Speaker backs proof-of-citizenship checks at registration and flags lieutenant governor review of voter rolls

During the press availability, reporters pressed the Speaker on proposals to require proof of citizenship when registering or voting. The Speaker said he supports requiring proof of citizenship at registration and referenced polling that, he said, shows majority support for voter ID measures.

He also referenced comments from the lieutenant governor, saying a sample showed approximately 400 registrations that warranted more review. "That was just a sample. That was not all across the state," he said, adding that further investigation is appropriate and that officials should seek to ensure voter confidence.

Questioners raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement, asking how many people would be affected by an ID or proof-of-citizenship requirement. The Speaker acknowledged that some groups—older voters or people without documentation—might find it harder to comply but argued that showing ID at registration is not onerous for most people and is intended to increase confidence in elections.

The Speaker also said he supports continuing to work through the Senate and House processes to determine the final form of election bills, and said some proposals have been combined into omnibus packages under Senate consideration. The transcript does not record specific bill numbers beyond references to last session's HB 300 and to an omnibus package in the Senate.

Next steps: The Legislature will consider whether original bills such as HB 300 will be included in larger packages and whether additional verification steps will be required at registration; the transcript records intent and discussion but not enacted changes.