Transcript Highlights:

• It's helpful to voters to remember. S would be logical.
• I think it's just helpful to voters and it makes sense.
• I think, you know, 25% of registered voters saying yes is still just 25% of voters in the district.
• Because they didn't, because it's not based on the voter turnout. It's based on registered voters.
• ... ...all registered voters, well, you know, if you want to tell me that 40 percent of the voters have

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met to consider a large committee substitute for House Bills 2780 and 2668, along with related amendments. Early discussion focused on the substitute’s changes, including removal of provisions dealing with nursing homes, apartment buildings, and the blind pension fund, plus a separate amendment to clean up ballot-language requirements so ballot measures would use neutral alphanumeric labels rather than descriptive titles. Members debated whether the labeling language was clear enough and whether clerks or the taxing entities would be responsible for assigning ballot names; the committee ultimately adopted the ballot-language amendment and the blind pension amendment, then rolled them into a new substitute. The committee then considered a more controversial amendment that would have required tax measures to receive affirmative support from 25% of registered voters and would have shifted certain elections to the November general election. Members raised concerns about public vetting, the practicality of the 25% threshold, possible strategic behavior, and whether the proposal would actually increase turnout or instead become a negotiating point. After extended debate, the sponsor withdrew that amendment, leaving the committee substitute with the ballot-language and blind-pension changes only. The committee also took up House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolutions 148 and 111. An amendment was adopted to address Kansas City Public Schools’ concerns by bringing its levy treatment under Hancock-style rules and clarifying debt levy treatment. Members discussed the impact on school district financing and taxpayer bills, but the substitute and the HJR package were both reported do pass. The committee then reconsidered and re-voted House Bills 2780 and 2668 after a procedural reset, again adopting the substitute and reporting the bill do pass by a 13-3 vote. The meeting adjourned after the committee thanked members for their work and noted further action would continue later.

Transcript Highlights:

• voters when we return to a tie.
• It's time now for the House GOP to recognize the will of the voters of Shakopee.
• ><c> we</c> and the will of the voters when we and the will of the voters when we return<00:01:30.240
• ><c> to</c> Electoral power that voters gave to Electoral power that voters gave to Democrats<00:04:38.680
• That's what voters expect us to do during the campaign season: take shots.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number three, this clarifies the intent of the voter as it relates to party affiliation for voters
• Item number three, this clarifies the intent of the voter as it relates to party affiliation for voters
• Item number nine gives authority to the voter to remove him or herself from a list of protected voters
• Item 31 aligns challenges of early voters with the process for challenging voters on election day.
• of early voters with the process of challenging voters on election day, where challenges must be raised

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with Secretary of State Nancy Landry presiding. The board approved the minutes from its March 11, 2025 meeting and then received a presentation from First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd on proposed technical changes for the 2026 elections omnibus bill. The board removed item 7 from consideration before the presentation began. The proposed provisions covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including ROV payroll timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, party affiliation clarification for voters marked “unaffiliated,” registration transfers, assistance for disabled voters, protection of pre-registrant information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee voting procedures, precinct boundary notices, candidate death notice procedures, nomination petitions, ballot design, watcher deadlines, overvote definitions, absentee ballot curing, nursing home voting timelines, procurement authority for voting equipment, and contest procedures for elections and constitutional amendments. Board members asked several clarifying questions, and staff explained the intent of various technical and procedural changes. Two items were specifically discussed as policy concerns. Board member Guidry objected to item 37, which would allow the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official, and staff agreed to remove it from the omnibus bill for separate consideration. Item 38, concerning deadlines and causes of action for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, clarifying that such a contest cannot be filed before election day, were explained as intended to align amendment contests with other election contest deadlines. After discussion, the board approved items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 through 39 for inclusion in the report and eventual omnibus bill. No public comments were submitted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE INDIVIDUAL VOTER WOULD SAY THIS WAS NOT ME AND IF THE INDIVIDUAL VOTER ATTESTS TO THAT THEN THEY
• OUT OF STATE USING OUR IN STATE VOTER ROLLS.
• VOTER ROLLS.
• WE SEE NO REASON TO MOVE ALL THOSE VOTER ROLLS TO TALLAHASSEE.
• HE HAS THE ABILITY TO SEE THE VOTER ROLLS AS THEY ARE NOW.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that our elections function for voters that our elections function for voters across<00:01:34.960
• </c><00:03:10.080><c> registration</c> requirement that the voter registration requirement that the voter
• voters.
• voter operations, technology, and elections resources account, or the voter account.
• This is not about voters.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they'll have to explain that to the voters. And the voters will have to approve any change.
• Again, voter approved is the crux of it.
• Voters will see upfront... for fire services.
• 55% of our voters saying yes, but the measure was defeated by Camas voters at that time.
• Ultimately, a second pass at the Camas-Washougal merger RFA was approved by our voters and Camas voters

Summary: The Senate Local Government and State Parks Committee heard several bills focused on local government finance, land use, and public safety. SB 5903 would deem a cemetery district commissioner elected if only one qualified candidate files, with sponsor Senator Cortez saying it would save ballot-printing costs and local resources; there was no testimony in opposition. SB 6037 would create or modify a voter-approved option for cities and towns to form a single-city fire protection district, adjust levy and notice rules, allow administrative service contracts with the city, and clarify commissioner elections; Senator Cortez and multiple city and fire officials said it would give communities more flexible, locally controlled funding tools for fire service, while committee members asked about how it would work and the fiscal impact. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transferred to a government entity for right-of-way from rollback taxes when the transfer is tied to development conditions and stays within a 20% acreage limit; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid an unfair tax bill, and there was no testimony on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against using port funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor witnesses argued the bill protects jobs, keeps public dollars from underwriting automation, and still allows zero-emission, human-operated equipment; port and labor representatives testified in strong support, while the sign-in sheet showed substantial public interest both for and against. SB 6016 would change how urban growth area swaps treat critical aquifer recharge areas, making the rules for annual and periodic updates more consistent and allowing swaps if they do not increase net CARA acreage within the UGA; the sponsor, Commerce, housing, business, and development interests said it was a technical fix that supports housing and consistency, while one witness warned it could weaken groundwater protections and create litigation risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 6066, which would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, require a public hearing and engineering review, double certain traffic penalties in the zone, and dedicate half the extra revenue to safety improvements before dissolving the zone. Supporters from cities, counties, and Pasco said it could help address dangerous intersections and fund fixes, though several witnesses raised liability and implementation concerns and asked for further stakeholder work. No votes were taken in the transcript; the chair closed each hearing after testimony and sign-in counts were noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Statistically, minority voters are less Low-income and elderly voters.
• It says 74% favor requiring voter ID, with overwhelming support across all races, all political Voter
• HB 2036, voter registration, Rules. HB 2337, academic voter, Rules. HB 2230, property tax, Rules.
• These voters are going to rise up. They're going to vote. These voters are going to rise up.
• This will be the will of the voters. We have the opportunity to present the voters this option.

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, approved the journal, and took up several Senate bills and one Senate concurrent resolution through motions to reconsider, return bills for reconsideration, and refer measures to additional Committee of the Whole sessions for further amendment. Early actions included returning SB 1175 and SB 1198 to the Senate for reconsideration, rescinding passage of SB 1336 so it could be reconsidered, and referring SB 1111 and SB 152 to an additional COW. The House also recognized Representative Travers for a personal privilege statement honoring National Women Veterans Recognition Day and recorded attendance. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted floor amendments and recommended passage for SB 1511, SB 1552, SB 1198, SB 1110, SB 1618, SB 1431, and SCR 1004, with some debate on SB 1110’s home-confinement/reentry program, SB 1618’s Military Affairs Commission changes, and SB 1431’s city and town authority over residential project standards and streetscapes. The House later adopted the COW reports and moved the measures to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. SB 1336 and SB 1519 were also advanced from committee, while SB 1004 was reconsidered and ultimately failed on reconsideration. On third or final reading, the House passed SB 1127, SB 1180, SB 1428, SB 1198, SB 1336, SB 1511, SCR 1004, SB 1552, HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2114, HB 2311, HB 2729, and HB 4117. SB 1687, SB 1004, SB 1519, and SB 1502 failed. Members explained votes on several measures, including support for tax administration clarity in SB 1180, objections and support for the May primary proposal in SB 1687, concerns about sex offender monitoring in SB 1004, support for the Arizona Beef Council in SB 1198, and debate over the photo enforcement referral in SCR 1004. The session also included recesses for caucuses, lunch, and dinner, plus a brief technical outage of the live stream.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just an extension. protects the voters and at the same time protects the voters and at the same
• I may have less than 100 voters.
• 100 voters.
• </c> say I'd say 2% Plus or 10 voters say I'd say 2% Plus or 10 voters whichever<00:42:26.880><c> is<
• </c><01:31:36.600><c> were</c> election um where only 10 voters were election um where only 10 voters

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• overseas and military voters, or emergency response voters.
• And then we've added a new section for the voter to make sure the voter understands how to best cast
• Counting just one ballot for that voter.
• It brings together feedback from election administrators and Minnesota voters.
• Sections 3 and 4 on pages 4 and 5 relate to the permanent absentee voter list.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• access to our voters.
• Curbside voting is not possible without safe, designated locations for voters to be able to check in
• and ensuring they are accessible to all voters.
• their voter information guides.
• in jails receive the voter ID guides that they are required to receive under law.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our direct voter outreach and communications campaigns reach tens of thousands of voters in 16 counties
• Our direct voter outreach and communications campaigns reach tens of thousands of voters in 16 counties
• SB 73 fortifies the protections for our voters by expanding the existing prohibition of armed persons
• SB 73, ...can have a chilling effect on voter participation.
• Savannah Jorgensen with the League of Women Voters of California, in support.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the Alabama voter Avid. That's the Alabama voter integrity database.
• So that's why when I hear all this stuff about voter fraud and voter integrity, and this and that, but
• You talk about voter integrity.
• I've just been working on this one for voter integrity, but I this one for voter integrity.
• I'm paraphrasing that we want voter... ...paraphrasing that we want voter integrity. Yes, ma'am.

Bills: HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HJR 5 , HB 1330 , HB 2110 , HJR 2 , HJR 6 , HB 1587 , HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, if a voter marks his... ...beyond the pale.
• We are now trying to change a lot of the voter...
• Election officers are always trying to determine voter intent.
• Current statute dictates that the write-in would be considered voter intent.
• Of course, I'm excited about the idea of voter ID. I want to have that happen.

Committee: Joint Government Operations Interim Committee

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the voter admits, no, I'm not a citizen of this election. What happens?
• But you mentioned an automatic voter registration.
• registration block, then it switches over to voter.
• And you were talking about this in the context of automatic voter registration.
• and special federal voters.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Elections Committee held its final meeting of the session, with Chair Senator Gonzalez thanking members and staff for their work. The committee considered several election-related bills, including a voter ID proposal, protections against voter challenges and purging, a measure to address election disruptions, sample ballot posting, absentee ballot deadline notices for students, military and overseas voting changes, and notice requirements for expired address confidentiality protections. Senate Bill 2574, requiring government-issued photo ID to vote, drew opposition from Senators Walczyk and Myrie, who argued it would create barriers to voting and that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud; the bill was reported from committee with opposition. Senate Bill 3233A, dealing with illegal voter purging and challenges, prompted extended discussion about citizenship verification, privacy of citizenship data, and whether information should be shared publicly; it was reported to the floor with Senators Borrello and Walczyk voting no. Senate Bill 4602A, on remedies for election disruptions, was discussed in terms of county and state board roles and bipartisan decision-making, and it was reported to the Finance Committee with a no vote from one member. The remaining bills were advanced with little or no substantive debate: Senate Bill 6253A on posting sample ballots, Senate Bill 6259 on notifying students of absentee ballot deadlines, Senate Bill 6995 on voting by mail, Senate Bill 7689B on overseas military and special federal voters, and Senate Bill 9857 on notice when address confidentiality protections expire. Most were reported either to the floor or to the Finance Committee, and the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> thing that we're hearing from our voters thing that we're hearing from our voters is<00:12:12.880
• </c><00:12:41.120><c> Um,</c> the voters need to have a voice. Um, the voters need to have a voice.
• So, let's let the voters decide thing.
• </c><00:13:23.279><c> that</c> spending and give the voters that spending and give the voters that choice
• </c> when you look at the number of voters when you look at the number of voters that<02:06:39.199><c

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the members to be elected by the voters the members to be elected by the voters rather<00:05:24.080
• ,</c> uh protects the rights of voters, uh protects the rights of voters, clarifies<01:06:32.160><c>
• the taxes on 92% of the voters.
• can raise the taxes on 92% of the voters can raise the taxes on 92% of the<01:44:29.280><c> voters.
• </c><01:51:21.600><c> Um,</c> voters in a traditional meeting. Um, voters in a traditional meeting.

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be better for voters, better for us.
• voter intent.
• We can always send whatever to the voters.
• One of the proposals, the SCR, would send it to the voter, so the voters can obviously decide if we send
• You want to talk about voter suppression.

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills dealing with elections, juvenile representation, paternity, and campaign finance. SB 1489 would require paid petition circulators to disclose their name, residence, and paid status, wear a badge, register in some local petition efforts, and subject local initiatives to stricter compliance and fiscal disclosure rules. Supporters said it would standardize rules and improve transparency; opponents, including the ACLU, argued it would chill core political speech and compel identification. The bill received a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. SB 1609, an emergency measure restricting political party names from using terms like “independent” or “unaffiliated,” drew support from county election officials who said it would reduce voter confusion, and opposition from the Arizona Independent Party, which called it retroactive and anti-competitive. The committee adopted an amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. SCR 1040, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 subject to voter approval, was supported as reflecting longer life expectancy and retaining experienced judges, but opposed by some who favored age limits; it passed 5-2. The committee then took up SB 1234, which would change juvenile court representation by requiring a guardian ad litem in dependency and termination cases and allowing, rather than requiring, separate child counsel in some circumstances. Sponsor Senator Werner said the bill was part of a broader child-safety package and was informed by cases involving children who died after alleged system failures. Child welfare attorneys and advocates opposed the bill, warning it would weaken attorney-client privilege and take away children’s independent voice, while DCS said the bill was intended to clarify the GAL role and could work alongside child counsel. The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 5-2. SB 1661, allowing child support obligations to be terminated when genetic testing shows a presumed father is not the biological father, received broad support from the sponsor, a fathers’ advocacy group, and a family representative, and passed 6-0. Later, the committee considered election-administration and campaign-finance measures. SB 1392 would give governing bodies canvassing elections access to election-material locations to observe procedures and review records, while protecting privacy and security; county officials supported access but raised concerns about the term “agent,” and the bill passed 4-3. SB 1634 would require ADOT to provide county recorders with applicants’ handwritten signatures collected during voter registration; county officials said it would improve signature verification, and the bill passed 5-2 after some members noted amendment concerns. SB 1743 would redact donors’ employer street addresses and residence addresses from campaign finance reports; supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while opponents said employer information is important for transparency and identifying influence. It passed 5-2. SB 1099, a strike-everything amendment defining defamation standards for public and private figures, was presented as narrowing and clarifying defamation law and passed 4-3. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1535, which would make paying for sexual conduct a prostitution offense and add a $200 assessment to fund anti-human-trafficking services. Survivors, law enforcement, and neighborhood advocates supported stronger penalties aimed at buyers and demand reduction, while criminal-defense and victim-advocacy groups said the bill needed a rebuttable-presumption amendment to better protect trafficking victims. The transcript cuts off before the committee’s final action on SB 1535.

Transcript Highlights:

• The voters of Marana collected signatures with an organization helping them.
• In which voters collected signatures with an organization's help.
• But what happens to all the voters who signed that petition? What happens to their rights?
• So to say that the voters of Marana, my voters, the voters who have put me in this chair, are left voiceless
• In our state law, when it comes to city referenda, the voters have no other option.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget through a voter initiative.
• And if the voters approve it, then that is done.
• And if the voters approve it, then that is done.
• This gives the voter the chance to do up or down.
• Voters can have some say on that new construction.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee heard House Bill 842, sponsored by Speaker Moyle, as a follow-up to House Bill 389 and its effects on property tax growth, foregone amounts, and new construction. Moyle said the bill is intended as a compromise to reduce shifting of tax burdens to existing homeowners while giving taxing districts more flexibility: it would raise the cap for smaller communities and certain fire/EMS districts to 15%, eliminate adding to foregone balances going forward while allowing districts to use existing foregone at a higher rate, revert to the previous year’s mill levy rate, and allow local voters to use the initiative process to lower city or county budgets/taxes. He argued the measure would help districts with growth and give taxpayers more direct control. Public testimony was split. The Idaho Association of Counties supported the mill levy change but opposed the initiative language, warning it could be challenged under existing case law and constitutional limits on initiatives for administrative acts. The Idaho Fire Chiefs Association supported the bill, saying fast-growing districts like Star Fire District have lost budget authority and cannot keep up with growth. The Association of Idaho Cities opposed the bill, saying the 15% cap would still leave many cities unable to fund new homes or commercial growth, that foregone is an important fiscal tool, and that the initiative provisions and reduced flexibility would create problems for local governments. The Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, especially the initiative provision, arguing voters should have a way to lower local taxes if they can vote to raise them. After testimony, the committee debated a motion to hold the bill for one day, but a substitute motion was offered to send it directly to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Members discussed the urgency of the bill, the recent death of Nampa’s mayor, and the initiative-process concerns. The substitute motion passed on an 8-6-1 roll call vote, and House Bill 842 was sent to the House floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The notice shall inform the voter that if the voter did not change voter that if the voter did not change
• completes a voter provided the voter completes a voter provided the voter completes a voter registration
• If the voter does not update his or her voter does not update his or her voter does not update his or
• Information concerning how the voter may continue his or her voter may continue his or her voter may
• free voter free voter identification that offices use.

Keywords: 920, all