Transcript Highlights:

• aye vote.
• your aye vote.
• Vote and I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you, Senator.
• With that, I urge an aye vote. Thank you, Senator.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• on by all electors in the school district, which aligns with current statute.
• rather than the electors of the entire school district.
• district rather than the electors of the entire school district.
• No vote on the amendment D1.
• We're going to try to get additional information, but for now I'm asking for a no vote.

Summary: The Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee began with a clarification about a prior budget bill affecting Running Start, emphasizing that it would reduce per-student funding to colleges but would not reduce student participation in the program. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6277, which would promote educational stability for children of military families by easing enrollment rules, extending proof-of-residency deadlines to 90 days, allowing conditional enrollment before arrival, and requiring timely transfer and implementation of IEPs and 504 plans. Support came from the bill sponsor, students, school psychologists, military family advocates, and veterans groups, while school district representatives raised concerns about accelerated special education timelines and related costs. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on a first packet of bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5992 creating a youth development fund account and prioritizing tribal and American Indian/Alaska Native youth, and advanced the bill to Rules. It passed Senate Bill 6078 on child care provider supports, advanced Senate Bill 6089 on P20W education data with a substitute that added stakeholder intent language, limited nonprofit authority, and FERPA protections, and adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5918 increasing school materials, supplies, and operating costs funding, then sent it to Ways and Means. In the second packet, the committee considered Senate Bill 5861 on school board director districts, but rejected an amendment that would have required candidates to be elected only by voters in their director district rather than at large. It then adopted a substitute and advanced the bill. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 6118 requiring cardiac emergency response plans in schools, with a substitute making implementation contingent on state funding; Senate Bill 6065 allowing certain financially distressed districts to use transportation vehicle funds under limited conditions; and Senate Bill 6052 directing development of a statewide digital transcript exchange system, which was sent to Ways and Means. The meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled executive action was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• your aye vote.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Senator.
• your aye vote.
• With that, I urge an aye vote. Thank you, Senator.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through appointments, resolutions, and bills. Governor’s appointments for Dina Eltawasi as Caltrans Director, Allison Salt Install to the Court Reporters Board, Olivia May Assumption to the California Commission on Disability Access, and William Adams to the California Exposition and State Fair Board were presented and later confirmed after roll calls and lifting of calls. The chamber also took up several third-reading measures and resolutions, including SCR 143 honoring Hmong and Laotian special guerrilla unit veterans, SR 96 recognizing National County Government Month, SB 1347 clarifying stocking of albuterol in public schools, SB 977 requiring chain restaurants to offer at least one healthier children’s meal, SB 1234 requiring fentanyl testing when juvenile dependency drug testing is ordered, SCR 161 designating Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, SR 101 replacing Senator Jones on the Rules Committee with Senator Ochoa Bogh, SB 1111 addressing liability for unauthorized AI-generated digital replicas, and SCR 128 establishing High School Voter Education Weeks. Each of these measures was presented by the author, generally received supportive remarks, and passed by roll call, with calls later lifted and the votes confirmed. During debate, Senator Umberg emphasized the long-overdue recognition of Hmong and Laotian veterans who served in covert missions during the Vietnam era, and Senator Archuleta echoed that tribute on behalf of the Military and Veterans Committee. Senator Cortese and Senator McGuire spoke in support of SR 96, highlighting the role of counties in delivering public services and warning about the impact of federal cuts on health and human services. Senator Niello described SB 1347 as a cleanup measure extending existing albuterol stocking authority to all public schools, including preschool. Senator Weber Pearson argued SB 977 would improve children’s nutrition options at chain restaurants, while Senator Alvarado-Gil said SB 1234 would help keep fentanyl out of homes by ensuring court-ordered drug testing includes fentanyl. Senator Weber Pearson also presented SCR 161 on maternal mental health, citing high rates of pregnancy-related depression and anxiety and barriers to care. Senator Ashby presented SR 101 and SB 1111, the latter aimed at unauthorized AI-generated voice and likeness replicas, and Senator Pérez presented SCR 128 to encourage voter education for high school students. After the floor actions, the Senate adopted the consent calendar, with Senator Cervantes removing SB 1381 from consent. Committee announcements followed, including upcoming Budget Subcommittee meetings. The session concluded with Senator Wiener’s adjournment in memory of disability rights activist Alice Wong, whose advocacy and writing were remembered by the chamber. The Senate announced its next floor session for Monday, May 4, 2026, at 2 p.m., and then recessed until later that afternoon for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair I urge an aye vote. Thank you. Thank you.
• We urge you to vote no on SB 414. Thank you. Thank you.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.
• you want to let's do votes first Okay, starting with the consent calendar.
• I will call the vote. Thank you. Thank you. Lowenthal aye. Patel aye.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• How to pre-register to vote.
• I call for a vote all in favor. Opposed. And I call for a vote all in favor.
• I'd like to look at previous votes of the past and those who have voted on this bill and the author of
• I'm sorry, no, we're not voting, sorry. Okay, backing up, Macedo, not voting? I thought we had.
• The electorate can vote yes or they can vote no. It's not a new concept.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s all they get to vote on. They don’t get to vote on you.
• Can I vote that way or not?
• voted in person.
• place in voting.
• Is there a close vote?

Committees: House Elections , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• To clarify. how electoral votes are cast and counted.
• And one key change they made was moving the Electoral College. his meeting date to the first Tuesday
• compliance with federal law before federal law changed and so senator 688 fixes this by moving our electors
• It will still be our electors, we choose, speaking for the people of Texas and I yield. Thank you.
• Thank you, Senator, and this bill did was to receive a bipartisan vote last session in the Senate, came

Bills: SB18 , SB19 , SB666 , SB688 , SB707 , SB888 , SB 18 , SB 19

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Is everyone voted? &gt;&gt; Open<00:07:54.080><c> machine.
• Madam clerk, if you favor the resolutions, vote I. If you're opposed, vote nay. Is everyone voted?
• It requires that, on the petition of 20% of the electorate in the proposed annexation area, a vote or
• >> If that one elector makes up 20% of the electorate and that individual petitions for an election,
• </c> under this bill would be the city votes under this bill would be the city votes to<00:26:15.039>

Transcript Highlights:

• but it's not one vote.
• </c> ballot on Election Day and cast my vote ballot on Election Day and cast my vote vote<01:08:55.719
• get one vote?
• Ranked-choice voting is always one person, one vote because everyone has a vote that counts in every
• </c> one vote because everyone has a vote one vote because everyone has a vote that<01:20:09.600><c>

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• preferential voting.
• And when people go into that voting booth and vote for the person with the most votes, they're expecting
• 14% of the vote.
• It's why voting methods are sort of independent of the voting process.
• Ranked-choice voting is a valuable electoral tool.

Bills: HB376 , HB817 , HB 1297 , HB1478 , HB1661 , HB1783

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: HB 817, Texas Election Code, majority vote, majority threshold, ranked-choice voting, preferential voting, instant runoff voting, vote reassignment, ballot ranking, election administration, public office election, Election Code Section 2.0215, runoff elections, plurality vs majority, voting systems, education reform, budget allocation, teacher retention, student performance, accountability measures

Transcript Highlights:

• So a bond has to be voted in by the electors, but the operating the currently the three mills can be
• What my organization would support is a vote on the three or five mills done by the electors, not just
• Does not require a vote<01:31:25.840><c> of</c><01:31:26.000><c> the</c><01:31:26.159><c> electors.
• </c><01:31:27.120><c> What</c><01:31:27.440><c> my</c> vote of the electors.
• What my vote of the electors.

Bills: SF0082

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• another vote in the same election.
• My understanding is, for example, if you vote for president in the state of Oklahoma and you voted for
• Do you care to vote, but There we go. But did convict them and agree that, please declare the vote.
• electors that fill those open spots take the same oath as all the other electors.
• With all present, voting 5 to 1. The bill does pass.

Bills: SB1491 , SB1581 , SB1286 , SB1451

Committee: House Elections and Ethics

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns? Aye. Representative Stearns votes aye.
• Waters votes aye. Do not pass. Representative Waters votes. Thank you.
• Representative Farvar votes aye. Representative Farvar votes aye.
• I'm going to vote yes.
• Vote yes, do-do-do-do-do-do-do, vote yes, do-do-do-do-vote yes for the Washington State Shark Bill.

Summary: The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee met in executive session on policy cutoff day and briefed eight bills: HB 2514 creating a work group for the Global War on Terror Memorial; HB 2352 aligning the state conflict-of-interest threshold with the 1% municipal threshold; HB 2475 on language access implementation; HB 2206 on uniformed and overseas voting; HJR 4211 to remove directional limits on regular legislative sessions; HB 2447 naming the bluntnose sixgill shark the state shark; HB 2661 creating a Public Records Act modernization task force/work group; and HB 2572 on voting services for tribal members, overseas and service voters, and voters with disabilities. Members also asked about missing fiscal notes, including on HB 2475, and the chair noted they would try to move those along. The committee then took action on the bills. HB 2514 and HB 2352 were reported out with due pass recommendations, with HB 2352 receiving a 6-1 vote. HB 2475 was amended with Representative Mena’s amendment to require agencies to report how they would implement Office of Equity guidelines, then reported out 4-3. HB 2206 saw several amendments withdrawn or adopted: amendments narrowing the covered voter definition and clarifying overseas voter language were debated, with some proposals rejected and others adopted, and the bill was ultimately reported out 4-3. HJR 4211, which would amend the constitution to eliminate directional limits on regular sessions, was reported out 5-2. The remaining bills also advanced. HB 2447, designating the bluntnose sixgill shark as the state shark, passed unanimously after lighthearted support from members. HB 2661 was amended by a striking amendment shifting the task force concept to JLARC review and a possible JLARC work group, with remote meetings and a 2027 report deadline, then reported out unanimously. HB 2572, which would expand voting access for tribal members, overseas and service voters, and voters with disabilities, was reported out 4-3; supporters emphasized improved participation and access, while opponents raised concerns about the electronic ballot portal and security. The chair closed by thanking members and staff and noted the committee would return for an 8 a.m. hearing the following Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Staires, do you care to vote? Representative Staires, do you care to vote?
• Please declare the vote. Seeing a vote of five aye and one nay, I declare your bill to have passed.
• Declare the vote? Seeing a vote of five aye, one nay, I declare your bill to have passed.
• Seeing none, please open the queue for a vote. Vote? Declare the vote. Declare the vote.
• electors that fill those open spots take the same oath as all the other electors.

Bills: SB1491 , SB1581 , SB1286 , SB1451

Committee: House Elections and Ethics

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:

• Chairman, I'm going to abstain from voting because my law firm does work for the parent of LexisNexis
• So we have a letter from the Virginia Electoral Board. I'm going to...
• So the Virginia Electoral Board Association, I think we have some people here from the VBA.
• So I think probably what we need to do, do you guys, has anybody have any questions for the Electoral
• When you talk about assisting voters, voters asking for voting...

Transcript Highlights:

• And in 2020, as a Vermont Electoral College elector, Terry Anderson appeared live on national television
• :05:17.880><c> College</c> as a Vermont Electoral College as a Vermont Electoral College elector,<00:
• </c> delegation cast its votes for Joe Biden. delegation cast its votes for Joe Biden.
• The question is shall record your votes.
• Members, please listen to the results of your vote. Those voting yes, 133. Those voting no, two.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ballots through through the voting ballots through through the voting machine?
• I mean, everyone that's voted as an elector of the county, they're just saying two have to be different
• that's voted as an elector<00:37:28.000><c> of</c><00:37:28.160><c> the</c><00:37:28.320><c> county.
• </c> we ever took a vote on anything, did we? we ever took a vote on anything, did we?
• </c> &gt;&gt; Well, we didn't vote on it. &gt;&gt; Well, we didn't vote on it.

Bills: HB0085 , HB0086

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we think about voting rights of not. white supremacy in the electoral process.
• All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote.
• All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote.
• All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote.
• All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• , early voting, was longer than if they went to the polls to vote.
• When we vote in the November election, we vote for a list, a slate of electors for a person who's running
• We do actually vote for a slate of electors then.
• When we vote in the November election, we vote for a list, a slate of electors for a person who's running
• We do actually vote for a slate of electors then.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted to pass House Bill 2125, which drew some concern from Rep. Woods about subpoena power for the Secretary of State, and House Bill 1812, which passed unanimously. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 2387 and 2480, both aimed at reinstating Missouri’s presidential preference primary and adjusting absentee voting rules. Sponsors Rep. Veit and Rep. Banderman argued the primary would increase participation, make Missouri more relevant in presidential politics, and better reflect voter preferences, while also proposing changes to the in-person absentee window to reduce overlap with April elections and encourage in-person voting. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Republican Party, the Missouri Democratic Party, the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, ACLU Missouri, Missouri Farm Bureau, and several individuals. Supporters emphasized broader voter participation, the value of a primary over caucuses, and the need to make Missouri’s presidential process more accessible and visible. Party representatives said they were willing to work on binding language so primary results would inform or bind delegate selection, and Democrats said their rules already bind delegates to primary results. Several members said they would be more comfortable supporting the bills if the primary were made binding by statute and if the primary were closed to party members only. Opposition focused on the fiscal cost, the nonbinding nature of the primary as written, and concerns that the bill could mislead voters into thinking they were directly electing a nominee when delegates are still chosen through caucus/convention processes. Witnesses and clerks also objected to shrinking the excused in-person absentee period from six weeks to three, warning it could create confusion and burden election offices. The committee heard no final vote on HB 2387 or HB 2480 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite these efforts to tilt the electoral playing field, in 2024, Maduro lost the popular vote to an
• . voting. voting.
• </c> voting process. voting process.
• </c> to vote aren't being allowed to vote." to vote aren't being allowed to vote."
• /c><01:12:11.280><c> and</c> force you to vote or not to vote, and force you to vote or not to vote,

Committee: Senate Elections