The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 14 voted to advance a substitute for Senate Bill 5,684, which clarifies where electioneering is prohibited around county election offices.

The substitute narrows the bill’s scope so that parking lots counted as 'adjacent' to a building containing a county division of elections or a county auditor’s office must be county-owned, county-operated and routinely used for parking at that building. The committee voted by voice to send the proposed substitute with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee.

Senator Linda Wilson moved three amendments that would have (1) required county auditors to mark terrestrial distances and add signage with distance guidance (A1), (2) required a first-time violator of the section to receive a warning before criminal penalties were enforced (A2), and (3) clarified that tattoos, clothing and minor paraphernalia are not electioneering absent intent (A3). William (committee staff) described the substitute and the amendments during the committee’s executive session briefing.

All three amendments were moved by Senator Wilson and were rejected by the committee after debate. Committee members who opposed the amendments said they were too broad or would require marking property the county does not own or maintain, and that existing law already treats clothing and tattoos as electioneering in many contexts. Senator Wilson argued the amendments were intended to educate voters and reduce inadvertent violations.

After the amendments failed, the vice chair moved that the proposed substitute receive a due-pass recommendation and be sent to the Rules Committee; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The chair ruled the bill passed subject to signatures.

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; the record reflects voice votes on the amendments and on final passage.