA fines, passed as amended to create a Department of Real Estate process for serious health and safety violations; supporters said the cap had weakened enforcement, while members said the bill sought a better balance. Finally, SCR 89, reaffirming California’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, was presented as a response to federal attacks on DEI programs. The author and witnesses from the UC Student Association, National Action Network, and civil-rights and labor groups argued DEI is essential to fairness, access, and opportunity, especially for students and historically underserved communities. Members voiced strong support, describing DEI as central to California’s values, and the resolution moved forward with bipartisan support noted by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• The members will vote. Clerk locking recorded vote 590 vote.
• Cling the members will vote. Cler lock machine record the vote vote.
• Cling the members vote. Clerk lockashim court to vote 42 I vote.
• mailing and postage fees. their mailing mailing and postage fees. their mailing mailing and postage
• Members will vote. Clerk lock machine record the vote vote.

Bills: HJR 4, HJR 6, HB 195, HB 13, HB 143, HB 135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• votes votes thank<00:37:58.359> you<00:37:59.079> uh<00:37:59.280> Vice<00:37:59.520
• uh Vice chair also votes I thank you uh Vice chair also votes I Senator<00:38:01.200> mckelvie
• Chair votes aye. Thank you.
• Chair votes aye. Thank you.
• the members present are there any voting the members present are there any voting with<00:40:35.040

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held its first hearing of the 2025 session and reviewed several measures. SB 102 would restrict third-party restaurant reservation services from listing or selling reservations without a written agreement from the restaurant; the Attorney General recommended amendments to strengthen the bill against First Amendment and Contracts Clause challenges, and the Hawaii Restaurant Association strongly supported it, saying restaurants should control who represents them. The committee also heard SB 137 on electric utility mergers and acquisitions, with support from Ulupono Initiative and IBW Local 1260. Supporters said the bill would preserve state policy protections, including renewable energy and rate-making goals, and protect workers; IBW also suggested amendments, including a severability clause. The committee discussed a possible alternative approach from the PUC involving solicitation of bids from non-investor-owned utilities, and Ulupono said it would consider that idea but was concerned about preserving time for co-op formation. Members then heard SB 142, which would require insurers paying claims by check to send them by certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt. The Insurance Division stood on its written testimony, while the Hawaiian Insurers Council, State Farm, NAMIC, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association opposed the bill. A senator questioned whether the measure was too prescriptive and could create problems for claimants displaced by disasters; the response was that insurers and claimants usually remain in contact and that other payment methods may already be available depending on the carrier. SB 157 would ban algorithmic price setting in Hawaii’s rental market and require a public education program; the committee noted written testimony in support and comment, but no oral testimony was taken before moving on. SB 158 would create a state-owned bank implementation board within DCCA; DCCA’s financial institutions division, the Budget and Finance Department, and the Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments, while the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed and the Hawaii Credit Union League commented. The committee also heard SB 318, which would require DCCA to adopt privacy rules for direct-to-consumer genetic testing and specify whether genetic information may be used for investigative genetic genealogy. The Office of Consumer Protection and Andrew Crossland opposed the bill, saying federal law and existing state protections already cover much of the area and that rulemaking would be a better way to address it; members raised concerns about federal changes and the need for state protections, but OCP said the bill was not the best approach. SB 332 would prohibit bundling foreclosed homes at public sale and delay finality of sales; L. Strong and written testimony supported it, citing Lahaina’s post-fire foreclosure risks and warning of investors profiting from the disaster. The final measure, SB 525, would require written notice and consent before mortuaries, cemeteries, or pre-need funeral authorities sell or recycle precious metals recovered after cremation. DCCA’s consumer protection and licensing divisions offered comments, while the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association opposed the bill, saying it was surprised by the measure and was unaware of current consumer problems in the industry.

Transcript Highlights:

• what they're voting for. what they're voting for.
• I guess I don't think of a vote as a thing. Do you want to protect your vote?
• I guess I don't think of a vote as a thing. I guess I don't think of a vote as a thing.
• vote. Enough said. Thank you. All right. vote. Enough said. Thank you. All right.
• She then took questions from senators. intend to vote um perhaps haven't voted intend to vote um perhaps

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We maintain a data collection frame that then we use to mail questionnaires or mail surveys.
• This is when we collect our voting districts from the states.
• We were able to step in and help them and mail it for them.
• There is usually a second mailing, a reminder mailing, and then it goes to some sort of a survey, a door-to-door
• I think they're doing mail, mail, email, interview attempt if necessary.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on census preparation, focusing first on testimony from U.S. Census Bureau staff James Whitehorn and Andrea Grace Johnson. They described the Bureau’s decade-long geographic and redistricting programs, including the Boundary and Annexation Survey, School District Review Program, Participant Statistical Area Program, and Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA), along with the Block Boundary Suggestion Project and voting district collection. They emphasized that Massachusetts has been a strong partner in these efforts and explained how the Bureau is using updated street data, building footprints, machine learning, and change detection to improve address lists and track new housing. Whitehorn also reviewed the 2030 redistricting data program, the legal basis for it under PL 94-171, the role of state nonpartisan liaisons, and the expected timeline for data delivery. He noted that OMB’s revised race and ethnicity standards will merge those questions into one and add a Middle Eastern/North African category. Committee members asked about the new standards, state contacts, and how boundary updates are submitted, and the witnesses said they would provide the slide deck and contact information. Wendy Underhill and Helen Brewer of NCSL then testified about why census preparation matters for states, stressing its impact on data, federal funding, and political representation. They outlined optional steps states can take before 2030, including staying in touch with Census Bureau staff, identifying state and local personnel involved in census work, supporting local participation in Bureau programs, and creating complete count committees or commissions. They cited Massachusetts’s prior complete count committee and grantmaking efforts as an example and said such efforts can improve self-response and overall accuracy. They also noted that state legislatures can act as conveners and trusted messengers, and they discussed broader issues such as privacy protections, differential privacy, budget uncertainty, and the possibility of future litigation or a citizenship question. Secretary of State William Galvin then gave extended remarks on Massachusetts’s 2020 census experience and the need to prepare early for 2030. He said the state faced major challenges in 2020 from the pandemic, litigation, and rhetoric about citizenship, and that Massachusetts relied heavily on local records, university data, and community outreach to document residents, especially students and non-native-born populations. He argued that the state should strengthen local recordkeeping now through LUCA, annual resident lists, assessors’ and zoning records, and other local data sources, and he urged support for a proposed $500,000 appropriation for census-related grants and technical assistance. Galvin said better preparation is needed because housing patterns, population shifts, and local administrative capacity have changed since 2020, and he emphasized that the goal is to improve the completeness of the records the Census Bureau will use in 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge a no<00:41:12.920> vote. no vote. no vote.
• and we ask for an I vote. and we ask for an I vote.
• So and we ask for an I vote on mail.
• I vote. I vote. Representative<01:30:41.840> Forrer.
• Lindsey, how do you vote? Lindsey, how do you vote?

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and spent much of the opening period on recognitions and announcements. Members welcomed students and staff from the San Luis Valley BOCES Transition Program, recognized Purple Up Day and military children at the Capitol, noted committee meetings later in the day, and observed a moment honoring former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Several members also shared personal remarks about being military children and invited colleagues to a Bible study. The chamber then took up Senate Joint Resolution 16, concerning retirement readiness and financial well-being. The sponsor said the resolution affirms Colorado’s commitment to strengthening retirement security through tools such as financial education, automatic enrollment, employer matches, and lifetime income options. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 59 ayes, 1 no, and 5 excused, with Representatives Rutnel and Lindsay listed as co-sponsors. The House next moved into special orders and considered House Bill 1233 on property tax procedures for non-residential properties. An amendment clarifying petty offense liability and appeal timelines was adopted, while another amendment on notice to property owners was defeated. Supporters said the bill adds penalties for false information, allows counties to request district court review, and improves fairness and accountability in non-residential property tax appeals; opponents argued it would impose costly new burdens on businesses. The committee report, as amended, and the bill were both adopted. The chamber also adopted Senate Bill 128, which exempts certain destination management company fees from sales and use tax. Supporters said the bill codifies current practice, clarifies the definition of destination management company, and avoids taxing services twice; the Finance Committee report was adopted first, then the bill passed. Consideration then began on House Bill 1195, which restricts the use of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy services. Sponsors described a multi-page amendment adding definitions, allowing certain FDA-approved AI uses, moving some provisions to the Consumer Protection Act, and clarifying liability and consent; members broadly supported the need for guardrails and patient protections, and discussion continued on additional consent language.

Transcript Highlights:

• or register to vote where the payment is contingent upon whether the person voted or registered to vote
• or registered to vote.
• Buying of votes has historic Precedent and it's a very powerful incentive to vote or to register to vote
• Not because they're paid to register to vote one should vote not because they're paid to vote, but because
• I said my piece, I would ask for a no vote, but I only know two of you are going to vote no.

Keywords: 988, house, all