Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts voters are entitled to know who's trying to get them to sign a petition.
• Numerous Massachusetts voters claim that they were fraudulently misled to put their...
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition. Thank you.
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition.
• Many of the voters claimed that they would never have signed if they had not been misled by the paid

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:

• greater than 300,000 or less than 400,000 may voluntarily increase their commissioners from 3 to 5 with voter
• Any jurisdiction that chose to fully plan under the GMA must submit the REET 2 proposition to voters.
• and the cities within those counties that chose to plan under the GMA to submit a proposition to voters
• Any jurisdiction that chose to fully plan under the GMA must submit the REIT 2 proposition to voters.
• In the end, the only people that really care about the voters are the voters themselves.

Bills: SB6211 , SB6234 , SB6242

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: real estate, excise tax, growth management, uniformity, local government, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, shared stewardship, counties authority, land management, environmental agreements, local governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts voters are entitled to know who's trying to get them to sign a petition.
• Numerous Massachusetts voters claim that they were fraudulently misled to put their...
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition. Thank you.
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition.
• Many of the voters claimed that they would never have signed if they had not been misled by the paid

Summary: The Senate took up Senate Bill 2898, a campaign finance transparency bill for state ballot question committees, and considered a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized reporting definitions, contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, post-election audits for all statewide elections, and tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns. Amendments by Senators Rausch, DiDomenico, and Finegold were adopted, including late contribution reporting, retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble, regulations for preliminary costs, and a ban on pay-per-signature arrangements for signature gathering. One amendment by Senator Edwards on stronger penalties for violations was withdrawn. The Ways and Means amendment, as amended, was then adopted, the bill was ordered to third reading, and it ultimately passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 roll call vote. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 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 strong support, citing the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur of Uxbridge and the continuing grief of families of fallen officers. The bill was ordered to third reading and passed to be engrossed unanimously by a 38-0 roll call. Later, the Senate adopted 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 and committee chairs explaining the need for additional time to complete work on pending bills, review commission recommendations, and finish cost analyses. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and the chamber adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts voters are entitled to know who's trying to get them to sign a petition.
• Numerous Massachusetts voters claim that they were fraudulently misled to put their...
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition. Thank you.
• Then they had the voters sign the same-sex marriage ban petition.
• Many of the voters claimed that they would never have signed if they had not been misled by the paid

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Suspension, but current law requires voter approval to repurpose any parkland, let alone 11 acres.
• Senate Bill 2675 creates a narrow exemption for McAllen in the local government code, removing the voter
• Hundreds of thousands of voters, I assume? Or what was the total amount? 358,000.
• Not to have a hodgepodge depending on what city you're in and how the voters think on this particular
• Did the voters follow climate policy? Assuming there's an initiative to ban fracking, for example.

Bills: SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525 , HB22

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:36.240><c> approval</c> referendum and of course voter approval referendum and of course voter
• </c> that is does that assume that the voters that is does that assume that the voters in<00:54:31.200
• </c><01:23:00.639><c> as</c> two if approved by the voters as two if approved by the voters as required
• </c><01:31:28.159><c> And</c> approved by the voters as required.
• And approved by the voters as required.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not doing this to voters.
• Members, let us listen to our voters. They sent us here. Let us listen to our voters.
• The voters will make that choice.
• We trust in the voters in the Florida House.
• We are trusting in the voters of Florida by putting this forward.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a number of state and local grants, federal grants, and they also have dedicated tax revenues from voter
• Voters in San Diego County have rejected now three times SANDAG's request for a tax increase, in large
• In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, with the goal of reducing certain nonviolent drug
• Prop 36 was approved by the voters to address repeat theft and fentanyl-related effects.
• Prop 36 was approved by the voters to address repeat theft and all related offenses and the need for

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to hear new audit requests and receive a status update from the State Auditor. The auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, noted that all 2025-approved audits are underway, said the first 2026 audit is focused on DMV license revocations, and described several statutory and high-risk audits already in progress. The committee also approved a consent calendar of four audit requests: UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then considered Assembly Member DeMaio’s audit request on SANDAG road project management. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to examine whether transportation funds, including voter-approved and restricted revenues, were used for allowable purposes and whether past management failures warranted outside review. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency already undergoes extensive oversight and audits, that funds are tracked by multiple “colors of money,” and that internal controls have improved. Several members questioned whether the issues were already addressed in public records or existing audits, and the request failed on a roll call vote. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, arguing that more transparency is needed on outcomes, recidivism data, and oversight of grantees. The BSCC said it already has oversight mechanisms, that the State Controller conducts biennial audits, and that program data shows positive outcomes. The committee approved the audit unanimously. Senator Cortese then presented an audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and Delta Dental contract, citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network concerns, and retiree out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently completed an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that contracts include performance guarantees. Members from both parties expressed concern about access and competition, and the audit was approved unanimously. The committee then completed add-on votes on the consent calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we're being proactive in ensuring that we are complying with federal, state, and local law or voter
• Voters in San Diego County have rejected now three times SANDAG's request for a tax increase, in large
• In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47
• by the voters to address repeat theft and all related offenses and the need for meaningful treatment
• In 2024, the voters approved Proposition 36, which modified Proposition 47.

Committee: House Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The voters were confused at that point, whether they should show up or not.
• We need to give the voters the confidence that when they show up to vote early...
• , tens of thousands of voters in St.
• , tens of thousands of voters in St.
• There should be no baiting or coercing voters to vote one way or the other or interfering with voter

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the city or town's qualified electors and exempts a TPT or excise tax that is submitted to the voters
• if doing so would cause the imposed tax rate to exceed the cap unless the new tax is approved by voters
• Senate Bill 1745 subjects a city or town that violates the tax rate cap and voter approval requirements
• And Tucson asked voters to approve Prop 114, a half-percent city sales tax increase projected to raise
• So I suggest that the voters be given the opportunity to change it.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the February 4, 2026 minutes and first held SB 1571. It then heard and advanced SB 1745, which would cap transaction privilege/excise tax rates in cities of 550,000 or more at 2.5% per classification unless voters approve a higher rate, with enforcement through the attorney general and state-shared revenue withholding for violations. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayers and restrain large-city tax increases; the bill was amended with a technical change and passed 4-3. The committee also advanced SB 1686, renaming Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza as the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorizing memorial placements for Don Bowles and Charlie Kirk, which passed 4-3. The committee then took up SB 1567 and SB 1435, both aimed at restricting public entities, schools, and libraries from exposing minors to sexually explicit materials and from using public facilities for sexually explicit filming or access. Supporters said the bills were needed to prevent children from being exposed to pornography and to keep taxpayer resources from facilitating such material; opponents, including the ACLU, warned the definitions were broad, could chill speech, and could criminalize librarians and educators for handling literary or educational works. Both bills were amended and passed 4-3. SB 1435 also drew testimony about library access, sex education, and the risk of overbroad enforcement. The committee next considered SB 1433 and SB 1434, which would reorganize Maricopa County boundaries. SB 1433 would move portions of Maricopa County into neighboring counties, while SB 1434 would split Maricopa County into three new counties with a transition board and special elections. Supporters argued Maricopa County had become too large and unmanageable and that smaller counties would improve representation and water and regional governance; opponents said the proposals were costly, disruptive, and politically motivated. Both measures received due pass recommendations, with SB 1433 passing 4-3 and SB 1434 passing 4-3 with one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SCR 1024, requiring legislators to live in their district for one year before election, and SCR 1025, moving the legislative session start to the fourth Monday in January; both resolutions passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• like the voters are reaffirming it.
• Sometimes the voters are not informed about what's going on.
• You can be a qualified voter - would that be a renter as long as you're a qualified voter?
• It eliminates local voters from the process.
• And these results are not driven only by voters in Texas cities.

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> voters approve it. voters approve it.
• We respectfully ask for your support to allow us to bring this item before our voters.
• </c> the local voters. the local voters.
• </c> our voters. our voters.
• </c> would do would help fund, if the voters would do would help fund, if the voters approved,<00:31:

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the committee, my name is Valerie Brooker, and I'm a registered lobbyist for the League of Women Voters
• The League of Women Voters of New Mexico supports regulations that promote firearm safety.
• I don't want voters of all parties who are voting to be targets.
• So this is just ensuring that we are prioritizing safety and ensuring that no voter intimidation might
• And I guess, and I agree with you, I don't want any kind of voter intimidation, right?

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Joint Resolution 7, a land swap between the City of Santa Fe and the state involving a parcel in Midtown Santa Fe, the former College of Santa Fe campus area. The sponsor said the transaction would not involve any money and was intended to help advance redevelopment of the Midtown area. There was no public testimony, and the committee moved a due pass recommendation with no opposition. The committee then took up Senate Bill 261, which updates 2024 law restricting firearms at polling places by narrowing exemptions. The bill would generally make polling places firearm-free, while still allowing firearms for law enforcement requested by election officials to maintain order or respond to emergencies, for officers whose offices are in the same facility, and for people inside private vehicles. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said firearms can intimidate voters and poll workers and should not be present at polling sites. Opponents from the Zia Rifle and Pistol Club, NRA, and New Mexico Business Coalition argued the bill removes protections for law-abiding concealed carry holders and off-duty officers, and that concealed carry is not inherently intimidating. Committee members questioned how the ban would be enforced, how concealed carry would be identified, and whether polling places would be left vulnerable in the event of an attack. The Secretary of State’s representative said stationing uniformed officers at polling places would violate federal law, that poll workers are trained in de-escalation, and that the bill is intended to create a clear, uniform rule for election workers. Before the discussion concluded, the sponsor had to leave for another committee, and the chair announced the bill would be rolled to a later meeting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• voters decide, Mr.
• Correct, subject to voter approval.
• I think Arizona voters... Arizona.
• And we believe that violates what the voters chose with recreational marijuana... ...what the voters
• I would also leave you with this: this was voter-initiated. It was voter-approved.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee opened by announcing a heavy agenda and noting that Senate Bill 1176 would be held. It then took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 1272, which appropriates $5 million for the City of Douglas as a state match for the Douglas Port of Entry project. The bill was amended to draw the money from the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund instead of the General Fund. Senator Gowen, the Douglas mayor, and city staff described the project as a $678 million federal investment opportunity that would support water, wastewater, and broadband infrastructure, create jobs, and improve border security. The committee approved SB 1272 as amended on a 15-0 vote with three present and one not voting. The committee next approved SB 1503, as amended, which expands the state death benefit to include civilian pilots employed by law enforcement agencies and applies the change retroactively to January 1, 2026. Senator Gowen and DPS leadership testified that the change was needed so the family of a pilot killed in a February helicopter crash would qualify for the benefit. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1274, as amended, created a separate timeshare salesperson license and training path; supporters said it would streamline licensing for people who only sell timeshares, while one member objected to the added rulemaking discretion. It passed 17-1 with one not voting. The committee also approved SB 1286, which expands veterinary telemedicine by allowing longer prescription periods for certain medications after an electronic exam, with shorter limits for antimicrobials. Supporters said it would help rural and disabled pet owners and had been negotiated to the satisfaction of veterinarians and telemedicine advocates. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1519, as amended, raised the off-highway vehicle weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and revised related registration and funding provisions; supporters argued it would reflect newer enclosed-cab vehicles and better align Arizona with neighboring states, while opponents warned of trail damage and said the study process was not complete. It passed 10-7 with one present and one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SB 1618, which restructures the Military Affairs Commission, adds members with defense and aerospace expertise, requires more frequent meetings and reporting, and updates the Military Installation Fund and related duties to better attract and retain defense missions. Supporters said the changes would help Arizona compete for military and defense investment, while some members questioned whether the commission’s mission was being broadened too far and whether the existing structure should instead be handled through other agencies. The bill passed 10-6 with one present and one not voting. The committee then considered SCR 1020, which would index legislative salaries to inflation or deflation starting with future officeholders if approved by voters. Supporters argued the current $24,000 salary had eroded significantly since 1998 and limited who could serve, while opponents objected to legislators voting on their own pay or preferred reducing session time instead. The resolution was approved and sent forward for voter consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any registered voter can vote by mail in our state, but they must request a ballot.
• Not at the voter level. That's right.
• And frankly, again, this is super popular with voters.
• And frankly, again, this is super popular with voters.
• I'm the Director and General Counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the flow of voters. It's the lines building up.
• voters, and people who need accessibility assistance.
• So I stand here today, though, as president of the Florida Voters League.
• And we have three specific goals: registering voters, educating voters, and encouraging them to participate
• And we have three specific goals, registering voters, educating voters. specific goals, registering voters

Summary: The Committee on Rules met and first approved several open-government sunset repeal bills and related measures. SB 7024 and SB 7026, both sponsored by Senator Mayfield, were explained as consolidating and extending public records/public meetings exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies; both were reported favorably. SB 7020, sponsored by Senator Trumbull, reenacted an aquaculture records exemption for records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and was also reported favorably. Later, the committee approved SB 14 and SB 24, claims bills for relief involving Miami-Dade County, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg; all were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS for SB 806, a consumer right-to-repair bill creating portable wireless device and agricultural equipment repair acts, despite opposition from several industry groups, and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any registered voter can vote by mail in our state, but they must request a ballot.
• Not at the voter level. That's right.
• Not at the voter level. That's right.
• And frankly, again, this is super popular with voters.
• I'm the director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted to pass House Bill 2125, which drew some concern from Rep. Woods about subpoena power for the Secretary of State, and House Bill 1812, which passed unanimously. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 2387 and 2480, both aimed at reinstating Missouri’s presidential preference primary and adjusting absentee voting rules. Sponsors Rep. Veit and Rep. Banderman argued the primary would increase participation, make Missouri more relevant in presidential politics, and better reflect voter preferences, while also proposing changes to the in-person absentee window to reduce overlap with April elections and encourage in-person voting. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Republican Party, the Missouri Democratic Party, the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, ACLU Missouri, Missouri Farm Bureau, and several individuals. Supporters emphasized broader voter participation, the value of a primary over caucuses, and the need to make Missouri’s presidential process more accessible and visible. Party representatives said they were willing to work on binding language so primary results would inform or bind delegate selection, and Democrats said their rules already bind delegates to primary results. Several members said they would be more comfortable supporting the bills if the primary were made binding by statute and if the primary were closed to party members only. Opposition focused on the fiscal cost, the nonbinding nature of the primary as written, and concerns that the bill could mislead voters into thinking they were directly electing a nominee when delegates are still chosen through caucus/convention processes. Witnesses and clerks also objected to shrinking the excused in-person absentee period from six weeks to three, warning it could create confusion and burden election offices. The committee heard no final vote on HB 2387 or HB 2480 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Voter ID laws allow licenses that have been expired up to four years to be used to identify the voter
• We're talking driver's license not not voter purge.
• I mean because the voter purge the record I mean There was a million voters that, you know, were dead
• Well, the voter purge I'm talking about was the voter purge in 2021 that turned out to be almost entirely
• of voters use their driver's license as their voter ID.

Bills: HB33 , HB298 , HB 1024 , HB 1234 , HB 1261 , HB1696 , HB298

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: electronic monitoring, parole supervision, law enforcement, warrant execution, public safety, handgun license, judgment evaluation, medical advisory board, application denial, gun law procedures, abandoned property, unclaimed property, disposition, handgun, driver's license, commercial driver's license, weapon carry, gun rights, Texas legislature, legislative attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• . voters. voters.
• </c><00:09:27.640><c> would</c> would be transparent, so voters would would be transparent, so voters
• They have a right to share those impacts with voters, and voters have a right to hear them.
• Are<01:19:38.200><c> you</c><01:19:38.480><c> a</c><01:19:38.600><c> voter?</c> Are you a voter?
• Are you a voter?

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all