Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's safe to say that, you know, we wouldn't be in this position if a DFL House candidate didn't
• problem with the House DFL boycotting session despite the situation being, you know, one of its own candidates
• </c><00:15:40.519><c> of</c><00:15:40.639><c> its</c><00:15:40.759><c> own</c><00:15:40.959><c> candidates
• </c> know one one of its own candidates know one one of its own candidates making<00:15:43.639><c> well

Transcript Highlights:

• beginning of the qualifying period of an election year, rather than the first day of January, any candidate
• Right now, candidates have to campaign.
• Candidates for all offices, candidates from all parties, have to campaign when it's 110, 115, in some
• increases in fund distributions, you know, simply because that pool is actually being used by more candidates
• And because the bill would effectively override the Clean Elections work when Clean Elections candidates

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

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills and one bill on party vacancy procedures. SB 1018, which would expand Arizona’s foreign law restrictions to expressly include Sharia law and certain related religious or cultural practices, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters said it was intended to prevent enforcement of coercive or unconstitutional private adjudications, while opponents argued it was anti-Muslim and unconstitutional. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1568 would require election equipment clocks and timekeeping functions to be set to the current accurate time and verified during testing. County officials opposed parts of the bill as impractical for equipment not connected to the internet and for areas with different time zones, while the sponsor and a witness said inaccurate clocks had been observed in testing. The committee adopted the bill on a 4-3 vote. SB 1687 would move the primary election to the Tuesday before Memorial Day and adjust related filing and petition deadlines; an amendment expanding Clean Elections timing and spending provisions was offered but defeated. The bill then passed 4-3 after members discussed the need to align election timelines and Clean Elections rules. SB 1825 would change how precinct committeeman vacancies are filled, shifting authority in counties over 500,000 people toward legislative district chairs and requiring faster action by county boards. Supporters said it would streamline appointments and improve transparency, while opponents warned it could concentrate power and create abuse. An amendment clarifying the county-size threshold was adopted, and the bill passed 4-1 with one present and one absent. SB 1037, which imposes stricter cybersecurity and chain-of-custody requirements on voting and tabulating equipment and requires continuous video at counting centers, also passed after amendment on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing SCR 1001, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring U.S. citizenship to register and vote, banning foreign-national election contributions, requiring proof of identity for voting, and changing some mail-ballot and polling-place rules; the transcript cuts off before any vote on that resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current law requires a person seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate for office, at the
• Although the current law requires candidates to state such information and affirm it in writing, courts
• 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
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 91, a bill to be entitled an act relating to candidate qualification

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• to sit for the allow their candidates to sit for the exam<00:24:18.320><c> pass</c><00:24:18.640><c>
• Senate File 1536 would allow candidates to use a bachelor's degree with two years of experience or a
• It is important to note that all candidates will still be required to pass the CPA exam.
• It is important to note that all candidates will still be required to pass the CPA exam.
• It is important to note that all candidates will still be required to pass the CPA exam.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The current law prohibits foreign donations to candidates or super PACs, and this law seeks to put ballot
• </c><00:09:21.079><c> or</c><00:09:21.240><c> super</c> foreign donations to candidates or super foreign
• donations to candidates or super Pacs<00:09:22.440><c> and</c><00:09:22.600><c> this</c><00:09:22.760
• I have no problem with the idea that we're making ballot measures equal to PACs or candidate contributions
• I have no problem with the idea that we're making ballot measures equal to PACs or candidate contributions

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up House Bill 30, which addresses pension spiking and retired state troopers returning to work. The sponsor and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority staff said the bill would codify court language clarifying that across-the-board raises from the General Assembly do not count as pension spiking, and the committee substitute would also give retired troopers rehired on a year-to-year basis the same vacation, sick leave, and bereavement benefits as new troopers. The committee adopted the substitute and a title amendment, and HB 30 passed 9-0. The committee then considered House Bill 27, which removes an arbitrary 2023 date from the Planned Communities Act that had created confusion over political signage rules in HOA and planned community phases. The sponsor said the change would preserve HOA authority to regulate sign size, duration, and placement while eliminating inconsistent treatment of neighboring properties. The bill passed 10-0. House Bill 45 followed, proposing to ban foreign funding in Kentucky elections and ballot measures and to require disclosure for express advocacy ads related to ballot measures. Supporters said the bill would put ballot measures on the same footing as candidate and PAC restrictions and prevent foreign nationals from influencing Kentucky elections; one senator raised concerns that the language could unintentionally chill participation by noncitizens, especially in one-on-one discussions, and the sponsor said he would work on that issue. The committee adopted the bill as amended, and it passed 8-1. The final major item was House Bill 211, which would create a narrow exemption allowing cigar bars under defined conditions, including a revenue threshold, age restrictions, ventilation requirements, and local permitting options. The sponsor said the bill would not roll back general smoke-free laws but would allow tightly regulated cigar bars and grandfather existing ones from some requirements. Public health witnesses, including a nurse, a physician, and a thoracic surgeon, opposed the bill, warning it would weaken strong smoke-free protections, harm workers and patrons, and reverse progress against tobacco-related disease. The transcript provided did not include a final vote on HB 211.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, unfortunately, we live in a society now where super PACs and candidates and candidate committees
• Well, unfortunately, we live in a society now, the super PACs and candidates and candidate committees
• them up, and they think that they're their friends or that they're really calling on behalf of this candidate
• And some of them are being targeted. ...of this candidate when they're really not, and some of them are

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 14 with a quorum and heard several recommitted public-records and government-transparency bills, along with one local audit bill and one campaign-solicitation bill. HB 55 by Rep. Villio would prohibit intentional public disclosure of juror identifying information and create a public records exception; after adopting technical amendments, the committee reported it favorably as amended. HB 608 by Rep. Chassion would make documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing programs confidential; supporters said it protects student-athletes and institutional competitiveness, while the Louisiana Press Association argued it would shield public money and reduce transparency. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote of 9-3. HB 1045 by Rep. LaCombe would raise the audit threshold for certain local auditees in a limited parish-specific application, with an amendment tying annual audits to entities in Pointe Coupee Parish above a revised revenue level and indexing the threshold to CPI. Committee members and local-government groups said the change would reduce unnecessary audit costs for small water and special districts while preserving oversight; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1035 by Rep. Beham would add penalties for exploitative campaign fundraising aimed at elderly people; supporters described scam-like tactics and recurring withdrawals, while some members questioned how it would be enforced and whether existing fraud laws already covered the conduct. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably by a 7-5 vote. HB 1049 by Rep. Owen would tighten open-meetings requirements by improving notice posting, minutes, and training expectations for those presiding over public bodies. Supporters said it would help volunteers and small boards comply with the law, while the Police Jury Association raised cost and staffing concerns for thousands of local entities; the bill was reported favorably. HB 1177 by Rep. Zerang would create a public-records exemption for personal information related to hunting and fishing lottery licenses, prompted by concerns that lottery winners could be harassed by animal-rights activists; it was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, two other bills were deferred at the sponsors’ request, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The church giving money to a certain political initiative or candidate or so forth, it would be in kind
• So including on the initiatives or candidates or anything else, it's when money is involved.
• And as before, if they are going around campaigning against a candidate, then they would have a badge
• excess of $100,000 spent in some of these races by out-of-state money trying to unseat certain candidates
• So if we, as a candidate, and our campaigns paid young people to go door-to-door for us, they would have

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• runoff' and before the words 'in the manner' the following language: 'or by winning as an unopposed candidate
• That we just didn't cover, and we just added that to cover all situations where a candidate would have
• runoff' and before the words 'in the manner' the following language: 'or by winning as an unopposed candidate
• each political party recognized by the laws of this state shall have the opportunity to nominate a candidate
• Why can't any recognized party in the state of Oklahoma have the opportunity to have a candidate in the

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• As it stands right now, the only time presidential candidates come to New York is they fly in the morning
• AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY TIME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES COME TO NEW YORK IS THEY FLY IN THE MORNING
• Much of this is covered under candidate under Penal Law.
• their sticker, went back home, they watched the election results, and they accepted whether their candidate
• I think it was a presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, who called the President of the United States

Summary: The Senate met briefly, approved the prior journal, and then took up a Rules Committee report that advanced a large package of bills, mostly Election Law measures, along with several bills in other subject areas. The chamber then moved through a supplemental and controversial calendar focused primarily on election administration, campaign finance, and voter access. Senators also announced committee meetings and later filed majority committee assignments in the journal. On the supplemental calendar, the Senate passed several Election Law bills. One measure by Senator Gianaris aimed to curb foreign influence in New York elections by restricting foreign-influenced corporations; Senator Walczyk argued it was too narrow and ignored dark money, while Senator Gianaris said it was needed to address foreign meddling. Senator May’s bill creating short-term early voting sites passed after debate over whether pop-up sites would confuse voters or improve access, especially in rural areas; supporters said it would help bring voting closer to where people are, while opponents called it costly and confusing. Senator Myrie’s bill establishing standardized training for elections commissioners also passed, with supporters citing the need for uniform training and opponents calling it an unfunded mandate. On the controversial calendar, the Senate passed Senator Myrie’s bill allowing additional early voting locations and clarifying that a voter’s intent can determine residency for voting purposes, including in some cases a second or vacation home. The most debated measure was Senator Gonzalez’s bill creating civil remedies and confidentiality protections for election officers who are threatened or intimidated; supporters said it responds to rising threats against election workers, while opponents warned it could chill legitimate questioning at polling places and create vague liability. Several senators explained their votes on both sides, and the bill passed despite significant opposition. The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• presume that such coercion wouldn't also target our presidential electors the next time a presidential candidate
• So you gave an example where Massachusetts would support candidates...
• Where Massachusetts would support a candidate who's a Democrat, and yet nationally, Republicans had the

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Committee on Election Laws held a hearing with House and Senate chairs and several members participating in person and online. The main bill discussed was House Bill 5086, the Electoral Count Reform/Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act, which would require presidential electors in Massachusetts to sign a faithfulness pledge, automatically replace any elector who casts a vote contrary to the state’s popular vote, and update state procedures to meet federal Electoral Count Act deadlines and paperwork requirements. Testimony in support came from Public Citizen, the Uniform Law Commission, and Protect Democracy United. Witnesses argued the bill would protect against coercion, threats, and “faithless electors,” and said it would help ensure Massachusetts’ electoral votes reflect voters’ choices and cannot be rejected on technical grounds. One witness noted the bill is already enacted in many states and has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, and several organizations endorsed the model approach. Members asked about how the bill would interact with Massachusetts’ participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The witness said the bill is compatible with the compact and suggested a minor clarifying amendment to avoid any implication that the state is stepping away from it. After testimony and questions, the chair noted that testimony had also been received on the other two bills from Representative Breguire, the governor’s office, and Representative Hogan, and the committee then adjourned without taking a vote in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will recommend candidates Senate.
• They will recommend candidates to<00:20:02.000><c> the</c><00:20:02.160><c> governor.
• </c> eight members to to re amend candidates. eight members to to re amend candidates.
• and recommend three candidates, we also need to be able to pass that with a three-fifths majority in
• Vet candidates and recommend three candidates, we also need to be able to pass that with a three-fifths

Bills: SF856 , HF3168 , HF3528 , HF389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, ethnic councils, diversity, governance, state participation, community representation, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, Minnesota Historical Society

Transcript Highlights:

• RS 33570 is a revision of legislation that was previously brought to this committee related to candidate
• RS 33570 is a revision of legislation that was previously brought to this committee related to candidate
• your attention to the last two lines of the legislation, lines 25 through 27, where it now reads: a candidate

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a measure aimed at protecting the personal safety of our candidates for office and also elected
• worked with our Secretary of State to ensure that addresses and other confidential information from candidates
• It is necessary for us to protect our candidates and to protect our voters. voters and progress for all

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• elected positions that are voluntary, and there's a lot of interest groups out there that recruit candidates
• To become a nurse, many candidates have to incur tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
• We worked straight through winter break, meeting candidates in January of 2022 for the final interviews
• , why do we not have that for arguably the most... ...not scared off good candidates, why do we not have
• Another piece to consider is the composition of the required candidates on the search committee, since

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr: increasing individual contribution limits to candidate committees.
• Tarr: increasing individual contribution limits to candidate committees.
• elections where there is not a presidential election involved, but a statewide election, either for candidates
• elections where there is not a presidential election involved, but a statewide election, either for candidates

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this affect in any way volunteers who do the same kind of activities on behalf of a candidate?
• They also include people that work for a candidate or a campaign, and they also exclude phone banking
• amends Idaho Code Section 34-903 to revise ballot rotation requirements by applying the current candidate
• threshold is 100,000 voters, and that means that for most elections in Idaho, we just don't have candidate

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'll be candid and say after I filed this bill, I've received multiple emails from weather engineering
• Um, I'll be<00:02:54.239><c> candid</c><00:02:54.640><c> and</c><00:02:54.879><c> say</c><00:02:55.280
• ><c> after</c><00:02:55.519><c> I</c><00:02:55.760><c> filed</c><00:02:56.080><c> this</c> be candid
• and say after I filed this be candid and say after I filed this bill,<00:02:56.640><c> I've</c><00:02

Committee: Joint Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res

Transcript Highlights:

• cities were having in relationship to park districts not being able to change those thresholds for candidates
• cities were having in relationship to park districts not being able to change those thresholds for candidates
• that's referenced, 40-207, they still retain that, and then they have the ability to adjust those candidate
• do that, or park districts can do that if they would wish to join what the city has changed their candidate

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Summary: The State and Local Government Committee met to reconsider and amend House Bill 1165, which dealt with petition circulation requirements and ballot receipt rules. The committee walked through technical changes requested by the Secretary of State’s office, including moving petition-title language, adding a 15-business-day submission deadline for petition packets, and revising language related to mailed absentee ballots and the presidential executive order requiring ballots to be received by election day rather than merely postmarked. The State Election Director explained that the change was intended to provide clarity and consistency for voters and election officials, while Senator Braunberger objected that it was an unnecessary reaction to an executive order that could be challenged. The committee adopted the amendment 5-1 and then passed the bill as amended on a 5-1 vote, with Senator Braunberger voting no. The committee then took up House Bill 1307, which concerned election authority, home rule powers, and related city and county petition/signature provisions. After questions from members and clarification from the Deputy Secretary of State and a League of Cities representative, the committee agreed the amendment was intended to preserve city petition power and align the bill with changes made in another election bill, while also addressing park district language. The amendment was adopted 6-0, and the bill was passed as amended 6-0. Senator Castaneda was designated as the carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1580, a study bill on state employee compensation. Members used language from an earlier draft tied to health plan changes and broadened it to study total rewards compensation, including pay grades, classifications, comparisons among state employees across departments and with similar private-sector jobs, equity funding and bonuses, prevailing wages on state projects, and the impact of changes to health plan benefits and premium structures. The committee agreed to make the language more generic and adopted the amendment 6-0, then passed the bill as amended 6-0. House Bill 1601 was not acted on and was held until after floor session so members could continue discussions and await additional input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madame Clerk, on page one, Governor's Message No. 787 withdraws nominations to the Candidate Advisory
• 24.400><c> the</c> number 787 withdraws nominations to the number 787 withdraws nominations to the candidate
• 25.560><c> Council</c><00:06:25.919><c> for</c><00:06:26.080><c> the</c><00:06:26.160><c> board</c> candidate
• advisory Council for the board candidate advisory Council for the board of<00:06:26.479><c> regions<

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're seeing more and more campaigns paying social media influencers to promote their candidates.
• And social media influencers must be required to disclose their paid affiliations with a candidate or
• And we're seeing more and more campaigns paying social media influencers to promote their candidates.
• And social media influencers must be required to disclose their paid affiliations with a candidate or
• And social media influencers must be required to disclose their paid affiliations with a candidate or

Bills: HB9238 , HB8340 , HB8467 , HB8464 , HB8312 , HB7892

Keywords: financial management, accountability, government oversight, taxpayer funds, federal agencies, budget, performance metrics, improper payments, fraud prevention, payment integrity, government waste, waste, fraud, and abuse, financial loss, federal spending, federal programs, OMB Circular A-123, Do Not Pay Initiative, Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget, Inspector General