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

Transcript Highlights:

• after the Elections Canvassing Commission certifies the primary election results and continue until
• protective security details, The bill requires FDLE to provide protective security detail to the officers-elect
• up until the officers-elect assume their official office.
• But do those other Cabinet officers get protective detail once they're elected currently?
• for office, and we already have to take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution.

Bills: S0564, S0572, S0414, S0620, S0500, S0092

Keywords: student volunteers, polling locations, election administration, community service, Florida statutes, ethics, public officers, employment of relatives, transparency, government accountability, campaign finance, child care, elections, fund usage, political candidates, candidate qualifying, federal office, election integrity, regulatory compliance, political candidacy

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several election- and ethics-related bills. Senate Bill 572 by Senator Harrell, which would update ethics statutes so the definition of “relative” includes foster parents and foster children, received supportive testimony from the Commission on Ethics and passed unanimously. Senate Bill 414 by Senator Bracy Davis, allowing campaign funds to be used for campaign-related child care expenses, was presented as a way to reduce barriers to public service but was temporarily postponed after the sponsor said it lacked the votes to advance. Senate Bill 500 by Senator Avila would require FDLE protective security details for major-party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet offices from nomination through assumption of office; members questioned the scope, definitions of major and minor parties, and whether taxpayers should bear the cost, and the bill was reported favorably on a divided vote. Senate Bill 620 by Senator Mayfield would require candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship or dual citizenship; testimony opposed the bill as stigmatizing dual citizens, but it was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 92 by Chair Gaetz, which creates whistleblower-style protections for public employees who file ethics complaints based on firsthand knowledge and face retaliation, with support from the Commission on Ethics. In addition, the committee unanimously approved a block of gubernatorial appointments and then passed Senate Bill 564 by Senator Yarborough, allowing registered or pre-registered high school students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours; members discussed whether the bill would create new volunteer opportunities and whether the term “community service hours” needed clarification. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• office.
• This is Election Day.
• Commissioner of Elections.
• elections for the party primary offices and the fall general election in congressional election years
• If it's closed, it'll be closed for all of the elections in that election cycle.

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office or position appointed by an elected
• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office appointed by an elected official
• while serving as an election administrator.
• We'll open public testimony. Pardon me.
• Public testimony is open. Anyone wishing to testify? Public testimony is open.

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 677 prohibits county election administrators from holding an office or position appointed by an elected
• We'll open public testimony. Pardon me.
• We'll open public testimony on House Bill 668.
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed. The bill is left pending at this time.
• If there are no questions, This will open public testimony on Senate Bill 3070.

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Transcript Highlights:

• The Secretary of State could withhold seemingly any amount of money from election offices who do not
• public office.
• use of preferential voting systems in elections for public office.
• Explicitly prohibiting ranked-choice voting systems in elections for public office helps us avoid future
• Elected offices in single-seat elections that require the winner to receive a majority of the vote, as

Bills: HB376, HB817, HB 1297, HB1478, HB1661, HB1783

Keywords: HB 817, Texas Election Code, majority vote, majority threshold, ranked-choice voting, preferential voting, instant runoff voting, vote reassignment, ballot ranking, election administration, public office election, Election Code Section 2.0215, runoff elections, plurality vs majority, voting systems, education reform, budget allocation, teacher retention, student performance, accountability measures

Transcript Highlights:

• to the public until it closes the polls. on election night.
• Under the election code, county election offices can reach out to a voter and send them a corrective
• In a general election for state and county offices, I know that our county election board basically goes
• So, 60 days after Election Day, a member of the public can file a public information request for a copy
• for unlawfully altering any election procedures, as well by allowing a public official, election official

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:

• Secretary of the State Election Board, you are recognized.
• Chairman, and the committee on Paul Zirre, Secretary of the State Election Board.
• Is this a request bill from the state board of elections?
• Senate Bill 1286 says that political subdivisions where county election boards hold elections must furnish
• Please, Rusty Clark, the Assistant Secretary of the State Election Board, Mr.

Bills: SB1491, SB1581, SB1286, SB1451

Keywords: presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, initiative petitions, signature gathering, protest period, grand jury, Oklahoma legislature, polling place, polling locations, voter access, county election board, precinct, municipal building, school building, school district, municipality, political subdivision

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Elections and Ethics Committee.
• Secretary of the State Election Board is recognized.
• I'm Paul Zerick, Secretary of the State Election Board.
• State Board of Elections?
• Senate Bill 1286 says that political subdivisions where county election boards hold elections must furnish

Bills: SB1491, SB1581, SB1286, SB1451

Keywords: presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, initiative petitions, signature gathering, protest period, grand jury, Oklahoma legislature, polling place, polling locations, voter access, county election board, precinct, municipal building, school building, school district, municipality, political subdivision

Summary: The Elections and Ethics Committee considered several election-related bills. Senate Bill 1451, with an untimely filed committee amendment, would allow the State Board of Elections to use existing printed voter registration cards before switching to new ones and would add a space on the card for voters who moved from another county or state so election officials can better update and cancel duplicate registrations. The Secretary of the State Election Board said the measure would codify existing interstate notification practices and help clean up voter rolls; the bill passed 5-1. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1286, which requires political subdivisions that host county election board elections to provide polling-place rooms at no cost. Supporters said the bill was a request from the Tulsa County Election Board and was intended to address the large share of polling places located in private buildings that can withdraw access on short notice. It passed 5-1. Senate Bill 1581 was approved 5-1 as well. It extends the time to gather signatures to impanel a grand jury from 45 to 90 days and adds a 10-day protest period for signature verification. Testimony indicated the change would align this process with other initiative petition timelines. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1491, which requires newly appointed presidential electors filling a vacancy to take the same oath as other electors; it passed 5-1. The meeting ended with thanks to the committee for its service for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite the 2021 ruling restricting the AG's unilateral authority. to prosecute election fraud, his office
• time. 494 the office of the AG to safeguard the integrity of elections and ensure public confidence.
• . 659 660 General's Office that could potentially be after you for any mistakes made in the elections
• This won't just affect county elections offices, the language in this bill is...
• election at the time they had to be verified by October 7th and we knew already that the elections office

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• pay the fee to the federal government. 16 inches is an arbitrary number and serves no legitimate public
• I had a client who was doing a photo shoot out in public and it was at the zoo in San Antonio, he was
• Well, so they started selling all these M1 grams. and M1 carbines to the general public.
• Congress took necessary public safety action to regulate these firearms.
• Seeing and hearing none, public testimony is closed.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• Sixteen inches is an arbitrary number and serves no legitimate public purpose.
• I had a client who was doing a photoshoot out in public, and it was at the zoo in San Antonio.
• Well, so they started selling all these M1 Garands and M1 carbines to the general public.
• And we'll open public testimony on Senate Bill 1596.
• Seeing and hearing no public testimony is closed. Bills left pending at this time.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• the when a sheriff takes office after the election, and right now it's at midnight election, and right
• know, public because these are all, you know, public officers.
• Um, so now if our officers want to train, they now if our officers want to train, they now if our officers
• all public school students in area where all public school students in area where all public school
• If you are taxed for the benefit of public taxed for the benefit of public taxed for the benefit of public

Bills: HB258, HB324, HB333, SB270, HB258, HB324, HB333, SB270

Keywords: primary election, election calendar, off-presidential year, May primary, second Tuesday in May, fourth Tuesday in May, runoff primary, special primary, presidential primary, election administration, candidate filing, ballot access, political parties, county election officials, state election law, Alabama elections, sheriffs, term of office, Alabama law, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• And regional offices...
• after the Election Canvassing Commission, the ECC, certifies the primary election results and continue
• until the nominee either concedes the general election or the general election results are officially
• It's my understanding that those are public meetings, and there would be public comment just as there
• records exemption so that the elected officials knew that that was actually exempt under our public

Bills: S0500, S0536, S0762, S1582, S1632, S1634, S1742, S1750, S1792

Keywords: security detail, protective detail, candidate protection, election security, statewide office, governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet officer, nominee, officer-elect, FDLE, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, primary election, general election, canvassing commission, political party, minor party, campaign safety, election protection, public safety

Summary: The committee first considered SB 536, which updates Florida’s criminal gang statutes to reflect modern recruitment and communication methods, including social media and encrypted messaging. Senator Martin and supporters said the bill does not criminalize gang membership, but helps law enforcement and prosecutors establish gang-related connections for warrants and sentencing enhancements. Senator Smith raised concerns about the lowered threshold for being observed with gang members and possible unintended impacts on business owners and others; Martin said the language was not intended to cover ordinary business interactions and that a gang tattoo must be one used by the gang. After an amendment aligning the Senate bill with the House version was adopted, the committee reported CS/SB 536 favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 762, which allows chief judges to assign capital conflict cases across regional counsel offices, with an amendment requiring judges to consider judicial economy and geographic proximity. Testimony from regional counsel emphasized projected long-term savings, estimated at about $150 million over 10 years. The committee then approved CS/SB 1742, creating a new indecent exposure offense involving sexual conduct directed at minors, and CS/SB 1750, which increases penalties for serious sex crimes and child sexual abuse material offenses; both bills were amended before passage, with law enforcement groups appearing in support. The committee next took up SB 1582, which creates statewide data sharing for secondhand dealer and pawnbroker transactions without creating a new state-run database, while preserving confidentiality protections and law enforcement access. An amendment was adopted, and pawnbroker and recycling stakeholders testified in support. The linked public records bill, SB 1792, creating an exemption for those transaction records while allowing certain information to be released to alleged owners, was also reported favorably. The committee then approved CS/SB 500, which provides FDLE protective security details to major party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet offices after primary certification and until the general election is resolved; a technical amendment was adopted, and the bill was described as mirroring federal candidate protection practices. The longest and most contentious discussion was on CS/SB 1632, which would bar Florida courts from enforcing foreign or religious law in a way that overrides the U.S. or Florida constitutions and would create a process for designating foreign or domestic terrorist organizations, with related consequences for schools, funding, and student conduct. Senator Grall said the bill is intended to protect constitutional principles and target violent, criminal conduct rather than protected speech or religious practice, and she explained that designations would follow a public process with judicial review. Senators Smith and Polsky pressed repeatedly on First Amendment, due process, vagueness, and academic-speech concerns, asking how “promotion” would be defined and whether students, attorneys, or advocacy groups could be swept in; Grall said she was open to clarifying language but maintained the bill is aimed at furthering illegal acts, not mere opinion. Numerous speakers opposed the bill, warning it could be used to target Muslim students, religious communities, advocacy groups, and political dissent, while a few supporters argued it was needed for public safety. The transcript ends during public testimony on SB 1632, with no final committee vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• the statewide voter registration database, prohibits county election offices from producing any records
• In addition, any state or local election officer that knowingly discloses, without authority from the
• auditor or election administrator.
• elections administrator or auditor.
• and superintendent of public instruction, that... ...whatever you call him, of superintendent of public

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:

• until the nominee either concedes the general election or the general election results are officially
• And additionally, the bill requires FDLE to provide protective security detail to the officers-elect
• until the officers-elect assume the office.
• It's my understanding that those are public meetings, and there would be public comment just as there
• records exemption so that the elected officials knew that that was actually exempt under our public

Bills: S0500, S0536, S0762, S1582, S1632, S1634, S1742, S1750, S1792

Keywords: security detail, protective detail, candidate protection, election security, statewide office, governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet officer, nominee, officer-elect, FDLE, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, primary election, general election, canvassing commission, political party, minor party, campaign safety, election protection, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• > General</c><00:02:13.120><c> 40</c> Office of the Attorney General 40 Office of the Attorney General
• </c> office of the attorney general? office of the attorney general?
• </c> office of claims and appeals. office of claims and appeals.
• and the secretary's office.
• </c><00:27:01.039><c> I</c> being placed in office buildings. I being placed in office buildings.

Keywords: 0:16 – CALL TO ORDER 0:20 – ROLL CALL 0:56 – ELECTION OF CO-CHAIRS 1:54 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2:10 – OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 3:28 – PERSONNEL BOARD 4:30 – EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 5:18 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, OFFICE OF CLAIMS & APPEALS 12:03 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL 12:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 14:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES 31:44 – NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT/ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met to reorganize its leadership for the new term, renewing Representative Derek Lewis as House co-chair and Senator Steven West as Senate co-chair. The committee then approved the minutes and moved through a series of agency regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection. Among the regulations reviewed were an Attorney General rule changing how a commission reviews and distributes funds and how grant reporting is handled; Personnel Board changes abolishing and renaming certain job classifications and adjusting probationary periods; an Education and Labor Cabinet rule removing references to local board of education members; several Public Protection Cabinet rules covering Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation procedures; an Alcoholic Beverage Control rule on direct-to-consumer shipping forms; and a Medicaid Services emergency regulation establishing the Kentucky Trauma Hospital Rate Improvement Program for rural hospitals serving many Medicaid patients. The committee also heard that the Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation regulations included both staff and, in one case, an agency amendment, which were approved. The most extended discussion came on the Department for Community Based Services’ regulation increasing per diem rates for private child-placing therapeutic foster care levels 2 and 3. Committee members questioned the estimated $10 million biennial cost, the source of the funding, and why the cabinet had not yet filed regulations implementing Senate Bill 151 on kinship care. DCBS staff said the rate increase was discretionary and intended to address placement crises for children with high needs, while acknowledging they could not personally explain the budget decisions. A kinship caregiver testified in support of the rate increase but urged the cabinet to also implement SB 151 and expand support for kinship families. The committee expressed frustration over the lack of SB 151 implementation but stated the rate increase itself was appropriate and allowed the regulation to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• , juvenile probation officers, and certain hired law enforcement officers into criminal liability for
• DPS officers there today.
• It's helpful. but this isn't an election law or an election bill.
• I mean, not every officer is.
• No election, this is not an election bill.

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• office.
• election.
• One says no appointed inspector general shall hold or be a candidate for elective office, including elective
• political party office or any public office.
• office, including elective political party office, and goes on.

Bills: HB1011, SCR11, SB41, SB49, SB107, SB123, SB224, SB292, SB425, SB479

Keywords: tax credits, higher education, workforce development, brain drain, economic incentives, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, SB49, Louisiana elections, party primary, primary elections, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, school board elections, election law, candidate qualification, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• Emerging technologies should be studied, but before they're deployed in public elections, the studies
• It also specifies that the county elections office may respond to a PRA request from the United States
• officer rather than a state officer or election officer.
• State or local election officer rather than a state officer or election officer.
• Second Substitute Senate Bill 5968 requires executive branch agencies and offices of statewide elected

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.