Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid fraud or anything else. Medicaid fraud or anything else.
• The best defense against the fraud.
• opportunities for fraud. opportunities for fraud.
• that increase the risk for fraud. that increase the risk for fraud.
• amidst these fraud allegations? amidst these fraud allegations?

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 17 is the medical Medicaid fraud provision.
• Article 17 is the medical Medicaid fraud provision.
• <01:36:42.719> Any Article 17, Medicaid fraud. Any Article 17, Medicaid fraud.
• <01:37:29.840> enforcement certain if it's a consumer enforcement certain if it's a consumer
• I create a consumer enforcement section.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Signed by Eckhart relating to exempting textbooks purchased, used, or consumed by university and college
• Senate Bill 7. by code course relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence to business

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is again about choice and about increasing consumer protections for those older adults.
• If the rates are too high, this would be unfavorable to the consumer, and we would push back.
• Healthcare providers, consumer advocates, and any other experts. Yes? Okay, thank you.
• We are a health consumer advocacy organization for 30 years in New Mexico.
• And almost every day we hear from consumers.

Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have any consumer protection unfair or deceptive trade practices complaints against me.
• <00:19:01.679> protection I don't have any consumer protection I don't have any consumer protection
• Maryland Consumer Protection Act, and Maryland Consumer Protection Act, and instead<00:31:44.080>
• House Bill 645, Criminal Law, Fraud Assisted Reproductive Treatment.
• > reproductive law fraud assisted reproductive law fraud assisted reproductive treatment.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House took up the Appropriations Committee’s report on the fiscal 2027 budget, including Senate Bill 282, the budget bill, and Senate Bill 284, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. The floor leader described a balanced budget with a $282 million cash surplus, $2 billion in rainy day reserves, and no new fees or taxes, while highlighting funding for child care scholarships and credentials, behavioral health services in schools, Medicaid and SNAP-related outreach, DDA services, domestic violence and rape crisis services, energy assistance, local government disparity grants, and private-sector investment. Both budget measures were special ordered until Wednesday, March 25, and the House adopted the committee’s motion in each case without objection. The chamber also considered several committee reports from Economic Matters, Government, Labor, and Elections, and Health. Among the measures advanced were House Bill 1529 on a Baltimore County local commission on common ownership communities; House Bills 571, 892, 893, 994, 1120, 1166, 1351, 1362, and 883; and health-related bills including House Bills 446, 658, 698, 1015, and 1048. Most bills were amended and then given favorable reports, with the House adopting the amendments and ordering the bills printed for third reading. Several bills drew brief floor questions. House Bill 994 would create a $300 annual registration fee for travel services providers, but the sponsor said it would not add new penalties beyond existing consumer protection laws. House Bill 1166 on front license plate display clarified that a signed statement can shift responsibility to the driver when a front plate cannot be installed, while the existing $500 fine for noncompliance remained current law. House Bill 1351, dealing with disaster mitigation services and MHIC licensing, was explained as bringing those providers under home improvement licensing rules after a transition period, and was special ordered until the end of the session at a delegate’s request. House Bill 1048 on sodium and added sugar warning icons was amended to include a QR code and remove some reporting and education provisions; members also clarified that the bill still uses a 25-gram threshold and that restaurant groups did not support the bill, though it had been worked through with them.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:58.079> Same products, the consumer benefits.
• Same products, the consumer benefits.
• And this bill fraud and manipulation.
• Now, I have no vulnerability to fraud.
• but it could be um you know we say fraud but it could be it<04:33:44.799> could<04:33:44.959>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3155, Representative Tabke's bill that adds gift card fraud to organized retail crime statutes
• File 3826, which is Representative Witty's bill, makes changes to the Department of Public Safety Fraud
• We have been allowing provisions in statute that have consumer protections that require age verification
• It is a bill that defines prediction markets as a system that allows consumers to place wagers on future
• to place wages on allows consumers to place wages on future<00:43:24.520> outcomes<00:43:25.280

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package, and first adopted an amendment to insert House language into the Senate file. Members then heard brief explanations of several included provisions, including a section from House File 3870 that would make Office of Justice Programs research and victim-related data private, clarify privacy for data collected by the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office, and remove outdated statutory language. Representative Novotny also described the package as combining a number of previously passed stand-alone bills and a few additional provisions. The chamber then adopted amendments A5, A7, and A8. A5 inserted House language and adjusted an effective date related to public employer discretion in hiring; A7 allowed the Office of Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprinting and federal tax information as required by federal rules; and A8 clarified language affecting jail medical services and custody-related safeguards after collaboration among Representative Witty, the sheriffs association, the Department of Corrections, and advocates. Representatives Hansen, Moller, and Witty all urged support for those changes. A proposed A3 amendment from Representative Duran, which would have kept the current age of delinquency rather than implementing the previously enacted change, drew extensive debate. Supporters argued counties, law enforcement, and other stakeholders were not ready for the change and lacked infrastructure, while opponents said the 2024 law was intended to address serious gaps in juvenile justice and child welfare and should take effect as planned. After a roll call, the House rejected A3 by a vote of 66 yeas to 67 nays. The transcript then indicates another Duran amendment, A2, was called up, but the excerpt ends before its disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• an unscrupulous operator with elements of... ...was this an unscrupulous operator with elements of fraud
• President, you're asking me to speculate, and so I'm not sure I would necessarily use the words fraud
• for covered entities, establishing requirements for service providers, prohibiting certain uses of consumer
• data, providing rights to consumers, establishing limitations on processing of consumer data, prohibiting
• data, providing rights to consumers, establishing limitations on processing of consumer data, prohibiting

Keywords: 996, all

Bills: SB525, SR112, SR109, SCR61, SCR62, SCR12, HB175, HB276, HB437, HB456, HB457, HB459, HB488, HB579, HB656, HB804, HB818, HB841, HB981, HB1052, HB1089, HB1101, HB1154, HB1166, HB1193, HB1194, HB1203, HB1209, HB1244, HB1249, HB221, HCR69, HCR58, SB57, SB405, SB414, HB62, HB193, HB203, HB205, HB210, HB220, HB222, HB228, HB246, HB420, HB475, HB486, HB574, HB584, HB750, HB799, HB813, HB815, HB826, HB870, HB949, HB953, HB1045, HB1092, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1177, HB1196, HB1214, HB1236, HB1241, SB106, SB206, SB248, SB441, SR86, SCR30, SB83, SB135, SB143, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB276, SB295, SB388, SB450, SB465, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB484, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB501, SB513, HCR31, HB301, HB358, HB359, HB384, HB413, HB428, HB450, HB462, HB547, HB613, HB631, HB657, HB669, HB675, HB680, HB691, HB712, HB716, HB720, HB723, HB727, HB728, HB735, HB747, HB759, HB825, HB845, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB907, HB923, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB965, HB1036, HB287, HB370, HB515, HB521, HB570, HB1200, HB29, HB39, HB58, HB67, HB73, HB76, HB77, HB82, HB112, HB121, HB125, HB132, HB134, HB151, HB154, HB155, HB161, HB166, HB187, HB191, HB207, HB211, HB224, HB238, HB241, HB242, HB250, HB260, HB265, HB275, HB300, HB320, HB338, HB339, HB349, HB379, HB399, HB427, HB463, HB464, HB468, HB545, HB550, HB551, HB565, HB588, HB639, HB725, HB782, HB805, HB808, HB834, HB847, HB853, HB858, HB861, HB883, HB916, HB937, HB977, HB1012, HB1027, HB1044, HB1054, HB1091, HB1117, HB90, HB127, HB138, HB150, HB201, HB268, HB273, HB285, HB315, HB354, HB355, HB360, HB376, HB445, HB506, HB606, HB649, HB665, HB681, HB721, HB746, HB757, HB781, HB835, HB844, HB857, HB872, HB886, HB889, HB892, HB972, HB982, HB987, HB1037, HB1068, HB1072, HB1078, HB1085, HB1132, HB1137, HB1167, HB1174, HB1232, HB1238, HB23, HB136, HB36, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB245, HB271, HB280, HB337, HB351, HB677, HB726, HB789, HB850, HB956, HB966, SB149, SB382

Keywords: unclaimed property, abandoned property, escheat, state treasurer, administrator, claimant, purchase agreement, assignment, property recovery, owner verification, documentation requirements, fraud prevention, bankruptcy, bankruptcy court, court order, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, Louisiana Revised Statutes, R.S. 9:167.1, Chennault International Airport, 40th anniversary

Bills: SB525, SR112, SR109, SCR61, SCR62, SCR12, HB175, HB276, HB437, HB456, HB457, HB459, HB488, HB579, HB656, HB804, HB818, HB841, HB981, HB1052, HB1089, HB1101, HB1154, HB1166, HB1193, HB1194, HB1203, HB1209, HB1244, HB1249, HB221, HCR69, HCR58, SB57, SB405, SB414, HB62, HB193, HB203, HB205, HB210, HB220, HB222, HB228, HB246, HB420, HB475, HB486, HB574, HB584, HB750, HB799, HB813, HB815, HB826, HB870, HB949, HB953, HB1045, HB1092, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1177, HB1196, HB1214, HB1236, HB1241, SB106, SB206, SB248, SB441, SR86, SCR30, SB83, SB135, SB143, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB276, SB295, SB388, SB450, SB465, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB484, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB501, SB513, HCR31, HB301, HB358, HB359, HB384, HB413, HB428, HB450, HB462, HB547, HB613, HB631, HB657, HB669, HB675, HB680, HB691, HB712, HB716, HB720, HB723, HB727, HB728, HB735, HB747, HB759, HB825, HB845, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB907, HB923, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB965, HB1036, HB287, HB370, HB515, HB521, HB570, HB1200, HB29, HB39, HB58, HB67, HB73, HB76, HB77, HB82, HB112, HB121, HB125, HB132, HB134, HB151, HB154, HB155, HB161, HB166, HB187, HB191, HB207, HB211, HB224, HB238, HB241, HB242, HB250, HB260, HB265, HB275, HB300, HB320, HB338, HB339, HB349, HB379, HB399, HB427, HB463, HB464, HB468, HB545, HB550, HB551, HB565, HB588, HB639, HB725, HB782, HB805, HB808, HB834, HB847, HB853, HB858, HB861, HB883, HB916, HB937, HB977, HB1012, HB1027, HB1044, HB1054, HB1091, HB1117, HB90, HB127, HB138, HB150, HB201, HB268, HB273, HB285, HB315, HB354, HB355, HB360, HB376, HB445, HB506, HB606, HB649, HB665, HB681, HB721, HB746, HB757, HB781, HB835, HB844, HB857, HB872, HB886, HB889, HB892, HB972, HB982, HB987, HB1037, HB1068, HB1072, HB1078, HB1085, HB1132, HB1137, HB1167, HB1174, HB1232, HB1238, HB23, HB136, HB36, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB245, HB271, HB280, HB337, HB351, HB677, HB726, HB789, HB850, HB956, HB966, SB149, SB382

Keywords: unclaimed property, abandoned property, escheat, state treasurer, administrator, claimant, purchase agreement, assignment, property recovery, owner verification, documentation requirements, fraud prevention, bankruptcy, bankruptcy court, court order, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, Louisiana Revised Statutes, R.S. 9:167.1, Chennault International Airport, 40th anniversary

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, heard a guest minister’s prayer for the National Day of Prayer, and adopted the pledge. The chamber then dispensed with the journal and received a legislative bureau report on numerous House bills. It also received House messages on several Senate bills and joint resolutions, including concurrence on multiple Senate measures with amendments, and introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 63, which would request an audit of the fiscal note process. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 86, which would prohibit eyeglasses with video or audio recording capability on the Senate floor without approval from the President. Several Senate bills were advanced, including measures on human trafficking training in schools (SB 83), bulletproof vests for peace officers (SB 143), dental care for cancer patients (SB 155), parental leave for educators (SB 157), election board compensation days (SB 202), child welfare and the state child ombudsman (SB 237), brain injury treatment coverage (SB 295), foreign-adversary contract review and homeland security (SB 388), school safety reporting (SB 450), and prompt-pay standards for health care claims (SB 465). Most of these bills passed the Senate unanimously or near-unanimously and were moved to reconsider, while SB 513 on public works average-bid contracting was amended and returned to the calendar. The Senate also took up many House bills, passing measures on voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors (HB 301), memorial highway and terminal designations (HB 358, HB 384, HB 428, HB 657, HB 675, HB 716, HB 972), insurance and health-related changes (HB 413, HB 450, HB 631, HB 680), workforce development (HB 680), and a seafood research authorization near Grand Isle (HB 669). Several bills were amended before passage, including HB 359 on election qualifying rules and HB 675 with an added memorial corridor for crossing guard Katie Wells. Other House bills were received but not acted on or were returned to the calendar. The session ended with committee announcements, a brief recognition of mothers in the chamber, and adjournment until Monday, May 11 at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . fraud. fraud.
• on Medicaid fraud. on Medicaid fraud.
• Democrats literally said alleged fraud. Democrats literally said alleged fraud.
• all these different vectors of fraud. all these different vectors of fraud.
• We know there's fraud that impacts us as I know there's fraud that impacts us as consumers and targets

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Fraud, waste, and abuse.

Bills: HF4210, HF4212, HF4549, HF4464, HF4546, HF4447

Keywords: senior nutrition, older adults, aging services, home-delivered meals, congregate dining, meal delivery, grocery delivery, food insecurity, nutrition support, area agencies on aging, Minnesota Board on Aging, human services, special revenue fund, nonprofit grants, SNAP outreach, medically tailored meals, rural nutrition, food access, transportation services, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• It addresses a national crisis: fraud and identity theft.
• First, it expands the definition and pattern of criminal offenses to better encapsulate modern fraud

Bills: HB1322, HB3053, HB3180, HB3244, HB3269, HB3299, HB3301, HB3302, HB3430, HB3497, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3606, HB3742, HB3743, HB3755, HB3764, HB3767, HB3835, HB3848, HB3903, HB3905, HB4108, HB4130, HB4142, HB4227, HB3996

Keywords: domestic violence, offenders registry, public safety, law enforcement, victim protection, conviction records, elderly, parole, criminal justice reform, inmate rehabilitation, Oklahoma statutes, firearms, handgun permits, self-defense, training requirements, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, elderly exploitation, identity theft, crimes and punishments, criminal offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• You remember the Oklahoma county clerk request bill from last year that pertained to deed fraud.

Bills: SB1450, SB1458, SB1232, SB1238, SB1325, SB1209, SB1362, SB2072, SB1451, SB1540, SB1581, SB1535, SB1266, SB1927, SB1460, SB2084, SB2182

Keywords: criminal court costs, court fees, fines, assessments, waiver, ability to pay, indigent defendants, post-release relief, probation compliance, parole, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, restitution, child support, municipal court, district court, criminal justice reform, court debt, legal financial obligations, fee waiver

Bills: HB48, HB66, HB68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB3, SB18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Summary: The committee met in special session to hear a series of flood, preparedness, and youth-camp safety bills, with members repeatedly noting that many of the measures were intended as planning, warning, or authority-clarifying bills rather than direct spending bills. House Bill 254 would expand eligibility for the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program to include Kerr County and 18 other flood-affected counties by raising the GDP cap and lowering the poverty threshold; it drew no opposition and was left pending. House Bill 68 would direct a study of flood mitigation in flatland areas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, to develop cost-effective drainage and infrastructure recommendations; local officials and advocates supported it, and it was also left pending. The committee then heard several youth camp bills tied to the recent Hill Country flooding. House Bill 75 would impose flood-aware building and site standards for youth camps near floodplains, and House Bill 71 would require camps and youth activity entities to submit emergency preparedness plans to TDEM, coordinate with local responders, and maintain readiness protocols; both bills were supported by safety advocates and camp representatives, and both were left pending. House Bill 171 would require campgrounds near flood-prone waters to give written flood-risk notice to campers and obtain signed acknowledgment; it was presented as informed consent and left pending. Testimony on these bills emphasized Camp Mystic and other recent flood tragedies, with some witnesses urging broader building-code and floodplain reforms. The committee also heard House Bill 117, which would let counties regulate impervious cover for flood mitigation in unincorporated areas. Supporters, including county officials, environmental groups, and residents, argued that rapid development in the Hill Country and other growing areas is worsening runoff and downstream flooding; opponents from the builders’ association said counties already have substantial authority and warned about overreach into rural property use. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 18 would streamline permitting for certain flood control districts to repair dams and reservoirs and build small holding areas, and it was left pending after supportive testimony from Plum Creek Conservation District. Senate Bill 3 would create a state-backed outdoor flood warning siren program for identified flood-prone areas, funded through a grant program; witnesses generally supported it, though some cautioned that sirens are not sufficient by themselves and may not be heard indoors or in overnight storms. It too was left pending. The committee also began hearing House Bill 149 on public-safety radio interoperability, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s full testimony or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it protects consumers by reducing the likelihood of data breaches that expose personal information
• have experienced data breaches that include ransomware, extortion, theft of business data, theft of consumer
• businesses to prevent breaches before they happen, and we think it's a win-win for businesses and consumers

Bills: SB324, SB1978, SB2139, SB2401, SB2587, SB2610, SB2858, SB3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, ERCOT, Texas electric grid, interconnection, Public Utility Commission, PUC, Public convenience and necessity, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, electric utility, transmission, generation facilities, grid reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, SERC

Transcript Highlights:

• restitution to cover the cost of tattoo removal in cases where the tattoos were applied through force, fraud
• Furthermore, it will be costly and time-consuming to put difficult immigration status determinations
• Furthermore, making the physical copy is financially burdensome and time-consuming.
• This process is costly and time-consuming, especially when physically mailing the notices because not

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on several bills dealing with criminal discovery, crime lab access, controlled substances, community supervision, interference with officers, oilfield theft, and copper theft. On SB 1124, witnesses split over whether the bill clarified discovery law after the Heath decision or rolled back the Michael Morton Act; opponents argued it narrowed disclosure and shifted responsibility away from prosecutors, while supporters said it restored balance, limited harsh sanctions, and preserved exculpatory-disclosure duties. The committee later voted 4-0 to report SB 1124 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard and later reported favorably SB 1372, which resolves a statutory conflict over access to the DPS crime lab portal, and SB 1936, which changes how LSD “abuse units” are defined for testing and charging purposes; both were sent to the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1937, which would require a subject-matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence, was also reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 552, which would make people defined in the bill as “illegal aliens” ineligible for judge-ordered or jury-recommended community supervision, including deferred adjudication. Supporters said the bill would prevent state-funded early release of people who entered or remained in the country unlawfully, while county officials and immigration advocates warned it would be overbroad, difficult to administer, and costly to local jails and taxpayers. Despite those concerns, the committee voted to report SB 552 favorably, and Senator Huffman requested it be taken to the floor. On SB 1208, which increases interference with a peace officer or public official from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, law enforcement witnesses said repeat “auditors” and similar actors were creating dangerous confrontations and needed stronger deterrence; opponents argued the bill would chill protected filming and protest activity. The committee voted to report SB 1208 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also took testimony on SB 1806, a committee substitute addressing oilfield theft and related crimes. Supporters from law enforcement and the oil and gas industry said organized theft of crude, equipment, and related materials is a growing problem and that the bill would strengthen penalties, allow seizure and sale of stolen product, and improve inspection and forensic tools. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with placement on the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 1646, which targets copper theft and fiber vandalism by increasing penalties, requiring reporting and recordkeeping for certain purchases, and adding training and enforcement tools. Telecommunications, law enforcement, and emergency-network witnesses supported the bill as necessary to protect 9-1-1 and critical infrastructure, while metal recyclers warned the bill could overregulate legitimate businesses and sweep too broadly. The committee later voted to report the committee substitute for SB 1646 favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• restitution to cover the cost of tattoo removal in cases where the tattoos were applied through force, fraud
• Furthermore, it will be costly and time-consuming to put difficult immigration-status determinations
• Further, making the physical copy is financially burdensome and time-consuming.
• This process is costly and time-consuming, especially when physically mailing the notices because not

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.