Transcript Highlights:

• Are you okay with setting a precedent where duly elected statewide officials officials voted in by over
• Representative Martinez-Fisher, you and I have been... been re-elected by our constituents' body for
• So was the funding for the lottery removed during the election?
• Explain the amendment. slightly to instead of it just being an employee of the Elections Department,
• it will be the director of the Elections Department.

Bills: HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB2143, HJR2, HB147, HJR6, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, SB1

Keywords: career readiness, education reform, workforce training, public schools, financial aid, applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, mental health, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• Transparency builds faith in elections. Transparency builds faith in government.
• Transparency builds faith in elections.
• <00:27:37.840> an<00:27:38.159> election qualified from an election an election qualified
• from an election an election engineering<00:27:39.279> andor<00:27:39.919> election<00
• this bill expands our elections, this bill expands transparency<01:00:03.599> and<01:00:03.839

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Transparency builds faith in elections. Transparency builds faith in government.
• Transparency builds faith in elections.
• and influence elections while avoiding transparency,<00:46:55.599> but<00:46:55.920> still<
• The PASO standard has been upheld as a part of independent election spending subject to transparency
• spending subject to independent election spending subject to transparency<00:53:23.559> requirements

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Having a report passed out to you from the Transparency Foundation, an audit of California's 2022 election
• “Okay, so the Transparency Foundation has an agenda. The Transparency Foundation.
• ballots during elections.
• AB 1286, the Public Employment Transparency Act, will require an elected or appointed official to disclose
• It doesn't add to the transparency of our elections.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 930 updates and aligns election code with modern election processes and procedures.
• AB699 provides a smart, transparent fix.
• Local elections.
• But as a former elected official, when the $250 law came into place, it was unfair to local elected officials
• district elections would leave these voters with less ability to elect candidates of their choice.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most third world countries can get their election results by midnight on election day.
• I think that transparency foundation has an agenda. The Transparency Foundation, I love the name.
• , including local elections.
• . elections.
• But to the transparency of our elections, it does the exact opposite.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair of Election Laws.
• an election.
• I thank you for your time and your commitment to strengthening transparency in our elections.
• to an election in April.
• state elections.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House and Senate Election Laws committees held a hearing focused on campaign finance and several local election-related bills. Office of Campaign and Political Finance Director William Campbell testified in support of H. 848 and S. 515, saying the campaign finance law needs modernization and highlighting proposals for stronger Super PAC disclosure, more timely reporting, improved security for campaign participants, and other reforms. He said the bills would help update a 50-year-old system to reflect legal, economic, and cultural changes. A major portion of the hearing concerned H. 868/S. 507, which would require earlier and more frequent reporting by ballot question committees. Witnesses from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and others argued that ballot campaigns now involve tens of millions of dollars, much of it raised during periods with no real-time disclosure, and that moving these committees into the depository system would improve transparency without burdening grassroots signature-gathering. The committee also heard support for H. 811 and H. 812, which would allow municipalities to create citizen-funded election programs and require identifying information on political text messages, as well as S. 525/H. 875, which would bar political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. The committee also heard testimony on S. 2605, a Canton home rule petition to move town elections from April to November. Canton residents, a select board member, and a poll worker said the change would increase turnout, better align local elections with the November voting cycle, and give newly elected officials more time to prepare for town meeting. Senator Rausch also testified in support of S. 530, requiring presidential primary candidates to disclose recent tax returns. The hearing ended with no votes taken and the committee adjourning, with a note that the next hearing was tentatively scheduled for January 13.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifth, transparency. Election administration should never be hidden from the public.
• > laws<00:07:49.120> need an election, and our election laws need an election, and our election
• Uh fifth, transparency. committee. Uh fifth, transparency.
• <00:08:29.599> Elections nature. Next, accountability. Elections nature.
• > it's an election that's transparent and it's an election that's transparent and it's administered

Keywords: Discussion of HR 7 00:05:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, established a quorum, and opened with the pledge and prayer. Members then made several brief introductions of interns and guests from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The chair also reminded members about microphone use, cell phones, and the 24-hour rule for committee amendments and substitutes. The sole substantive item was House Resolution 7, sponsored by Representative Hodgson, which set out guiding principles for Kentucky elections. Hodgson described principles including fair and secure elections, accessibility balanced with security, citizen-only voting, stability and uniformity in election procedures, prompt and accurate results, transparency, accountability, and preservation of state control over elections. Members generally supported the resolution; Representative Marzian asked whether Kentucky already follows these principles and raised the issue of low poll-worker pay, while Representative Hancock asked about protecting voter registration data and privacy. Hodgson responded that transparency applies to the process, not personal information, and that Kentucky protects ballot secrecy and voter data. Representative Chester Burton also asked about election security, and Hodgson said Kentucky’s system relies on bipartisan poll workers and mutual oversight at polling places. Representative Marzian asked whether Social Security numbers are still required for voter registration, and members indicated they are, with a follow-up promised to the committee. The committee then voted 15-0 to pass the resolution with favorable expression. Before adjournment, Hodgson encouraged additional co-sponsors, and the chair noted the committee would likely meet again the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our current removal of transparency in our current election<00:26:45.440> laws<00:26:46.559
• , so that we can tell our voters that we have the right of transparency in our elections embedded in
• , so that we can tell our voters that we have the right of transparency in our elections embedded in
• that elections have not been transparent that elections have not been transparent if<01:07:25.839
• > and equal elections we have transparency and equal elections we have transparency and security

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Elections Committee met on February 6, 2025, and first considered the reappointment of Steven Swanson to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Swanson described his background in legal aid, lobbying, judging, and international rule-of-law work, and said he wanted to continue serving the public. Committee members praised his experience and discussed the importance of campaign finance oversight, including preventing corporate participation in Minnesota elections. Senator Wosinski moved to recommend Swanson’s confirmation, and the motion was adopted. The committee then heard Senate File 529, a proposed constitutional amendment to state that elections shall be free, fair, and equal, and that no civil or military power may interfere with the free exercise of the right to vote. Senator Dibble presented the bill as a way to strengthen voting rights and provide a constitutional basis to challenge voter suppression, gerrymandering, and unfair campaign practices. Testimony in support came from David Fischer of Clean Elections Minnesota and Jean Massie of Fair Vote Minnesota, both of whom argued the amendment would protect access to voting, increase confidence in elections, and align Minnesota with other states that have similar language. Members discussed whether the amendment’s broad language could invite judicial interpretation or affect future election laws. Senator Koran questioned how the proposal would improve Minnesota’s already high turnout, while Senator Grant raised concerns that the terms “free, fair, and equal” were undefined and could shift power to the courts. Senator Lucero proposed an oral amendment to add “ensuring one eligible citizen, one vote” after the word “equal,” saying it would address concerns about future voter ID laws. The amendment was restated by counsel and discussed, with Senator Dibble saying it did not significantly harm the bill but suggesting it might imply a requirement he did not intend. The transcript ends during discussion of that oral amendment, and no final vote on the bill itself is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• After Election Day, we debrief with our democracy partners and work with local election officials to
• After Election Day, we debrief with our democracy partners and work with local election officials to
• Again, if practical, the notice must be posted for elections until a presidential election occurs or
• office on a busy election day.
• David Fiser from Clean Elections Minnesota. Mr. David Fiser from Clean Elections Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.
• We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.
• We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.
• We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.
• We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and County Election Officials.
• AB 930 updates and aligns election code with modern election processes and procedures.
• , as the deadline by which an election would begin, the election official must accept ballot cures.
• classes to elect candidates of their choice.
• Implementing district elections would leave these voters with less ability to elect candidates of their

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• officials can administer a secure, transparent, accurate, and acceptable election.
• You're going to use past results of elections to base the new maps to rig the election.
• Transparency, you guys keep bringing it up, but there's no transparency here. TDS is a real thing.
• This isn't a lack of transparency.
• , that Trump might be elected for a third term because now we're electing kings all of a sudden.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• officials can administer a secure, transparent, accurate, and accessible election.
• I'm just raising— ...about transparency and more questions about transparency.
• election that's coming up.
• process to conduct that secure, accurate, transparent, accessible election on November 4th.
• decide if we lose this election that Trump might be elected for a third term, because now we're electing

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on August 19, 2025, to consider ACA 8, SB 280, and an informational hearing on AB 604. The meeting began with several failed motions to adjourn, to read public comments into the record, and to recess so members could review the roughly 16,000 public comments submitted through the committee portal. The chair emphasized the hearing’s expedited format, transparency measures, and rules limiting witness testimony, and noted a letter from Speaker Rivas authorizing Assemblymember Berman to present ACA 8. ACA 8, described by supporters as the “Election Rigging Response Act,” would place before voters a temporary congressional redistricting plan tied to AB 604 and triggered only if another state, especially Texas, adopts a partisan mid-decade redistricting. Supporters, including Assemblymember Berman, labor groups, CTA, Planned Parenthood affiliates, SEIU, and other allied organizations, argued the measure was a response to partisan gerrymandering elsewhere and a defense of democracy, with voters having the final say in a November 4, 2025 special election. Opponents, including current and former redistricting commissioners, good-government groups, business and taxpayer organizations, and many members of the public, argued the proposal undermines California’s independent redistricting model, was rushed without adequate public review, could cost roughly $200 million or more, and would invite litigation and partisan manipulation. The committee also debated a proposed amendment that would bar legislators who voted for ACA 8 from later running for Congress in districts adopted under the measure. After extended procedural disputes, the committee voted to lay the amendment on the table. The hearing then continued with extensive public testimony, overwhelmingly divided between strong support and strong opposition, but the transcript provided does not show a final committee vote on ACA 8 or SB 280 before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• , election transparency and ballot privacy, citizenship, and voting, and election administration's staffing
• regarding election transparency and ballot privacy, ballot secrecy and the availability of election
• Transparency is not the enemy of election integrity; it is how election integrity is preserved.
• The League supports transparency in election administration.
• to improve election administration, transparency, and voter access.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , cannot spend money in elections.
• <00:05:21.360> that's cannot spend money in elections that's cannot spend money in elections
• continue that influencing of Elections continue that influencing of Elections uh<00:06:13.080>
• can't actually participate in elections can't actually participate in elections um<00:15:49.959>
• or opaque, not transparent.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I wouldn't put it past Senator Court, but she wasn't elected yet.
• I might keep it around. wasn't elected yet. And it couldn't have wasn't elected yet.
• The elections commission or health care system or the welfare system.
• The elections<00:44:13.680> commission<00:44:14.160> or<00:44:14.319> health<00:
• 44:14.480> care elections commission or health care elections commission or health care system

Bills: HCR1, HCR2, SB2001, SB2002, SB2003, SB2004, SB2005, SB2006, SB2007, SB2008, SB2009, SB2010, SB2011, SB2012, SB2013, SB2014, SB2015, SB2016, SB2017, SB2018, SB2019, SB2020, SB2021, SB2022, SB2023, SB2024, SB2025, SB2026, SB2027, SB2028, SB2029, SB2030, SB2031, SB2032, SB2033, SB2034, SB2035, SB2036, SB2037, SB2038, SB2039, SB2040, SB2041, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2045, SB2046, SB2047, SB2048, SB2049, SB2050, SB2051, SB2052, SB2053, SB2054, SB2055, SB2056, SB2057, SB2058, SB2059, SB2060, SB2061, SB2062, SB2063, SB2064, SB2065, SB2066, SB2067, SB2068, SB2069, SB2070, SB2071, SB2072, SB2073, SB2074, SB2075, SB2076, SB2077, SB2078, SB2079, SB2080, SB2081, SB2082, SB2083, SB2084, SB2085, SB2086, SB2087, SB2088, SB2089, SB2090, SB2091, SB2092, SB2093, SB2094, SB2095, SB2096, SB2097, SB2098, SB2099, SB2100

Keywords: recess, legislative session, Hawaii State Legislature, 2026, Governor address, joint session, legislature, Hawaii, state of the state, Banyan Drive, Waiakea peninsula, Makaokū, Hilo, Hawaii Island, HCDA, Hawaii Community Development Authority, community development district, redevelopment, urban renewal, blight

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 4077 offers transparency. House File 4077 offers transparency.
• transparency. We have open meeting laws. transparency. We have open meeting laws.
• That's what they're elected to do. We're elected to face public scrutiny as state legislators.
• This is just pro-transparency.
• This is just pro-transparency. We right? This is just pro-transparency.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Lawmakers held a bipartisan press availability on a bill to prohibit local governments and their officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements with private entities. Supporters said the measure is intended to protect transparency, public participation, and Minnesotans’ right to know about local decisions involving land use, public financing, and economic development, especially in cases involving data centers and other large projects. Representatives and senators from both parties described the bill as a response to examples in cities such as Rosemount, Farmington, Hermantown, North Mankato, Monticello, Pine Island, and others, where they said NDAs kept communities from learning about projects until decisions were effectively already made. The authors argued that the bill is not anti-development or limited to data centers, but instead prevents corporations from using private contracts to circumvent Minnesota’s open meeting and data practices laws. They said Chapter 13 already addresses trade secrets and other confidential information, and that the bill is meant to stop NDAs from creating secrecy around government decision-making. They also said they had heard little organized opposition so far, though they acknowledged questions about how the bill would affect early-stage business recruitment conversations and how local governments, especially smaller ones, would implement the change. Members also discussed the bill’s legislative path. They said it had previously received unanimous support in committee and was sent to the general register, then moved to the Judiciary Committee at the request of Chair Scott, who wanted a hearing. The authors said they did not believe the bill raised Chapter 13 issues requiring judiciary review, but agreed to the referral as a courtesy and said they were seeking a hearing. They reported that Senate consideration had previously ended in a tie vote, but said momentum was growing and expected stronger support this session. No vote was taken during the press event.

Transcript Highlights:

• and spending in elections and transparency in elections.
• and transparency<00:03:28.160> in<00:03:28.239> elections.
• And so this transparency in elections.
• not transparent in an election. not transparent in an election.
• <01:11:47.440> is spending in our elections is spending in our elections is transparent.<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Transparency for some, but not for all.
• Tarr, post-election audits for all statewide elections.
• President, we know that after every presidential election, the Secretary of State conducts election audits
• election audits, to include elections where there is not a presidential election involved, but a statewide
• election audits, to include elections where there is not a presidential election involved, but a statewide

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.