Transcript Highlights:

• And is there any reason why, on a ballot that will have both federal and state candidates on that ballot
• And is there any reason why on a ballot will have both federal and state candidates on that ballot, why

Bills: SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, voter registration database, election security, public records exemption, Secretary of State, county elections office, election infrastructure, cybersecurity, ballot signatures, ballot return envelopes, signature correction forms, voter privacy, personal identifying information, Social Security number, driver's license number, state ID number

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three measures. SB 5892 would tighten control over public records requests for the statewide voter registration database, requiring requests to be handled by the Secretary of State, barring county election offices from producing records from that database, and creating Class C felony penalties for unauthorized disclosure of certain sensitive voter information. The Secretary of State supported the bill as a clarification/update for the VoteWA system, while one public witness opposed it, arguing it could undermine clean voter rolls and election integrity. The committee also heard SCR 8406, which would reestablish the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health and expand its membership. Supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Senator Lovick, Representative Dye, and others, described the committee as a way to continue work on respectful dialogue, common ground, and civic education. Testimony emphasized that the committee’s work helps strengthen democracy and civic engagement, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 5863 would extend the moratorium on destroying Lakeland Village records until fiscal year 2030 and make restricted records transferred to state archives open to inspection after 75 years without requiring a separate archivist determination. Senator Kaufman and several advocates testified in support, saying the bill would preserve disability history, protect evidence and accountability, and honor former residents and their families. After hearing testimony on all three measures, the chair closed the hearings and announced the committee would caucus on scheduled bills; no votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• But as much as I would like to see there be no electronic ballot return, blank ballot delivery is fine
• But electronic ballot delivery return is dangerous.
• several ballots at once versus where email, it might be slightly harder to get several ballots right
• But a poor... ...several ballots right at the same time.
• Electronic ballot return already exists.

Bills: SB6084, SB6137, SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Summary: The committee heard staff briefings and testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering would allow online wagers to be accepted when the bettor is physically present at any tribal gaming facility, rather than only the facility of the same tribe, and would remove the current prohibition on wagering on Washington collegiate team events while continuing to ban prop bets on individual in-state college athletes. Washington State University testified in opposition, citing risks of harassment, point shaving, and game manipulation; the University of Washington supported keeping the individual prop-bet ban. A tribal casino operator supported the bill as a way to move existing illegal wagering into a regulated system. No vote was taken on this bill during the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035, which would expand voting access for military and overseas voters, Native American voters, and voters with disabilities, including through a proposed electronic ballot return portal and regular statewide tribal meetings. Election officials and some advocates supported the access and tribal engagement provisions, while several cybersecurity and voting-rights witnesses opposed the electronic ballot return sections, warning that internet return is vulnerable to hacking, lacks adequate standards, and could undermine confidence in elections. The Secretary of State’s office said it was more comfortable with the amended language and estimated portal-related costs at about $214,000. The hearing also included Substitute Senate Bill 6034, which would codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs as a cabinet-level agency; both the executive director and a tribal liaison testified in support, describing it as a needed, stabilizing recognition of government-to-government relations with tribes. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6081 on restricting public disclosure of sex designation information in certain licensing and vital records. Supporters, including attorneys and transgender advocates, said the bill would protect privacy and safety by limiting public access to sensitive records while preserving access for courts and agencies; an opponent argued that records should remain fully accurate and public. Staff later clarified that the bill would not directly change parental access rights, except for a provision allowing the Department of Health to deny access for cause in certain circumstances. The committee then moved into executive session and adopted amendments and passed out Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, Senate Bill 5892, and Senate Bill 5863 with do pass recommendations, including amendments to the civic health committee resolution, election-data protections, and Lakeland Village records preservation. The committee also began hearings on Senate Bill 6084, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5968, and Substitute Senate Bill 5825, with staff presenting those measures before testimony continued.

Bills: HB131, HB77, HB131, HB77

Keywords: Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers, diversity, government oversight, Sunset Law, congressional districts, HB77, absentee voting, absentee ballot, disabled voter, disability accommodation, voter assistance, ballot delivery, ballot application, designee, caregiver, election manager, vote by mail, mail ballot, ballot harvesting, voter access

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Summary: The House convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pastor Kayla Garza of Stone Church in Yakima offered the opening prayer, asking for wisdom, patience, humility, and cooperation in public service. The Speaker approved the prior day’s minutes by consent and recognized guests in the chamber, including Roger Jacob and students and faculty from Wapato School District, who had been honored in House Resolution 4679, as well as a fourth-grade class from Log Church Christian School in Brewster. The Democratic caucus was announced immediately, and the Republican caucus was scheduled for five minutes later, with the House briefly at ease. Under the fourth order of business, the House agreed by consent to treat bills, memorials, and resolutions on the introduction sheet as first reading items and refer them to the designated committees. Under the eighth order, Senate Bill 6132 was re-referred from the Transportation Committee to the Rules Committee. No objections were raised to these actions. The House then adjourned by consent until 9:55 a.m. on Friday, February 27, the 47th legislative day.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot.
• The information is correct in there, that the signatures match on the application to the ballot, that
• Previously, this could only be done by the early voting ballot board and the signature verification committee
• law, if a mail-in ballot does not fully comply with requirements, for instance, if it's missing a signature
• But if the Signature Verification Committee or the Early Voting Ballot Board cures a defect...

Bills: HB569, HB766, HB1638, HB2316, HB2773, HB2785, HB3113, HB3709, HB3775, HB4275

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Transcript Highlights:

• It took over a week for them to manually sort a ballot.
• We don't sit there continuously counting ballots.
• How does this happen when they're on the ballot?
• That way, you keep all the ballots secure.
• Mail-in ballot. Now, I'm 67 years old.

Bills: HB304, HB401, HB556, HB1475, HB1489, HB2259, HB2424, HB2773, HB2811, HB3323, HB304

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship proof, provisional ballot, election security, Texas, voting rights, deep fakes, misleading videos, election integrity, criminal offense, digital misinformation, deep fake, political manipulation, misinformation, artificial media, political influence, artificially generated media, election influence, Texas Election Code, healthcare reform

Transcript Highlights:

• All 218,000 cast a full ballot.
• Separate ballot systems in each county.
• And they're not just given a federal ballot.
• We could create a system for mail ballots.
• process for limited federal ballots is different from that for full ballots.

Bills: HB2442, HB3697, HB4288, HB5256, HB5337, HB5362, HJR161

Keywords: HB 2442, Texas Election Code, Election Code Section 84.001, early voting, ballot by mail, mail ballot, absentee voting, runoff election, primary runoff, general runoff, voter application, election administration, county election officials, opt-out, voter choice, mail voting, ballot application, voting by mail, Election Code, size requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:58.400><c> issue</c><00:37:58.960><c> activity,</c> participating in ballot issue activity
• , participating in ballot issue activity, which<00:38:00.079><c> has</c><00:38:00.240><c> been</c><00
• issue spending on campaign and ballot issue spending on behalf<00:48:13.839><c> of</c><00:48:14.079>
• </c><00:56:52.720><c> So,</c> candidate or a ballot initiative.
• So, candidate or a ballot initiative. So, that's<00:56:53.359><c> for</c><00:56:53.599><c> starters.

Bills: HF4133, HF3419

Keywords: homeowner's insurance, peace officer, property damage, just compensation, exclusion policy, corporate powers, entity law, business corporations, nonprofit corporations, LLC, limited liability company, cooperative, partnership, trust, foreign entity, campaign finance, election spending, political spending, ballot measure, ballot initiative

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas, 1185, senate, all

Bills: SB 1065, SB 2117, SB 2217, SB 2363, SB 2533, SB 2742, SB 2743, SB 2881, SB 2964, SB 3013, SB 3014

Keywords: election procedures, voting systems, ballot counting, voter registration, electronic voting, electioneering, public funds, political advertising, civil penalties, school district, election offenses, prosecution, criminal procedure, district attorney, disqualification, voting by mail, election process, ballot correction, voter notification, electoral integrity

Bills: HB429, HB496, HB640, HB657, HB665, HB677, HB952

Keywords: Texas Election Code, elections, voting station, polling place, ballot marking, ballot reading, child accompaniment, minor, parental supervision, voter education, secretary of state, county election administrator, voter assistance, election administration, poll worker rules, ballot secrecy, HB 496, ballot option, none of the above, abstain from vote

Bills: SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104, SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104

Keywords: property, acknowledgment, conveyance, business entities, limited liability companies, state employees, payroll deduction, salary deduction, comptroller, membership association, membership dues, voluntary contributions, insurance premiums, financial instruments, deferred compensation, state payroll, employee benefits, association dues, withholding, Alabama Code 36-1-4.3

Bills: HB242, HB342, HB392, HB493, HB521, HB614, HB631, HB 1090, HB 1091, HB1477, HB242

Keywords: voter registration, elections, Election Code, registrar, county clerk, application rejection, rejection notice, voter eligibility, ballot access, transparency, administrative procedure, Texas, voting rights, election administration, notice of rejection, election, poll watcher, conviction, ineligibility, Texas election code

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot marking device.
• </c> ballot card. ballot card.
• electronic ballot bar marked by an electronic ballot marking<00:08:02.240><c> device.
• </c> ballot. Uh completely understand that. ballot. Uh completely understand that.
• > gets</c> that the ballot each ballot style gets that the ballot each ballot style gets at<00:20:25.840

Bills: SF0028, SF0030, SF0031, SF0032

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a recount of a ballot proposition. a recount of a ballot proposition.
• a ballot audit.
• </c> recounts, and perform a ballot audit. recounts, and perform a ballot audit.
• , not these simple test ballots.
• </c><00:59:34.880><c> Well,</c> handful of ballots, 250 or so. Well, handful of ballots, 250 or so.

Bills: SF0028, SF0030, SF0031, SF0032

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Bills: SB 53

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• ID for conditional provisional ballots.
• by mail, we've received that mail ballot back, but the signature on the envelope doesn't appear to match
• and cure, make good on that signature.
• It's incredibly convenient to drop off your ballot.
• It's incredibly convenient to drop off your ballot.

Bills: SB1285, SB1289, SB1326, SB1328, SB1329, SB1330, SB1392, SB1402, SB1425, SCR1013, SCR1014

Keywords: sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, victims' rights, attorney fees, government accountability, right to counsel, legal representation, parents' rights, family law