Transcript Highlights:

• The two candidates presented to us and answered questions from both committees.
• contact candidates with their contact information. information. information.
• the two candidates that as well. the two candidates presented<00:08:55.279><c> to</c><00:08:55.519><c
• ,</c> already questioned the candidates, already questioned the candidates, including<00:12:48.560><c
• c> make</c> the candidates candidates to come make the candidates candidates to come make their<00:15

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:44.919><c> for</c> over qualifications of candidates for over qualifications of candidates
• Thank you very much. candidate pool to be able to choose from candidate pool to be able to choose from
• </c><01:05:40.599><c> I</c> dollars to pay for candidates I dollars to pay for candidates I understand
• </c><01:23:38.000><c> is</c> interest for political candidates is interest for political candidates is
• </c> the the benefit of promoting candidates the the benefit of promoting candidates and<01:44:16.000

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several election-related and governance measures. On SB 176, relating to recounts, the Office of Elections supported clarifying that recount triggers should be based on the final Election Day report rather than the 6:00 a.m. next-day report, citing a 2022 recount example. The chair noted 3 testimonies in support, 42 in opposition, and 1 comment. On SB 1337, relating to the Stadium Authority, the authority supported changing quorum rules so only voting members count, explaining that the current interpretation makes it difficult to conduct business; written testimony from DBEDT was also received. On SB 289, relating to ethics administrative fines, the Ethics Commission supported uniform procedures to resolve uncontested enforcement matters more quickly while preserving due process; written support was also noted. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment on freedom of speech and money in elections. Supporters, including Community Alliance on Prisons, Our Revolution Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, and others, argued that money in politics distorts democracy and that the amendment would help prevent wealthy interests from buying influence. Opponents, including the Hawaii Christian Coalition and individual testifiers, argued that changing the constitution was too serious, that the proposal should be handled by ordinary legislation instead, and that the measure could create legal conflict. Deputy Attorney General Candace Park said the bill would only matter if key federal cases such as Buckley and Citizens United were overturned, and the chair thanked her for the legal input. The committee also heard SB 780, relating to election ballot disqualification, which would exclude candidates disqualified by constitutional or statutory provisions and create procedures for challenges. Opposition testimony said the bill would undermine voter choice, burden courts and election officials, and invite misuse; the Hawaii Christian Coalition echoed those concerns. Members raised questions about whether the measure would apply only to state and county offices, and the Attorney General’s office said it would follow up. Finally, on SB 1030, relating to election intimidation, supporters said firearms should not be brought near polling places or ballot drop boxes, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary and could affect lawful possession; the committee received 12 testimonies, with 39 in support. The committee then began SB 1225, a proposed constitutional amendment changing the vote threshold for legislative amendments to a majority of votes tallied, excluding blanks, spoiled ballots, and overvotes; testimony in support was heard from the LGBTQ+ Commission and others, and the discussion was still underway when the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, candidates have easy review.
• </c> answer any questions for the candidates. answer any questions for the candidates.
• We also get [clears throat] candidates.
• So, we're pursuing it. phase of trying to get the candidate to phase of trying to get the candidate to
• </c> candidate. So, we're pursuing it. candidate. So, we're pursuing it. &gt;&gt; Okay.

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on March 9, 2026, with a quorum present in person and one commissioner participating from Florida. The meeting began with the swearing-in of new commissioner Joe Palumbo, who briefly introduced himself and his family and business background. The commission then approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and approved the staff budget report, with staff noting the office remained within spending parameters. Staff gave an update on the heavy workload from re-registration and reporting season, saying roughly 4,500 re-registrations and about 10,000 total forms had been processed. They credited the new online payment portal with reducing manual work and discussed ongoing LRC technology work to build a new system for desktop use, online re-registration, payment processing, and a searchable register. Commissioners asked about the timeline and current paper-based process; staff said the system is being built from scratch and that, for now, forms are still often downloaded, completed, emailed or mailed, and manually entered by staff. The commission also reviewed financial disclosure processing. Staff said all required disclosures had been received except one outstanding candidate filing, and that the candidate was still officially running, so notice was being sent by certified mail under the statute. Staff explained that their review is for completeness rather than audit-level accuracy, and that disclosures from legislators, candidates, and certain upper-management/LRC officials are posted for public access. The commission then discussed its informal advisory opinions, including how staff tracks and organizes them, and praised staff for quick turnaround before voting to enter executive session to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5286 , SB6002 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5874 , SB5863 , SB5972 , SB5941 , SB5203 , SB6014 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB5825 , SB5223 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5941 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, policing costs, state hospitals, local funding, budget allocation, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate recognition, LPR, surveillance, driver privacy, vehicle tracking, location data, law enforcement technology, data retention, audit trail

Transcript Highlights:

• They chose to do a runoff election and one candidate received more votes than the other one.
• The next candidate receives 40, no 15%. The next candidate receives 15.3%, so forth and so on.
• The next candidate receives 40, no 15%. The next candidate receives 15.3%, so forth and so on.
• The next candidate receives 40, no 15%. The next candidate receives 15.3%, so forth and so on.
• </c><00:13:37.279><c> in</c> on if there's only two candidates in on if there's only two candidates in

Bills: SB42 , SB166 , SB42 , SB166

Committee: House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Keywords: abandoned roads, land ownership, government regulations, property rights, transportation, Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, municipal elections, runoff elections, majority voting, electoral procedures, local governance, campaign finance, record retention, political action committees, Fair Campaign Practices Act

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running in, One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running
• That there is then an election and a different candidate wins because that candidate, you know, lots
• In other words, communities consistently come with issues to the candidates and the candidates just ignore
• That there is then an election and a different candidate wins because that candidate, you know, lots
• Communities consistently come with issues to the candidates, and the candidates just ignore them because

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County and Brnovich have weakened those protections. They said state-level action is increasingly important, pointing to the Washington Voting Rights Act as a tool to address discriminatory election systems, with examples from Yakima, Sunnyside, and other parts of the Yakima Valley. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, remedies under the WVRA, ranked-choice voting, and how statistical evidence is used in vote dilution cases. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a joint presentation from the Office of Equity and several commissions, including the Hispanic Affairs Commission, Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, and LGBTQ Commission. The panel described their role in advising state government, working with communities, and helping agencies improve equity and service delivery. They focused on the new immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to coordinate across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, communications, and protections for immigrant communities. Members asked about accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act, the use of NGOs, and the sub-cabinet’s goals. The panel said the effort is meant to make Washington residents feel safe, protected, and included. Next, researchers from the University of Washington presented findings from the Elections Database Project on vote-by-mail outcomes from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, about 60% of those ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are around 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. They said younger voters and voters of color are more likely to have ballots rejected, and that cure rates do not fully eliminate those disparities. Committee members asked about tribal reservation data, turnout patterns, and access to election data. The researchers said they use publicly available data and will follow up with additional turnout information. The final panel featured Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA, who described voter education and leadership development work in Yakima County and Sunnyside. They said their organization helps residents understand ballot mechanics, language barriers, and misinformation, and they described harassment and intimidation tied to their civic engagement work. They supported stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections and said at-large election systems continue to dilute Latino voting power in some jurisdictions. They also said turnout in Yakima County has risen modestly, which they attributed in part to community education and candidate recruitment. The committee thanked the presenters and adjourned the work session without taking action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Formula has made this more accessible to more candidates.
• They can be selective from a larger pool of candidates, but there are enough candidates to kind of go
• This is clearly impacting candidates of color as well.
• Candidates of color from pursuing careers in education.
• to candidates for maintaining their National Board Certification.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:30.800><c> that</c> specifi that for all candidates that specifi that for all candidates that
• <00:14:34.959><c> section</c> candidates section candidates section 32<00:14:37.759><c> on</c><00:14:
• </c> the returns and declare the candidate the returns and declare the candidate duly<00:14:51.160><c
• </c><00:26:18.720><c> filings</c> requirements around candidate filings requirements around candidate
• candidate candidate filings<00:26:25.600><c> um</c><00:26:26.600><c> and</c><00:26:26.720><c> then</

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> communications and the candidates, communications and the candidates, um<00:06:25.840><c> then<
• ,<00:07:04.160><c> um</c> candidate, um candidate, um that<00:07:05.600><c> would</c><00:07:05.840><c
• </c><00:07:27.880><c> about</c> story or treating all candidates about story or treating all candidates
• </c> To meet the requirements as candidate To meet the requirements as candidate websites<00:08:02.400
• </c><00:08:05.800><c> you</c> words, if you have as a candidate you words, if you have as a candidate

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• This distinction is vital, especially since each of those cities already has so many other candidates
• It's a symbol of the candidate. People keep it.
• They'll be reminded that this candidate is an environmentalist and they want to basically provide for
• And when public financing came in, suddenly you had candidates. winning.
• different platform than I did, they actually wanted to raise taxes, this other candidate.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up eight agenda items, including four consent bills. The committee first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 280, SB 621, SB 851, and SB 852, all moving forward without objection. The committee then heard several bills from Senator Umberg focused on election administration and campaign finance, along with SB 408 on voter-roll maintenance. SB 249 would require county board of education elections to be consolidated with the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, argued this would increase turnout and make those elections more representative; opponents, including Orange County education officials, argued it would override local control, increase costs, and add ballot fatigue. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to the Committee on Education. SB 398 would make it a crime to pay or offer contingent payments or other valuable consideration to induce voting or voter registration, closing what supporters described as a loophole involving lotteries and incentives. It passed 5-0 as amended and was re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 42 would remove the state ban on public financing for campaigns in general law cities and counties, allowing local voters to decide whether to adopt such systems. Supporters from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and many local advocates said it would broaden participation and reduce the influence of big money; opponents raised concerns about taxpayer funding, guardrails, and local oversight. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to Appropriations. Finally, SB 408 would require election officials to use U.S. Postal Service change-of-address data to help maintain voter rolls; supporters said it would improve accuracy and trust in elections, while one commenter questioned reliance on postal data. The bill passed unanimously 6-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. The committee then completed the remaining roll calls and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• candidates.
• candidates.
• candidates.
• candidates.
• candidates.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• They are also required to pass the state's exit tests like all other candidates.
• They also have to pass the state's exit tests, just like you do for... ...candidates.
• This is an increase of 3,200 candidates, or over 32%, over the past three years.
• And then finally... ...entities in creating a very well-rounded candidate.
• So almost every one of our candidates also test into elementary education.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• While a candidate is not allowed to advance, there has been a scenario where an ineligible candidate
• He cannot be the candidate. in November when you file for tea parties.
• And It cost the candidates a huge amount of money.
• We need to stop blaming the candidates for runoffs. We are responsible for that.
• If a candidate is willing to meet all legal requirements, such as paying filing fees, which this candidate

Bills: SB38 , SB287 , SB291 , SB292 , SB508 , SB618 , SB901 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB1626 , SB1719 , SB1999 , SB1333 , SB 38

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running in, One of the candidates, Sandra Zazate, was running
• Which candidates were they voting for?
• That there is then an election and a different candidate wins because that candidate, you know, lots
• In other words, communities consistently come with issues to the candidates and the candidates just ignore
• Communities consistently come with issues to the candidates, and the candidates just ignore them because

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• . candidate. candidate.
• In no event shall candidate is elected.
• 03:08.800><c> that</c><00:03:09.040><c> candidate's</c> candidate may withdraw that candidate's candidate
• A candidate for any more vacancies.
• </c><00:03:23.840><c> for</c> automatically be a candidate for automatically be a candidate for successive

Transcript Highlights:

• The next thing is writing candidates.
• rule because he did not want to name the candidate.
• He said he would not name the candidate, but described a candidate within the state who solicited campaign
• or our Senate candidates even within.
• or our Senate candidates even within.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:36.000><c> how</c> eligible to vote for the candidate how eligible to vote for the candidate
• </c> grantees from contributing to candidate grantees from contributing to candidate committees<00:59
• non-candidate committees committees and non-candidate committees for<00:59:40.640><c> the</c><00:59:
• or oppose a candidate.
• and opposition to a candidate.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 114, which would create a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election. The Office of Elections said the bill would cost about $4.1 million. Supporters, including the Hawaii Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, favored moving the process to a state-run primary, while several opponents, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and multiple individual testifiers, argued it would be too expensive, would shift control away from the parties, and would replace volunteer-run caucuses with a mail-in system. Committee members questioned the chief election officer about election timing, certification, and how a primary might be scheduled with other elections. Testimony was recorded as 11 in support, 41 opposed, and 3 comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 725, which would require judges to make findings about a defendant’s ability to afford bail. Judiciary and Attorney General witnesses asked that the bill be deferred or amended, saying the Judicial Council is already reviewing pretrial bail reform and that the bill’s language could create practical problems for police, sheriffs, and courts. Supporters, including the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the public defender, the Community Alliance on Prisons, the ACLU of Hawaii, and disability rights advocates, said cash bail disproportionately harms low-income defendants, increases pretrial detention costs, and should require clearer findings and records. Opponents included the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney. Members questioned how bail is initially set, what records exist, and whether the bill would change current practice; Judiciary witnesses said initial bail decisions are often made by police or judges and later reviewed on the record, while supporters argued the bill would strengthen front-end due process. The ACLU said it supported the bill with amendments, including clearer standards for ability to pay and written findings. The committee also began hearing SB 733, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a continuous legislative session. Early testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates arguing that the current 60-day session limits public participation, makes it hard for working people to testify, and prevents lawmakers from collaborating effectively. Supporters said a year-round model could improve transparency, reduce duplicate bills, and better accommodate neighbor island legislators. The excerpt ends during the opening testimony on SB 733, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:03:40.960><c> ballot</c> political party, candidate, ballot political party, candidate, ballot
• This adds local candidates to the statute on multi-candidate political party expenditures.
• </c><00:32:12.360><c> may</c> and this modifies when a candidate may and this modifies when a candidate
• on</c><00:32:42.400><c> multi-candidate</c> to the statute on multi-candidate to the statute on multi-candidate
• </c> president and vice president candidates president and vice president candidates meet<00:42:03.040

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides that there will be coverage for viable candidates, and there's a threshold for what candidates
• But with candidates who maybe are trying to... ...highlighted, but with candidates who maybe are trying
• But I think there are lots of cases where candidates are not making errors.
• a candidate, there's a, there's a 700 form that is due.
• But I think there are lots of cases from candidates not making errors.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• are candidates of color.
• As was stated earlier, 28,000 teacher candidates received...
• As those candidates have continued because the exams aren't one and done.
• So how many candidates in those areas?"
• I am certain candidates would be more than happy. Yeah.

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.