Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee amends House Bill 1679 to remove school closure mandate for voting and advances bill to appropriations
Summary
Senators approved amendments to House Bill 1679 that remove a requirement for elementary schools to close when used as polling places and streamlined other language; the committee passed the bill 6-2 and recommended recommitment to appropriations.
The Senate Elections Committee amended and advanced House Bill 1679, a bill concerning election administration and polling-place rules, after adopting two amendments and agreeing to send the bill to appropriations.
Senator Rogers introduced amendment 24, which removes a section that would have required elementary schools to close if they hosted any kind of election. "I think this is better decided at the local level rather than making a broad statement for every single elementary school," Rogers said, adding that virtual learning is difficult for elementary students and that some districts had reported difficulty providing voting access inside schools under existing law. The committee adopted amendment 24 by consent.
The committee then considered Amendment 25, which the chair described as similar to Senator Walker's prior amendment and intended to streamline language and capture testimony received last week. Senator Walker said Amendment 25 "picks up a few extra changes which I support" and moved the amendment; the committee adopted Amendment 25 by consent.
Senator Ford explained he had a separate amendment (23) he intended to bring on second reading; his proposal would limit consideration of registration information from other states to official voter registration offices or election boards, rather than informal sources.
The committee moved House Bill 1679 as amended and recommitted it to the appropriations committee. The final roll call on advancing the bill was 6-2 (No: Senator Ford, Senator Spencer; Yes: Senator Schmidt, Senator Johnson, Senator Rogers, Senator Walker, Senator Good, Chair Gaskell).
