Governmental Affairs committee advances bills on election administration, travel reimbursements and transparency; university-records measure held

The House Governmental Affairs committee heard a packed agenda on April 23 and reported a number of bills favorably while asking the author of a university-records measure to work with stakeholders before returning it to the panel.

Committee action front-loaded measures affecting elections, ethics and government pay. Sponsor and agency witnesses said the bills are intended to protect voter privacy, reduce administrative burdens and clarify transparency requirements for appointed boards.

Senate Bill 248, presented by Senator Miller, would allow election officials to consolidate precincts that have fewer than 20 eligible voters when those precincts share the same polling location and ballot. Secretary of State Nancy Landry told the committee such consolidations would be limited and “seamless” for voters and said the change would save money and protect the privacy of voters in very small precincts. The committee adopted technical amendments and reported SB 248 favorably as amended.

Representative Zareng’s House Bill 398, which restricts meal reimbursements for state officials to the U.S. General Services Administration…