Bills: HB97, HB407, HB435, SB361, HB97, HB407, HB435

Keywords: absentee ballot, voting, elections, voter registration, electoral process, defective affidavit, voting rights, local redevelopment, tax payments, transient occupancy, state revenue, authority powers, economic development, tax abatement, incentives, Alabama Jobs Act, Accelerate Alabama, NAICS, North American Industry Classification System, 2022 NAICS codes

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any no votes or present. Are there any no votes or reservations? reservations?
• </c> there any no votes or reservations? there any no votes or reservations?
• Are there any no votes or to pass as is. Are there any no votes or reservations? Thank you.
• </c> we'll vote on them together. we'll vote on them together.
• </c> present any no votes or reservations? present any no votes or reservations?

Bills: SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529

Keywords: real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• the vote?
• vote.
• vote.
• Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns. Aye. Representative Stearns votes aye.
• vote.

Bills: HB2356, HB2574, HB2572, HB2460, HJR4212, HB2631, HB2333, HB2462, HB2419, HB2176, HB2491

Keywords: homicide, public records, transparency, law enforcement, victim rights, election, ballot, candidates, deceased, voting law, voting access, military voters, overseas voters, Native American voters, disabled voters, election reform, accessibility, ballot measures, vacancies, elected offices

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2356 would let a homicide victim’s next of kin seek a court injunction to block disclosure of law enforcement records in homicide cases; the sponsor said it was intended to protect surviving children from graphic evidence being posted online, while open-government testimony opposed the bill as a secrecy measure that would reduce public accountability. HB 2460 and HJR 4212 would change vacancy-filling rules for partisan offices so the same-party requirement applies only when the former officeholder had declared a party preference; the sponsor said this would address vacancies involving no-party-preference officeholders and avoid delays or litigation. HB 2631 would extend the governor’s customer-service initiative, “Your Washington,” to three additional agencies through a pilot project; the sponsor and supporters said it would improve service delivery, while the Secretary of State’s office raised fiscal and autonomy concerns. HB 2574 would create a process for county auditors to handle the death of a candidate after filing or after a primary, including removing the name from ballots or not counting votes, which the sponsor said would save time and costs in cases where a candidate dies before the election. HB 2572 would require county auditors to meet regularly with tribal nations about election services and create an electronic ballot portal for certain voters, including tribal voters on reservations, military and overseas voters, and voters with disabilities; county auditors and the Secretary of State supported the tribal outreach and discussed security and implementation details for the portal. The committee then moved to executive session on five bills. For HB 2333, which addresses protections against political violence for elected officials, candidates, election officials, and criminal justice participants, the committee adopted amendment Omley 307 to allow campaign reports and contributions to use a P.O. box or ACP address, then passed the proposed substitute bill 4-3. HB 2462, concerning government authority to counter unpiloted aircraft systems, passed 5-2. HB 2419, which expands the Address Confidentiality Program to include administrative law judges and Office of Administrative Hearings employees, passed after adopting amendment Omley 305 to include the chief administrative law judge. HB 2176, exempting collaborative drug therapy agreements from PRA disclosure, passed 4-3. HB 2491, exempting personal information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for the digital experience platform from public disclosure, also passed 5-2. The committee adjourned after reporting all five bills out with do pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Explain my vote? Yes. So I'm not sure how I'm going to vote on the floor.
• I vote aye. Senator Rogers. Aye. Four aye, three no, zero not voting.”
• I vote aye. Senator Finchem: Madam Chair, may I explain my vote?
• functions such as voter registration, early voting, and provisional voting.
• Explain my vote? Yes.

Bills: SB1095, SB1127, SB1170, SB1208, SB1211, SB1237, SB1239, SB1240, SB1243, SB1244, SB1259, SB1283

Keywords: gender transition, minors, irreversible surgery, health professionals, puberty-blocking drugs, medical procedures, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, reporting abuse, child neglect, mandatory reporting, child safety, medical treatment, faith exemptions, penalties, narcotic drugs, fentanyl, sentencing, drug offenses, juvenile justice

Transcript Highlights:

• And we went to the people of the state of Texas... and let them vote on it.
• can't get two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House to take it to the people to let them vote
• I am authorized to speak today on their behalf by unanimous vote of the board of that organization.
• Under the law that this body is asked to vote on, it disregards the value of those who are born, unborn
• We just aren't going to be able to value human life, us, as legislators, without our vote.

Bills: SB 30, SB 517, SB 1313, SB 1314, SB 1316, SB 1541, SB 1698, SB 1845, SB 1860, SB 2420, SB 2429

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is for voting restoration of voting rights. That's our goal.
• amendment is for voting restoration of voting<00:15:24.880><c> rights.
• to restore voting rights.
• </c> give restore your right to vote. give restore your right to vote.
• </c> able to get their voting rights back. able to get their voting rights back.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:10 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:21 Discussion of the Restoration of Voting Rights 00:06:34 Discussion of the Application of NTI Days for Schools Designated by County Clerks as Polling Locations for Elections 00:25:20 Approval of Minutes from July 29, 2025 Meeting 00:32:22 Adjournment 00:32:49, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up two fire commission regulatory amendments. Bruce Roberts, director of the Fire Commission, explained that one amendment updates financial disclosure reporting rules to align with changes to KRS 95A.55, including revised definitions, reporting requirements, and moving compliance reviews from every four years to an annual basis. The second amendment changes the deadline for fire departments to submit state aid documentation from July 31 to September and adds flexibility for departments affected by natural disasters by allowing a waiver process for missing, lost, or damaged documents. The committee approved the agency amendment by motion, second, and voice vote with no opposition. The main policy discussion centered on a proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentence and probation/parole. Senators Hickden and Herren said the proposal would restore only voting rights, not citizenship or the right to run for office, and would still exclude certain offenses such as treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, and offenses against a child. They argued that Kentucky is one of only three states without automatic restoration, that the current governor’s executive order is temporary, and that the issue should be settled by constitutional amendment. Members asked about the relationship to expungement, costs, and whether election-related crimes should be included among the exceptions; the sponsors said expungement is separate and that they were open to refining the language. Several members voiced support, and the sponsors said they hoped to continue working on the proposal before the next session. The committee also discussed a practical issue involving schools used as polling places and conflicts with KDE testing days. The chair raised the possibility of adjusting testing schedules or using NI days at affected schools, while members noted that county clerks already have authority to use tax-funded buildings for elections and that schools have long been used because of ADA accessibility. Some members suggested a simpler fix would be to prevent KDE testing dates from overlapping with election dates, rather than changing NI-day rules or limiting clerks’ authority. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• May I explain my vote?
• I vote no. Senator Kavanaugh, can I spend my vote?
• Explain my vote? Yes.
• my vote as a person who votes by mail stronger.
• I vote no. Senator Ortiz. Pass. Senator Finchem, may I explain my vote? Okay.

Bills: HB2109, HB2168, HB2198, HB2226, HB2415, HB2440, HB2665, HB2805, HB2811, HB2825, HB2857, HB2874, HB2966, HB4067, HB4117, HCR2001, HCR2016, HCR2051

Keywords: distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, attorney general, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks

Transcript Highlights:

• So I want to be voting yes. Thank you. Senator Wilson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I'm going to urge a no vote. Senator Wilson? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• So asking for a no vote. Any other comments?
• So I ask you to vote no. Thank you. Senator Hasegawa. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I've already told you where my outcome is going to be on a no vote.

Bills: SB5973, SB5892, SB6081, SB5842, SB5827, SB5968, SB6034, SB6035, SB5888, SB6123, SB5853

Keywords: initiative, referendum, ballot measure, petition, signature gathering, circulator, per-signature pay, paid circulator, election integrity, voter fraud, ballot title, Secretary of State, Code Reviser, direct democracy, citizen lawsuit, civil penalties, Washington elections, initiative process, referendum process, grassroots petition

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 23, 2026, first in executive session on several election- and government-related bills, then in public hearing on three measures. In executive action, the committee held SB 6035 and SB 5842 for the following week, then considered SB 5973 on initiative and referendum signature-gathering rules, SB 5892 on voter registration database disclosure, SB 6081 on protecting sex designation information in vital records and licensing records, SB 5877 on veterans’ civil service preference, SB 5968 on permitting/licensing deadlines and reporting, and SB 6034 on codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. The committee rejected a series of amendments to SB 5973, including proposals to remove or weaken the 1,000-signature prefiling requirement, change or narrow citizen enforcement provisions, add ID and training requirements, and alter penalties. The committee then advanced the proposed substitutes or bills for SB 5973, SB 5892, SB 6081, SB 5877, SB 5968, and SB 6034 to the Rules Committee or the next committee, with do-pass recommendations as applicable. During the SB 5973 debate, supporters said the bill was intended to curb pay-per-signature practices and fraud in the initiative process, while opponents argued it would burden constitutional initiative rights and create barriers to participation. Several amendments were offered by Senators Fortunato and Wilson to reduce or eliminate the prefiling signature threshold, add disclosure or training requirements, narrow enforcement, and reduce penalties; all were rejected or, in one case, withdrawn. The committee then approved the proposed substitute and sent the measure forward. SB 5892 and SB 6081 drew no amendments in executive session and were advanced without controversy, while SB 5877 and SB 5968 were also moved forward with proposed substitutes. SB 6034, which would formally establish the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs as a cabinet agency and require annual reporting, was likewise advanced. In public hearing, the committee heard SB 5888, which would remove Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women’s Commission. Senator Wellman said the change would align the commission with similar bodies and correct an inconsistency; the commission’s representative supported the bill, noting the governor would retain appointment authority and that the current process had created delays. The committee then heard SB 6123, expanding a public-records exemption for voluntarily supplied personal demographic information to local government employees. A Pierce County HR director testified in support, saying the exemption would build trust while preserving aggregate reporting and compliance obligations; the bill drew extensive support and opposition sign-ins. Finally, the committee heard SB 5853, Senator Wilson’s proposal to create a statewide emergency public official notification system for targeted threats. Wilson said the bill was meant as a non-privileged safety and awareness tool; the Secretary of State’s office said it supported the concept but preferred the Military Department to operate the system rather than VoteWA. The hearing closed with 192 people signed in in support and none opposed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Time permitting, we will get to another bill we're going to try to vote on after we get finished with
• Veterans Affairs committees to be voted on. The candidate chosen then would be the commissioner.
• They have a voting board now. Right, they have a voting board now.
• The veterans vote for their board.
• We may be voting on it; I don't know yet.

Bills: HB154, HB153, HB180, SB70

Keywords: veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, governor appointment, board advisory, veteran service organizations, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, veteran service officers, district managers, state veterans home trust fund, veterans benefits, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, active-duty service members, state agency reorganization, executive authority, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Roberts votes ai. Representative Guy votes iii. Leer Munson votes i.
• Chairman Cadwellrey votes ii. Representative Townley votes i.
• Representative De votes 'aye'. Representative Rowe votes 'aye'. Representative Chapman votes 'aye'.
• Proto more votes 'aye'. Representative Doriinsky votes 'aye'. Representative Miller votes 'aye'.
• Resin, iller, otai, Representative Sneed, he care to vote Members wishing to vote to change their vote

Bills: HB2975, HB3405, HB3406, HB3728, HB3902, HB3977, SB397, HB1161, HB2938, HB2939, HB3306, HB3722, HB4113, HB4123, HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• from someone who is on the bad side of a vote.
• So isn't the best practice of voice vote and electronic voting that the announcement of that vote is
• Vote went up.
• I would say the vote passed unanimously, or it passed this, and whoever voted nay was called out, who
• We put a limit on what they can vote for. They don’t have a problem voting for their self-raises.

Bills: HB248, HB249, HB997, HB1052, HB1193, SB1, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB289, SB435

Keywords: Compensation Commission, elected officials, salary evaluation, government accountability, Louisiana legislature, compensation, independent commission, salary adjustment, consumer price index, official journal, public notices, government transparency, local government, municipal website, school board notices, parish council, police jury, special districts, levee district, drainage district

Transcript Highlights:

• voted for.
• But when you're voting, I vote in 2-6 at Harry Hurst Middle School.
• But when you're voting, I vote in 2-6 at Harry Hurst Middle School.
• And of the 80, some are going to vote early, and some are going to vote by mail.
• they voted.

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Transcript Highlights:

• I vote aye.
• I vote aye.
• How do you vote? How do you vote? Mr. Chair, just point of order. I vote. How do you vote?
• So with that, I vote no. So with that, I vote no. I'm sorry, can you say the vote again?
• I vote aye. I'll reserve my comments to after the vote. I'll just vote aye. But I forgot the vote.

Bills: SB1003, SB1060, SB1134, SB1275, SB1327, SB1429, SB1618, SB1634, SB1654, SB1803, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1023, SCR1027

Keywords: election, canvass, certification, ballot tabulation, write-in candidates, registration, voting procedures, voter registration, temporary absence, absentee voting, residency, military voters, overseas voters, election law, Arizona Revised Statutes, political signs, campaign materials, public safety, municipal regulation, veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• They let her vote for her. Chicago. They let her vote for her sister in Chicago.
• It's not a recorded vote. You can say... It's not a recorded vote. You can say it's not unanimous.
• But what they do is sometimes they show up to vote, and when they show up to vote, they can pass this
• United States citizens and eligible to vote. Are there any... citizens and eligible to vote.
• And so I've been living there 20 years and I go all the way back to vote in back to vote in Jonesboro

Bills: HB479, HB480

Keywords: voting, elections, voter registration, voter rolls, list maintenance, address change, change of address, ERIC, Electronic Registration Information Center, AVID, Alabama Voter Integrity Database, Secretary of State, board of registrars, inactive voter, voter purge, duplicate registration, cross-state voter matching, National Change of Address, NCOA, driver license data

Transcript Highlights:

• And so last session when this bill passed out of the other committee, there were actually no no votes

Bills: SB210, SB176, SB167, SB244, SB218, SB9, SB153, SB9

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, aggravated theft, employee benefits, retirement funds, criminal penalty, state law, overdose, failure to render aid, public health, Alabama Athletic Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• 2026 excess include $50 million into the State Emergency and Response Fund, $12.8 million into the Voting

Bills: HB1, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, budget, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year, economic development, state treasury, emergency response, education, voting technology, sustainability, revenue sharing, fund distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• to be able to vote.
• We want everybody to vote who should and have the right to vote.
• We're voting, right? We're voting. So those aren't the ones, right?
• to vote.
• vote is counted.

Bills: AB49, AB169, AB188, AB284, AB296, AB306, AB356, AB366, AB467, AB499, AB515, AB540, AB542, AB595

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, health insurance, speech-language pathology, stuttering, rehabilitative services, habilitative services, coverage requirements, health plans, retired public employees, subsidy, Medicare, health reimbursement arrangement, Public Employees' Benefits Program

Transcript Highlights:

• You're talking about the number of votes cast and people who showed up, not how they voted.
• For early voting...
• For example, 20,000 votes cast at a given location for early voting—that discrepancy, I think a higher
• Recount of those votes. It's consistent with the number of votes that were cast. Thank you.
• If we had one combined voting period, we'd be generating reports again at the beginning of the voting

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• systems. where the votes are being tabulated, where the votes are being counted.
• We see problems where vote histories, who voted when and where, are kept in living databases.
• checked in matches the number of votes. votes that were cast, just the numbers.
• clerk. the technicality, in early voting you don't have presiding judges, the actual, the early vote
• If we had one combined voting period, we'd be generating reports again at the beginning of the voting

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• For all the reasons above, we ask you not to vote SB 2743 favorably. Thank you. Ed Johnson.
• In the code, it required you to put together a list of everybody that voted who was not registered.
• We would have hundreds of people that we identified who were not registered to vote but ended up voting

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1065, which would require government property contracts to prohibit contractors from barring licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms on leased or owned public property, with civil penalties and attorney general enforcement for violations. Senator Hall and invited witnesses from the Texas State Rifle Association, NRA, and Texas Gun Rights argued the bill would close a loophole exposed by the State Fair of Texas gun ban and protect law-abiding Texans’ self-defense rights. Opponents, including Moms Demand Action/Everytown, said the bill would undermine event organizers’ ability to set site-specific safety rules and could increase liability and insurance costs. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. The committee next took up Senate Bill 2742, which would create civil penalties for independent school districts and officials who use public resources for electioneering, waive immunity defenses, and expand attorney general enforcement. Senator Hagan-Bood said current law bans the conduct but lacks meaningful penalties, making injunctions the only remedy. No public testimony was heard, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2743, also by Senator Hagan-Bood, which would allow a court to disqualify local prosecutors who refuse to prosecute election offenses and appoint the attorney general to handle the case, with a committee substitute adjusting the removal process through an adjacent-county judge. Opponents from the Texas Civil Rights Project argued the bill would undermine prosecutorial discretion and was vague and open to abuse, while a Harris County election official described past instances where alleged voter fraud cases were not pursued. After testimony, public comment was closed and SB 2743 was left pending.