CS/CS/HB 131 - Elections

• Preempts all election matters in chapters 97-105 to the state, except as specifically authorized by state or federal law.

• Defines "absent uniformed services voter" to include active duty military members and their spouses/dependents absent from their residence, and revises "overseas voter" definition to align with federal voting requirements.

• Requires supervisors of elections to send absentee ballots to absent uniformed services and overseas voters no later than 45 days before elections via mail, email, or facsimile at voter's option.

• Expands political advertisement exemptions for digital platforms, including social media posts, text messages, and paid internet links under 200 characters, provided they link to compliant websites.

• Increases threshold for independent expenditure reporting from $100 to $5,000 and prohibits electioneering communications organizations from using credit cards for contributions or expenditures.