Transcript Highlights:

• </c> mothers in my district who use absentee mothers in my district who use absentee ballots,<01:03:05.400
• </c> generation who need those absentee generation who need those absentee ballots<01:03:12.240><c> to
• </c> in Maryland receiving these absentee in Maryland receiving these absentee ballots. ballots. ballots
• </c><01:05:35.840><c> balloting</c> we have expanded absentee balloting we have expanded absentee balloting
• We don't oppose absentee ballots.

Transcript Highlights:

• choose to vote in their home state... registering to vote and then also requesting how to request absentee
• institutions provide resources to help students who are registered in another state to apply for absentee
• So many states across the country have online voter registration and/or online absentee applications.
• a website address be sufficient to furnish a student with both a voter registration form and the absentee
• bill require the post-secondary institution to provide the form, both the registration form and absentee

Bills: HF2185 , HF1849 , HF3719 , HF3721 , HF3845 , HF3720

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: flag display, residential property rights, homeowners association, HOA, covenants, restrictive covenant, deed restriction, subdivision regulation, local ordinance, rental agreement, property rights, patriotic display, United States flag, Minnesota flag, POW/MIA flag, military flags, armed forces flag, Blue Star flag, Gold Star flag, common interest community

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> health can lead to increased absenteeism health can lead to increased absenteeism a<00:01:28.920
• </c><00:01:34.280><c> lower</c> AB academic um or um absenteeism lower AB academic um or um absenteeism
• Another serious but often misunderstood impact of this crisis is chronic absenteeism.
• </c> know we don't even have an absentee know we don't even have an absentee problem<00:45:40.800><c>
• Absenteeism has increased.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> you</c> absenteeism um you absenteeism um you know<01:22:44.120><c> we</c><01:22:44.800><c> understand
• He also said that around absenteeism, there are important conversations occurring right now.
• He said some of these are cross-cutting, like absenteeism work.
• He said the nature of positions, especially when talking about something like absenteeism, means many
• He said some of these are cross-cutting, like absenteeism work.

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It replaces that with a measure of chronic absenteeism.
• It replaces that with a measure of chronic absenteeism.
• c> was</c><00:31:54.960><c> discussed</c> the chronic absenteeism was discussed the chronic absenteeism
• .<00:32:02.040><c> Um</c> absenteeism.
• Um absenteeism.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:41:09.479><c> ballots</c> states allow no excuse absentee ballots states allow no excuse absentee
• absentee ballot abuse, for a fraud rate of 0.0000041 percent.
• </c> oregonians cast 50 million absentee oregonians cast 50 million absentee ballots<03:41:55.560><c>
• </c><03:42:19.120><c> ballot</c> to have a voter commit absentee ballot to have a voter commit absentee
• Right now, absentee voting is available to all who need it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dear Chairman, Climeper, early voting and absentee voting information can be found on the Secretary of
• , with 123,409 of those being voters who are enrolled in a program to receive absentee ballots as part
• Once early voting started, the number of absentee ballots received each day was included in the early
• Early voting, absentee, and election day votes are counted on election day.
• Early voting, absentee, and election day votes are counted on election day.'

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12, 2026, and focused primarily on Senate Bill 407, a congressional redistricting proposal, with Senate Bill 121 also scheduled for later. The chair explained the committee would first take up SB 407, consider amendments, then hear public testimony, and would not take up SB 116 or SB 130. Two amendment sets were adopted on SB 407: one technical set adjusting dates to align with the upcoming election cycle, and another updating the map in the bill. Committee members and the bill sponsor described the proposal as a 4-2 congressional map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s CalA ruling, preserve traditional redistricting criteria, and avoid using race as the basis for district lines. Supporters of SB 407 argued the map was compact, contiguous, kept parishes and cities together, and created two opportunity districts without racial predominance. Several senators said the map better reflected Louisiana’s political and demographic realities and could withstand legal challenge under the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment. Testimony in support also emphasized fairness, representation, and the idea that the state should not move to a 5-1 map. Some speakers, including former legislators and community advocates, said the state should maintain or preserve two districts where Black voters and Democratic voters could elect candidates of choice. Opponents of the broader redistricting effort criticized the process as rushed and confusing, especially because early voting had already begun and the Secretary of State was not present to answer questions. Some speakers said the legislature had not been properly involved in the election suspension process and raised concerns about whether votes already cast would count if maps changed. Others argued the proposed changes were an attempt to dilute political power and disenfranchise voters, particularly Black, poor, and queer communities. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many states are tackling the issue of chronic absenteeism and truancy.
• What is the school, not the district, but the school that is doing the best in improving chronic absenteeism
• Ed Allies did a lot of research on chronic absenteeism. I've gone to several education conferences.
• The number one issue in education right now is chronic absenteeism.
• On chronic absenteeism. They told me, "Well, we think we're going to hire four."

Transcript Highlights:

• absentee-ballot abuse, for a fraud rate of 0.000004%?
• Right now, absentee voting is available to all who need it.
• </c><03:48:52.560><c> ballot</c> States permit no excuse absentee ballot States permit no excuse absentee
• know that our existing absentee ballot know that our existing absentee ballot process<03:49:19.399><c
• </c> Bill 288 an act requiring that absentee Bill 288 an act requiring that absentee ballots<03:56:42.040

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chronic absenteeism has surged since truancy was decriminalized in 2015, leaving schools without the
• Chronic absenteeism is often a red flag for deeper issues.
• stay on track, parents remain engaged, and schools have the tools they need to address chronic absenteeism
• Absenteeism is a problem. It affects my funding; it affects my basic allowance every day.
• place, that the attendance rate hovered at around 95%. 65% leading up to the pandemic, the chronic absenteeism

Bills: HB2947 , HB3276 , HB3513

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• wouldn't be run through, and we're already capable with the election equipment to be able to run absentee
• There's been same day registration states that have had absentee ballots.
• ><c> ballots</c><00:04:37.840><c> through</c><00:04:38.560><c> at</c><00:04:38.880><c> a</c> abs absentee
• ballots through at a abs absentee ballots through at a different<00:04:39.600><c> time.
• </c> states that have had absentee ballots. states that have had absentee ballots.

Transcript Highlights:

• Understanding the why behind student absenteeism is deeply complex.
• We also know that chronic absenteeism is directly linked to the school-to-prison pipeline.
• We know chronic absenteeism has been an issue for a long time.
• They have an FAQ from 2019 about chronic absenteeism, and yet still, nothing until we have to give them
• Just thank you for your work and advocacy for chronic absenteeism and truancy as well.

Bills: HF1966 , HF54 , HF2043 , HF1171 , HF2741

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Call the absentees: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Caballero, Hurtado, Jones, Limon, Niello, Ochoa Bogh
• Call the absentees: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Daly, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Limon, Niello, Padilla,
• Call the absentees: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Daly, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Limon, Niello, Padilla,
• Call the absentees: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Daly, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Limon, Niello, Padilla,
• On the absentees: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Choi, Grove, Hurtado, Limon, Niello, Padilla, Perez.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> have a 27% average chronic absenteeism have a 27% average chronic absenteeism rate.<00:58:33.520
• </c> meeting the established uh absenteeism meeting the established uh absenteeism rates.<00:58:56.640
• , absenteeism, absenteeism, including<01:05:04.319><c> but</c><01:05:04.559><c> not</c><01:05:04.799>
• ,</c> consequences of absenteeism, consequences of absenteeism, partnering<01:05:14.880><c> with</c><
• </c> sooner to prevent the absentee sooner to prevent the absentee absenteeism<01:10:22.239><c> rate<

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Up next is House Bill 930, which is an act relating to addressing and preventing chronic absenteeism.
• </c> efforts to prevent chronic absenteeism efforts to prevent chronic absenteeism can<01:06:32.760><
• </c> policy related to chronic absenteeism policy related to chronic absenteeism may<01:06:52.720><c>
• It is a brilliant attempt at reducing truancy and focusing on chronic absenteeism.
• ,</c><01:12:16.640><c> specifically</c><01:12:17.720><c> as</c> of absenteeism, specifically as of absenteeism

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, are we getting into absenteeism? Same thing with disability.
• Also, are we getting into absenteeism? Same thing with disability.
• You would look at absenteeism, and if you saw high numbers and...
• ><c> if</c><00:16:37.560><c> that's</c><00:16:37.880><c> the</c> absenteeism.
• And so, if that's the absenteeism.

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 751 reviewed amendment 2026-1904H page by page, focusing on open enrollment rules, capacity definitions, statewide enrollment limits, denial criteria, transportation, and funding. Members discussed clarifying that districts may set capacity at zero if they truly have no room, creating a statewide enrollment cap of 500 that can increase by 25% if it reaches 90% utilization, and exempting seats already used by open enrollment students before October 1, 2026. They also discussed how the Department of Education would allocate seats through rulemaking, while local districts would still set capacity, with grandfathered seats preserved where districts already allow open enrollment. A substantial portion of the meeting centered on when districts may deny open enrollment applications. The amendment would allow denials for reasons such as chronic absenteeism or disciplinary history, while requiring districts to consider whether those issues are tied to disability, McKinney-Vento status, foster care, or bullying. Members emphasized that such factors are to be considered, not used as the sole basis for rejection, and noted that the bill separately prohibits receiving schools from accepting or rejecting applicants based on pupil needs, special education needs, disability, aptitude, or athletic achievement. There was also discussion of whether interdistrict transfers should count toward open enrollment capacity, with a suggestion that a carve-out may be needed. The committee also reviewed provisions on program-specific capacity, continuous enrollment, and transportation. It was explained that capacity can apply to a school, grade, program, or class, including CTE programs, and that students may be denied if a specific program is full or if they do not meet prerequisites. The group clarified that open enrollment pupils would maintain continuous enrollment without reapplying, though there was concern about how that would work if district capacity changes over time. Transportation would generally be the parent’s responsibility unless required by an IEP or 504 plan, though students may use an existing bus route if seats are available and the receiving district allows it. On funding, the committee noted that the amendment changes the earlier HB 751 approach and instead ties open enrollment funding to base adequacy, differentiated aid, and an additional grant modeled on charter school funding, with dates removed at the department’s request. Members also raised concerns about how open enrollment would interact with existing tuition agreements and whether districts could use the new pathway to alter or pressure those arrangements. Department staff said districts would still be required to maintain a school of record and provide an adequate education free of charge outside the open enrollment program, and that if open enrollment enrollment became unusually large relative to district adequacy enrollment, the issue could be brought to the state board. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I really think we looked at was chronic absenteeism.
• So chronic absenteeism, I think, was more of the attendance questions that were sent over.
• The chronic absenteeism? Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
• Chronic absenteeism? Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
• of their chronic absenteeism and how can we be more proactive in finding out the why?

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then approved Representative Bentley’s appointment to the Child Maltreatment Oversight Committee. Members then received the Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review annual report, which covered unexpected child deaths in 2023. Reviewers said 170 non-natural deaths were identified, but 22 could not be reviewed because of criminal investigations, prosecutions, or missing records. Of the 148 reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 were undetermined causes, including sudden unexpected infant death. Members asked how the report’s recommendations could be used, and presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies, nonprofits, and others; they also noted that child abuse prevention grant applications are being shaped by the report’s recommendations and offered to share the RFP with the committee. A question about suicide and homicide data by age was answered by pointing members to the age breakdown in the report, with most of those deaths concentrated among 15- to 17-year-olds. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was meant to confront data on juvenile incarceration and the cost of the system, while Senator Irvin, Judge Troy Braswell, Judge Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described years of reform efforts built around validated risk assessments, diversion, and community-based services. They said Arkansas adopted tools such as SAVRY, the MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening to individualize juvenile court responses, and they emphasized that the goal is to keep children at home and in their communities when safe to do so. Members discussed the need for more mental health and substance-abuse services, better school collaboration, and the role of school safety dashboards and FINS/truancy cases in identifying problems earlier. Judges and staff said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, though they noted data gaps in some counties and the need for better reporting. They also stressed that some serious offenses still require detention or commitment, and that judges must balance public safety with rehabilitation. Representative Barnes and others asked whether the numbers might be worse without judicial discretion and community programs, and the presenters agreed that individualized decision-making and graduated sanctions matter. Representative Inatt asked about tracking youth with disabilities, and the presenters said that specific diagnoses are not currently tracked but that national court data efforts may soon add behavioral-health data points. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided detailed data on DYS commitments, secure and community-based placements, detention-center use, demographics, offense levels, average length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, costs, and interagency coordination. He said commitments fell sharply during COVID, have since risen and then begun to decline, and that the system is working to reduce detention use, improve education and treatment, and expand community-based providers statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> by an official to administer absentee by an official to administer absentee voting<01:16:31.199>
• </c> vote with their dead mother's absentee vote with their dead mother's absentee ballot<01:27:45.280
• ><c> the</c><02:06:05.599><c> the</c> next for absentee voting, the the next for absentee voting, the
• County with their absentee materials.
• </c> the absentee ballot envelope. the absentee ballot envelope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Smith voted I via absentee. Vice Chair Pendergraft, I. Mr. Vice Chair, 7 I.
• Representative Smith voted I via absentee. absentee. absentee.

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• He's on campus there, and he votes absentee to the state where he actually resides.
• </c><00:03:13.640><c> to</c><00:03:13.760><c> the</c> there, and he votes absentee to the there, and
• What prevents students who are studying in New Hampshire from using absentee ballots?
• What What prevents use absentee ballots.
• </c> Hampshire from using absentee ballots? Hampshire from using absentee ballots?

Committee: House Election Law