Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Election Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances two election bills after amendment votes; SB 5017 passes narrowly, SB 5014 passes unanimously
Summary
The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee voted to report out substitute Senate Bill 5017 (uniform standards for overseas and service voters) as amended by committee (4–3) and to report out engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5014 (election security) as amended (7–0). Members debated multiple amendments to SB 5017, including provisions
The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee completed executive action on two election bills, reporting both out of committee with recommendations to advance to the floor.
Substitute Senate Bill 5017, which creates uniform standards for service and overseas (UOCAVA) voters, was adopted as amended and reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. After debate on several line amendments, the committee recorded four votes in favor and three opposed. The clerk called the roll: Representative Mena (aye), Representative Stearns (aye), Representative Dolio (aye) and Representative Farvar (aye); Representatives Waters, Walsh and Chase voted no. The motion to report the substitute bill as amended carried.
Committee members debated multiple Chase-sponsored amendments (OMNI 263, 257, 258, 264), which the committee rejected. The committee adopted Representative Farvar’s OMNI 256, which removed a requirement that the Secretary of State explore electronic ballot-return portal options for UOCAVA voters; Representative Walsh’s striking amendment H2101.1, proposed later in debate, was not adopted. Representative Farvar urged a yes vote on the final bill as amended, saying the measure increases uniformity and clarity for military and overseas voters; Representatives Walsh and Chase urged no votes, citing concerns that the bill’s language could broaden UOCAVA applicability in ways that risk security or unintended consequences.
Desiree Omley, Office of Program Research staff, read the bill summary and amendments during the meeting. Representative Stearns moved that substitute Senate Bill 5017 be reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation; the motion carried 4–3.
On Senate Bill 5014, which addresses election-security matters, the committee adopted amendments (OMNI 265 and OMNI 260) and voted to report the engrossed substitute bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The committee approved that bill by voice vote and staff announced the result as 7 aye, 0 nay.
Committee discussion included testimony from county auditors and the Secretary of State’s office in earlier proceedings; Representative Stearns said he favored narrowing a broad catchall certification authority in SB 5014 to provide clearer lines for counties, and the committee adopted that narrowing. Representative Waters, ranking member, opposed the narrowing on procedural grounds but the committee nonetheless adopted the change and advanced the bill.
The committee adjourned after staff briefings and thanked staff and participants for their work this year.
