2026 Regular Session - Day 28 - HB 136 | Rep. Wade Williams

Mr. Speaker, could I ask the clerk to report House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 136? Clerk, please report. House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 136. General from Hopkins. A little explanation, Mr. Speaker. This is, uh, the bill is the same, it just removes an arbitrary cap of $15,000. I move the adoption of the House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 136. Motion is for the adoption of House Committee Substitute 1. Is there any discussion of the Committee Substitute? Seeing none, those in favor signify by voting aye. Those opposed, nay. House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted. General from Hopkins. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, House Bill 136 I think is a good bill. It's so good we're going to have the opportunity to pass it twice. This is the second time on the floor. As we all know, politics today, they're not as tame and as cordial as we've had over the last couple decades. Just last June, the nation learned of a tragic act of political violence against two Minnesota state legislators. One's wife, some fatally, some one critically shot, and the attack was widely labeled a political assassination. We've had attacks on our sitting president and acts of violence against even our federal delegation here from Kentucky. An increasing number of these events are highlighting concerns that are threats, about threats, to our elected officials that are spurring discussion on enhanced security measures for legislators. House Bill 136 is necessary to modernize campaign finance law and allow for the protection of candidates and their loved ones. This change allows the use of campaign funds to pay a reasonable cost of security measures. Let me say that again, we're not talking about tax dollars, we're talking about campaign funds. So the new language in the bill matches the Federal Election Commission ruling. And Mr. Speaker, I would move passage of House Bill 136 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1.