HB968
Election results; counting machine-readable ballots, processing absentee ballots.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Feb. 6, 2026
House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
Chief Patron:
Cia Price (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Election results; counting machine-readable ballots; processing absentee ballots.
Requires ballot scanner machines to be used to count machine-readable ballots and prohibits such ballots from being counted by hand unless (i) the ballot scanner machine is inoperative, (ii) there is no other available scanner, and (iii) it would be unreasonable to wait for (a) the inoperative ballot scanner to ... (More) be made operative or (b) an operative ballot scanner machine to be delivered to the polling place rather than hand counting the ballots. 'Ballot scanner machine' and 'machine-readable ballot' are defined terms under current law. The bill also provides for the duplication of damaged or defective ballots by election officials of both parties processing absentee ballots in a central absentee precinct. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101436D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 01/25/2026 - House: Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
- 01/25/2026 - House: Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda
- 01/26/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 01/30/2026 - House: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26106669D-H1
- 01/30/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/02/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/02/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/02/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/06/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB968)
