Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:33:33.200><c> ballot</c> Bill 218 relative to absentee ballot Bill 218 relative to absentee ballot
• So it applies to everyone requesting an absentee voter.
• </c> original bill only applied to absentee original bill only applied to absentee ballots<01:14:21.040
• So it applies to everyone requesting an absentee voter.
• </c><01:19:13.120><c> balls,</c> Um, open these, 800, 500 absentee balls, Um, open these, 800, 500 absentee

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• You can follow along on page 1142 of today's calendar. chronic absenteeism. chronic absenteeism.
• </c><00:28:59.680><c> has</c> According to the AOE, absenteeism has According to the AOE, absenteeism
• </c> quantified in 2023 that absenteeism quantified in 2023 that absenteeism explained<00:29:18.040><
• </c><00:29:34.160><c> before</c> In the US, chronic absenteeism before In the US, chronic absenteeism
• and the impact of chronic absenteeism and the impact of chronic absenteeism<00:31:43.600><c> on</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• ...for requiring a ballot to be cured, an absentee ballot.
• What things have to be cured on an absentee ballot for the count?
• The question I actually had was what triggers a cure on an absentee ballot?
• It is only for an absentee ballot or that type of thing.
• But on the absentee ballot, all you have is a witness.

Bills: HB117 , HB228 , HB250 , HB260 , HB393 , HB400 , HB446 , HB534 , HB551 , HB576 , HB842

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: Department of State, statutory entities, re-creation, termination, Louisiana laws, Department of State Civil Service, Louisiana legislation, government re-creation, authority termination, financial disclosure, public servants, ethics, immediate family, transparency, legislators, transportation, foreign travel, cultural exchange, public service, HB393

Transcript Highlights:

• One of chronic absenteeism and truency.
• </c><00:24:53.360><c> and</c> improving chronic absenteeism and improving chronic absenteeism and truency
• Ed Allies did a lot of research on chronic absenteeism.
• Ed Allies did a lot of research on chronic absenteeism.
• actually working on chronic absenteeism?

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits an absentee owner or landlord from designating a tenant as an agent.
• However, our current absentee landlords.
• Absentee landlords make it more difficult for tenants, neighbors, and communities to thrive and ensure
• Absentee landlords make it more difficult for tenants, neighbors, and communities to thrive and ensure
• With respect to your particular situation, which involves really two tenants of an absentee owner, you

Bills: SB2386 , SB2804 , SB2852

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions on several bills and generally advanced them without opposition. Early actions included SB 2386, which clarifies job-posting pay disclosure requirements and lowers the small-employer exemption threshold, and SB 2804, both recommended to pass unamended. SB 2852, addressing accessibility of information and communications technology for people with disabilities in public accommodations, was also recommended to pass unamended. SB 2975 on marine life conservation districts was advanced unamended despite a noted defective effective date. The CPN committee then acted on SB 3019, a consumer protection bill, recommending passage with amendments to require refunds of certain fees upon cancellation and to defect the effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 3231 on agricultural districts, SB 2378 on housing, and SB 3062 on liquor were all recommended to pass with amendments and a defective effective date set to July 1, 2050. SB 3255, concerning cash payments and rounding guidance, was reconsidered after discussion with small business stakeholders and was also advanced with amendments. In the later regular CPN agenda, SB 2607 on landscape architect licensure drew support from the board and professional groups and was recommended to pass with board-requested amendments and a July 1, 2050 effective date. SB 2623 SD1 on pharmacy technician registration was recommended to pass with clarifying amendments from the Board of Pharmacy. SB 2396, which would create a registry for agents managing property for absentee owners and require on-island contact information for certain condo owners, received mixed testimony: supporters emphasized accountability and enforcement, while opponents from community associations raised implementation concerns and asked for further work. The committee ultimately recommended SB 2396 with amendments from the Hawaii Council of Community Associations and a July 1, 2050 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Lockach, Representative Lock uh leaves a committee absentee voting form of I.
• Uh, Minority Leader Yen leaves a committee absentee voting form of I. Chairman Neck, I. Mr.
• </c> committee absentee voting form of I. committee absentee voting form of I.
• Minority Leader Yen leaves a &gt;&gt; Uh, Minority Leader Yen leaves a committee<00:10:22.480><c> absentee
• </c> committee absentee voting form of I. committee absentee voting form of I.

Bills: HB0002 , HB0022

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• This only allows them to be in during the absentee... ...period.
• And the concern being, especially during absentee voting, that in-person absentee, the no-excuse period
• One judge attempted to shut down all absentee voting in my county.
• But the language changes it during the absentee voting period on line four.
• It was early voting only at the absentee section at the county election authority two weeks before the

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Elections first met in executive session and took up a committee substitute for H.J.R. 122, which combined H.J.R. 122 with related measures H.J.R. 104 and H.J.R. 149. Representative Banderman offered and the committee adopted an amendment limiting leadership terms in the resolution from three terms to two for the House speaker and from two terms to one for the Senate president. The committee then adopted the revised substitute and voted the combined resolution do pass by a 9-1 vote. In public hearing, the committee heard HB 1987, a technical fix to local filing deadlines for declarations of candidacy when the deadline falls on a holiday. Representative Hinman explained the bill was requested by city and school clerks to avoid requiring offices to open on holidays such as New Year’s Eve or Christmas Day. Testimony from city, municipal, and county clerk organizations was unanimously supportive, and no opposition was offered. The committee also heard HCR 23, which urges Congress to recognize state authority over election laws and campaign finance. Sponsor Representative Perkins and supporting witnesses argued the resolution is a federalism measure grounded in the Tenth Amendment and noted that similar resolutions have passed in 24 other states. Some members questioned whether the resolution could conflict with federal election policy or allow inconsistent state approaches, but the sponsor said the measure simply affirms state authority and does not mandate any specific policy. Finally, the committee heard HB 1802, which would allow poll challengers and watchers to be present during in-person absentee voting in first-class and charter counties, with procedures for advance notice. The sponsor said the bill was intended to create consistency after differing county practices and to address issues seen in St. Charles County during the 2024 election. The St. Charles County election director supported the bill as a clarification of existing law, while some members raised concerns about unequal treatment of counties and the potential for disruption. The hearing concluded without a vote on HB 1987, HCR 23, or HB 1802.

Transcript Highlights:

• Overseas voters can use this to request an absentee ballot.
• That we would flag them in the system to only receive what's referred to as the federal write-in absentee
• But this would not be on election day or in person absentee voting or regular absentee voting.
• But how many people in the last major election voted via fax or submitted their absentee ballot via fax
• technology but it's It's with the laws that are in place that require electronic transmission of absentee

Bills: HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123

Committee: House Elections and Ethics

Keywords: elections, national elections, state elections, voter intent, election reform, absentee voting, electronic communication, facsimile device, voting materials, military voters, campaign finance, ethics, political contributions, candidate committee, Oklahoma legislation, voter registration, political party affiliation, Independent designation, Oklahoma, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Chronic absenteeism is a crisis across the Commonwealth.
• There is significant agreement among stakeholders that chronic absenteeism is a problem to be solved,
• Believe it or not, since the pandemic, we've been able to decrease chronic absenteeism to better than
• And so now our chronic absenteeism is below 20% and is better than it was before the pandemic.
• Salem, as a community, has significantly reduced chronic absenteeism.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The committee held a hybrid hearing on a range of bills affecting children, families, disability rights, homelessness, and social services. Early testimony focused on H.215, which would support children experiencing homelessness by speeding access to child care vouchers and early intervention screenings. Boston officials, Horizons for Homeless Children, Head Start, pediatric and early education advocates, and families described delays in child care and early intervention, the developmental risks of homelessness, and the need for automatic referrals and faster access to services. Testimony also supported H.216, which would improve emergency housing assistance by restoring presumptive eligibility, reducing documentation barriers, extending shelter stays from six to nine months, and creating an ombudsperson; providers and legal advocates said current rules leave families sleeping in cars or outside and create unnecessary administrative hurdles. The committee also heard strong support for H.210, which would repeal the “Learn Fair” school attendance sanction that cuts cash assistance to families when children miss school. Advocates from legal aid, education, and anti-poverty organizations argued the policy is punitive, burdensome, and ineffective, disproportionately affecting low-income, disabled, and Hispanic/Latino families. Several speakers said chronic absenteeism should be addressed through supports such as family outreach, wraparound services, and school engagement rather than benefit cuts. Legislators and school officials from Salem also testified that their districts reduced absenteeism through supportive strategies, not sanctions. Additional testimony addressed children’s vision bills H.202 and H.166, with optometrists and researchers urging better screening, data systems, and treatment access to close achievement gaps caused by untreated vision problems. Senator Lovely also presented S.2714, proposing a study of discrimination in public accommodations for people with service animals. Later, testimony on H.279 supported changing social work licensure rules to remove exam requirements that speakers said disproportionately exclude multilingual candidates and candidates of color. The hearing also included testimony on bills related to the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock devices, with disability rights advocates opposing continued use of the devices and urging the committee to reject licensing or authorization for them. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• ballots that were received of absentee ballots that were received by<00:36:49.920><c> the</c><00:36:
• So, people who wish to observe the processing of absentee ballots can do so during the day. ballots.
• </c> observe the processing of absentee observe the processing of absentee ballots<00:37:44.960><c> can
• I support HB 294 relative to the processing of absentee ballots.
• </c><00:40:21.599><c> ballots</c> town to dictate when absentee ballots town to dictate when absentee

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We're taking a systems absenteeism.
• So things like student absenteeism.
• </c><01:33:57.120><c> I</c> absenteeism from becoming chronic. I absenteeism from becoming chronic.
• Uh, chronic<01:54:00.960><c> absenteeism,</c> chronic absenteeism, chronic absenteeism, truency,<01:54
• </c><01:55:51.520><c> from</c> an impact on the 15-day absentee from an impact on the 15-day absentee

Bills: HF3492 , HF3493 , HF3494 , HF3495 , HF3602

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the issues that you or attempted to address or maybe addressed last year, chronic absenteeism
• </c><00:02:12.720><c> That's</c> last year, chronic absenteeism.
• That's last year, chronic absenteeism.
• So, we have a lot of work to do from a chronic absenteeism and truancy standpoint.
• </c> from a chronic absenteeism and truency. from a chronic absenteeism and truency.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a question about chronic absenteeism for all of you.
• I have a question about chronic absenteeism for all of you.
• Every child, every district is unique with your issues surrounding chronic absenteeism.
• And this goes back to the absentee issue.
• How is it determined, and who approves what is an approved absentee and what is an unexcused absentee

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism. St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing. The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2. Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:58:25.080><c> to</c><00:58:25.200><c> register</c> absentee owner or landlord to register absentee
• </c> Establishes penalties for an absentee Establishes penalties for an absentee owner<00:58:37.720><
• So quite specific to absentee landlords.
• </c> tenant is calling about an absentee tenant is calling about an absentee landlord. landlord. landlord
• to an absentee owner or landlord. landlord. landlord.

Bills: SB2607 , SB2031 , SB2043 , SB2623 , SB2876 , SB2396 , SB2964 , SB2089

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee first heard HCR 168 and HR 158, which would create a temporary working group to study utility capacity, coastline infrastructure lifespan, and the costs of needed expansions. Public Utilities Commission staff said the commission was not the right entity to direct all of the work because it lacks authority over many affected agencies. Members discussed whether the study should be limited to a coastal area or broadened to the whole island, and in decision-making the committee amended the measure to focus on the County of Honolulu, correct references to the Public Utilities Commission, and revise the working group membership to include the PUC chair, legislative designees, and directors or designees from DLNR, DOT, HIEMA, and DCCA Consumer Advocacy. The committee then passed both resolutions with amendments; the vote was adopted unanimously, with some members excused. The committee next considered HCR 145 and HR 137, which would convene a working group on climate change impacts on insurance availability and affordability. The Insurance Division stood on its written comments, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission supported the intent, and the Attorney General opposed the measure, warning that a working group could create discoverable materials that might complicate the state’s climate litigation and noting a technical ambiguity in the reference to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund administrator. After questions about discovery and the lawsuit, the committee amended the resolutions to replace the administrator reference with the chair of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund Board of Directors, remove the Attorney General as convener while keeping the office as a member, and have the working group share findings and recommendations with the House CPC and Senate CPN committees instead of issuing a report. The committee passed the measures with amendments, with Rep. Martin voting with reservations. In the later agenda, the committee heard SB 2607, SD 1 on landscape architect licensure. The Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects supported the bill, explaining it modernizes licensure requirements to align with national standards and clarifies the profession’s design-focused role. The bill was discussed as distinguishing landscape architecture from groundskeeping and from civil engineering drainage work. No opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 2031, SD 2 on consumer protection and price transparency for live ticket events and short-term lodging. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill, saying it largely mirrors an FTC rule requiring all-in pricing and would give the state enforcement authority and remedies. The Hawaii Financial Services Association opposed the bill as drafted and sought a limited exemption for credit card issuers relying on third-party hotel information, while the Hawaii Hotel Alliance supported the measure but asked for language deeming compliance with the federal rule sufficient for short-term lodging. Committee members questioned whether those proposed exemptions would conflict with federal law or weaken state enforcement, and the discussion focused on preemption, liability, and the value of state remedies such as restitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 5 allows the county clerk to issue voters a mail-in absentee ballot if they come in and tell
• Their previously issued absentee ballot is cancelled and a new one is issued.
• ballot they go into the clerk's absentee ballot they go into the clerk's office<00:07:15.919><c> they
• </c> clerk to issue voters a mailin absentee clerk to issue voters a mailin absentee ballot<00:07:29.800
• ballot is cancelled and a new absentee ballot is cancelled and a new one<00:07:41.199><c> is</c> one

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs met with a quorum and considered two election-related bills. The committee first took up House Bill 684, sponsored by Representative Jennifer Decker, and adopted a committee substitute. Decker described the bill as a “continuous improvement” measure developed with election officials, clerks, legislators, and citizens. She walked through provisions addressing precinct officer staffing in vote centers, notice to school districts when schools are used as voting centers, absentee ballot replacement when a ballot is not received, retention and disposal timelines for election-related video surveillance, permanent voting assistance certifications, write-in candidate deadlines and posting restrictions, candidate filing details, witness requirements, public posting of candidate information, felony voting language, and school district closure rules for voting locations. Members discussed the school-related provision, the handling of mail-in ballots, and a committee-substitute change removing credit cards and debit cards as acceptable voter ID. Supportive comments emphasized election integrity and the collaborative drafting process. The committee then voted to report HB 684 favorably. The committee next considered House Bill 699, sponsored by Representative DJ Johnson, which would add a pre-certification verification process for candidate filings. Johnson said the bill was intended to prevent ineligible candidates from appearing on the ballot by requiring election officials to verify that a candidate’s residence is in the correct jurisdiction and, in partisan races, that the candidate is registered with the party sought, with appeals going to circuit court. He argued the current system relies on costly legal challenges after filing errors occur. During discussion, Representative Hancock voted no, saying the bill would create an unnecessary administrative burden and that filing paperwork should remain a basic responsibility of candidates, while other members voted yes. The committee ultimately reported HB 699 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, this came about because when we went with, you know, permanent absentee ballot list, there
• </c> with uh you know permanent absentee with uh you know permanent absentee ballot ballot ballot list
• </c><01:01:24.359><c> vote</c> person's absentee vote person's absentee vote and<01:01:27.680><c> it's
• </c> vote um which was about 95% of absentee vote um which was about 95% of absentee ballots<01:03:41.480
• </c> voters instead of mailing an absentee voters instead of mailing an absentee application<01:13:30.400

Bills: HF484 , HF483 , HF1447 , HF1496 , HF554

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice

Transcript Highlights:

• This provides specificity on the procedure used for processing absentee ballots.
• of absentee and early voting. voting. voting.
• </c> of absentee ballots and agents. of absentee ballots and agents.
• </c> procedure used for processing absentee procedure used for processing absentee ballots. ballots.
• </c><00:42:57.680><c> voting</c> intent to administer absentee voting intent to administer absentee voting

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• This offers flexibilities and cost savings to cities while preserving access to absentee voting close
• </c><00:28:55.760><c> Um</c><00:28:55.880><c> this</c> 18 days of absentee voting.
• Um this 18 days of absentee voting.
• </c><00:29:40.120><c> voting</c> to be used to administer absentee voting to be used to administer absentee
• </c><00:29:48.400><c> voting</c> change is that online absentee voting change is that online absentee

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• And then moving ahead to row six, this is a section related to absentee ballot access to absentee ballot
• </c> this is a section related to absentee this is a section related to absentee ball<00:24:48.880><c
• ><c> ballot</c> ball um access to absentee ballot ball um access to absentee ballot application<00:24
• The absentee ballot, Madam Chair, is being removed. That was being removed.
• The absentee ballot, six?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> preventing chronic absenteeism. preventing chronic absenteeism. recognize<01:20:27.760><c> the</
• Chronic absenteeism is defined.
• This is just chronic absenteeism.
• Chronic absenteeism is a couple.
• </c> on the prevention of chronic absenteeism on the prevention of chronic absenteeism and<01:25:51.120