Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot and instead requires the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study for those voters to be able
• around the electronic ballots, or, excuse me, removing the electronic ballot.
• portal that enables the covered voters in the bill to return a voted ballot.
• the ballot portal and instead authorizes them to conduct a study.
• are mailed.

Bills: SB5000, SB5325, SB6044, SB6313, SB6084, SB6137

Keywords: state nickname, evergreen state, identity, cultural heritage, tourism, state cactus, symbolic designation, ecological significance, state symbols, SB 6044, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Washington state holidays, RCW 1.16.050, state holiday recognition, religious observance, Hindu holiday, Sikh holiday, cultural recognition, paid holiday

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and considered six bills. On Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035, members debated amendments affecting voting services for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters. Amendment 386, which changed tribal meeting requirements, was not adopted, while Amendment 385, which replaced authorization for an electronic ballot portal with a feasibility study, was adopted. The bill then passed out of committee with a due pass as amended recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 6081, concerning nondisclosure of sex designation records, was amended unsuccessfully by a proposal to limit protections to survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault; the bill passed with a due pass recommendation. Substitute Senate Bill 6034, codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, was amended to require Senate confirmation of the executive director and passed as amended. Senate Bill 6084 on repeat voting passed without amendment. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5968, implementing Executive Order 25-03 on agency credentials, adopted an amendment making annual ORIA reporting more explicit, rejected another reporting amendment, and passed as amended. Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering adopted amendments restricting certain prop bets and making threats against sports officials, coaches, or participants a gross misdemeanor, then passed as amended. The committee then opened public hearings on several bills. Gross Substitute Senate Joint Memorial 8014 called for a U.S. investigation into the death of Aishinur Ezgi Eygi, and testimony was overwhelmingly in support from family members, friends, University of Washington students, faculty, and advocacy groups, with one opponent arguing the matter belonged to Congress. Substitute Senate Bill 5840 on campaign finance reporting drew support from the Public Disclosure Commission, which said it would align reporting with mail voting and improve transparency, while campaign treasurers and compliance officers opposed the bill’s added reporting frequency and burden. Substitute Senate Bill 6049, expanding Public Records Act exemptions for certain survivors, anonymized demographic data, and individual Healthy Youth Survey responses, received support from OFM and opposition from a public records advocate who argued it added another exemption to an already lengthy list. Substitute Senate Bill 6160, which eliminates or modifies agency reports, was supported as a way to right-size reporting requirements. Senate Bill 5000, naming the Evergreen State as Washington’s official nickname, drew a brief supportive testimony and one opposing witness who objected to the state’s growing number of public records exemptions. Senate Bill 5325, designating Pediocactus nigrispinus as the state cactus, received supportive testimony. Senate Bill 6044, recognizing Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, was supported by Sikh community testimony. Substitute Senate Bill 5827, expanding veterans’ preference documentation to include pre-discharge certification, was briefly introduced but had no testimony. The committee adjourned after closing the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The mail service carrier will actually have proof of that on their database.
• Fine mail and regular, what the cost difference is? I do not.
• But I never got the message because I never got the mail.
• First class mail, it's not. And to answer your question, first class mail is $0.73 normally.
• Certified mail is about $2.75.

Bills: HB1589, HB2208, HB2297, HB2560, HB2725, HB3080, HB4417, HB4473, HB4520, HB4662, HB4888, HB4905, HB4906

Keywords: HB 1589, toll road, toll project, toll project entity, voter approval, local control, county election, commissioners court, Transportation Code, Chapter 372, road construction, highway funding, infrastructure, public referendum, ballot measure, transportation policy, Texas toll roads, regional mobility, toll collection, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• You can also look for a ballot mail.
• </c> by mail or depositing it in a ballot by mail or depositing it in a ballot dropbox,<00:06:51.120>
• Um, so voting by mail, all like I said, all ballot gets mailed to all registered voters.
• </c><00:42:26.400><c> And</c> your ballot is being mailed out. And your ballot is being mailed out.
• </c><00:47:21.920><c> and</c> mailing and receiving the ballot and mailing and receiving the ballot and

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And 2000 ballots were mailed out.
• ballot, you're on that mail ballot list.
• OK, so if somebody's the first person to request a mail ballot, they don't get mail ballot one.
• Um, Mail-in ballots are up for sale.
• So the first part, identifying code for mail-in ballots, saying that each mail ballot must include a

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's say I have a mail-in ballot. I'm going to send it in.
• And now they didn't get their ballot in the mail.
• Eighty-six percent of voters vote by mail-in ballot, and I think 276,000 people drop off their ballot
• you. a ballot, not all of us are obsessed with politics enough that when the ballot comes in the mail
• I just want to reiterate that if you have an early mail-in ballot, you can still mail it back, or you

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and routine journal and calendar actions, including a gubernatorial nomination referral and bill references. Members also introduced guests in the gallery before the chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider several election, health care, and child welfare measures. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered SB 1038 on cast voter records and public records, SB 1133 on nominating procedures and candidate financial disclosures, SB 1247 on assisted living centers, and SCR 1001, a constitutional election-requirements referral. Each measure was amended and given a do-pass recommendation. SB 1133 received a floor amendment exempting certain statewide and legislative candidates in an emergency-related provision, SB 1247 was amended to allow a person not receiving care services to live with a resident in an assisted living center, and SCR 1001 was amended to make major election changes, including proof-of-identity requirements, changes to early ballot and drop-off rules, and language affecting mail voting and election administration. Debate on SCR 1001 was extensive, with supporters saying it would improve election security and speed results, and opponents warning it would reduce access, create confusion, and disproportionately burden voters, especially those who vote by mail or in rural and communities of color. On third reading, SB 1038 passed 17-12, SB 1133 passed 23-6 with the emergency clause, SB 1247 passed 28-1 with the emergency clause, and SCR 1001 passed 17-12-1. The Senate also passed SB 1172 and SB 1175 by 28-1 votes. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the measures were properly assigned, committee meeting announcements were made, a moment of silence was held for Jesse Jackson, and the Senate adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's say I have a mail-in ballot. I'm going to send it in.
• If I'm turning in that mail-in ballot at the polls, do it?”
• “On the envelope for their mail-in ballot.
• “Eighty-six percent of voters vote by mail-in ballot, and I think 276,000 people drop off their ballot
• I just want to reiterate that if you have an early mail-in ballot, you can still mail it back, or you

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BC: shortening the window to receive mail ballots by 17 hours. Is that?
• The mail ballots being received late is the number one reason ballots are thrown out, and we hear over
• Currently mail ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the first mail delivery day after election day,
• and there's not a privacy issue with these types of ballots because these mail ballots, this list of
• who gets mail ballots can be provided anyway upon request.

Transcript Highlights:

• small, or I'm sorry, in a mail-only precinct are required to have their ballots mailed to them at least
• small, or I'm sorry, in a mail-only precinct are required to have their ballots mailed to them at least
• </c><00:58:37.520><c> ballots</c><00:58:37.880><c> to</c> Federal deadline to mail ballots to Federal
• mail especially ballots in all election mail especially ballots in fact<01:09:40.920><c> I</c><01:09
• we did was ensure that the ballots were mailed in a mail-only precinct X number of days before, so we

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and vote-by-mail ballots.
• and vote-by-mail ballots.
• ballot during an election year, you can check to continue to be on the vote-by-mail ballot. vote-by-mail
• vote-by-mail ballot for the special election.
• Vote-by-mail ballot. Our system would tell you that.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from several county supervisors of elections and the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association on the 2024 election cycle and priorities for the 2025 session. They described very high turnout in the presidential election, major operational planning needs, and the heavy reliance on seasonal workers, list maintenance, ballot-on-demand systems, and secure chain-of-custody procedures. They also discussed the impact of recent legislative changes on voter-roll maintenance, including inactive voter removal, and said Florida’s election administration has improved to what they called a “platinum standard.” The supervisors outlined several legislative requests: allowing more than one non-government “wild card” early voting site to improve access and emergency flexibility; requiring newly naturalized citizens to update driver’s license information so voter records match DHSMV data; exempting home addresses of certain election workers and ballot transporters from public records to improve safety and recruitment; restoring a checkbox on vote-by-mail return envelopes so voters can stay on the vote-by-mail list for the next cycle; aligning base salaries for supervisors, property appraisers, and clerks with other constitutional officers; and reducing ballot length by removing precinct committee races from the ballot. They also said they expect a committee bill to carry some of these proposals. Members questioned the panel about ballot transport security, signature verification, vote-by-mail expiration, public records transparency, and the petition process for constitutional amendments. The supervisors said ballots are transported under detailed county plans with tamper-evident seals, chain-of-custody logs, trained workers, and in some cases two-person transport teams. On petitions, they said the process is labor-intensive and expensive, that fraud has occurred in some cases, and that they favor reforms such as requiring more personal identifying information and having initiative sponsors mail petitions to voters rather than making supervisors handle the mailing. They also said signature mismatches can be cured within 72 hours after Election Day and that voters are notified when possible. After the supervisors’ presentation, the committee also heard brief public testimony from Kathleen Griffiths, who urged adoption of commercial-style risk management standards in election systems and referenced several election-related bills her group supports.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they didn't give me a ballot, but I have a valid ballot that I received in the mail that I'm filled
• That ballot would be assigned to them, and their vote-by-mail ballot would now be voided.
• ballots then we wouldn't do universal mail-in ballots for the very next election for that county.
• ballots to be counted within 72 hours of election day can be met with a vote-by-mail ballot and a vote-by-mail
• mail-in ballots.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The actual vote-by-mail requests received—these are not vote-by-mail ballots received; these are the
• ballot... ...a lot of work to try to get these folks to understand that their vote-by-mail ballot they
• We are talking about chain-of-custody gaps and mailing ballot and drop-box handling that could allow
• It cannot detect physical ballots inserted or deleted during mail-in processing.
• We have an alternate but equally effective approach for vote-by-mail ballots and early voting.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they didn’t give me a ballot, but I have a valid ballot that I received in the mail that I’m filled
• That ballot would be assigned to them, and their vote-by-mail ballot would now be voided.
• ballots, then we wouldn't do universal mail-in ballots for the very next election for that county.
• simply don't have the ballot that they got in the mail.
• And they can mail in ballots on a letter... ...weeks.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• by mail ballot.
• vote by mail ballot for the special election.
• a vote by mail, Rick, a ballot in the 2024.
• And if you happen to have turned in your vote by mail ballot, our system would tell you that.
• If you ever e-mail on file a phone number, we want you to have your ballot counted.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or just submitting their ballots by mail in time to be counted. or just submitting their ballots by
• transmission, the DoD-11 Military Express Mail label that gets a ballot back in three to five days on
• Voters exercising this option bring the ballot they received in the mail to a county voting site and
• This voting method allows voters to bring their vote-by-mail ballot to a voting location, check in for
• This voting method allows voters to bring their vote-by-mail ballot to a voting location, check in for

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm referring to is the voters who get an early ballot by mail, fill out that early ballot, and
• Section 19 creates new barriers to receiving mail-in ballots.
• Conditioning mail-in ballots on access to both, one, an affirmative request and, two, quote, if mail
• have almost a month of voting to get their mail-in ballot and either send it in the mail or walk it
• Mexico banned mail-in balloting. Russia. Israel has been mail-in balloting.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• Are voters supposed to put a copy of their ID in the mail with their mail-in ballot?
• ballot, which is very different than asking for an ID on the mail ballot.
• ballot which is very different than asking their signatures on their mail-in ballot which is very different
• Later that year, he called me because now he has... ...an issue with his mail-in ballot.
• Later that year, he called me because now he had an issue with his mail-in ballot.

Summary: The committee first approved prior minutes and announced several bills were being held at sponsors’ request, including HB 4117 and several House concurrent resolutions. It then heard HB 2811, which would expand obstructing governmental operations to include knowingly hindering a lawful arrest by a third party and make it a felony. Supporters, including a county attorney’s office representative, argued it would close a loophole and protect officers during arrests; opponents from criminal defense and civil liberties groups said it duplicated existing resisting arrest and hindering prosecution laws and could chill First Amendment activity such as filming police. After debate over prosecutorial discretion and constitutional concerns, the committee recommended HB 2811 do pass by a 3-2 vote with one member not voting. The committee next considered HB 2665, a “Cade’s Law” proposal to treat intentionally providing advice or encouragement through directed online communication to a minor to die by suicide as manslaughter. The sponsor and family members of suicide victims described the bill as a response to social media-driven encouragement of self-harm and urged stronger accountability. The bill drew no opposition testimony in the excerpt and passed with a 6-0 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then heard HB 2857, allowing ADCRR to store inmate medical records electronically and dispose of paper copies, which passed 5-1 after testimony from the department’s medical provider about space and efficiency. HB 2226 followed, requiring courts to ask about veteran status at initial appearance, notify prosecutors, and connect veterans with Arizona Department of Veterans Services and treatment or diversion options; an amendment shifted the notice duty from prosecutors to courts. The sponsor and veterans’ advocates said the bill would help identify veterans with PTSD or other needs and reduce recidivism, and the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill unanimously, 6-0. The committee then took up HB 2168, which would require county board approval before the Attorney General could bring a public nuisance abatement action in superior court. The sponsor argued the AG had overreached in cases involving a dairy, an aluminum plant, and a rail line, while opponents said the bill would weaken statewide enforcement and protect corporate polluters; the bill passed 3-2 with two not voting. Finally, the committee heard HB 2966, which would bar early termination of lifetime probation for dangerous crimes against children and apply that restriction retroactively. Supporters framed it as protecting children and ensuring offenders serve full probation terms, while survivors, defense attorneys, and the Sex Offender Management Board’s concerns were cited in opposition, with critics warning about loss of judicial discretion, constitutional issues, and reduced incentives for compliance. The bill passed 4-2 with one not voting. The last item in the excerpt was HCR 2001, a voter referral measure to end early voting on the Friday before Election Day, require government-issued ID for voting, and prohibit foreign contributions; an amendment removed the early-voting cutoff and some ID-related provisions while adding on-site tabulation language and other changes. The sponsor argued it would improve election security and speed results, while counties and other opponents raised cost, implementation, and access concerns, especially around on-site tabulation and mail voting. The testimony portion of HCR 2001 was underway when the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• voting and explain how important mail ballots are to them.
• for mail ballots, that number skyrocketed to 13%—13% of voters having their ballots rejected.
• because I do mail in my ballot.
• Are we going to continue to receive our ballots in the mail?
• ... ...documentation is already provided for a mail-in vote, a mail-in ballot.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So as it relates to vote by mail, registered voters must request a vote-by-mail ballot during each two-year
• Furthermore, Florida law prohibits the mass mailing of vote-by-mail ballots without a request on file
• because those ballots have been in the mail.
• I'm worried that if somebody else can request that vote-by-mail ballot and change the address without
• Washington State and other states mail out ballots to everyone, whether they come in to vote or not.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have included a waiver that counties can request if they are unable to process mail ballots.
• The full life cycle of a mail ballot—verification, signature matching, sorting, and prepping that ballot
• Currently, our maximum daily processing capacity is about 50,000 mail ballots in Clark County.
• Currently, our maximum daily processing capacity is about 50,000 mail ballots in Clark County.
• This was the fastest mail ballot processing we've ever achieved.

Keywords: 909, all