Video & Transcript Research : 'vote counting'

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WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 27, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • The other one was a rebuild of this bill with language brought by the gold standard vote counting crowd
  • The other one was a rebuild of this bill with language brought by the gold standard vote counting crowd
  • <00:41:38.960> wouldn't<00:41:39.520> it vote uh counting crowd that wouldn't it vote
  • count or by using electronic voting count or by using electronic voting equipment<00:54:24.000><
  • If we had to hand count 33 million single votes, yeah, we could probably do it that night as well.
Bills: HB0022, HB0052, HB0076
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/11/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We should all want our vote to count. We're supposed to be We should all want our vote to count.
  • counts.
  • This strike everything amendment is to reduce lines and ensure every legal vote counts.
  • . this strike everything amendment is to reduce lines and ensure every legal vote counts.
  • voting against is that your ballot counts anywhere that you drop it off.
Summary: The Committee on Federal and Military Affairs and Elections heard a lengthy presentation on an investigative referral concerning alleged voter registration anomalies in Arizona from March 2023 onward. The chair described examples involving out-of-state residents, deceased registrants, military voters, duplicate or mismatched registrations, and registrations tied to Service Arizona, ACCESS, third-party vendors, and NGOs. Members also discussed alleged mismatches between county recorder data and Secretary of State reports, possible issues with automatic voter registration, and concerns about public records compliance. At the end of the presentation, members were asked whether they wanted to sign onto a criminal referral to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice; several declined, while others agreed, and the committee proceeded after correcting a signature-block issue. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1259, which would allow certain protected individuals to use an alternate mailing address and attest to their residential address on candidate and financial disclosure filings. After questions about residency verification and confidentiality, the bill received a do pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. Senate Bill 1281, dealing with state land department procedures for covered federal designations and notification of land takings, was heard next; after opposition testimony from the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, it passed 4-3. Senate Bill 1037, concerning election equipment security and internet connectivity, drew substantial debate. A Marquez strike-everything amendment that would have shifted the bill toward voting centers, ERIC participation, early voting changes, and election funding failed on a 4-3 vote. The underlying bill then failed to receive a do pass recommendation on a 3-3-1 vote. Finally, Senate Bill 1040, which would make voter registration rolls publicly accessible online and downloadable, passed 4-3 after questions about what information would remain redacted and concerns about public access to voter data.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

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

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Every citizen should have confidence that their vote counts and isn't diluted by ineligible ballots or
  • the votes, where we don't have voter ID for every voter. ...take so long to count the votes, where we
  • I feel like my voting rights are under attack because I don't know if my vote counts, and with that I
  • elections, and we count the votes when they're cast.
  • elections, and we count the votes when they're cast.
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.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

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

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • , early voting, and provisional voting.
  • and Election Day voting.
  • Election Day voting.
  • and Election Day voting.
  • Okay, explain my vote. You certainly may. Mr.
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.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 8th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • And before Help America Vote, this is how you vote.
  • So a proper audit. must follow votes through the entire process, from manual counting to paper ballots
  • for in-person early voting and voting by mail.
  • , it would be a great improvement for early voting by requiring a manual count of the full ballots.
  • The manual count was conducted for early voting vote centers of the eight precincts selected by the county
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/14/2026 - Senate Judiciary and Elections

Judiciary and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • in multiple states and people that are 134 years old and counted as voted.
  • for voting.
  • Oh, and I vote aye. May I explain my vote? You may.
  • I vote aye.
  • Three ayes, two noes, and not voting. Two not voting. By our vote of three ayes.
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.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And some of them are vote harvesting cases.
  • Voter fraud, illegals voting, or even ballot by mail, which is 5% of the vote.
  • We have the voting system ballots.
  • somebody picked them up and told them to go vote. vote.
  • All right, the votes being 9 ayes and 0 nays.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • testimony like this about personal impact, will guide your decision to protect our communities by voting
  • We heard a lot of testimony on that bill, and so if there are no objections, we'll proceed to a vote
  • The vote stands in recess until 30 minutes upon adjournment or final recess of this. in it today.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Mar 13th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • testimony like this about personal impact, will guide your decision to protect our communities by voting
  • testimony like this about personal impact, will guide your decision to protect our communities by voting
  • And so, if there are no objections, we'll proceed to a vote on Senate Bill 17.
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.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 9th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • In counties over 100,000, they can begin counting as soon as early voting ends on Friday night, the fourth
  • Central scanning is currently where ballots are processed by the Early Voting Ballot Board to be counted
  • The ballot that the hand count provides, and the built-in triple verification, allows the vote count
  • Count how they voted in every single election. So, it'd be a true nightmare.
  • Okay, so there is no way to confirm a hand-counted vote was made in this kind of irregular, self-made
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 3rd, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We had to go to court and ask a judge to reopen central count for early vote ballots.
  • They can count on the numbers and their vote being counted properly.
  • Every citizen in Texas deserves to have absolute confidence that their vote counts. ...and isn't diluted
  • by improper votes.
  • to vote.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • they didn't vote.
  • voting, and in-person voting.
  • , or early voting.
  • day votes were counted once. ...times one, two, and then I guess election day votes were counted once
  • Every Texan deserves to know that their vote counts exactly once, no more, and no less.
Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills. SB 447 would let the City of Mission in Hidalgo County permanently move its municipal elections from May to the uniform November election date if it chooses. The bill was described as permissive and intended to increase turnout and reduce costs. Mission’s mayor testified in support, saying voters had already approved the change by a wide margin in a charter amendment election. The bill was left pending after no objection. SB 2217 focused on standardizing election data reporting and reconciliation across counties to improve transparency and comparability. Testimony was generally supportive of the goal, but Dr. Laura Presley and others flagged technical issues, including a discrepancy between a three-ballot mismatch threshold in existing law and a 1% threshold in part of the bill, plus a definition issue involving central accumulators. Supporters said consistent auditing and reconciliation would help election integrity, while the bill was also left pending. The committee then took up SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period that would combine early voting and Election Day into one uninterrupted process, with precinct consolidation and other changes. Supporters said it could simplify administration, reduce equipment changes, and improve security by using one set of machines. Opponents and neutral witnesses raised concerns about cost, staffing, ballot security, reporting changes, weekend voting, and whether the bill was ready for implementation; several urged a pilot or study instead. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. SB 505 would create a process for election workers, candidates, party officials, and measure proponents or opponents to request explanations of election irregularities, with escalation to the Secretary of State for audit or enforcement if responses were unsatisfactory. Supporters said it would provide a way to resolve irregularities and restore confidence, while opponents argued it was too broad, lacked guardrails against abuse, and could be used by partisan actors to pressure counties. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 311 would expand Texas’s online voter registration system to first-time registrants and others, with supporters citing efficiency, lower costs, and broader access, and opponents raising concerns about signature verification and implementation details. Testimony was cut short because of the session deadline, and the bill had not been disposed of in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • voting, and in-person voting.
  • Number ten, the ballots voted during early voting are not delivered to Central Counting Station until
  • day votes were counted once.
  • Times one, two, and then I guess election day votes were counted once.
  • Every Texan deserves to know that their vote counts exactly once, no more and no less.
Summary: The House Committee on Elections met with a quorum present and heard several election-related bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The first measure, SB 447, would allow the City of Mission to move its municipal elections from May to November on a one-time, permanent basis. Supporters, including Mission’s mayor, said voters had already approved the change by a wide margin and argued it would improve turnout and reduce costs. The bill was left pending after no objection. The committee then heard SB 2217, which was described as a transparency measure to standardize election data reporting and reconciliation across counties. Testimony focused on a technical issue involving discrepancy thresholds for electronic voting system reconciliation, with one witness urging the bill be aligned with existing law’s “more than 3” standard rather than a 1% threshold, and another suggesting a definition fix. The bill was left pending. Members also heard SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period by combining early voting and election day into one uninterrupted period, with a committee substitute making it a pilot and permissive. Supporters said it could simplify administration and improve security, while opponents warned it would increase costs, require more staffing and equipment, delay results, and create logistical problems for counties. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 505 would let certain election stakeholders request explanations of irregularities from election officials and, if unresolved, escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for audit or possible conservatorship. Supporters framed it as a tool for accountability and transparency, while opponents called it overly broad and vulnerable to abuse. The bill was left pending. The committee also took up HB 311, which would expand online voter registration to first-time registrants and direct state agencies to develop a pathway for Texans without a driver’s license to register online. Supporters argued it would modernize the process, reduce errors, and save money, while opponents said first-time applicants still need a wet signature and raised concerns about signature verification and implementation. Due to the late hour and floor deadline, testimony was cut off, the names of remaining witnesses were read into the record, and the bill was left pending before the committee adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • in order to get their dealer license, I mean there were probably 12, 13, 15 too many companies to count
  • to have in order to get their dealer license, there were probably 12, 13, 15 too many companies to count
  • to have in order to get their dealer license, there were probably 12, 13, 15 too many companies to count
  • grossberg permission to explain my vote grossberg permission to explain my vote briefly<00:23:56.880
  • no no votes House Bill 210 does um votes no no votes House Bill 210 does um pass<00:30:50.080> and
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up several insurance and health-related bills, beginning with Senate Bill 18, which was presented by Senator Girdler and insurance witness Adam Sheridan. The bill was described as addressing a shortage of garage liability insurance for used auto dealers in Kentucky, which has left many small dealers with only one or two coverage options and, in some cases, unable to obtain the insurance needed for a dealer license. The committee adopted a motion and second, then passed SB 18 unanimously and reported it favorably with the recommendation that it pass on the House floor. The committee then considered Senate Bill 24, also presented by Senator Girdler with testimony from Eric DeCampo of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The bill was framed as an anti-fraud measure that would expand the definition of a fraudulent insurance act to cover misrepresentations about property damage and repair costs in property insurance claims. Testimony emphasized that insurance fraud raises premiums for consumers and that the bill would help deter inflated or fabricated claims. After a brief question about whether the bill created new felonies, the committee voted to pass SB 24 unanimously and report it favorably. House Bill 524, presented by Rep. Aaron Thompson with officials from the Office of the Controller and State Risk, would extend reinsurance requirements for the state’s fire and tornado/self-insurance fund from July 1 of this year to July 1, 2030, and rename the fund the Commonwealth’s Property and Casualty Insurance Fund. The bill was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously. House Bill 421, presented by Rep. Amy Neighbors, would require full coverage of FDA-approved bowel preps without out-of-pocket cost or prior authorization issues and update colorectal cancer screening coverage rules for high-risk patients by incorporating multisociety task force guidelines. Members discussed the bill’s personal importance and its minimal fiscal impact; it passed unanimously with a committee substitute. House Bill 236, presented by Rep. Adam Moore and Commissioner Sharon Clark, would cap annual out-of-pocket costs for epinephrine at $100. Members spoke in support, including personal remarks about the importance of access to epinephrine, and the bill passed unanimously with a favorable recommendation. Finally, House Bill 210, presented by Rep. Michael “Sarge” Pollock and Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, addressed dental limited benefit plans and direct payment to dentists. Members asked whether the bill also affected vision/hearing arrangements or third-party administrators; the witness said it was intended for non-ERISA dental plans in Kentucky and suggested follow-up with the commissioner for further clarification. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed HB 210 favorably, with 15 yes votes and no votes against. The meeting then adjourned, with a reminder about the Banking and Insurance dinner later that evening.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Hale, explain my vote, please. I'd like to vote aye, and I commend you on the work on this.
  • That's why Senator Armstrong was so willing to vote aye when she's just doing a roll call, so I'm really
  • Senator girdler i' like explain<00:10:14.440> my<00:10:14.760> yes<00:10:15.040> vote
  • > please<00:10:15.880> do<00:10:16.880> uh<00:10:17.079> I explain my yes vote
  • please do uh I explain my yes vote please do uh I really<00:10:17.399> don't<00:10:17.560>
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and moved quickly through several House bills related to health insurance, insurance regulation, dental benefits, and digital assets. Members repeatedly noted the need to keep testimony brief because of overlapping committee schedules and the late-session pace. The chair also reminded House members to coordinate floor sponsors since consent calendars were not being used this year. House Bill 421, presented by Rep. Amy Neighbors with support from Dr. Russell Williams, would require full coverage of FDA-approved bowel preps with no out-of-pocket cost and no prior authorization barriers. House Bill 814, presented by Rep. Mike Klein and explained by Sen. Girdler, would extend the insurance regulatory sandbox through December 2030; supporters said the committee substitute was a vetted NAIC model already adopted in 28 states. House Bill 210, presented by Rep. Pollock with Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, would clarify assignment-of-benefit provisions so dentists are paid directly and with more transparency. House Bill 415, also by Rep. Pollock, would clarify that health insurance coverage mandates apply only to primary major medical policies. House Bill 701, presented by Rep. Adam Bowling with Ash Gun of Coinbase, would establish clearer rules for blockchain and digital assets, affirm Kentuckians’ right to hold and transact digital assets, align money transmission licensing with digital assets, and specify that certain crypto activities are not securities. Members discussed the bill in general terms, including a light exchange about crypto market volatility, but no substantive opposition was raised. Each bill received a favorable expression by roll call, and the committee adopted the committee substitute and title amendment on HB 814. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, and the chair said another meeting later in the week was possible.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.(2-25-26)

Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Transcript Highlights:
  • I vote yes.
  • >> like to briefly explain my yes vote. >> like to briefly explain my yes vote.
  • I vote<00:09:52.320> yes.<00:09:52.640> Thanks vote yes. Thanks vote yes.
  • >> May I explain my vote? >> Yes. >> Thank you.
  • But I believe in second chances, voting, everything. Second chances.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 145, which updates Kentucky’s laws governing caterers’ licenses and related ABC regulations. Senator Julie Rocky Adams explained that the bill clarifies where and how licensed caterers may sell and serve alcohol, standardizes food-to-alcohol revenue requirements, and removes administrative barriers. A committee substitute was adopted that also changes a tobacco-related license deadline from January 1, 2026 to July 1, 2026. Members discussed ABC staffing concerns, but the sponsor said those costs had not been specifically addressed. The committee substitute and then the bill as amended both passed unanimously and were sent to the House floor. The committee then considered three interstate compact bills. House Bill 36, the respiratory care compact, was presented as a straightforward compact aimed at helping military families, protecting the public, and improving real-time disciplinary data sharing; a committee substitute correcting immunity language was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 92, the dietitians compact, was described as improving portability of licensure, reducing burdens on licensees and states, supporting military families, and enhancing investigative and disciplinary information sharing; the committee substitute added background checks, and the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 628, the athletic trainer compact, was presented as a new compact with enough states moving forward to meet the threshold for establishment; members noted it had become a Department of Defense priority, and it also passed unanimously after a committee substitute. House Bill 254 was then taken up as a bill to exempt certain temporary emergency housing structures from plumbing code enforcement, based on experience during disaster sheltering when new trailers could not be used quickly because of inspection delays. A committee substitute corrected a drafting issue that had unintentionally affected temporary structures, and the bill passed unanimously. Finally, House Bill 584, which removes a permanent ban on a physician reapplying for DEA prescribing authority after rehabilitation and restoration of their medical license, was debated more extensively. The sponsor said the bill preserves DEA discretion while allowing a second chance after a lengthy rehabilitation process; KMA had not taken a position. Several members explained their votes, and the bill ultimately passed. The committee then recorded votes on the day’s bills and adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Rer voted yes. Representative Smith voted yes. Representative Wilson voted yes.
  • Representative All voted yes. Representative Banta voted yes. Representative Calloway voted yes.
  • Representative Klein voted yes. Representative Deets voted yes. Representative Donworth voted yes.
  • Representative Gentry voted yes. Representative Hampton voted yes. Representative Heen voted yes.
  • Representative Neighbors voted yes. Representative Rer voted yes. Representative Smith voted yes.
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 100, which would place cigarettes, vapes, and related nicotine products under the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system, add enforcement tools against bad actors, and regulate nitrous oxide/laughing gas sales to those under 21. Supporters, including youth advocates Mallerie Jones and Griffin Kian Neth, argued the bill would reduce youth access to nicotine products through retail licensing, compliance checks, and escalating penalties. Higdon said the bill targets illegal sales rather than most retailers, and noted the measure also updates House Bill 11 from the prior year and raises the retail license fee from $250 to $500. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed the bill on a roll call vote, with members voting yes and no opposition recorded in the transcript. The committee then considered Senate Bill 202, focused on cannabis-infused beverages. Senator Julie Raque Adams said the bill was intended to create common-sense public health guardrails for a rapidly growing product category sold in gas stations, liquor stores, and vape shops, and to address enforcement gaps. She explained the committee substitute would define cannabis-infused beverages at a 5-milligram limit per 12-ounce can, place enforcement under ABC while keeping CHFS manufacturing and testing rules in place, require a University of Kentucky report back to the General Assembly, allow existing higher-dose inventory to be sold through June 1, exempt festivals and fairs until January 1, 2026, and allow stores to obtain licenses to continue selling the product. The committee adopted the substitute and then heard testimony from hemp-industry representatives and a consumer. Opponents of SB 202/SB 22, including Dee Taylor of the Kentucky Hemp Association, Cornbread Hemp co-founder Jim Higdon, Annie Rouse of Cannabuzz Barn, and consumer Nancy Roberts, argued the bill would hurt a legal Kentucky hemp industry, reduce consumer access, and force sales into liquor stores. They said the 100-milligram beverage referenced in debate is actually 10 servings with a resealable top, that hemp retailers educate customers, and that the industry already operates under 2024 regulations and needs better enforcement rather than new restrictions. Higdon and Rouse objected to the 5-milligram cap, the on-premise sales ban, the move to ABC enforcement, and the taxation approach, warning the bill could wipe out a large share of business and jobs. No final vote on SB 202 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.