Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:01:12.960><c> roughly</c> Henipin and Ramsey counties, roughly Henipin and Ramsey counties,
• Um 3/4 of in Henipin Ramsey County.
• And so the sentencing guidelines list, um, county by county, what the percentage is.
• district Ramsey County and fourth district<00:20:10.080><c> Henipin</c><00:20:10.559><c> County.
• county by county what guidelines list um county by county what the<00:20:56.080><c> percentage</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the role of Chief Judge of that court.
• Our trial courts consist of 154 judges across Idaho's 44 counties.
• The state provides judges and centralized administrative support, while counties provide court staff
• Notably, three of these counties are among those for which this legislature approved new judges last
• the counties.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I join Judge Machera and...
• I echo both Judge Machera and Judge Del Vecchio's sentiments. This is not a theoretical problem.
• judges and judges' family members.
• I'm a district court judge.
• At the other counties, do you have some top-line estimates for Bristol County?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on bills in the Civil Actions 2 and Court Administration areas, with testimony spanning judicial security, judicial compensation, civil process fees, bar advocate compensation, interstate discovery, defamation protections for sexual assault survivors, and related criminal procedure changes. Chairs Edwards and Day opened with housekeeping rules on testimony limits and written submissions, then called witnesses on each bill in turn. On H. 1766, judicial officers and the Massachusetts Bar Association strongly supported a judicial security bill that would protect judges’ personal information, citing threats, online harassment, swatting, and violence against judges and their families. On H. 1819, judges and the Massachusetts Judges Conference asked for higher compensation, saying Massachusetts judges rank low nationally after cost-of-living adjustment and that pay affects recruitment and retention. The committee also heard support for H. 1582/S. 1183 to raise civil process service fees, with sheriffs saying the fees have been unchanged since 2003 and are needed to cover rising costs, safety equipment, and operations funded by those fees. The committee heard from prosecutors on H. 1604 and H. 1846, which would give district courts concurrent jurisdiction over certain school-threat and leaving-the-scene offenses, allowing prosecutors to handle less serious or panic-driven cases more efficiently while preserving mandatory penalties. CPCS and bar advocates supported H. 1876 on bar advocate compensation, describing a continuing shortage and crisis in indigent defense despite recent pay increases and staffing investments. The Boston Bar Association supported H. 1857, a Massachusetts version of the Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, saying it would simplify out-of-state discovery and reduce cost and delay. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1974/S. 1143, which would protect survivors of sexual assault and harassment from retaliatory defamation suits unless the plaintiff proves actual malice, and would allow fee shifting and damages against abusive suits. Survivors, advocates, and attorneys described threats, legal costs, and chilling effects that silence reporting, while supporters said the bill would protect truthful speech and improve access to counsel. The committee also heard insurance-industry testimony on S. 1101, which would change personal injury protection payment rules to require insurers to tender disputed amounts within 30 days to avoid attorney’s fees; insurers said the bill would curb a growing volume of provider lawsuits and reduce abuse of the no-fault system. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed after all scheduled testimony was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what it says essentially is that the judges and the judge...
• I'm a judge in Boone and Callaway counties, and I've served since 2017, and I had to run for election
• a motion for change of judge, and the judge automatically must recuse.
• And you might have a judge, a good judge with innocent conduct that somehow gets, judge, a good judge
• , perhaps in their counties, that would like to be able to support those judges or candidates for judge

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Hines County. Correct. How many judges are we going to have on the ballot this year?
• And for the elections this year, this change helps the Hines County judge that had some issues with their
• </c> for two judges. for two judges.
• </c><00:25:57.440><c> judge</c> this change helps the Hines County judge this change helps the Hines
• County judge that<00:25:58.000><c> had</c><00:25:58.240><c> some</c><00:25:58.400><c> issues</c><00:25

Keywords: MS House Floor - 13 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Judge School.
• But other counties, of course, like Caddo County and Grady County, have contractors.
• That carries Stephens County, Jefferson County, and Cotton County.
• That carries Stevens County, Jefferson County, and Cotton County.
• Now, Cleveland County is kind of an interesting county, similar to Payne County, because it's a college

Summary: The Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary heard presentations from several agencies. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported full National Association of Medical Examiners accreditation, major improvements in turnaround times, staffing growth to 18 forensic pathologists, and expanded rural coverage, but warned that a flat budget would leave it short of funds by August. The agency requested $4.5 million in recurring funding for professional staff and operations, citing rising supply, transport, IT, and facility costs, and said failure to fund the request would cause a catastrophic collapse. Members asked about cremation fees, other revenue sources, and the consequences of not funding the request; the chair said the recommendation would be forwarded but not necessarily adopted. The Council on Judicial Complaints said complaints against judges have roughly doubled since 2018, with most complaints involving dissatisfaction with judicial rulings rather than misconduct. The council emphasized its goal of responding within 90 days, its new judges college to prevent ethics problems, and the cost of removal proceedings. It requested an additional $125,000 on top of its current $300,000 appropriation to cover rising operating costs, a lease increase, judicial college expenses, and salary adjustments. Senators asked about case prioritization, turnover, staffing, and whether a specific courtroom incident could be investigated; the director said it would be an appropriate complaint to review. The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System described heavy caseloads in rural counties, a mix of satellite offices and county contracts, and a need to reduce attorney workloads, especially in Norman and Lawton. It requested funding for six resource navigators, a project manager, direct-care support, eight additional attorneys, internal training, and continued county contract funding, while also discussing possible diversion programs and grant opportunities. The Department of Corrections requested increases for county jail backup per diem and ICON maintenance, highlighted contraband interdiction, centralized visitation, mobile check-ins, and tablet-based efficiencies, and discussed an ICE detention contract at Watonga that brings in monthly revenue and jobs but is not counted in the budget request. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs presented a revised legacy-fund request tied to purchasing and remodeling a building shared with OSBI, saying the new plan would cost about $25 million total and save money compared with new construction; it also noted declining wire-transfer revenue tied to fewer grow operations and other enforcement changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is treated with the suburban counties and not the rural counties.
• Then a business court judge could be making the same as a district court judge if that county chose to
• of a business court judge above that of the sitting state district court judge in that county.
• We've adopted the 10 judges who have gotten together and elected a chief judge.
• The business court judges heard them; pretty much every judge got at least one.

Bills: SB1538 , SB2883 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3376

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• part of a county or town.
• Our office is already recommending that counties, if they are short on election judges, reach back out
• Our office is already recommending that counties, if they are short on election judges, reach back out
• Louis County.
• Louis County.

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We understand you're upset, but that does not equate to misconduct by the judge, and a judge should not
• Then, for actual learning, if you add in the judges that we had in attendance for training the judges
• In Cleveland County in Norman, that's one of our busiest counties.
• It talks about funds for our county contract model. Here's where we are in 37 of our counties.
• We use county contractors. In 36 of our counties, we have satellite offices.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wagner County is a suburb of Tulsa County.
• We have asked for a new district judge in Oklahoma County and Payne County.
• judge from Payne County.
• For a new judge for Payne County, that is correct. Now, let me add a caveat, Representative.
• The Oklahoma County request is a newly created district judge position, and that's based upon increases

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to note that the Kentucky Association of Counties and the County Judges and Magistrates are
• ><c> magistrates</c><00:22:39.400><c> are</c> county judges and magistrates are county judges and magistrates
• in Knox County, and it's not my district, but the county judge is a friend of mine.
• </c> to the CH County judge with the approval to the CH County judge with the approval of<00:29:56.679
• </c><00:37:32.839><c> to</c> the County Judge has the authority to the County Judge has the authority

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:12 SB 4 (Sen. Mays Bledsoe): 01:34 SB 58 (Sen. Webb): 04:53 SB 117 (Sen. Madon): 07:40 SB 121 (Sen. Wheeler): 10:52 SB 237 (Sen. Howell): 13:09 SB 71 (Sen. Boswell): 18:54 SB 174 (Sen. Nunn): 38:18 SB 176 (Sen. Nunn): 40:54 SB 183 (Sen. Nunn): 42:31 Adjournment: 49:51, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Bledsoe, which would create a risk-based AI governance framework for state government and address AI-generated misinformation in campaigns and elections. The sponsor said the bill came from the AI task force and is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible use of AI while distinguishing between internal and external systems. The committee took a roll call vote and reported the bill out 7-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 58, sponsored by Sen. Webb, which would allow Kentucky Retirement System benefits to be designated to a Special Needs Trust for a beneficiary. Webb said the bill would help families of special-needs children preserve benefits for supplemental needs such as adaptive equipment, technology, and medical or dental care not covered by government programs. He said retirement systems had provided no-impact letters, and the bill passed 7-0. Members also approved Senate Bill 117, which would let cities adjust incentive payments for training by appointed and elected city officials and remove the statutory minimum from ordinance requirements, and Senate Bill 121, which would authorize county judges to contract with rescue groups to deal with wild horse herds in rural areas. SB 117 passed 10-0 and SB 121 passed 10-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 71, as amended by a committee substitute, dealing with local library board appointments. Sen. Boswell said the bill was a compromise but that he preferred removing KDLA from the process entirely; library representatives opposed the committee substitute and said they wanted KDLA out of the selection process. Several senators expressed conditional support but said they wanted further changes, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill out after a roll call vote with 10 yeas and 1 pass, with members noting they expected further floor amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judge Barra judges in Vermont.
• Since his appointment, Judge Harris has been assigned to courthouses in 11 different counties, presiding
• Today, Judge Harris serves in the Washington County Criminal Division in Barre, where the court has averaged
• He has trained county assistant judges in domestic relations law, as well. to high-quality justice.
• He has trained county assistant<01:20:31.680><c> judges</c><01:20:32.120><c> in</c><01:20:32.280><c>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just open judge of Jefferson County.
• And uh how would the probate judge ask for the audit? Would it be per county?
• And uh how would the probate judge ask for the audit? Would it be per county?
• Um, I don't know if there's any other practice in the state where a county probate judge or a county
• a</c><02:06:20.560><c> county</c> where a county probate judge or a county where a county probate judge

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the north gallery, I have my Marion County youth court judge, Miss Renee Porter.
• </c><00:29:24.000><c> uh</c><00:29:24.159><c> judges,</c> welcome one of our Lee County uh judges, welcome
• one of our Lee County uh judges, SP<00:29:25.440><c> uh</c><00:29:25.600><c> Judge</c><00:29:26.159>
• Uh, we have Judge Dickerson with the Harris County Youth Court and his staff. I cannot see y'all.
• Uh, in the South Gallery from Warren County, we've got a Warren County youth court judge, Marcy Sutherland

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 20 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• courthouses and security, the county courthouse was the county building.
• judge and made it a misdemeanor to maliciously share personal information of a judge doxing.
• , and I'm going to kill a judge.
• The county, Mr. Chair. All right, so the, so the county is paying for that security.
• And that didn't happen and so the counties on San San Miguel County on behalf of similarly situated counties

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's Perry, Roseland County, that's Peralta, Columbus, the district attorney over those two counties
• Is that what is preventing judges? And I guess I would say this, are judges only denying...
• If you're a judge...
• As a County Commissioner, Senator O'Malley, and I'm a former County Commissioner.
• That's a concern, not only for the state but also for some of these counties, the smaller counties.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Judge. That will reveal County Judge Rial County.
• I believe it's the county judge, the county judge.
• I want to ask the county judge from Kendall County, Judge Stelarczyk.
• Chair calls up Judge Lane Carter of Tom Green County, Judge Sheree Hardin of Mason County, Judge Frank
• Judge? Yes, sir. Judge Harden, Mason County.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A district judge and court reporter were added to the First District with chambers in Kootenai County
• A district judge and court reporter were added to the Seventh District with chambers in Bonneville County
• And two new magistrate judges were added, with one chambered in Twin Falls County and one chambered in
• There are five justices, 159 judges, 254 administration folks, and over 1,300 county employees that work
• So we use... ...these judges as senior judges. They're called senior magistrate judges.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Skagit County has four Superior Court judges.
• Skagit County has four Superior Court judges, and Yakima County has eight judges.
• Senate Bill 5868 increases Skagit County judges from four to five, and Yakima County from eight to nine
• I'm a Skagit County Superior Court Judge, and I'm here to testify on behalf of Skagit County Superior
• I'm Kevin Knot and I'm the presiding judge for Yakima County Superior Court.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a series of housing, education, workforce, and court-related bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5884, staff described changes to a sales and use tax deferral for redeveloping vacant or underused land into affordable housing, including broader eligible property definitions and lower affordability thresholds in designated areas. Testimony was mixed: builders opposed language they feared could encourage project labor agreements, while Spokane and Kent representatives supported the bill but asked for flexibility on affordability mix requirements. On Senate Bill 6256, which expands a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income rental housing to include certain co-located community uses during construction and extends the pre-construction exemption period, testimony was strongly supportive from housing nonprofits and local housing partners, with questions focused on clawback provisions. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6027, which expands allowable uses of local housing and supportive housing sales tax revenue, adjusts a REET exemption timeline, broadens emergency housing definitions, and changes use of the Affordable Housing for All account. County, housing, and nonprofit witnesses said the bill would help preserve housing and services amid federal funding uncertainty, though Snohomish County asked for an amendment to allow rental assistance. Substitute Senate Bill 6018 would revise the Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including direct lending and bond counsel terms; commission staff said it would modernize outdated restrictions and improve financing flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 6028 would create a revolving loan fund for mixed-income homeownership projects; supporters said it would help smaller infill projects pencil, while staff noted the loans would be subordinate and carry some risk. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 6275 on the community reinvestment program, which would require periodic plan updates, reporting, and a WSIPP study, while also expressing legislative intent to continue at least $100 million annually in the account. Advocates, workforce groups, legal aid providers, and small business owners testified that the program supports communities harmed by past disinvestment and should be made permanent and more accountable. Substitute Senate Bill 5961 would move the Imagination Library program from DCYF to OSPI; early literacy advocates and local partners supported the transfer as better aligned with school readiness. Substitute Senate Bill 5969 would integrate IEP transition plans with high school and beyond plans, and a prior critic said amendments addressed her concerns. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292 would shift PFML premium rate-setting to the annual actuarial report and raise the reserve target; labor and industry witnesses supported the change, while a policy group opposed the program’s costs. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5868 to add one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties. Judges and county officials testified that caseloads, population growth, and backlogs justify the additions, and county leaders said they had already budgeted for their share. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5827 would allow service members to use pre-discharge certification to claim veterans’ civil service preference; the sponsor said it would solve a timing problem for transitioning service members. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, as the meeting consisted of bill briefings and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• . judges. judges.
• judges.
• </c> another judge. another judge.
• And I'm specifically thinking of one instance in the Carroll County court in OIP where a judge that's
• court in OIP where uh a the Carol County court in OIP where uh a judge<04:15:51.520><c> that's</c><04

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all