Video & Transcript Research : 'ballot application'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes the omnibus state government finance and elections bill, SF3045 5/1/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I think the ballot initiative process is something that really gives direct democracy to the citizens
- And this puts limits on that process and makes it harder for initiatives to get on the ballot.
- Limits on that process and makes it harder for initiatives to get on the ballot.
- Since ballot measures are inherently for the people of Arizona, and Since ballot measures are inherently
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 02/24/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- run for president in 1984 and 1988 really changed so much and taught us all about the power of the ballot
- RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 1984 AND 1988, REALLY CHANGED SO MUCH AND TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT THE POWER OF THE BALLOT
- AND WE SEE PUSHBACK REGARDING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.
- We should do so at the ballot box. We should do so peacefully and appropriately.
- We should do so at the ballot box. We should do so peacefully and appropriately.
Summary:
The Senate convened, approved the prior Journal, and began with ceremonial recognitions before moving to legislative business. Members honored the Schenectady Belmont Pop Warner football team for winning the Eastern Regional Championship and being a top-ranked national team, with Senators Parker and Tedisco praising the players, coaches, and volunteers. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 1636, mourning the death of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson and recognizing his lifetime of civil rights, labor, voting rights, and social justice advocacy. Multiple senators spoke in support, reflecting on his influence on politics, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and the message that “I am somebody.”
After the resolution, the Senate took up the calendar and passed a series of bills, largely focused on health care, insurance, and public health. These included measures on municipal law, mental hygiene, correction law, executive law, and several insurance and public health bills addressing prescription drug pricing, pharmacy benefit managers, rebates, and anti-competitive drug practices. Senators Myrie, Borrello, Jackson, Fernandez, and others explained votes in support of transparency, patient access, and lowering drug costs; some members noted concerns about pharmacy deserts and corporate consolidation. Most bills passed with broad margins, though a few drew more opposition, including Calendar 304 on anti-competitive drug agreements.
On Calendar 289, an amendment concerning domestic violence was ruled non-germane by the chair. Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick appealed, arguing the amendment would create a public registry for persistent domestic violence offenders to help protect potential victims. The Senate voted on the appeal, the ruling of the chair stood, and the bill was then restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed. The Senate then completed the calendar, had no further business, and adjourned until Wednesday, February 25 at 3:00 p.m.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 20, 2025 - 11:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- of these revenues are raised from visitors outside of our state, yet when citizens look at their ballots
- future bond ratings when we do have those projects going forward because we have to go back to the ballot
- Forty-eight specific levies would be needed to go back to the ballot before the 2025 deadline.
- Forty-eight specific levies would be needed to go back to the ballot before the 2025 deadline.
- I was a board member when that was voted on to go on the ballot.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on March 20, 2025, and first approved HB 4025, creating the Duke Farm Stewardship District in Lee County, on a 17-0 vote. The committee then advanced HJR 1215, which proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt agricultural tangible personal property from property tax, after extended debate about the fiscal impact on counties, especially rural and fiscally constrained ones; it passed 16-1. HB 411 also passed unanimously after an amendment, extending affordable housing tax exemption treatment to certain nonprofit projects on leased land, including Habitat for Humanity projects. The committee likewise approved CS/HB 669, allowing local governments to purchase certain unrated bonds, and CS/HB 4017, codifying the Vermont Drainage District charter in Charlotte County, both without opposition.
The committee also approved HJR 1039, which would let the Legislature prevent assessed-value increases for homestead properties that are improved to mitigate flood damage, and the related implementing bill HB 1041; both passed 17-0. Public testimony on these items included some opposition to the flood-related amendment, but no floor debate changed the outcome. The final major item was CS/HB 1221 by Rep. Miller, which would require local option taxes to be renewed by voter referendum every eight years, with longer terms allowed for bonded projects. That bill drew the most extensive testimony and debate, with counties, tourism groups, and local officials warning about impacts on tourism funding, infrastructure, schools, and public safety, while supporters argued for taxpayer accountability and periodic review. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably on a 13-4 vote.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Hydrogen applications range from power, heavy-duty... vehicles, marine, rail, export, and other industrial
- Willing to including nursing school applications and a consolidated application service for the committee
- hb 2913 by jones a thousand relating the authority of a municipality to allow person to file an application
- AB 2926 by Tupper, relating to the text of the ballot proposition to the issue.
- And requiring a license application fees or for the committee on state affairs issue or 138 by elders
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- Some thought they had enrolled only to learn too late that their application had not been received or
- In December of 2000, I got a letter and a ballot to enroll in Retirement Plus, and it says, and I quote
- I was on maternity leave during the application period.
- I never received a ballot to opt in or out.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing focused first on teacher retirement legislation, especially H. 2932 and S. 1884, which would give long-serving educators a one-time opportunity to enroll in Retirement Plus after the program’s 2001 rollout was described as confusing and inconsistently communicated. Legislators, union leaders, and many teachers testified that some educators missed the opt-in window because of faulty notices, leave status, transfers, or misinformation about payroll deductions, and that many have had to work several extra years as a result. Supporters said the bills would correct an unfair administrative error, provide a buyback option with interest, and could also save local school districts money by allowing earlier retirements. Representative Mark Sylvia also testified for H. 4234, a Fairhaven-specific bill to raise the age limit for special police officers from 65 to 70 and clarify appointing authority, citing experience and budget needs.
The committee then heard testimony on several pension investment and divestment bills. Supporters of H. 2811 and related climate-risk measures argued that PRIM should assess, disclose, and address climate-related financial risk in the state pension fund, warning that fossil fuel investments could threaten long-term returns and public finances. Environmental advocates and financial experts said climate risk is systemic and urged transparency, divestment planning, and alignment with the Commonwealth’s climate goals. Another set of speakers supported H. 2984, which would divest pension investments from companies selling weapons to Israel; they argued the state should not be complicit in violence in Gaza and cited humanitarian and human rights concerns. Additional testimony supported H. 2900 and S. 1869 to divest from the firearm industry, with speakers saying pension investments should not undermine Massachusetts gun laws.
No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs repeatedly thanked speakers, limited testimony time, and noted that written testimony could be submitted later. The hearing concluded with the committee moving through the sign-up list and hearing extensive public testimony on the teacher retirement and divestment proposals.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- law was kind of fuzzy on whether they could vote at the old address. precinct or vote a provisional ballot
- literally you show up at the polls and say, "Hey, I'm Bob; I want to vote," and they say, "Sure, how many ballots
- , normally you go to your new place and show your information, and they'll let you vote a limited ballot
- So normally, the standard practice we believe is letting you vote a limited ballot that doesn’t have
Bills:
SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5
Keywords:
flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
April 7, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- So five elected officials—it costs us more as supervisors of elections to print them on the ballot.
- So five elected officials—it costs us more as supervisors of elections to print them on the ballot, and
- And so, again, when you look at now 175 positions that are now going to be on your ballot, I would suggest
- those 175 positions would cost more than the budgets that we're talking about, putting those on the ballots
Summary:
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 973, a broad special districts bill focused heavily on soil and water conservation districts. The bill would dissolve 35 soil and water districts effective December 31, 2025, based on an OPAGA review that found widespread problems such as lack of revenue, inactive boards, poor notice practices, public records issues, and late financial reporting. It also would let special districts use state contracts, authorize FDLE background checks for district employees, preserve fire district taxing/service authority after annexation, extend liability protections for outdoor recreation on certain district lands, tighten eligibility for soil and water supervisors, and shift complaint review to the Commission on Ethics. Supporters argued the districts are often inactive, duplicative, and costly to review, while opponents said many districts provide local conservation, water quality, outreach, and volunteer services and should be given more time to remediate.
Public testimony on HB 973 was mixed. Several soil and water district chairs and related advocates opposed the bill, saying their districts provide local conservation, flood, invasive species, education, and coordination services at little or no taxpayer cost, and that abolishing them would remove local representation and collaboration. The bill’s proponent, the Florida Association of Special Districts, supported the measure as a limited-government and accountability reform, arguing that districts with no revenue or contracts should not continue. Members debated whether the bill was relying on the OPAGA report while also eliminating future performance reviews, whether the Department of Agriculture could absorb the added responsibilities, and whether the districts should have been given more time to correct deficiencies. The committee ultimately voted the bill favorably, with one no vote from Representative Hinson.
The committee then considered CS/HB 995, which applies to Monroe County and the Florida Keys. The bill would exempt Habitat for Humanity in the Keys from construction performance bond requirements for affordable housing, extend the Florida Keys land acquisition/set-aside authority in Florida Forever for 10 more years, and extend the hurricane evacuation time frame from 24 hours to 24.5 hours to allow up to 825 additional residential permit allocations, phased in over 10 years and directed largely toward vacant buildable lots and workforce housing. An amendment was adopted to codify the 825-unit allocation and the distribution framework. With no opposition offered on the bill, the committee reported HB 995 favorably by unanimous vote.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, of Oregon, to be Secretary of Labor. - Part 2 of 2 Feb 19th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The American people rejected these anti-worker policies at the ballot box.
- The secret ballot, obviously, helps to protect workers from intimidation, pressure, and redemption.
- Do you continue to support the elimination of secret ballots in union elections?
- Supporting the secret ballot is key, not only to protect the employee from maybe a bad union, but also
- Keeping those ballots protected, the secret ballot. Let me turn to a different issue.
Keywords:
PRO Act, labor laws, worker rights, unionization, right-to-work, public testimony, political polarization
Summary:
The meeting centered around an in-depth discussion of the PRO Act, with representatives expressing passionate opinions both for and against the legislation. Representative Chavez de Rimmer emphasized the importance of worker freedom, arguing that the PRO Act would infringe upon individual rights by coercing unionization. This perspective was strongly received by members from right-to-work states, who articulated their concerns about the potential erosion of workers' choices and protections. Speaker after speaker conveyed conflicting views on labor laws, indicating a deeply polarized environment surrounding labor issues at the moment.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- As she said, we did approve this by ballot in 2018, and it was before this board in 2019.
- That was back under the old rules where you had to go to the ballot before you came to this body.
- We are grateful that Rochester citizens approved each of these four ballot items when they voted.
- these four ballot these four ballot items<01:43:46.560>
when <01:43:46.800>they <01 - The ballot question put placed in front The ballot question put placed in front of<01:44:31.600>
the
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Election Law Subcommittee Work Session (03/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- :16:12.639>
House <00:16:13.000>Bill Concerning House Bill 27, relative to absentee ballots - verify, and I don't know, it's not really notary, but to affirm what the voter is doing so that that ballot
- verify, and I don't know, it's not really notary, but to affirm what the voter is doing so that that ballot
- before us House Bill 684, preventing the use of student identification cards as a means to obtain a ballot
- This is requiring a voter to provide identification when requesting an absentee ballot.
Summary:
The House Election Law Subcommittee met to review its report and vote on eight bills concerning voter registration, absentee voting, domicile qualifications, photographic identification, and related election procedures. The chair explained that the subcommittee’s mission was to consolidate and reconcile the bills, review constitutional and federal-law issues, and issue recommendations. Members thanked the chair, legislative staff, and outside contributors for the report and supporting materials, including research memos and testimony. The report was expected to be formally issued later in the week, with the bill recommendations finalized at the meeting.
The subcommittee first voted on House Bill 27, relative to absentee ballots, where members discussed a proposed bipartisan follow-up bill to clarify language for voters in jail and correctional facilities. The bill was recommended ought to pass by a 3-2 vote. House Bill 289, on domicile qualifications for voting, and House Bill 323, requiring government-issued photographic identification to vote, were both retained by unanimous 5-0 votes. House Bill 385, concerning a prior voting law, was recommended inexpedient to legislate by a 3-2 vote after members cited constitutional concerns and cost. House Bills 418, 618, and 684 were each recommended inexpedient to legislate unanimously, with members saying the subcommittee was consolidating overlapping bills into one measure per topic.
The final bill, House Bill 686, requiring identification when requesting an absentee ballot, was retained unanimously for further work over the summer and review by the full Election Law Committee in November. After completing all eight votes, members said the process helped them better understand the issues and that there was substantial bipartisan agreement on many principles, even where they differed on implementation. The meeting concluded with thanks and no further action beyond the subcommittee recommendations.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 17th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Whether it was with getting MediCal, Medicaid, going to the dentist, or even doing a job application.
- President Trump voiced support for cannabis legalization on the ballot measure in Florida.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The addition of subsection C would clarify that under B, subsection 3 would not be applicable when money
- So it does have to go to the ballot and, uh.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- have had individuals that took it to a committee because it only took 50 people to put it on the ballot
- That is really not applicable.
Bills:
HB24
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee May 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 930 is before you to ensure that all vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received
- present AB 920, which aims to streamline housing approvals in California by creating a centralized application
- directly responds to a lack of transparency by requiring local governments to offer a centralized application
- portal. ...response to a lack of transparency by requiring local governments to offer a centralized application
- portal that allows applicants to track and manage their permits all in one place.
Summary:
The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 14, 2025, for a regular order hearing with a large consent calendar and many individual bill presentations. The committee first approved numerous bills on consent, then heard a series of measures spanning reproductive health, child care eligibility, transportation, mental health diversion, county recorder fees, groundwater management, election deadlines, parking enforcement, consumer protections, housing, immigrant and student protections, and utility/CPUC oversight. Several bills were taken up only for presentation because they were on suspense, including ACA 4 on long-term housing funding, and the committee later approved a very large suspense calendar as a whole.
Among the bills discussed, AB 260 would protect medication abortion access and providers; AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility during family leave or job search; AB 1014 would give Caltrans more flexibility on speed limits in rural highway segments; AB 46 would clarify judicial discretion in mental health diversion; AB 1413 and AB 929 addressed groundwater adjudication and SGMA-related protections for small community water systems and wetlands; AB 930 would count vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days; AB 1022 would end towing solely for unpaid parking tickets; AB 290 and AB 302 dealt with automatic payments for the California Fair Plan and medical data protections; AB 1303 would remove the need for a Social Security number for California Lifeline eligibility; and several housing bills, including AB 920, AB 956, AB 1470, AB 893, and AB 1021, sought to streamline approvals or expand housing options. AB 1318 and AB 49 focused on immigrant-serving nonprofits and keeping immigration enforcement out of schools, while AB 1532 extended telecommunications and transportation access programs and added CPUC accountability measures.
Testimony was generally supportive for the bills heard, with authors and sponsors emphasizing low or absorbable fiscal impacts, consumer protection, housing production, public safety, and protections for vulnerable communities. Opposition appeared on a few measures, including concerns about ADUs, towing authority, charter school-related issues, and the scale of proposed housing funding in ACA 4. Several members also commented in support of the housing and immigrant-protection measures, and some bills were voted out with recorded no votes or not-voting members noted. After the suspense calendar was deemed approved, the committee opened public comment on bills not presented that day, heard a long list of supporters and opponents on various measures, and then adjourned.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 10 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Bill passes by use of the morning roll call. that mail-in ballots must be received that mail-in ballots
- <02:04:42.560>
into cast your ballot into cast your ballot into uh<02:04:44.120>the not accurately marking a ballot not accurately marking a ballot being<02:06:03.040>put <02 - <02:06:19.400>
that's <02:06:19.560>not ballot in the envelope that's not ballot in - got a properly filled out ballot. Yes. got a properly filled out ballot. Yes.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, received the invocation and pledge, and then dispensed with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests and pages were introduced, including junior pages, a doctor of the day, Farm Bureau representatives, and other visitors in the galleries. The chamber also recognized a birthday and welcomed a House member to the Senate.
On the calendar, the Senate took up several bills and mostly adopted strike-all amendments before passing them, often by morning roll call. These included HB 1646, which increased disaster trust fund transfer limits for declared and non-declared disasters; HB 1649, which authorized additional state fund transfers for Main Street revitalization projects and increased the total authorized expenditure; HB 1653, which kept a local improvements project fund bill alive for possible repurposing of funds, including a Mississippi Valley State residence hall project; and HB 669, which allowed patrons to bring wine into licensed premises with a corkage fee and changed wine shipment reporting from quarterly to semiannual. HB 1620 created an economic zone around the Chevron refinery in Jackson County, and HB 2787 changed school district gas-piping inspection requirements from annual testing to a two-year cycle, with funding support from gas companies.
The Senate also handled several concurrence and conference motions on House and Senate bills, including SB 2263 on probable-cause requirements for Marine Resources officers boarding or stopping vessels, SB 2524 establishing the Postsecondary Attainment Council, and SB 2597 involving the ABC warehouse transfer in Madison County, with the chamber choosing not to concur and to invite conference on those items. SB 2368 made technical changes to the higher education legislative plan grant program, and SB 2526 on the Rural Water Oversight Committee returned with changes removing a reverse repealer and shifting administration of some duties to a nonprofit using rural water revolving loan funds. The Senate also tabled motions to reconsider on some items, and one nomination-related motion drew extended remarks about the role of the capital post-conviction counsel office and respect for crime victims.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Media Availability 5/16/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And if Lisa does not hold this vote, we will take it to the ballot box.
- take<00:04:55.840>
it <00:04:56.000>to <00:04:56.120>the <00:04:56.240>ballot - vote, we will take it to the ballot box. vote, we will take it to the ballot box.
Summary:
Minnesota House members and gun-violence prevention advocates described an ongoing floor sit-in aimed at pressuring Speaker Lisa Daudt to bring a Senate-passed gun violence prevention package to a vote before the end of session. Speakers, including Reps. Kristi Pursell, Zaina Mohamed, Julie Green, Samantha Sencer-Mura, and Emma Greenman, said the sit-in had lasted about 36 hours and framed the effort as a response to recent shootings, especially the Annunciation tragedy, and to demands from families, survivors, students, doctors, clergy, and other Minnesotans for action.
The proposed package was described as the most comprehensive gun-violence reduction legislation Minnesota has considered, including an assault weapons ban, high-capacity magazine limits, restrictions on binary triggers and unserialized 3D-printed ghost guns, safe-storage requirements, school safety measures, and mental health supports for children in crisis. Speakers argued that red flag laws and background checks passed in 2023 were already saving lives, and that the new package would extend those protections. They criticized House leadership for not bringing the bill forward and said refusing a vote denied legislators and voters a chance to take a public position.
Sen. Ron Latz, chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said the Senate passed the package 34-33 and sent it to the House, and he urged the House to act. He also said the red flag law had been used more than 400 times and noted that Speaker Daudt herself had benefited from a red flag order, arguing she should extend similar protections to others. Maggie from Protect Minnesota echoed the call to listen to the public and said the state was watching to see whether lawmakers cared enough to act. No vote was taken during the exchange; speakers said they would continue the floor action and urged Minnesotans to call the House and demand a vote.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- As everyone indicated their presence, pass up the ballot, Madam Clerk.
- Pass up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 97 members present. The Chair sees a quorum.
- Cast up the ballot. The vote is 79 yea, 17 nay, and zero present.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established, then recognized guests including Arkansas State Police and Game and Fish officers, a doctor of the day, and several nurses in honor of National Nurses Week. Members also granted leave requests and approved dispensing with the reading of the previous day’s journal.
The main item of business was House Bill 1001, which would reduce the top individual income tax rate to 3.7 percent and the corporate rate to 4.1 percent. Representative Eaves presented the bill as a continuation of Arkansas’s long-term tax reduction strategy, arguing it would provide broad relief to working families and improve competitiveness. Representative Hudson spoke against it, saying the benefits would be small for many taxpayers and that the state should instead use the revenue for priorities such as postpartum Medicaid, food insecurity, child care, rural hospitals, and agriculture. Representative Ray spoke in favor, emphasizing cumulative tax savings, economic growth, and the state’s recent investments in education, teacher pay, highways, paid maternity leave, and other programs.
The House passed HB 1001 by a vote of 79 yeas to 17 nays. Afterward, the chamber adopted a motion to adjourn until 9:30 a.m. the next day. Members announced upcoming committee meetings, including Girl State, Boy State, Joint Budget, and Revenue and Tax, and the Speaker noted the House would return to consider Senate Bill 1 if it clears committee.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Education. 2508 elections. 2508 elections. 2506 voting elections. 2507 elections. 2511 early ballot,
- HB 2511, early ballot, military affairs and elections.
- HB 2802, ballot measure. Federalism, military affairs, and elections. HB 2805, electronic.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and took attendance. Members then recognized several guest groups and individuals, including the West Valley Regional Chamber, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Arizona, Vitalant for National Blood Donor Month, and veterans and military family representatives in advance of a Veterans Caucus meeting. A proclamation was read recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month in Arizona and honoring Vitalant’s role in supplying blood to Arizona patients.
The chamber also heard a declaration naming January 22, 2026, West Valley Regional Chamber Day, and members made personal remarks, including a memorial tribute to Jennifer Marie Walker Skaggs and announcements about committee meetings and caucus events. The House recorded attendance, entered committee reports, and processed a large number of bills through first and second reading, covering elections, education, veterans, health, housing, taxation, artificial intelligence, public safety, and other topics. Several bills were also withdrawn and reassigned to different committees, including referrals to Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, Government, and Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
No substantive floor debate or final votes on legislation occurred in the transcript beyond procedural motions. The House later recessed and reconvened, continued first-reading referrals for additional bills and resolutions, and then adjourned on a motion approved by voice vote until 1:15 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2026.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This includes funding to support cloud hosting, application support services, and PeopleSoft licensing
- are on to uh a new modern applications are on to uh a new modern system<00:57:22.319>
well <00 - The state is responsible for voter education and counting of the ballots, so it would be the county to
- so it' be the counting of the ballots so it' be the county<01:26:45.679>
to <01:26:45.920> - So Oahu and North Shore mailed in their ballot, not necessarily we're seeing on Election Day.
Summary:
The joint Ways and Means and Government Operations committees received a biennium budget preview from Keith Regan, Comptroller and Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), who introduced department leadership and described DAGS’ broad responsibilities across accounting, public works, procurement, elections, archives, risk management, and other attached agencies. He emphasized that DAGS supports nearly every state department and cited ongoing workforce challenges, while noting progress in reducing the department-wide vacancy rate from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2024. He also highlighted recruitment efforts, including new salary schedules for engineers and architects, job fairs, internships, and outreach to retiring federal employees.
A major focus was modernization of the state’s aging financial systems, especially the 55-year-old FAMIS platform and the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project. DAGS said it expects to release the RFP for the FAMIS replacement by the end of January and is seeking a second tranche of CIP funding, including $35 million, plus position augmentation and creation of a Business Transformation Office to manage EFS and future modernization work. The department also described major capital projects such as the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, Wahiawā Civic Center, Kauaʻi Civic Center, and Ahuimanu Community Correctional Center, and reported that Public Works is managing 455 projects statewide valued at more than $2.5 billion.
Other budget requests discussed included funding for cemetery operations, with DAGS asking for two positions and $1 million in operating funds to support maintenance of eight cemeteries; a $200 million ceiling increase tied to anticipated insurance proceeds for West Maui fire-related recovery and rebuilding; and several staffing and operating items for district offices and facilities. These included full-year funding for positions in West Hawaiʻi and East Hawaiʻi, support for a small business coordinator at the State Procurement Office, funding for cloud hosting and PeopleSoft licensing, six positions and staff augmentation for the EFS project, electricity costs, and security-related funding. DAGS also noted that two requested reductions totaled $7.9 million, including transferring the security contract to the Department of Law Enforcement and reducing nonrecurring expenses; members discussed whether some security funding should remain with or be moved to DLE, and DAGS said it would not object to that transfer. No votes were taken in the portion provided.