Bills: HB3077, HJR2, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: alcohol, taxation, reporting requirements, sales, distribution, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment, water fund, Texas water supply, state revenue, infrastructure, HJR 7, Texas Legislature, quorum, majority quorum, two-thirds quorum, legislative procedure

Bills: HB47

Keywords: HB 47, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem taxes, property tax, voter-approval tax rate, tax rate election, taxing unit, injunction, taxpayer rights, property owner, local government finance, tax refund, attorney's fees, court costs, voter-approved tax increase, tax reform, municipal taxes, county taxes, school district taxes, bond election

Transcript Highlights:

• jar, but the excess change should not be treated that way; the focus of the bill is to put it on a ballot
• would go on in your Amendment as to what would go on the<01:08:41.159><c> um</c><01:08:41.480><c> ballot
• </c><01:08:41.799><c> for</c><01:08:41.960><c> the</c><01:08:42.120><c> Constitutional</c> the um ballot
• </c><01:09:27.040><c> on</c><01:09:27.199><c> the</c> um and and put on the um and and put on the ballot
• ><c> U</c><01:09:30.040><c> Mr</c><01:09:30.279><c> chair</c><01:09:31.120><c> representative</c> ballot

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• Submitting your petition to be on the ballot, there have been times that incumbents have missed their
• opportunity to be back on the ballot again because they missed a technicality like this.
• It's almost like you're restricting ballot access over something...
• Restricting ballot access over something that really doesn't matter.
• It just makes sense because the independent wouldn't be on the ballot.

Bills: HB250

Keywords: HB250, Alabama Ethics Commission, statement of economic interests, financial disclosure, candidate ethics, campaign finance, candidate filing deadline, qualifying papers, declaration of candidacy, independent candidate, ballot access, election law, ethics reform, public officials, public employees, asset disclosure, income disclosure, real estate holdings, indebtedness disclosure, late filing penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, House Bill 766 relates to the ballot application requirements for the election

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and Members, House Bill 766 relates to the ballot application requirements for the election

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Transcript Highlights:

• ...for requiring a ballot to be cured, an absentee ballot.
• And what happens to that ballot if it's not cured?
• If you've got a different address, I know if you're sending a ballot, mail-in ballot, you've got a different
• But on the absentee ballot, all you have is a witness.
• I think that's a valid point that needs to be addressed in the ballot language, because the ballot language

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

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:

• Candidates and voters. 670 effort on hand-counted paper ballots.
• We have the voting system ballots.
• I said, well, we got a notice here that you request a mail-in ballot.
• You can go home and find that ballot and bring it. here or we can give you a provisional ballot and they
• It was mentioned, the issue about bail-in ballots.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• They hold on to that ballot.
• The voter who goes in person gets a ballot and leaves with the ballot? That's not permitted by law.
• Mexico banned mail-in balloting. Russia. Israel has been mail-in balloting.
• The amendment also cuts the cure period for provisional ballots from 10 to 6 days. Please.
• The amendment also cuts the cure period for provisional ballots from 10 to 6 days.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Bills: SB1491, SB1581, SB1286, SB1451

Keywords: presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, initiative petitions, signature gathering, protest period, grand jury, Oklahoma legislature, polling place, polling locations, voter access, county election board, precinct, municipal building, school building, school district, municipality, political subdivision

Bills: SB1491, SB1581, SB1286, SB1451

Keywords: presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, initiative petitions, signature gathering, protest period, grand jury, Oklahoma legislature, polling place, polling locations, voter access, county election board, precinct, municipal building, school building, school district, municipality, political subdivision

Summary: The Elections and Ethics Committee considered several election-related bills. Senate Bill 1451, with an untimely filed committee amendment, would allow the State Board of Elections to use existing printed voter registration cards before switching to new ones and would add a space on the card for voters who moved from another county or state so election officials can better update and cancel duplicate registrations. The Secretary of the State Election Board said the measure would codify existing interstate notification practices and help clean up voter rolls; the bill passed 5-1. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1286, which requires political subdivisions that host county election board elections to provide polling-place rooms at no cost. Supporters said the bill was a request from the Tulsa County Election Board and was intended to address the large share of polling places located in private buildings that can withdraw access on short notice. It passed 5-1. Senate Bill 1581 was approved 5-1 as well. It extends the time to gather signatures to impanel a grand jury from 45 to 90 days and adds a 10-day protest period for signature verification. Testimony indicated the change would align this process with other initiative petition timelines. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1491, which requires newly appointed presidential electors filling a vacancy to take the same oath as other electors; it passed 5-1. The meeting ended with thanks to the committee for its service for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this legislature continues to send ballot referrals causing two-page-long ballots for other issues
• My concerns are about putting it on the ballot, yet another ballot referral.
• So I don't want to see another ballot referral.
• So, and I'm also very concerned about adding yet another ballot initiative to our ballot, and I will
• lawsuit, or I'm sorry, statute, which we had a ballot measure, and now we're trying to fix that ballot

Bills: SB1012, SB1099, SB1234, SB1392, SB1489, SB1535, SB1570, SB1609, SB1627, SB1634, SB1661, SB1709, SB1723, SB1725, SB1743, SB1829, SCR1027, SCR1040, SCR1048

Keywords: concealed carry, firearms, restaurants, liquor licensing, public safety, defamation, private figure, public concern, statute of limitations, internet defamation, juvenile court, legal representation, appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, child welfare, election canvass, canvassing board, governing body, election inspection, election access

Bills: HR171, HCR49, HB632, HB1084, SB310, SB351, SB399

Keywords: HR171, House Resolution 171, M.J. Foster Promise Program, TOPS-Tech, TOPS Tech Award, Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, LCATCS, financial aid, scholarship, workforce development, career training, technical education, vocational education, postsecondary credential, associate degree, industry-based credential, high-demand jobs, high-wage occupations

Bills: HB97, HB455, HB97, HB455

Keywords: absentee ballot, voting, elections, voter registration, electoral process, defective affidavit, voting rights, HB455, Clarke County, coroner, coroner's office, county commission, local act, local legislation, mileage reimbursement, county vehicle, office expenses, operating expenses, retroactive ratification, remedial and curative

Transcript Highlights:

• deceased candidate is removed from the general ballot.
• And interestingly enough, he was not removed from the ballot.
• using that electronic ballot portal.
• She said ballot portal technology is an improvement to security.
• One thing I'd like to make clear: electronic ballot return already exists.

Bills: HB2356, HB2574, HB2572, HB2460, HJR4212, HB2631, HB2333, HB2462, HB2419, HB2176, HB2491

Keywords: homicide, public records, transparency, law enforcement, victim rights, election, ballot, candidates, deceased, voting law, voting access, military voters, overseas voters, Native American voters, disabled voters, election reform, accessibility, ballot measures, vacancies, elected offices

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2356 would let a homicide victim’s next of kin seek a court injunction to block disclosure of law enforcement records in homicide cases; the sponsor said it was intended to protect surviving children from graphic evidence being posted online, while open-government testimony opposed the bill as a secrecy measure that would reduce public accountability. HB 2460 and HJR 4212 would change vacancy-filling rules for partisan offices so the same-party requirement applies only when the former officeholder had declared a party preference; the sponsor said this would address vacancies involving no-party-preference officeholders and avoid delays or litigation. HB 2631 would extend the governor’s customer-service initiative, “Your Washington,” to three additional agencies through a pilot project; the sponsor and supporters said it would improve service delivery, while the Secretary of State’s office raised fiscal and autonomy concerns. HB 2574 would create a process for county auditors to handle the death of a candidate after filing or after a primary, including removing the name from ballots or not counting votes, which the sponsor said would save time and costs in cases where a candidate dies before the election. HB 2572 would require county auditors to meet regularly with tribal nations about election services and create an electronic ballot portal for certain voters, including tribal voters on reservations, military and overseas voters, and voters with disabilities; county auditors and the Secretary of State supported the tribal outreach and discussed security and implementation details for the portal. The committee then moved to executive session on five bills. For HB 2333, which addresses protections against political violence for elected officials, candidates, election officials, and criminal justice participants, the committee adopted amendment Omley 307 to allow campaign reports and contributions to use a P.O. box or ACP address, then passed the proposed substitute bill 4-3. HB 2462, concerning government authority to counter unpiloted aircraft systems, passed 5-2. HB 2419, which expands the Address Confidentiality Program to include administrative law judges and Office of Administrative Hearings employees, passed after adopting amendment Omley 305 to include the chief administrative law judge. HB 2176, exempting collaborative drug therapy agreements from PRA disclosure, passed 4-3. HB 2491, exempting personal information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for the digital experience platform from public disclosure, also passed 5-2. The committee adjourned after reporting all five bills out with do pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot ballot list<01:01:02.480><c> um</c><01:01:03.760><c> there</c><01:01:04.760><c> was</c><01:01
• Then when that ballot was returned, it was realized right away, hey, something's going on here.
• Then when that ballot was returned, it was realized right away, hey, something's going on here.
• Then when that ballot was returned, it was realized right away, hey, something's going on here.
• to voters instead of mailing an absentee application, then a ballot each election.

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

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

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Summary: The House convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pastor Kayla Garza of Stone Church in Yakima offered the opening prayer, asking for wisdom, patience, humility, and cooperation in public service. The Speaker approved the prior day’s minutes by consent and recognized guests in the chamber, including Roger Jacob and students and faculty from Wapato School District, who had been honored in House Resolution 4679, as well as a fourth-grade class from Log Church Christian School in Brewster. The Democratic caucus was announced immediately, and the Republican caucus was scheduled for five minutes later, with the House briefly at ease. Under the fourth order of business, the House agreed by consent to treat bills, memorials, and resolutions on the introduction sheet as first reading items and refer them to the designated committees. Under the eighth order, Senate Bill 6132 was re-referred from the Transportation Committee to the Rules Committee. No objections were raised to these actions. The House then adjourned by consent until 9:55 a.m. on Friday, February 27, the 47th legislative day.