Transcript Highlights:

• Fair maps mean fair elections, and fair elections are the backbone of a functioning democracy.
• Fair maps mean fair elections.
• And what criteria are guiding the process?
• When politicians are elected, they are elected because they know the community; they understand the unique
• We will take those through the process.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• vote on election day. Period. Full stop. vote on election day. Period. Full stop.
• Then on election day, it it elections.
• than we would say in a primary election. than we would say in a primary election.
• elected officials. elected officials. >> Thank<01:14:18.400> you.
• . election. election.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I'm vice chair of the elections committee.
• These bills protect no one and nothing in our democratic process.
• I talked to our elections department folks. They are swamped.
• Show up to election day and are told that their applications were not processed and that they are not
• Only US citizens vote in elections in Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• ERIC was created by state election officials and is controlled by state election officials.
• in our elections.
• security elections improve our election security elections improve our election security um<00:21
• or provincial elections or federal elections.
• or provincial elections or federal elections.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your percentage in general election. Your percentage in general election.
• At the time, 168 chose odd-year elections, and 172 opted for even-year elections.
• election. Representative Gatfrieded. election. Representative Gatfrieded.
• Thank you. elections. And that money came from elections.
• <00:27:51.360> elections, elections, even in ony-ear elections, elections, even in ony-ear

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the wait time for elections?
• I knew elections. I thought I was going to be doing all elections.
• Elections. Yes, elections. Yes." "She's approaching the bench as we speak. Elections.
• And that's an important process, if I remember correctly, that EPI process. Correct, correct.
• You have things in process.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• process.
• <02:04:35.840> take process and that process can take process and that process can take several
• >> Oh I and how is that process? >> Oh I and how is that process?
• We're elected for a three-year cycle. This was my first year to be elected.
• We're elected for a three-year cycle. This was my first year to be elected.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by taking it out of having elections by taking it out of having elections then<00:13:47.839>
• >> How long have we been electing? >> How long have we been electing?
• an election season." an election season." >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure.
• setting process and affordability. setting process and affordability.
• <00:58:08.720> That's consecutively won elections. That's consecutively won elections.

Bills: HB403, HB399, HB392

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr, post-election audits for all statewide elections.
• election.
• election audits, to include elections where there is not a presidential election involved, but a statewide
• election.
• 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.

Transcript Highlights:

• a group that rigged elections with Prop 50.
• over 27 years as an elections official.
• over 27 years as an elections official.
• of faith in our election systems.
• We want to make sure that we address this through the legislative process, not through the budget process

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and I know we've had some very close elections.
• Um, now flipping a coin is still an alternative. election and one candidate received more election and
• We had a Senate very close elections.
• <00:11:39.680> one<00:11:39.920> vote election that ended up one vote election that ended
• You know, I've been writing those papers since my first election in 1996, the special elections. >> Representative

Bills: SB42, SB166, SB42, SB166

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, 1136

Transcript Highlights:

• to the success of the process of the way we run elections and the fact that we are being mentioned and
• process.
• What is an election people property and process management system project, Mr. Chair?
• A lot of our processes in handling our general election system are manual, and this is intended to really
• election.

Transcript Highlights:

• Concerning the 60 days between an election and a natural disaster in an election, you require this to
• There is a difference between federal elections and state elections, and I suspect that's why we've tied
• of elections in the state of Florida.
• We don't vote on the Monday before election—it's like the Sabbath for supervisors of elections to recover
• This amendment is also a strong start to providing supervisors of elections with the processes and predictability

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard and acted on several bills related to wetlands, emergency management, fishing licenses, disaster recovery, the Florida Keys, brownfields, wastewater treatment, and spring protection. HB 1175 on mitigation banking drew the most discussion, with supporters saying it would create more predictable release of mitigation credits and help address shortages, while opponents warned it could weaken watershed-based wetland protection and allow credits to be used farther from the impact site. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment making the changes prospective after July 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 12-3 vote. The committee also considered HB 1535, a broad emergency management strike-all that would expand local storm-preparedness information, debris removal coordination, shelter planning, permitting procedures after storms, limits on post-storm fee increases and moratoria, and changes to election procedures after disasters. Members raised questions about FEMA coordination, shelter standards, impact fees, and the 100-mile post-storm land-use restrictions. After adopting the strike-all, the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute on a 17-0 vote. HB 673, which would extend the same fishing-license convenience to freshwater guides that saltwater captains already have, and HB 705, which extends a public-records exemption for disaster recovery assistance applicants, were both reported favorably without amendment. Later, the committee approved HB 995 for the Florida Keys, which combines affordable-housing incentives, a Habitat for Humanity bond exemption, an extension of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and a modest increase in hurricane evacuation time to allow additional residential permits; it was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. HB 733 on brownfields received a technical strike-all and was also reported favorably. HB 645 creating a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems passed unanimously, and HB 691 on a reclaimed-water project tied to Outstanding Florida Springs passed 16-1 after concerns were raised about cost, water quality, and whether the bill could broaden the intent of existing spring-protection law. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I urge you to resist a process.
• We want to be part of that process.
• During my first election cycle after I moved here, During my first election cycle after I moved here,
• Fair maps mean fair elections, and fair elections are the backbone of a functioning democracy.
• Fair maps mean fair elections.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met virtually for its West Texas regional hearing, established a quorum, and explained that the hearing was part of a series of statewide information-gathering sessions before any map was filed. The chair outlined the Zoom procedures, the two-minute testimony limit, and the availability of written comments through the committee’s public portal. Senators also discussed the logistics and transparency of the process, including the expectation that any proposed map or amendment would be made public once filed and that additional hearings would follow. Senator Blanco, whose district includes West Texas and the border region, said the area’s communities of interest should be kept together and warned against repeating the loss of representation that followed the last redistricting cycle. Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Miles, and others debated the value of virtual hearings versus in-person hearings, the number of people who had testified, and whether the committee could subpoena witnesses after the regional hearings ended. The chair said he was awaiting legal guidance and would consider a subpoena motion at a formal meeting the next day. A lengthy exchange also occurred over the tone of public testimony and the chair’s view that some comments directed at Republicans and the president had been offensive or historically inaccurate. Invited witnesses and public commenters largely opposed mid-decade redistricting and argued that any new map should reflect population growth, especially among Latino and other minority communities, and comply with the Voting Rights Act. Nina Perales of MALDEF said the hearings were not meaningful without a draft map and testified that Texas has a long history of discriminatory redistricting; senators questioned her about litigation, DOJ’s July 7 letter, and the 2021 congressional map. Tania Chavez Camacho, Luis Figueroa, and several El Paso residents emphasized that maps should preserve communities of interest, avoid cracking and packing, and be transparent and participatory. A smaller number of witnesses supported redistricting, including one El Paso resident who said the current districting leaves the area underrepresented and another who argued that some communities want to return to a map closer to the earlier District 16 configuration. Several witnesses also criticized the DOJ letter as inconsistent with the state’s position that the 2021 maps were drawn race-blind, while others said the current process was too rushed and lacked sufficient public input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, and members sitting back in an august process, an inherently discriminatory process.
• and are electing Democrats.
• This process has laid bare the purpose of life. the pitiful reality that today's statewide elected politicians
• The amendment process for the floor and then, of course, the amendment process for the committee had
• I think I mentioned to him that I thought the DOJ letter necessarily confused this process. process?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And have you had, as you've kind of undertaken this process, any discussions about this process with
• The political process in meaningful ways.
• We want fair elections.
• I fear this rushed process will do more harm. The redistricting process is consequential.
• Elections are meant for people to use their power to choose their elected officials, not the other way

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the last election did so fraudulently. the last election did so fraudulently.
• <00:38:01.040> but process and participates in process but process and participates in process
• Okay, they voted in that election. election. election.
• improves the integrity of our elections. improves the integrity of our elections.
• <01:16:06.400> elected.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call establishing a quorum of 35 members, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The chamber also received messages from the House that it had passed House Bills 43, 139, 297, 414, and 485 and requested concurrence. Second reading reports placed several bills in the Rules Committee, including measures on property disposition, children, school district sick leave, unemployment insurance, and status offenses, and a new resolution was introduced honoring the 10th anniversary of the 2016 session and its bullying-prevention legislation. The main floor action was on Senate Bill 39, relating to fishing in privately owned lakes and ponds. Senators debated multiple floor amendments, with several withdrawn and floor amendment 6 adopted. Supporters said the bill clarified private property rights and allowed stocking of F1 Florida bass without changing existing license requirements, while opponents and some supporters emphasized protecting the public trust, conservation funding, and the North American wildlife management model. After extended debate, the Senate passed SB 39 as amended by a vote of 29-8. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 154, relating to elections. The sponsor said it would strengthen election integrity by removing non-photo identification options, specifically Social Security cards and EBT SNAP cards, from the list of acceptable voter verification methods. Opponents argued the bill would make voting harder without evidence of fraud, citing that many Kentuckians used those IDs in the last election and that transportation and access barriers already exist. The transcript cuts off during debate on SB 154 before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we've seen changes in in elections that we've seen changes in in elections we've<00:03:34.799
• :36.439> in we've seen election in changes in we've seen election in changes in campaigns<00:03
• It establishes an allegation review process.
• establishes the office of election establishes the office of election investigations<00:10:42.279
• Why I think it's needed and why it's important is it makes the process process-dependent, not people-dependent

Keywords: Consideration of HB 373 02:30 Consideration of HB 455 10:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with opening prayer, pledge, and procedural reminders, then took up two election-related bills. House Bill 373, sponsored by Rep. Wade Williams, would modernize campaign finance law to allow campaign funds to pay for reasonable security measures for state candidates, officeholders, their families, and campaign or office staff. Williams said the bill uses campaign funds only, not state dollars, and is modeled on recently changed federal language. Members discussed whether the coverage included all state officeholders and close family members, and supporters cited increasing threats and harassment toward public officials; one member opposed the bill, warning about possible misuse and fraud. The bill passed with favorable expression. The committee then heard House Bill 455, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Flannery, which creates an Office of Election Investigations and Security within the Attorney General’s office. Flannery said the bill would codify existing practices, establish a complaint and allegation review process, create a voter fraud hotline, and provide for investigations, referrals, and legislative oversight. Members asked about cost and whether the office duplicated existing functions such as the Public Integrity Office; Flannery responded that the bill creates a statutorily defined office and is intended to make the process less dependent on who holds the office. Supporters said the measure could improve transparency and voter trust, while opponents argued it duplicates existing agencies, could increase government size and cost, and might expose people to harassment or retaliation. The bill also passed with favorable expression, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . process. process.
• Uh, first, in paragraph 2-AAA, it provides a process for local election officials and the Secretary of
• And again, as I understand it, that process election officials and the Secretary of election officials
• registering on or around election day. registering on or around election day.
• That process, if I read this correctly, is to allow a voter on election day to be able to provide an

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• elections policy, and in House File 1378 we see a lot of really good elections policy from an elections
• elections policy, and in House File 1378 we see a lot of really good elections policy from an elections
• We think this will really improve the process for election officials, as well as cut down on county attorneys
• <00:59:48.960> for<00:59:49.400> election really improve the process for election really
• improve the process for election officials<00:59:50.839> um<00:59:51.119> as<00:59:51.280

Keywords: 1183, house