03/25/2026 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 21                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to  voter preregistration  for minors                                                                    
     at   least   16  years   of   age;   and  relating   to                                                                    
     confidentiality     of    voter     registration    and                                                                    
     preregistration records of minors  at least 16 years of                                                                    
     age."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR,  gave an overview of the                                                                    
bill. She  thought the legislature  had a  responsibility to                                                                    
protect democracy and take intentional  steps to prepare the                                                                    
next generation for civic  participation. She explained that                                                                    
HB  21   would  allow   16-year-olds  and   17-year-olds  to                                                                    
preregister to vote with the  goal of improving registration                                                                    
rates once individuals became eligible  voters. The bill was                                                                    
similar  to  policies  adopted  in  approximately  20  other                                                                    
states.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Story  explained that  the bill  required the                                                                    
Division of  Elections (DOE) to send  a prepaid confirmation                                                                    
card  to  preregistered  applicants three  months  prior  to                                                                    
their eighteenth  birthday. Once the address  was confirmed,                                                                    
individuals would  be automatically registered to  vote upon                                                                    
turning 18.  She emphasized that  the bill  included privacy                                                                    
protections by  keeping minors' addresses and  phone numbers                                                                    
confidential until they reached adulthood.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked Co-Chair  Foster if it  was his                                                                    
intent to move the bill from committee that day.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster responded that the  bill would be moved only                                                                    
if it was the will of  the committee. He noted that the bill                                                                    
could be held if additional information was needed.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:58:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Schrage MOVED  to REPORT  HB 21  out of  committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard OBJECTED.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Stapp   asserted   that   data   supporting                                                                    
preregistration  benefits was  limited.  He  noted that  the                                                                    
bill had  a fiscal  impact and  questioned whether  the bill                                                                    
was necessary.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  expressed concern regarding  the cost                                                                    
of  the bill  and election  system security.  She emphasized                                                                    
that  the bill  applied to  minors and  expressed a  lack of                                                                    
confidence in current systems to protect their information.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan relayed  that she  was in  support of                                                                    
the bill.  She explained that minors  could already register                                                                    
to  vote within  90 days  of turning  18 and  emphasized the                                                                    
importance of  civic engagement at  a young age.  She stated                                                                    
that  preregistration   could  encourage   long-term  voting                                                                    
habits  and  help young  people  develop  the knowledge  and                                                                    
skills  necessary  for  participation  in  a  representative                                                                    
democracy.                                                                                                                      
Representative Bynum  stated that he  was not in  support of                                                                    
the bill.  He acknowledged that  the intent was  to increase                                                                    
youth engagement  but thought that existing  efforts already                                                                    
addressed civic education and participation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Josephson  spoke in support  of the bill.  He noted                                                                    
that two  teenagers had  recently provided  testimony before                                                                    
the committee,  which demonstrated to him  that young people                                                                    
were   engaging  meaningfully   with   public  issues.   The                                                                    
testimony  reminded  him  that  there was  wisdom  in  young                                                                    
people.  He  stated  that  preregistration  could  encourage                                                                    
earlier  involvement  in  civic  life,  including  following                                                                    
current  events,  discussing  issues, and  participating  in                                                                    
community  activities. He  indicated that  he would  vote in                                                                    
favor of the bill.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  agreed   with  Co-Chair  Josephson's                                                                    
comments. She added  that research out of  the University of                                                                    
Chicago  and  Mississippi  State University  suggested  that                                                                    
preregistration had  a measurable  impact on  voter turnout.                                                                    
She   emphasized   that    increased   voter   participation                                                                    
strengthened democracy and expressed support for the bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:02:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN  FAVOR:  Hannan,   Galvin,  Jimmie,  Schrage,  Josephson,                                                                    
Foster                                                                                                                          
OPPOSED: Tomaszewski, Bynum, Moore, Allard, Stapp                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (6/5).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being NO further  OBJECTION, CSHB 21(STA) was REPORTED                                                                    
out of  committee with five  "do pass"  recommendations, one                                                                    
"do not  pass" recommendation, and five  "no recommendation"                                                                    
recommendations, and  with one new  fiscal impact  note from                                                                    
the Department of Administration,  and one new fiscal impact                                                                    
note from the Office of the Governor.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:03:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster invited  the  sponsor to  make any  closing                                                                    
comments.                                                                                                                       
Representative  Story thanked  the  committee and  expressed                                                                    
appreciation for  the questions  raised during  the process.                                                                    
She  stated that  she hoped  the conversation  regarding the                                                                    
bill would continue.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:03:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the following day.