Transcript Highlights:

• Cartels and other criminal organizations frequently target petroleum products, drilling equipment, and
• But the issue with all oilfield theft and equipment, petroleum products, is not just in the Permian Basin
• down to the export yards in Presidio, as I have done many times, and see quantities of oilfield equipment
• As I have done many times, and see quantities of oilfield equipment stacked there waiting to go to Mexico
• large and small operators and landowners, not surprisingly, have reported the theft of crude oil, equipment

Bills: SB476, SB664, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1080, SB1171, SB1320, SB1437, SB1727, SB1809, SB2289, SB2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• tabulator. And I can tell you, Mr. tabulator. And I can tell you, Mr.
• ESNS equipment will use this newly developed text recognition technology for vote tabulation.
• for the purposes of tabulating votes? for the purposes of tabulating votes?
• utilize a barcode for tabulation utilize a barcode for tabulation purposes.<00:59:50.720> So,
• They do that in Austin, equipment.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to approve the October 21 minutes and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and public resources. The sponsors said the bill is intended to strengthen existing law by adding civil and criminal penalties for taxpayer-funded advocacy on ballot questions, especially in light of controversies during the 2024 election over school officials and districts using public resources to oppose a constitutional amendment. They also described related concerns about school districts hiring third-party lobbyists and public relations firms, particularly in Fayette County, and said the proposal was meant to keep tax dollars focused on public services rather than political persuasion. Committee members raised several concerns about scope and drafting. Some asked whether the bill should specifically mention schools, school boards, and school employees, and the sponsors said they would add that language. Others questioned whether the measure would also affect local government lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, and the sponsors said they intended to focus narrowly on schools while exempting certain advocacy organizations and internal government lobbyists. Members also asked whether public employees could still speak as private individuals, and the sponsors said yes. Several members suggested splitting the lobbying and ballot-advocacy issues into separate bills, and the sponsors said they would consider that. Members also pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply in practice, including whether it would cover legal challenges to petition drives or only advocacy after a question is on the ballot. Counsel for the sponsors said the bill would not cover some petition-related litigation as drafted, though they believed it should. The sponsors and supporters argued the proposal was needed to give the existing prohibition real enforcement, while some members warned that the language could unintentionally limit legitimate public representation or be too broad if not carefully drafted. No final vote was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• tabulator. And I can tell you, Mr. tabulator. And I can tell you, Mr.
• ES&S equipment will use this newly developed text recognition technology for vote tabulation.
• ES&S equipment will use this newly developed text recognition technology for vote tabulation.
• it will be interpreted by the tabulator it will be interpreted by the tabulator and<01:01:03.359
• ,<01:04:50.799> our you can open up our equipment, our you can open up our equipment, our

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Standardized approach to verifying electronic vote tabulations.
• The central aggregation computer tabulates votes by precinct.
• equipment, but also bolstering the voters' confidence in the equipment.
• Senate Bill 2166 enhances the testing protocols for voting tabulation equipment in Texas elections.
• equipment used at the polling places, but there is no mention of the testing equipment that would be

Transcript Highlights:

• the results tabulated by the electronic<00:47:16.560> equipment.
• <01:15:30.239> is confirms that the equipment is confirms that the equipment is tabulating
• <01:15:52.880> equipment that went through tabulating equipment that went through tabulating
• They will always have concerns about automatic tabulating equipment."
• But the automatic tabulating equipment."

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're there to work with the rural fire departments to help get equipment through forestry to help
• And that would hire one person for each cog to go out and work with to get grants and equipment for rural
• responsible for this is going to go looking for rural law enforcement to see if they can help them with equipment
• Department of Public Safety to be administered and award grants to counties for purposes of public safety equipment
• onlookers or some large event where somebody might do something like that on Purpose, there's some equipment

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mandatory training, mental health, domestic violence, peace officer certification

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mandatory training, mental health, domestic violence, peace officer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• debt, I mean, puts future borrowing in jeopardy for the city of Stillwater, for our public safety equipment
• <01:25:09.520> safety Still Water for our public safety Still Water for our public safety equipment
• 10.960> you<01:25:11.040> could<01:25:11.199> just<01:25:11.400> imagine equipment
• and you could just imagine equipment and you could just imagine what<01:25:11.960> that<01:25

Bills: HF919, HF1192, HF212, HF214

Keywords: wastewater, infrastructure, funding, Litchfield, economic development, environmental compliance, Hastings, water treatment, PFAS, nitrates, bonds, capital investment, public health, HF212, Round Lake-Brewster, Independent School District No. 2907, school construction, school building, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2pvB0T8oGc, 2026-06-21T07:17:05+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:02 Approval of minutes from October 16, 2023 01:49 Podiatrists 02:10 Licensure compacts 05:00 Kentucky Nurses Association 10:40 Psychologists 19:22 Physician Assistants 25:45 Right to Repair High Tech Farm Equipment 31:05 Electrician Licensing 33:35 Smoke Alarms 40:18 Alcohol Tasting Rooms 48:18 Impact on Criminal Convictions on Employment 51:07 Charitable Gaming 58:50, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• the tabulators, ballot on demand, printers, poll books are targets.
• Well, once ballots go into the tabulator and ballot box, there's no way to identify them.
• They wouldn't be tabulated. We know it's going to be litigated.
• We would not tabulate those and put them in a bag that says provisional ballots.
• And, you know, we are such a strong state for how we vote and how we tabulate it.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At heart, we design and build the equipment on which votes are captured. and counted.
• If you could, could you explain the... tabulators do?
• the machines that you vote on and not the counting tabulators, right?
• It is tabulated to allow for things like post-election audits.
• So that would happen in the tabulators, where would And how many counties are using that?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides the state certification of RCV voting equipment and tabulation systems to ensure timely election
• for the remainder of the tabulation for the remainder of the tabulation rounds<00:50:48.559>
• been eliminated from the tabulation pool.
• round of tabulation that the third round of tabulation that voter's<01:02:05.599> ballot<01:02
• cast it's a tabulation of total ballots cast it's a tabulation of an<01:02:39.119> everchanging

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• equipment does if all you're doing is running it through.
• <00:19:02.160> if<00:19:02.400> all tabulating equipment does if is if all tabulating
• Um on the page for tabulation by hand.
• The recount tabulate those by hand.
• <00:26:42.080> or<00:26:42.400> by<00:26:42.720> hand equipment or by hand equipment

Bills: SF0028, SF0030, SF0031, SF0032

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• This here is just simply taking the sunset off my timber equipment bill we passed four years ago, and
• honestly say when it went into effect four years ago, I had one business sell over a million dollars of equipment

Bills: HB3622, HB3621, HB3151, HB3882, HB3661, HB4273, HB3644, HB3706, HB3708, HB2021, HB3986, HB3972

Keywords: HB3622, 2030 Census, Decennial Census, U.S. Decennial Census Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Commerce Department, census preparation, federal census, state treasury fund, revolving fund, continuing fund, deemed appropriated, technology upgrades, census outreach, redistricting, population count, Title 74, OMES, State Treasurer, budgeting

Transcript Highlights:

• By providing a check on election equipment, post-election tabulation audits are an important mechanism
• One, how have—so there's a distinction between, obviously, a tabulation audit and a risk-limiting audit
• Tabulation is just to confirm the numbers, and a risk-limiting audit... ...risk-limiting audit.
• Tabulation audits are just to confirm the numbers, and risk-limiting audits look at the processes.
• A risk-limiting audit is a kind of tabulation audit with the property that it's guaranteed to provide

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on election security bills, focusing first on S. 517 and H. 876, which would strengthen Massachusetts’ post-election audit process. Testimony from the Brennan Center, Common Cause Massachusetts, Verified Voting, and the League of Women Voters supported expanding audits to include all ballot types, increasing audit frequency from every four years to every two years, requiring statewide audit reports to be posted within 30 days and kept online for six years, and allowing municipalities to conduct audits under state standards. Witnesses also praised the bill’s creation of a work group to study risk-limiting audits and other improvements, emphasizing public confidence, transparency, and the ability of audits to detect errors or deter fraud. Committee members asked detailed questions about how Massachusetts compares with other states, how risk-limiting audits differ from current tabulation audits, how audits are selected and expanded if discrepancies appear, and what the costs and mechanics of different audit methods would be. Witnesses explained that current audits are typically random, hand-count-based checks of selected contests and batches of ballots, that risk-limiting audits use statistical sampling and can escalate to a full recount if needed, and that Massachusetts’ local-control structure makes a collaborative work group useful. They also noted that audits generally confirm results but can uncover errors that do not change outcomes, and occasionally more serious problems. The committee then heard testimony on H. 832, which would authorize the Secretary of the Commonwealth to take emergency actions affecting elections during declared emergencies. Supporters said the bill would create a clear statutory process for rescheduling or adjusting elections during severe weather or other crises, including allowing emergency absentee ballot accommodations for civilian responders, and would reduce the need for court intervention. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing, and the meeting ended with adjournment after no additional testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• This gives us process of tabulation.
• say we can handc count a tabulated say we can handc count a tabulated election<00:42:22.800>
• we confirm that the voting equipment we confirm that the voting equipment does<01:18:50.000>
• Tabulation equipment, when tested and audited, as Wyoming law currently requires, counts consistently
• properly tested tabulation systems. properly tested tabulation systems.

Bills: HB0022, HB0052, HB0076

Keywords: municipal officers, recall election, petition requirements, local governance, voter participation, elections, hand counting, recounts, vote auditing, Wyoming legislature, electoral process, annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will tabulate.
• The clerk will tabulate.
• The clerk will tabulate.
• The clerk will tabulate.
• The clerk will tabulate.

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each of the tax expenditures has a tabulated summary of member responses.
• Each of the tax expenditures has a tabulated summary of member responses.
• 4.2.12, the data center equipment 4.2.12, the data center equipment exemption<00:33:07.360> from
• , to 4.2.12, data center equipment, to 4.2.12, data center equipment, to<00:34:06.680> be<
• <00:40:25.080> exemption well, so data center equipment exemption well, so data center equipment

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Tax Expenditure Review Commission met on June 17, 2026, approved the January 20, 2026 minutes, and then adopted updated commission procedures. The procedural changes, presented by Legislative Budget Office Director Christian Larson, required a quorum of voting members to complete evaluations before a formal recommendation vote, and allowed members to bundle or unbundle tax expenditures for voting. The commission approved the revised procedures by roll call vote, with five ayes and four excused. The commission then reviewed member evaluation summaries for tax expenditures presented in December 2025 and January 2026. It first considered the alcoholic beverage tax credits for small brewers and microdistilleries, and after discussion voted to recommend repeal of those two expenditures, while leaving the small winery credit for a later meeting because it lacked enough member responses under the new procedures. The vote on the repeal recommendation passed 4-1, with Commissioner Marquart voting no. The commission next approved the lawful gambling bundle, which included bingo, raffle, and related exemptions. Larson reported that most members recommended continuation for each item, and the commission voted to recommend continuing all six lawful gambling expenditures. It then reviewed the residential utility services bundle—residential heating fuels, residential water services, and sewer services—where members generally favored continuation but several noted possible modifications or caps for higher-income users; the commission voted to recommend continuation of the bundle. Finally, the commission reviewed the data center equipment sales tax exemption, which Larson said had an estimated annual revenue loss of $95 million and was intended to create jobs in construction and data center industries. Members raised questions about its effectiveness and whether the exemption should be modified or capped, but the commission ultimately voted to recommend continuation. The meeting concluded with these recommendations set to be included in the commission’s 2026 annual report.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the audit is to check that the equipment and procedures accurately recorded and counted
• The purpose of the audit is to check that the equipment and procedures accurately recorded and counted
• Equipment cannot be accessed without multi-factor authentication.
• We've already, the supervisors have already tabulated and counted the early vote and the vote by mail
• Further, we require supervisors to begin reporting totals from tabulated early voting and vote-by-mail

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And today, nearly all the DPS vehicles are equipped with this life-saving technology.
• It is a vital part of law enforcement equipment.
• Most agencies can't afford this kind of equipment, so I appreciate you bringing it forward.
• I knew that we had not done everything we could to provide her with the safest equipment.
• But thanks to Operation Safe Shield, her vehicle is now equipped with ballistic glass.

Bills: HB1583, HB1775, HB1832, HB1836, HB1837, HB1866, HB1983, HB2029, HB2217, HB2318, HB2363, HB2486

Keywords: mental health, emergency detention, peace officer, mental illness, prevention of harm, border security, private landowners, study and report, General Land Office, participation, controlled substances, opioid antagonists, law enforcement training, substance abuse prevention, Texas-Mexico border, criminal justice, public safety, law enforcement, National Park Service, arrest powers