The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report Senate Bill 743 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass, under the bill's original double-reference to Finance. Committee counsel described the measure as amending chapter 11 to change how money collected from the former state portion of the excise tax on transfer of real property (often called the stamp tax) is allocated at the county level.

Under the bill, all money collected in a county would remain county funds but would be divided so that 10% is deposited to an account for election administration purposes, 10% to the record-room (recording) account, and the remaining 80% to the county general fund. Counsel said the current allocation is 90% to the county general fund and 10% split for election administration and the record room; the bill would change that to 80%/10%/10%. Committee counsel noted a fiscal-note estimate that a county could see a reduction in general-fund receipts of approximately $117,000 because the county general fund's share would fall from 90% to 80%.

Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood and Fayette County Clerk Michelle Holly testified for the measure. Brian Wood described the accounts as a way for county clerks to accrue matching funds so counties can take advantage of federal HAVA grants and adopt new voting equipment that meets updated VVSG 2 standards. Wood told the committee he currently has about $79,000 in his county's fund and said some equipment (the DS200) can cost about $8,000 per unit; he described a potential purchase for Putnam County that could exceed $1 million. Both clerks emphasized uncertainty in future federal funding cycles and said setting aside county-collected excise tax revenue would allow counties to match federal grants without asking for midyear appropriations from county commissions.

Senators asked clarifying questions about the fiscal note and whether the County Commissioners Association supported the bill; Brian Wood said he had contacted the association and had not received a response indicating positive or negative support. After testimony and brief questions, the vice chair moved the bill be reported to the full Senate; the motion passed by voice vote. The committee record shows the chair asked the Finance chair to waive second reference on account of this bill creating no state-level spending and only reallocating county funds.

The committee did not vote on any amendments during this session. The transcript contains no roll-call vote for the committee's recommendation, only a voice vote recorded as "the ayes have it."