Transcript Highlights:

• Well, then he will probably get his bill out of committee, I would imagine. >> Go ahead, Senator.
• bill >> Well, then he will probably get his bill out<00:10:48.040> of<00:10:48.120> committee
• out of committee, I would imagine. out of committee, I would imagine. >> go.
• This bill redacts personal information, residence and address, from candidates and officials from campaign
• Thank you, committee. Okay, what's next? Man. >> Mhm.

Bills: HB568, HB499, HB433, HB568, HB499, HB433

Keywords: voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, came out of committee 11, nothing, and then it just disappeared. But, uh, again, thank you.
• Uh, came out committee<00:02:32.800> 11<00:02:33.040> nothing<00:02:33.200> and<
• 00:02:33.360> then<00:02:33.519> it<00:02:33.680> just committee 11 nothing and
• then it just committee 11 nothing and then it just disappeared.<00:02:35.440> But,<00:02:36.080
• Yeah, committee members.

Bills: HB16, HB214, HB252, HB16, HB214, HB252

Keywords: law enforcement, false information, criminal penalty, public safety, identification, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure, professional services, education, HB252, Class IV municipality, Class IV municipalities, municipal audit, audit rotation, certified public accountant, CPA, municipal accounting, Section 11-43B-9, county and municipal government

Transcript Highlights:

• So, welcome to the committee.
• Welcome to the committee.
• Madam Chair, committee members, my name is Jeff Seagardson, the executive director with the Campaign
• > for one committee to another committee for one committee to another committee for the<00:56:
• Well, welcome to the committee. Uh >> Yeah. Well, welcome to the committee.

Bills: HF3698, HF4243, HF4239, HF4241, HF4242, HF4240

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, campaign finance, elections, political contributions, disclosure, reporting thresholds, economic interest statements, financial disclosure, ethics, public officials, local officials, metropolitan governmental unit, metropolitan area, candidate filings, principal campaign committee, political committee

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:15.720> Mr referred to the housing committee Mr referred to the housing committee Mr
• other committee.
• So the effect of this change would be that the principal campaign committee that's reporting this additional
• <00:51:05.680> Campaign<00:51:06.079> Committee uh the principal Campaign Committee
• uh the principal Campaign Committee that's<00:51:06.559> reporting<00:51:07.000> this<

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice

Bills: HCR74, HCR95, HB705, HB1048, SCR23, SCR31, SCR38, SB49, SB233, SB307, SB326, SB387, SB401, SB435, SB495

Keywords: trade commission, international relations, Louisiana, United Kingdom, economic exchange, cultural exchange, infrastructure investment, sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, contempt, legislature, disorderly conduct, bribery, arrest, legislative privilege

Transcript Highlights:

• Gabbard, and members of the committee. Gabbard, and members of the committee.
• committee.
• Christy Chang from campaign committee.
• or non-candidate committee shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund if not returned to the
• Otherwise, it would escheat to our campaign fund. campaign spending commission bill and um campaign spending

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

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

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

Bills: HR201

Keywords: congratulatory resolution, education, principal, teacher of the year, school leadership, Hawaii National Distinguished Principal, Masayuki Tokioka Award, United States Senate Youth Program, student delegates, public schools, charter schools, Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Hawaiian language immersion, Native Hawaiian education, K-12, student leadership, civic engagement, Freshman Academy, teacher recognition, principal recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chairman Hughes and members of the committee for the opportunity to lay out House Bill 18.
• There's also a limitation on making expenditures from your campaign account. Is that right?
• OK, um, members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity to speak today.
• director serves committee.
• The, uh, Committee on State Affairs stands in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• House committee on elections will come to order. The clerk will call the roll. Chair Shaheen here.
• As a reminder, anyone present wishing to testify before the committee, please register at the kiosk located
• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, uh, please come to committee staff and they will
• BUC members of the committee, HB 18 prohibits legislators from fundraising or making certain expenditures
• that's breaking quorum. is using campaign funds for lodging, food, and the like.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chairman Hughes, and members of the committee for the opportunity to lay out House Bill 18
• There's also a limitation on making expenditures from your campaign account. Is that right?
• A frequent participant and attendee at this committee.
• Members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity to speak today.
• She serves this committee, as well as the Jurisprudence Committee, and serves the people of Texas in

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please come to committee staff, and they will
• Thank you, Chair Bucy, members of the committee.
• Page 2, section B says you can't use campaign dollars for items such as travel, food, lodging.
• campaign funds for lodging, food, and the like.
• That might be of consideration to the committee. Thank you so much for your time.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• So for principals, it would be a...
• , a $5,000 stipend for... for the principals, a $5,000 stipend for the assistant principals.
• the assistant principal.
• They're not called principals or assistant principals.
• They're the principal.

Bills: SB303, SB303

Keywords: education, principal leadership, mentoring, high-poverty schools, professional development, off-road vehicles, public roads, registration, liability insurance, age requirement, traffic regulations, 1136, house, all

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
• Thank you, Chairman, fellow committee members.

Bills: HB310, HB363

Keywords: campaign finance, electronic notifications, civil penalties, Fair Campaign Practices Act, Secretary of State, foreign contributions, political parties, electoral integrity, state legislation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Christy Chang members of the committee.
• appearing on behalf of the campaign appearing on behalf of the campaign spending<00:05:13.520>
• And we ask that your committees support our bill and pass it.
• c><00:09:44.160> spending you're saying with campaign spending you're saying with campaign spending
• If not, Senator Gabbard on SB 2533. committee report put um the total committee report put um the total

Bills: SB2841, SB2533

Keywords: SB2841, human trafficking, trafficking awareness, transient accommodations, hotel industry, lodging, hospitality, hotel workers, housekeeping, front desk staff, contract workers, third-party contractors, employee training, signage, reporting requirements, National Human Trafficking Hotline, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of children, anti-trafficking

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• So um welcome to the committee.
• House File 4133 before the committee. House File 4133 before the committee.
• Cocking, welcome to the committee. >> Mr. Cocking, welcome to the committee.
• This has been a very committee.
• Motion is or committee is >> Sounds good. Motion is or committee is adjourned.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also addresses related expenses incurred with campaign funds.
• Financially benefit from that action and raise campaign funds.
• Page 2, section B says you can't use campaign... dollars for items such as travel, food, lodging.
• I just want to make sure I give notice to the committee. Sure, no.
• That might be of consideration to the committee. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on the discussions surrounding HB18, which aims to prevent legislators from financially benefiting when they break quorum. Chairman Shaheen emphasized that this bill addresses the integrity of the Texas legislature and responds to constituent concerns about lawmakers being absent and raising funds simultaneously. Throughout the meeting, members discussed the implications of enforcing penalties for breaking quorum and the balance between legislative strategy and financial transparency. Various representatives expressed their views, with some supporting the bill for enhancing accountability, while others argued that it imposes unfair restrictions on a constitutional tactic historically used by minority factions.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> We'll call to order the Campaigns, Constitution, and Elections Committee this morning.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
• Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
• Chairman, and thank you members of this beautiful committee.

Bills: SB42, SB166, SB42, SB166

Keywords: abandoned roads, land ownership, government regulations, property rights, transportation, Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, municipal elections, runoff elections, majority voting, electoral procedures, local governance, campaign finance, record retention, political action committees, Fair Campaign Practices Act, 1136

Transcript Highlights:

• As chair of the committee, in accordance with our Senate rules, the committee is authorized to meet in
• It can have a chilling effect on campaigns.
• Mandates that a campaign may not have a negative balance at the time of reporting, establishes at a committee
• Chair in the committee. Thank you, Senator. Any questions from committee members? To Mr.
• Chair on the committee. Thank you, Senator. Any questions from committee members? No one? No.

Bills: HB344

Keywords: campaign finance, elections, transparency, political committees, reporting requirements, enforcement

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.

Bills: HB88, HB181, HB210, HB250, HB486, HB529, HB544, HB639, HB996, HB1036, HB1071, HB1113

Keywords: local law, special bill, legislative process, transparency, election amendment, Medicaid, SNAP, fraud detection, income tax, legislative auditor, data sharing, state revenue, lobbying, public service, ethics, statewide officials, compensation, disclosure requirements, government employment, financial disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Stairs, if you will, to open our committee meeting in prayer.
• Everyone voting 60 to build does pass out of committee and moves on to oversight.
• or collected on behalf of the campaign.
• Just let the committee know, but we're going to lay over House Bill 3852.
• Thank you, committee.

Bills: HB2938, HB2939, HB3306, HB3722, HB4113, HB4123

Keywords: elections, national elections, state elections, voter intent, election reform, absentee voting, electronic communication, facsimile device, voting materials, military voters, campaign finance, ethics, political contributions, candidate committee, Oklahoma legislation, voter registration, political party affiliation, Independent designation, Oklahoma, voter eligibility