Video & Transcript Research : 'campaign access'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/4/26

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • considered non- campaign expenditures. considered non- campaign expenditures.
  • non non- campaign expenditure. non non- campaign expenditure.
  • Expanding statutory access for elected officials beyond just campaign season risks weakening those protections
  • We remain supportive of orderly and reasonable campaign season access. of wanted to get today over with
  • Reasonable campaign season access. The proposal also introduces genuine security challenges.
Summary: The committee met on March 4, 2026, and first approved the minutes from March 2 by voice vote. It then took up several Metropolitan Council agency bills, with members repeatedly moving to lay them over for possible inclusion or, in one case, to re-refer a bill to another committee. The first three bills discussed were House File 3884, House File 3881, and House File 3882, all presented as administrative or programmatic changes intended to streamline Met Council processes. House File 3884 would allow tribal governments and tribal development entities to apply directly for Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Act grants and community tree planting grants, rather than applying through a city or other local government. Testimony from Met Council staff said the bill would simplify access and align the Met Council’s tree-planting program with existing DNR authority. House File 3881 would expand the Met Council’s contracting authority to include small businesses more broadly, require an annual report to the legislature on small-business contracting, and repeal a duplicative statute on certificates of compliance. House File 3882 would make a range of administrative cleanups, including removing an obsolete housing-bond review role, clarifying outdated statutory language, extending the review cycle for metropolitan significance rules from every two years to every 10 years, clarifying reporting and Livable Communities Act provisions, changing regional parks operations-and-maintenance reimbursements to rely on audited financial statements, and clarifying agricultural preserves procedures. The committee also considered House File 3883, which was amended with an A1 amendment before adoption. That bill updates appointments to the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee, known as MOSAC, including direct appointments for certain county representatives and adding a tribal representative appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, while also cleaning up outdated language and eligibility provisions. A former MOSAC member spoke in support of the committee’s work, and the chair said the bill was common-sense and renewed the motion to lay it over as amended. Finally, the committee began House File 3363, a bill described by the author as a response to safety concerns after the June events, aimed at removing public access to legislators’ home addresses from Campaign Finance Board materials; discussion had just begun when the transcript ended.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/04/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill further requires a campaign finance report to include the aggregate amount of contributions
  • treasurer designated, creating administrative difficulties in the closure of their campaign accounts
  • That's easy when there are no campaign funds left in these accounts.
  • That's easy when there are no campaign funds left in these accounts.
  • What if they were monies that he had contributed to his campaign?
Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections met and took up several election- and campaign-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for itemizing in-state individual campaign contributions in committee reports from $100 to $200 and increase the aggregate reporting threshold accordingly; staff described it as a straightforward campaign finance update, and it passed 4-3. SB 1029 would treat a candidate committee as intending to terminate upon the candidate’s death and allow certain designated individuals to serve as treasurer; testimony from the Town of Queen Creek described practical problems encountered after the deaths of officeholders, and the bill passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1038 would require county election officials to transmit the cast vote record to the Secretary of State and prohibit alteration except as otherwise allowed; members debated whether CVRs are already public records and whether the bill was needed, and it passed 4-3. SB 1237 would add county recorders and the House and Senate election committee leaders to the list of officials consulted by the Secretary of State when prescribing the Elections Procedures Manual; county officials testified this would better reflect their role in early voting and other election functions, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1057, which would require vendors providing ballot paper fraud countermeasures to meet specified ISO certifications and include at least three of ten listed security features. Staff explained the ISO standards, and members discussed whether the bill needed additional safeguards and whether it differed from a vetoed bill from the prior session. The bill passed 4-3, with some members noting they wanted amendments or had concerns about the standards and the bill’s structure. After discussing several additional measures, the chair indicated he was not comfortable moving the remaining bills without the sponsor present. Without objection, the committee held the remaining bills and adjourned.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House and Governmental Affairs May 12th, 2026

House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 495 by Senator Klein-Peter provides for campaign finance disclosures.
  • The campaign still will be responsible for keeping up with contributions.
  • With campaigns increasing in size each year, it is more realistic for a campaign or PAC to be given more
  • Each year, it is more realistic for a campaign or PAC to be given more time than a month and a half to
  • And then it adds the second party primary as an election so it falls within the line of campaign finance
Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12 with a quorum present and took up several measures. It first heard HCR 74, which would establish a Louisiana-United Kingdom Trade Commission modeled after the existing Louisiana-Ireland commission. The author said the commission would serve as an umbrella group to promote exchanges in trade, academics, financial services, economic development, and the arts, with no compensation for members. After brief questions and supportive testimony from a member familiar with the Ireland commission, the committee reported HCR 74 favorably. The committee then considered SCR 38, which repeals Joint Rule No. 7 related to the Atchafalaya Basin Program Oversight Committee. The author explained that the repeal was tied to a separate study commission on Atchafalaya Basin water quality, aimed at addressing sediment buildup, stagnant hypoxia, and harm to the fishing industry. Members discussed sediment management and water quality concerns, and the committee adopted a technical amendment to the title before reporting the resolution favorably, as amended. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 495 on campaign finance disclosures. The author described a series of changes, including raising the threshold for unitemized individual contributions to $200, adjusting when a PAC is considered to be participating in an election, extending the annual report deadline from February 28 to March 15, and allowing leadership PAC funds to cover replacement or repair of items damaged in connection with public office. The transcript cuts off during the bill presentation, so no final action on SB 495 is shown.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/18/26 - Afternoon Meeting

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • ensure access to our collections. ensure access to our collections.
  • Restricted access licensing is critical. Restricted access harms<00:10:30.480> literacy.
  • access for all motans. access for all motans.
  • This isn't about access. The kids have access.
  • He said this isn't about access; the kids have access.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/14/2026 - Senate Judiciary and Elections

Judiciary and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lowering fees protects equal access to our constitutional right.
  • And the same thing happens with respect to campaign contributions.
  • And the same thing happens with respect to campaign contributions.
  • To campaigns, which aren't big bucks.
  • But look, $200 is not, believe me, $200 isn't making my campaign.
Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee opened with roll call, member introductions, and a lengthy agenda item on alleged anomalies involving the State Bar of Arizona. The committee heard live testimony from a former attorney who described his disciplinary experience as retaliatory and unfair, and staff read excerpts from affidavits criticizing bar discipline procedures, notice, and due process. Members debated the State Bar’s authority, attorney discipline rules, and whether attorneys can practice while under investigation, with some arguing the bar is unaccountable and others emphasizing the Supreme Court’s oversight and existing disciplinary procedures. The committee then considered several election-related bills. SB 1037, requiring stricter security measures for vote-recording and tabulating equipment, passed 4-2-1 after members debated claims of election-system vulnerabilities and the cost of added safeguards. SB 1038, which would make cast vote records publicly available quickly after polls close, was amended to require transmission to the Secretary of State within 48 hours after canvass and then passed 4-2-1. SB 1040, expanding public online access to voter registration rolls in read-only form, also passed 4-2-1 after privacy concerns were raised and the sponsor argued for transparency. The committee next approved SB 1039, allowing attorneys who prevail in discipline matters to seek damages for reputational harm and lost earnings, despite objections that it raised separation-of-powers concerns and testimony about bar discipline procedures. SB 1053, capping Arizona resident concealed-carry permit fees at 10% of the nonresident fee, passed 4-2-1 after supporters framed it as a constitutional-rights and affordability measure and opponents raised public-safety and revenue concerns. SB 1057, requiring ballot paper fraud-countermeasure features, passed 4-2-1 after debate over cost and vendor capability. SB 1060, removing a voting exemption for U.S. citizens who have never resided in the United States, passed 3-2-2 amid concerns about unintended effects on military families. Finally, SB 1061, lowering the fentanyl threshold for enhanced sentencing from 200 grams to 9 grams, drew strong opposition from defense and civil-liberties witnesses who warned it would sweep in users and prescribed medications; the transcript ends during that testimony, before a final action is shown.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee Feb 19th, 2025

Ethics and Campaign Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's almost like you're restricting ballot access over something...
  • Restricting ballot access over something that really doesn't matter.
  • For a campaign committee, because there's always confusion about that.
Bills: HB250
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/25/26

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • They even have a geothermal everywhere campaign. According to the U.S.
  • :01.520> bonding<00:02:01.840> and will unlock access to bonding and will unlock access
  • . campaign. campaign.
  • <00:50:34.960> and When I look at how campaigns and When I look at how campaigns and messaging
  • She said, “I’m a campaign finance lawyer.”
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee Mar 5th, 2025

Ethics and Campaign Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • All it is, is under current law if you're late filing the campaign report.
  • You're late filing the campaign report, and currently, the Secretary of State is required to send you
Bills: HB310, HB363
AL
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/10/25

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is detailed in the bill, but membership of this working group would include two Campaign Finance
  • Board members from different political parties, the executive director of the Campaign Finance Board
  • This is detailed in the bill, but membership of this working group would include two Campaign Finance
  • Board members from different political parties, the executive director of the Campaign Finance Board
  • I approve of the discretion of the Campaign Finance Board person.
Bills: HF1345, HF71, HF993, HF1943
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JDC Public Hearing 02-06-2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • disability and communications access disability and communications access board<00:21:30.159>
  • > spending This is the campaign spending This is the campaign spending commission's<00:42:07.200
  • laws by requiring designated campaign laws by requiring designated campaign finance<00:46:07.680
  • Otherwise, it would escheat to our campaign fund. campaign spending commission bill and um campaign spending
  • various sections of Hawai's campaign various sections of Hawai's campaign spending<01:10:54.480>
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.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JDC-LBT, JDC DEFER Public Hearings 02-05-2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Christy Chang appearing on behalf of the Campaign Spending Commission.
  • Christy Chang appearing on behalf of the Campaign Spending Commission.
  • appearing on behalf of the campaign appearing on behalf of the campaign spending<00:05:13.520>
  • Is that what you're<00:09:43.200> saying<00:09:43.440> with<00:09:43.680> campaign
  • c><00:09:44.160> spending you're saying with campaign spending you're saying with campaign spending
Bills: SB2841, SB2533
Summary: The joint Judiciary, Labor, and Technology Committee heard two bills in the morning session and later took up two Judiciary decision-making items. SB 2841 would require human trafficking awareness training for transient accommodation workers. Testimony was generally supportive from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Law Enforcement, and the Hawaii Hotel Alliance/American Hotel and Lodging Association, which also proposed amendments to preserve existing industry training programs and broaden coverage. Members clarified that the administration wanted DLE to be the lead agency instead of DLIR, while the Attorney General would still handle approval of training programs. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including coverage for third-party contractors and implementation dates, and the measure was adopted with no recorded opposition. SB 2533 would adjust the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission’s executive director and associate director to better align with comparable enforcement/compliance positions. The commission supported the bill, saying its salaries lag behind similar offices by about $30,000 and that recruitment and workload have become more difficult, while one testifier opposed the proposal. Members questioned why the bill used the Department of Health as the salary comparator and whether Ethics would be a better benchmark; the committee agreed to revise the bill to peg the salaries to the Ethics Commission instead, blank out the dollar amounts for further review, and note the requested appropriation in the report. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted. In the Judiciary decision-making agenda, SB 2203, concerning the use of masks or personal disguises by law enforcement officers, was amended to allow exceptions for officers who are unmasked nearby or who are supporting undercover operations, to change the term to “facial covering,” and to add definitions covering federal, state, and county law enforcement. The committee also set a far-future effective date and passed the bill with amendments. SB 2442, relating to judiciary purchase-of-service contracts with community-based organizations, was also passed with amendments; the committee added a far-future effective date, clarified the consumer price index reference, and noted a recommended appropriation amount of $4.26 million in the committee report. All measures were adopted without recorded no votes or reservations.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/18/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, candidates have to campaign.
  • One, it makes it easier from a weather standpoint on those who are campaigning.
  • It prohibits hardware, software, internet connectivity, remote, or online access.
  • It means expanded access to eligible voters, not restricting it. It means trust in voters.
  • It means expanding access to eligible voters, not restricting it.
Summary: The committee first considered SB 1018, which would expand Arizona’s foreign law statute to expressly include Sharia law and certain foreign religious or cultural laws or customs that condone practices such as honor killings or other conduct violating criminal law. The sponsor said the bill was meant to strengthen enforcement against foreign, private, or religious adjudications that violate constitutional rights, while opponents, including the ACLU, argued it was unconstitutional, singled out Islam, and was part of a broader anti-Muslim effort. After extended debate, the committee approved SB 1018 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then heard SB 1568, requiring election systems and software clocks to be set to accurate time and verified during logic and accuracy, compatibility, and security testing. Supporters said accurate timekeeping is important for chain of custody and election integrity; county representatives opposed the bill as impractical because some equipment is not connected to the internet, batteries can drain, and different time zones in Arizona complicate compliance. The bill passed 4-3. Next, SB 1687 proposed moving primary elections to the Tuesday before Memorial Day, adjusting nomination paper filing windows, and changing the date used to calculate required petition signatures. A Marquez amendment dealing with Clean Elections timing and funding was offered but defeated. The sponsor said the bill would reduce extreme heat burdens and improve participation; county officials were neutral but noted timing changes would require broader cleanup. The committee then approved SB 1687 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also considered SB 1825, which changes how precinct committeeman vacancies are filled by giving legislative district chairs or county chairs authority depending on the situation and requiring action within 30 days. Supporters said it would streamline a slow, opaque process and improve local control; opponents warned it could concentrate power and be abused. An amendment limiting the bill to counties over 500,000 people was adopted, and the bill passed 4-1 with one present and one absent. Finally, the committee revisited SB 1037, which imposes security requirements on voting and tabulating equipment, including no internet connectivity, user logins, chain-of-custody controls, and continuous video recording at counting centers. An amendment broadened the bill to cover election management systems and tightened the no-connectivity and no-port provisions. The sponsor and amendment proponent argued the bill was needed to prevent indirect internet access and strengthen election security. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 1037.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • . >> We'll call to order the Campaigns, Constitution, and Elections Committee this morning.
  • Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
  • As I was decluttering, I came home to these big boxes of campaign information where we had, you know,
  • Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
  • Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
Bills: SB42, SB166, SB42, SB166
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee Meeting Jun 25th, 2026

Elections & Government Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And people trying to access Thank you. and that can have a sort of effect on the campaign process and
  • It can have a chilling effect on campaigns.
  • It's $1.5 million to streamline campaign finance laws.
  • Where is the current list of campaign finance violations?
  • House Bill 448 is also related to campaign finance.
Bills: HB344
Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly. House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote. Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • What's not clear is whether investors actually own the land. ...or just have access to it to build on
  • This commission is an independent body with investigative power that enforces campaign finance laws.
  • These are the same requirements as for someone who makes a donation to a political. campaign.
  • Members, this bill offers a common-sense update to outdated campaign finance statutes.
  • I mean, I think the PACs create a problem, and we keep talking about campaign reform.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Companies and cooperatives serving fewer than 3,100 access lines face financial challenges.
  • Houston, while empowering rural trucks to access bigger markets.
  • Smaller and rural communities would also gain greater access to diverse food options if trucks could
  • This guy had access to kids at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio.