Senate committee members unanimously voted Monday to send Senate Bill 578 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would establish the dates by which a candidate’s portrait and statement must be submitted to be included in voter pamphlets for primary and general elections, and would remove the secretary of state’s discretion to set those dates by rule.

The bill’s sponsor or staff summarized the measure for the committee, saying the measure “establishes the dates by which a portrait and statement are to be submitted to be included in the voters' pamphlets for primary and general elections and removes the secretary of state's discretion to set the date and rule.” The summary added the secretary of state would retain rulemaking authority to set submission dates for elections to fill vacancies and for elections other than the primary or general election. The summary also noted no fiscal impact and a minimal revenue impact.

During the brief work session, Vice Chair Bonham moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; a roll call followed. Senators voting aye included Senator Holden, Senator Manning, Senator Facher, Vice Chair Bonham and Chair Johnson. Chair Johnson announced the motion passed and named Senator Frederick as carrier for the bill.

No committee discussion indicating changes to the bill text was recorded during the work session. The staff summary included a reference to an effective-date provision tied to the 2025 regular session; the transcript phrasing of that provision was unclear and is recorded as not specified in this report.

The committee did not identify any fiscal impacts beyond the summary’s notation of none. The measure now advances to the full Senate for consideration.