Video & Transcript Research : 'secretary of state'
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AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee Mar 5th, 2025
Ethics and Campaign Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- You're late filing the campaign report, and currently, the Secretary of State is required to send you
- It saves state money for filing a report by Rep. L. State money for filing a report by Rep.
- to prohibit foreign nationals from contributing and having any expenditures in elections within the state
- of Alabama.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee BR Sub. on General Government (2-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- example for the rest of the state it's a example for the rest of the state it's a great<00:03:48.760
- All right, our next, I believe I saw our Secretary of State, Michael Adams, saw there he is right there
- I'm Secretary of State Michael Adams.
- Adams I'm Secretary of State Michael Adams I'm Secretary of State Michael Adams this<00:10:26.160
- Just this month, Kentucky joined West Virginia and 17 other states in suing the state of New York in
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:19
Auditor of Public Accounts 00:01:07
Office of Secretary of State 00:10:22
Kentucky State Treasury 00:17:51
Office of Attorney General 00:28:50, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its first meeting and heard budget-related presentations from the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Secretary of State, with the Treasurer beginning a presentation at the end of the transcript. Auditor Allison Ball reviewed her office’s 2024 and early 2025 work, including hundreds of county and state audits, several special examinations, and ongoing reviews such as the kinship care funding issue, the Kentucky Department of Education audit, and the Jefferson County Public Schools audit. She said her office is focused on waste, fraud, abuse, and legal compliance, and asked the committee to consider future budget changes, including aligning her appropriation with restricted funding and restoring a stronger performance-audit function. She also highlighted audits that exposed serious problems, including the Department of Juvenile Justice review, and said those reports are intended to serve as models for other entities to avoid similar failures.
Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office is self-sustaining through fees and does not need tax dollars, but asked for greater access to its own revenues and more flexibility in using them. He highlighted the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, saying recent changes expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and that the program has grown rapidly while remaining funded by offender fines. Adams also urged lawmakers to again adjust county election funding for inflation, noting the current per-voter and per-precinct amounts were set decades ago. In questioning, Representative Hart asked whether the Safe at Home program was self-funding; Adams replied that it covers only about 10% of its operating cost and said the best solution would be to let the office use more of the revenue it already collects rather than rely on tax dollars.
Treasurer Martin Medcafe, introduced with staff member Russell Weber, praised the General Assembly’s fiscal discipline and described the Treasury’s work in managing state funds. He reported strong results from the Unclaimed Property Fund, saying the office returned $35.5 million to Kentuckians in its first year and $3.8 million in the first month of the current year, and said the State Investments Commission generated $682 million in returns last year. He also highlighted financial literacy efforts through the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission and said the Treasury is helping manage opioid settlement funds, which are now earning up to $200,000 per month through investment. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- It actually allows the Secretary of the State Board of Elections to use the existing stockpile of cards
- 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?
- Please, Rusty Clark, the Assistant Secretary of the State Election Board, Mr.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel and Public Retirement (7-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll go ahead and call our first uh presenter to the table, and I think that's our Secretary of State
- I'm Michael Adams, the Secretary of State, and this is Jennifer Scotchfield, the assistant secretary
- of state.
- do as Secretary of State.
- Uh as of right now outside of state.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:15
Office of the Secretary of State 00:01:59
Office of the Attorney General 00:12:40
Department of Agriculture 00:22:44, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement heard presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Agriculture. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office had no major new budget or authority requests, but he updated members on voter-roll maintenance, ongoing litigation over a law preventing voting in multiple states, the Safe at Home program for domestic violence survivors, human trafficking outreach, reduced spending, and new anti-fraud measures for business registrations and electronic service of process.
Members then discussed Adams’ remarks, especially his criticism of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. One senator objected that the organization should not be shut out of the legislative process, citing First Amendment concerns. Adams responded that he was not seeking to ban anyone from speaking, but wanted lawmakers to remember the harm he believes the group’s litigation does to election integrity and bipartisan reform. Representative Jackson praised Adams and his staff for their work.
Deputy Attorney General Rob Duncan outlined the office’s work, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, body armor grants, administrative hearings, domestic violence and violent crime initiatives, election security, child support services, and the new Office of Data Privacy. He said the child support program transition from CHFS had created budget shortfalls and that the office would seek additional funding next session. In response to questions from Representative Lockett, Duncan said he did not yet have exact cost figures but expected funding needs and noted barriers related to personnel, budgeting, and integration. The committee also heard from Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, who highlighted the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy’s 25th anniversary, the new Office of Economic Development, and the role of Miss Kentucky in promoting agriculture. He said the department would seek recruitment and retention funding, possible staffing for EV station inspections, and continued support to make the agriculture economic development fund permanent.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (2-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- > impersonate a secretary of state or a impersonate a secretary of state or a County<00:15:25.199>
- >
the deputy secretary or senior staff of the deputy secretary or senior staff of the State<00 - and the Secretary of State.
- partners, and of course the Secretary of State.
- <00:48:28.040>
of state of Elections and Secretary of state of Elections and Secretary of
Keywords:
Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20
Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44
Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56
Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression.
The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup.
Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- If you wish to provide testimony, please register on one of the kiosks located outside of the chamber
- Well, in support of support. Chair: OK, you're right. In support of this.
- 120 acts of vandalism of personal property of employees and caseworkers by youth wards of the state
- We're grateful to all of the legislators, state agency staff, and stakeholders that have contributed
- of need.
Bills:
HB50
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services May 23rd, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- of vandalism of personal property of employees and caseworkers. by youth wards of the state or those
- And so, given, again, And these are people working for the state, and they give of their time and effort
- A little bit of both. Yes, ma'am, you used to be my state senator, so thank you very much.
- We're grateful to all of the legislators, state agencies, staff, and stakeholders that have contributed
- of need.
Bills:
HB50
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Today the committee will consider what will be a merger of House File 2783, the House omnibus state government
- I will now make a series of motions to get us through this general procedure.
- All those in favor of in favor of that All those in favor of in favor of that motion<00:02:16.319
- All those in favor of that motion 3045.
- All those in the will of the committee.
Keywords:
omnibus, state government, local government, elections, campaign finance, voter registration, absentee voting, election administration, electronic rosters, lobbying, lobbyist disclosure, state budget, appropriations, biennial budget, Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota Management and Budget, state personnel, civil service, affirmative action, disability employment
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Apr 16th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- so that it's one of the fees contingent upon a successful.
- Was that one of the issues for the folks that are non-voters you're talking about? Yes.
- by the United States Department of General Affairs for such purposes.
- all throughout the state.
- They've adopted the federal language to put into the state bill.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Information Technology Oversight Committee (9-10-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The Secretary of State's office will be up next. Same drill. Please state your name.
- of State.
- And at that time, OneStop put up on their website, go to Secretary of State...
- with the Secretary of State that they with the Secretary of State that they would<00:53:14.720><
- <00:54:25.360>
of <00:54:25.440>State <00:54:25.840>had To Secretary of State
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00
Department of Education 00:21:00
Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30
Secretary of State 00:45:15
Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11
Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all
Summary:
The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide.
Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system.
The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- Would you allow me to defer that question to the Secretary of State? Sure, yeah.
- of state.
- Um, it is all done by the Secretary of State staff. So all the—but it's an extra component, right?
- Now, creating this database is going to create more work on the staff of the Secretary of State.
- So, because of that, the value to each state and each Secretary of State's office is it's a much more
Keywords:
voting, elections, voter registration, voter rolls, list maintenance, address change, change of address, ERIC, Electronic Registration Information Center, AVID, Alabama Voter Integrity Database, Secretary of State, board of registrars, inactive voter, voter purge, duplicate registration, cross-state voter matching, National Change of Address, NCOA, driver license data
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 2nd, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to thank Chairwoman Button for this great state of Texas.
- Well, the United States Department of Agriculture did some research and found that during periods of
- There's a standard of 26 that is across the United States.
- agree that Texas is not a one-size-fits-all kind of state.
- the Business and Commerce Code of one of only 12 states to do so.
Keywords:
school district, bond issuance, election dates, voter approval, Texas Education Code, HCR 9, Texas State Cemetery, Hill Country flood, July 4 2025 flood, Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, memorial, monument, concurrent resolution, disaster remembrance, natural disaster, flood victims, survivors, State Preservation Board, Texas secretary of state
Summary:
The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so.
A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony.
The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- We think so much of him. He is such a value to this state.
- Mackey is the superintendent of the state board of education. Uh, Dr.
- of the state.
- to any matter which the state department of education or the state board of education has the authority
- a vast number of retailers in this state.
Keywords:
Morgan County, judge of probate, legal qualifications, equity jurisdiction, constitutional amendment, campaign finance, electronic notifications, civil penalties, Fair Campaign Practices Act, Secretary of State, sex offenders, treatment programs, electronic media, post office box restrictions, Class C felony, parole, probation, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Const. Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs (1-18-24)
Keywords:
KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpELW5kJzI, 2026-06-21T07:17:05+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Attendance roll call: 00:10
Recognition of guests and new members of the committee: 00:55
Presentation by the Secretary of State: 02:58
Discussion of HB 53: 24:52
Discussion and passage of HR 35: 49:00, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Rules REVISED Feb 19th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Administrative Rules
Transcript Highlights:
- The job of the task force will be to review the efficiency, effectiveness, and necessity of all state
- So I've gotten with the governor's office and the secretary of the state about this, and the Secretary
- The Secretary of State is fully in favor of this and thinks that they can accomplish this without major
- Last year, we had some of that going on in the State Department of Education.
- I am actually in discussion with The Secretary of State is being consulted to see if there is a way to
Keywords:
HJR1032, House Joint Resolution 1032, Service Oklahoma, administrative rules, rule repeal, joint resolution, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 670:15-1-10, OAC 670:15-1-14, agency regulation, legislative oversight, Secretary of State, Oklahoma Register, rulemaking, permanent rules, administrative code, guidance transparency, administrative procedures, public inspection, state agency accountability
TX
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
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Did you say that per TPPF, the Secretary of State is removing around 600?
- this: notice is being sent to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State then enters it and sends
- The committee substitute clarifies the authority of the Secretary of State to defray expenses for counties
- And if I can follow up on that, the Secretary of State is actually engaging in kind of building their
- The Secretary of State must approve the format of these notations to ensure consistency across counties
Keywords:
election services, contracting, political subdivisions, county elections, election code, voter registration, citizenship status, election law, cancellation, disqualification, Texas Election Code, voter identification, registration, election integrity, identification documents, election, watcher, polling place, removal, Texas Elections Code
Summary:
The committee first voted out two previously heard Senate bills without amendment: SB 688, relating to the date of the meeting of presidential electors, and SB 914, relating to authorizing certain cities to change the date of their general election for officers. Both motions passed on 8-0 votes with one member absent.
The committee then heard HB 3909, which would change the current prohibition on wireless device use from a 100-foot boundary around a voting station to only inside the room where voting is taking place, with a committee substitute also adding state-prescribed signage. The author and supporters said the change would reduce confusion and make enforcement easier for election workers, while opponents argued the existing 100-foot rule helps prevent electioneering, recording, and possible technical interference with election equipment. The bill was left pending.
Members also heard HB 1968, which would repeal a provision that requires counties to provide election services to certain political subdivisions in odd-numbered years but not even-numbered years, making county-provided election services consistent across years. Supporters said it would improve consistency for smaller cities and school districts, while opponents warned it could strain county equipment and staffing during heavy election cycles. The bill was left pending. HB 2279 would require voter registrars to remove a person from the rolls if the person swears under oath during jury service that they are not a U.S. citizen; supporters said this would streamline removal of ineligible voters, while opponents raised concerns about mistaken identity and loss of due process. The bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard HB 2803, which would require a presiding judge to give a poll watcher a signed statement explaining any removal from service. Supporters said this would improve documentation and accountability, and one witness asked for clarification that improper removal would remain a criminal offense; the author said he would consider a floor amendment and further discussion. The committee also heard HB 4253, which would create a more uniform voter-roll maintenance process based on inactivity, sending confirmation notices to voters who have not voted in the prior 25 months and eventually removing those who do not respond after multiple election cycles. Supporters said it would clean up outdated records and help keep voters registered where they actually live, while opponents argued it could wrongly remove eligible voters who simply do not vote regularly. HB 4253 was left pending as well.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
To receive a closed briefing on Department of Defense cyber operations. Feb 25th, 2025 at 03:00 pm
Cybersecurity Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- He's been nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Defense. If confirmed, Mr.
- I believe he will make a very fine Deputy Secretary of Defense. Mr.
- I'm most alarmed however by Secretary Hegstead's dismissal of the judge at the Department of Justice
- Working with the Secretary, of course.
- I work for the Secretary of Defense.
Keywords:
Steven Feinberg, Deputy Secretary of Defense, national security, budget cuts, military readiness, global threats, Department of Defense
Summary:
The meeting primarily focused on the nomination of Steven Feinberg as Deputy Secretary of Defense. The committee emphasized the urgent need for strong leadership in response to a complex array of global threats posed by adversarial coalitions, including China, Russia, and Iran. The discussions highlighted concerns regarding budget cuts and personnel reductions within the Department of Defense, showcasing the challenges posed by the current economic context and the pressing need to maintain military readiness and capabilities. Various members expressed their apprehensions about how impending layoffs and budget reductions would impact the defense workforce and national security.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2025-04-10
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The fourth item moves the deadline for the SBI's annual report from, that's the State Board of Investment
- For those who may not know, the state government finance budget bill funds the offices of And the state
- The budget funds the offices of the Department of Labor, the Department of Commerce, Minnesota IT, which
- You will also see that there is a bill from Representative Breyer for the Secretary of State, which will
- of...
Bills:
HF2783
Keywords:
state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2025-04-08
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The Secretary of State is on line 3.24. The State Board of Investment is on line 3.28.
- Minnesotans expect robust oversight of their state government and the expenditures of public funds.
- part of the state government and provides services to all Minnesota communities.
- I'm the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Minnesota State Board of Investment.
- plans, as well as a large amount of state assets.
Bills:
HF2783
Keywords:
state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant