Transcript Highlights:

• or audits.
• audits.
• Was it a forensic audit?
• Okay, it was a process audit.
• And your process audit, you audited internally or was it someone outside the school district?

Bills: HB1540, HB3837, HB5571, SB370, SB2425

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important that we have these auditing systems in place.
• SB 505 would provide a means to audit elections based on targeted issues.
• . ...difficult for the public to get these records to do these offline audits.
• Great that you've got risk-limiting audits, but risk-limiting audits typically look forward, or I'm sorry
• The list of people, The list of people is far too long who can request these audits.

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills. SB 447 would let the City of Mission in Hidalgo County permanently move its municipal elections from May to the uniform November election date if it chooses. The bill was described as permissive and intended to increase turnout and reduce costs. Mission’s mayor testified in support, saying voters had already approved the change by a wide margin in a charter amendment election. The bill was left pending after no objection. SB 2217 focused on standardizing election data reporting and reconciliation across counties to improve transparency and comparability. Testimony was generally supportive of the goal, but Dr. Laura Presley and others flagged technical issues, including a discrepancy between a three-ballot mismatch threshold in existing law and a 1% threshold in part of the bill, plus a definition issue involving central accumulators. Supporters said consistent auditing and reconciliation would help election integrity, while the bill was also left pending. The committee then took up SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period that would combine early voting and Election Day into one uninterrupted process, with precinct consolidation and other changes. Supporters said it could simplify administration, reduce equipment changes, and improve security by using one set of machines. Opponents and neutral witnesses raised concerns about cost, staffing, ballot security, reporting changes, weekend voting, and whether the bill was ready for implementation; several urged a pilot or study instead. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. SB 505 would create a process for election workers, candidates, party officials, and measure proponents or opponents to request explanations of election irregularities, with escalation to the Secretary of State for audit or enforcement if responses were unsatisfactory. Supporters said it would provide a way to resolve irregularities and restore confidence, while opponents argued it was too broad, lacked guardrails against abuse, and could be used by partisan actors to pressure counties. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 311 would expand Texas’s online voter registration system to first-time registrants and others, with supporters citing efficiency, lower costs, and broader access, and opponents raising concerns about signature verification and implementation details. Testimony was cut short because of the session deadline, and the bill had not been disposed of in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important that we have these auditing systems in place.
• SB 505 would provide a means to audit elections based on targeted issues.
• Great that you've got risk-limiting audits, but risk-limiting audits typically look backwards or, I'm
• The list of people is far too long who can request these audits. A candidate can do.
• The legislation also sets clear deadlines for responding to audit findings, ensuring that identified

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Summary: The House Committee on Elections met with a quorum present and heard several election-related bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The first measure, SB 447, would allow the City of Mission to move its municipal elections from May to November on a one-time, permanent basis. Supporters, including Mission’s mayor, said voters had already approved the change by a wide margin and argued it would improve turnout and reduce costs. The bill was left pending after no objection. The committee then heard SB 2217, which was described as a transparency measure to standardize election data reporting and reconciliation across counties. Testimony focused on a technical issue involving discrepancy thresholds for electronic voting system reconciliation, with one witness urging the bill be aligned with existing law’s “more than 3” standard rather than a 1% threshold, and another suggesting a definition fix. The bill was left pending. Members also heard SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period by combining early voting and election day into one uninterrupted period, with a committee substitute making it a pilot and permissive. Supporters said it could simplify administration and improve security, while opponents warned it would increase costs, require more staffing and equipment, delay results, and create logistical problems for counties. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 505 would let certain election stakeholders request explanations of irregularities from election officials and, if unresolved, escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for audit or possible conservatorship. Supporters framed it as a tool for accountability and transparency, while opponents called it overly broad and vulnerable to abuse. The bill was left pending. The committee also took up HB 311, which would expand online voter registration to first-time registrants and direct state agencies to develop a pathway for Texans without a driver’s license to register online. Supporters argued it would modernize the process, reduce errors, and save money, while opponents said first-time applicants still need a wet signature and raised concerns about signature verification and implementation. Due to the late hour and floor deadline, testimony was cut off, the names of remaining witnesses were read into the record, and the bill was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Bills: HCR35, HB440, HB515, HB543, HB614, HB1010, HB1039, HB1088, HB1122, HB1179, HB1200

Keywords: tax delinquency, property sale, rehabilitation, Louisiana State Law Institute, legislation, homestead exemption, property tax, parish governance, Louisiana Constitution, voter approval, adjudicated property, real estate, political subdivisions, property sales, government authority, residential lease, tax credit, property valuation, Louisiana constitution, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• We pass our DOT safety audits, we have a formal safety plan in place, we even... employ a full-time mechanic

Bills: SB 30, SB 517, SB 1313, SB 1314, SB 1316, SB 1541, SB 1698, SB 1845, SB 1860, SB 2420, SB 2429

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tennessee's recent audit found that PBMs reimbursed their own affiliated owned pharmacies 16,000% more

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Bills: HB3880, HB3263, HB2970

Keywords: Oklahoma Today Magazine, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism promotion, advertising sales, commission pay, employee bonus, sales commission, digital publication, print publication, sponsorships, bulk subscriptions, newsstand sales, ancillary products, public records, procurement exemption, administrative procedures exemption, tourism magazine, revenue sharing, executive director, state agency compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Code and the Local Government Code to adjust the expenditure thresholds that trigger competitive procurement
• doing the following: It increases the threshold for school district contracts requiring competitive procurement
• House Bill 1998 allows local governmental entities greater flexibility and efficiency in their procurement
• We agree that it definitely moves things forward. board with efficiency and flexibility in our procurement
• It would reduce the cost for advertising for those procurements. that are within that range, and it would

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Procurement decisions by state and local agencies affect businesses across the state, forcing them to
• For example, government entities account for about half ... ...half of all the concrete procured in the
• The mayor informed us that his city had not had an independent audit in several years.
• Audits. This was a big issue in Austin for a while. They don't audit. What am I missing?
• Did you say there's a requirement to audit but they're not auditing?

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maL_8UyKA7k, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJPHHQCMM0A, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhBrzC15hOg, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMmx8SNe7T0, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb0oVLYsVvY, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vONJxZtB1NI, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNwZ10xb8xI, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSs1JHTqEEY, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnmVgtU_yS8, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCe14LJJSJY, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S3UyJdECkM, 2026-07-02T01:22:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, INVESTIGATE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDIT NOS. 19-12 AND 21-01 Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair Members Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. David A. Tarnas Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita Rep. Amy A. Perruso Rep. Val Okimoto, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47