Transcript Highlights:

• The first one relates to the rewrite and reorganization project we've conducted for Chapter 12. 22 of
• now we'll take up the next agenda item, relates to the rewrite. and reorganization project we've conducted
• The next agenda item relates to the rewrite and reorganization project we've conducted for Chapter 20
• And Senate Bill 12 grants jurisdiction to the Attorney General. to prosecute criminal election offenses

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, HB18, SB12, political contributions, civil penalties, Attorney General, criminal election offenses, legislation

Summary: In the latest meeting of the Texas Ethics Commission, significant discussions centered around newly passed legislation, specifically HB18 and SB12. HB18 introduces a civil penalty for members who accept political contributions while absent from the state, addressing potential obstructions to legislative actions. Senators and commissioners engaged in an in-depth dialogue about the implications of this bill, with many expressing concerns regarding enforcement and compliance. In contrast, SB12 expands the jurisdiction of the Attorney General to prosecute criminal election offenses, further tightening the oversight of election activities. The meeting concluded with acknowledgement of the efforts put forth by previous commission chairs, highlighting their contributions to the commission's success.

Bills: SB171

Keywords: navigable waters, non-navigable waters, motor vehicle prohibition, criminal penalties, land use, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Court of Criminal Appeals, their entire Budget is 4.69 million.

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Transcript Highlights:

• The Court of Criminal Appeals, their entire budget is $4.69 million.

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Summary: The committee first handled several housekeeping items: SB 1330 was withdrawn, SB 1381 was laid over, and SB 1618 was transferred to rules. It then heard a series of bills, mostly criminal justice, public safety, and regulatory measures, with members repeatedly moving due pass recommendations after brief explanations and little or no debate. SB 1589 would strengthen penalties under Oklahoma’s sweepstakes law and extend coverage to entities profiting from illegal gambling, while not affecting ordinary entertainment games. SB 1441 would make it a crime to fly a drone in the airspace of, or make contact with, designated critical infrastructure facilities such as refineries, power stations, telecommunications sites, and manufacturing facilities, with exceptions for recreational use and authorized law enforcement. SB 1224 would require clemency-related hearing notices to be sent to victims by email as well as mail, and SB 372 was described as a cleanup bill clarifying where firearms may be carried. Other bills addressed theft, domestic violence, expungement, fraud, and impersonation. SB 1232 would create a felony and raise fines for copper theft; SB 1264, after an adopted amendment, expanded the definition of great bodily injury to include concussions, brain bleeds, and injuries affecting more than 10% of the body, making domestic abuse causing such injury a felony. SB 1450 dealt with consistency in fines and fees across counties and prompted discussion about county-by-county obligations and court revenue impacts. SB 2011 would treat assault and battery against OJA contract employees the same as against employees, SB 2030 would delay implementation of the Clean Slate expungement automation initiative to 2027 and backlog processing to 2029 without expanding eligibility, SB 1980 would protect against gift card fraud after an amendment changing the mental state language to “knowingly and willfully,” and SB 1936 would make falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer a D1 felony. The committee reported the bills out with due pass recommendations, with votes recorded on several measures, including unanimous or near-unanimous approvals.

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance met in the second special session and considered a series of bills, mostly related to flood response, water infrastructure, taxation, school accountability, property fraud, and legislative procedure. Senator Zaffirini presented SB 18 on TCEQ permit exemptions for certain erosion, floodwater, and sediment control dams or reservoirs; Senator Perry presented SB 2 on flood relief preparedness, SB 14 on credit impact fees and water supply/conservation incentives, and SB 5 on Hill Country relief funding; Senator Bettencourt presented SB 3 on early warning flood sirens, SB 9 on replacing STAAR with three annual tests and strengthening A-F accountability, and SB 10 on lowering the rollback tax rate from 3.5% to 2.5%; Senator West presented SB 16 on property transaction ID requirements and new real property theft/fraud offenses; and Chair Huffman laid out SB 34, which changes legislative witness immunity rules from transactional immunity to testimonial immunity consistent with federal law. The committee also heard brief explanations that several bills were the same as versions previously passed by the Senate or committee, and there was limited public testimony, with no witnesses on most bills and only position cards on SB 16. Senator West raised a concern on SB 10 about a possible carve-out for police pay raises, but Senator Bettencourt said no change would be made at that time. For SB 34, Chair Huffman explained the bill would still allow compelled testimony before the legislature but would no longer provide blanket immunity, while preserving the right to counsel. The committee voted favorably on all bills considered. SB 18, SB 2, SB 14, SB 3, SB 16, SB 5, and SB 34 were reported out unanimously or near-unanimously, while SB 9 passed 10-1 and SB 10 passed 8-3. At the end of the meeting, Senator West requested to be shown voting nay on SB 9, and the chair granted unanimous consent. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pamela Hicks with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. We are opposing this bill.
• It does make more... ...with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. We are opposing this bill.
• These codes do not identify criminal activity.
• The shooters, the illegality and the criminality of somebody shooting somebody...
• Yes, Pamela Hicks with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

Bills: SB1049, SB1053, SB1058, SB1093, SB1160, SB1211

Keywords: spousal maintenance, court guidelines, self-sufficiency, financial support, marriage dissolution, concealed carry, gun permits, firearms training, public safety, criminal history checks, local recognition, firearms, merchant codes, financial privacy, Second Amendment, data protection, riot, planning, racketeering, criminal conspiracy

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there is a law already to make it criminal if an adult encourages a minor to take their life, either
• If we don't use our words appropriately here, we can't conduct business.
• the law to make sure people understand that it applies to this without creating a new category of criminality
• perspective, I do have a hard time when we're making legislation around this issue, particularly the criminalization
• Chair, Representative Gillette, there are already laws on the books setting criminal penalties for sale

Bills: HB2665, HB2904, HB2917

Keywords: manslaughter, suicide encouragement, assisted suicide, online harassment, social media, text messaging, directed communication, minor suicide, youth suicide prevention, criminal liability for speech, online bullying, free speech, homicide, class 2 felony, Cade's Law, Arizona criminal law, sovereignty, border security, health crisis, drug cartels

Transcript Highlights:

• Orders of non-disclosure, which this bill is about, allow survivors to shield their criminal records
• Survivors' resulting criminal records then follow them long after they escape trafficking.
• non-disclosure of criminal history recorded information.
• Those sorts of things involve the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
• Justice and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on matters of interest to the judiciary.

Bills: SB663, SB958

Keywords: community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 958, Texas Government Code, nondisclosure, order of nondisclosure, criminal history record information, trafficking of persons, human trafficking, compelling prostitution, survivor rights, record sealing, expunction, deferred adjudication, prostitution, controlled substances, theft

Transcript Highlights:

• right here, it would satisfy that defendant's right to a preliminary hearing by once the annihil is conducted

Bills: HB265, HB146, SB254, HB202, HB3, HB42, SB18

Keywords: resisting arrest, penalties, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, youthful offender, capital murder, victims' rights, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, illegal alien, enhanced sentencing, criminal offenses, minor victims, felonies, Alabama legislature, bail reform, cash deposit

Transcript Highlights:

• ... 26 to 2030 term for criminal and civil clerk, conducted an election, election was held.
• But it’s in CDC, not criminalism court.
• One's civil, one's criminal.
• And why eliminate the criminal district clerk?
• Duncan as the criminal district clerk.

Bills: SB256

Keywords: court consolidation, judicial administrative, Orleans Parish, civil district court, criminal district court, court clerk, judicial funding

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 256, which would combine the Orleans Parish clerks of criminal district court and civil district court into one office, with the bill taking effect upon gubernatorial signature. Senator Jay Morris said the change would align Orleans with other parishes, improve efficiency, and eventually help consolidate funding and operations, noting that Orleans is the only parish with two clerks and that the criminal side lacks the civil-side revenue streams used elsewhere. Committee members questioned the timing because the election for the next term had already been held and certified, and repeatedly raised concerns that the bill would effectively eliminate an office after voters had already chosen Calvin Duncan as criminal clerk. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill would be constitutional or fair if enacted before the new term began. Opponents argued it would disenfranchise voters, target Duncan personally, and set a dangerous precedent by abolishing an office after an election. Supporters and witnesses for Duncan said the bill was rushed, lacked a fiscal note, and would create confusion about staffing, records, training, and the transition between the two court systems. Several witnesses also argued that the criminal clerk’s office is essential to access to justice and that the data and efficiency rationale did not justify the timing or effect of the bill. Calvin Duncan testified that he ran to improve access to court records after his own wrongful conviction and incarceration, and said the bill sends the message that votes do not count. Other witnesses, including teachers, voters, attorneys, former officials, and advocacy representatives, echoed that the measure undermines democracy and appears aimed at preventing Duncan from taking office. Senator Morris denied personal targeting and said the bill was about abolishing an unnecessary office, but acknowledged litigation was likely. The committee also adopted a three-minute rule for testimony by a 10-3 vote, then began hearing public testimony, with the first witnesses overwhelmingly opposing the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• If needed, bills could be handled on layout or other business conducted later.
• It now enrolls over 25,000 students, conducts nationally recognized research, and offers a broad range
• After a comprehensive review, it was conducted that the cost of ongoing repairs and deferred maintenance
• This time, members, we're going to conduct the next series of testimony in a panel format.
• This time, members, we're going to conduct the next series of testimony in a panel format.

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is May 6, 2026, and this is the hearing of the Criminal Justice Committee. Mr.
• Welcome to the Capitol and welcome to criminal justice. Thank you all so much.
• Which is why I think we have Code of Criminal Procedure Article 313.
• Welcome back to criminal justice, Senator Meisel.
• Oregon, which said that this was a valid method to obtain a criminal conviction.

Bills: HCR50, HB123, HB219, HB251, HB404, HB769, HB1065, SB58, SB81, SB92, SB97, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB207, SB396, SB410

Keywords: electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, data privacy, personal information, cybersecurity, confidentiality, monitoring violations

Transcript Highlights:

• on the intruder detection audits and districts' vulnerability assessments, and requires a team conducting
• if a reporter gathers evidence and their actions later prevent that evidence from being used in a criminal
• if a reporter gathers evidence and their actions later prevent that evidence from being used in a criminal
• And so we have the means to conduct the investigation.
• And so we have the means to conduct the investigation.

Bills: HB126, HB121

Keywords: election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, voting integrity, education, property values, school districts, comptroller, funding formula

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to hear testimony on a full agenda of education-related bills. Several measures were laid out and left pending, including HB 322 to allow JET Grant funds to be used for subscription-based and ongoing technology costs for career and technical education; HB 3062 to require fentanyl and drug-poisoning prevention instruction for entering college students; HB 121 to update school safety laws, including TEA peace officer commissions, annual renewal of certain safety exceptions, new reporting requirements, and special education behavior threat assessment changes; HB 3627 to let the State Board of Education chair employ staff; HB 5515 to curb inflated shipping and handling charges on instructional materials; HB 2674 to prohibit new state regulation of homeschool programs; HB 2310 to require a statewide strategic plan for early learning and inclusion for young children with disabilities; HB 367 to standardize documentation for excused absences due to serious illness; HB 1178 to speed certification for out-of-state educators and military spouses; and HB 1481 to expand cell phone restrictions to the full school day. Testimony was generally supportive on most bills, with some concerns raised on HB 121 about school district police departments investigating misconduct and on HB 2674 about how it would interact with the new ESA program in SB 2. HB 5515 drew support from instructional materials coordinators who described extreme shipping invoices and argued the bill would restore transparency and fiscal responsibility. HB 2310 was supported by disability advocates and early learning groups, who said a coordinated state plan would improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities. HB 367 was presented as a simple clarification to reduce confusion for medically vulnerable students and families, and HB 1178 was described by TEA as a modest pathway that would help bring experienced out-of-state teachers into Texas schools more quickly. HB 126, updating Texas’ NIL law to align with the pending House settlement and allow direct payments and pre-enrollment NIL agreements, received extensive testimony from university counsel and committee questioning about the settlement, recruiting, and future college athletics rules. HB 1481, expanding school cell phone restrictions from instructional time to the entire school day, drew strong support from parents, students, educators, and advocates who linked phones to distraction, cyberbullying, and mental health harms; one teacher asked for flexibility so phones could still be used for limited academic tasks. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee then recessed to attend the floor session.

Bills: HB25, HB15, HB124, HB146, HB73, HB74, HB75

Keywords: juvenile delinquency, firearm possession, criminal background checks, state law, gun control, youth offense, conviction, public safety, medical injury, adverse outcome, health care provider, patient rights, confidentiality, settlement, legal counsel, HB124, New Americans Division, Workforce Solutions Department, immigrant workforce, refugee resettlement

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it takes some of the conduct that under To the underlying bill.
• First, it takes some of the conduct that under current law falls under the crime of criminal impersonation
• So again, that conduct is being moved out of the current crime of criminal impersonation in the second
• So currently criminal impersonation, the same thing, Criminal impersonation in the second degree can
• That conduct is being removed from the existing crime and being put in the new crime.

Bills: HB1228, HB1982, HB2156, HB2165, HB2173, HB2203, HB2220, HB2362, HB2403, HB2464

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, impaired driving, toxicology, forensic toxicology, breath test, blood test, THC, marijuana, cannabis, alcohol concentration, state toxicologist, implied consent, evidence admissibility, venous blood draw, forensic phlebotomist, certified laboratory, accredited laboratory, law enforcement, DWI

Summary: The Community Safety Committee met in executive session to act on several bills previously heard in public hearings. House Bill 1228, dealing with certification of toxicology labs for blood and breath analysis, was amended to allow use of a private lab with an out-of-state expert available for pretrial interview and virtual trial appearance if requested by the prosecutor and agreed to by defense counsel, and to require a Washington State Patrol report on implementation and backlog reduction by October 1, 2031. The committee adopted amendments 261 and 341, withdrew amendment 340, and reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 1982, expanding vacatur eligibility for convictions tied to exercise of treaty Indian rights and requiring Office of Public Defense representation, was advanced as a proposed substitute that reorganizes the statute and clarifies hunting-rights eligibility; it was reported out due pass. House Bill 2156, concerning Attorney General investigators’ authority to obtain email search warrants, also passed out of committee after a roll call vote of 6-3, with supporters citing efficiency and opponents wanting more stakeholder work. The committee next considered House Bill 2165, creating the gross misdemeanor of false identification as a peace officer. The proposed substitute moved some conduct from criminal impersonation into the new offense, narrowed defenses, and defined “peace officer” to include state, local, reserve, and federal officers. Members raised concerns about clarity, honorary or reserve officer issues, and possible unintended effects, but the substitute was adopted and the bill was reported out 8-1. House Bill 2173 was held because a Senate companion is moving. House Bill 2203, creating reckless interference with emergency operations and allowing recovery of emergency response costs, was amended to reduce penalties in some cases and shorten license suspensions; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill out unanimously. House Bill 2220, relating to the Criminal Justice Training Commission, was deferred to a later executive session. The committee also advanced House Bill 2362, the so-called 0.05 impaired driving bill, after a divided debate. Supporters argued lower blood alcohol limits reduce deaths and injuries, while opponents raised concerns about toxicology backlogs, court capacity, racial disproportionality in traffic stops, disability-related enforcement issues, and the lack of a broader second-chance policy for DUI convictions. The bill passed 5-4. House Bill 2403, modifying failure-to-register offenses for sex offenders and kidnapping offenders, was reported out 6-3 after debate over whether the offense should remain treated as a sex offense. Finally, House Bill 2464, requiring private detention facilities and local law enforcement to report incidents to the Department of Health, passed 6-3 amid arguments over transparency and whether the issue should be addressed at the federal level. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• From a legal standpoint, we've never had a definition of 'cost judgment' or 'criminal judgment.'
• Number one is a criminal or a cost judgment, and you know how that implements with the Title 28 Section
• This isn't a criminal action, and this is. AVP, we're talking about a VPO, which is a civil action.
• Yeah, and court case, you're saying a criminal case, and that makes sense.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• From a legal standpoint, we've never had a definition of cost judgment or criminal judgment, and when
• This isn't a criminal action, and this is a VPO.
• For follow-up: Yeah, and court case, you're saying a criminal case, and that makes sense.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Summary: The committee considered a series of House bills dealing with criminal justice, courts, public safety, housing, and related administrative issues. Early measures included HB 3419, which would extend penalties for sharing bid information before public release and bar violators from contracting with the state or its subdivisions, and HB 4153, which reinstates a repealed driver-qualification statute and updates it to include service in Oklahoma. Members also advanced HB 3430 on court costs, fines, and fee collection, though it drew concerns about terminology, collection practices, and whether it conflicted with earlier reform efforts; the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association testified that the bill would not authorize incarceration absent willful nonpayment and that collection fees have long been set at 20%. The committee also approved HB 3791, a health-care-for-minors bill worked out with the DO and MD boards, and HB 4119, a cleanup measure on VIN inspections for salvage vehicles. HB 4408, a LOFT request bill tied to calculating savings from State Questions 780 and 781 and directing funds to the Community Safety Investment Fund, was presented as a zero-fiscal-impact technical fix after court and DOC data issues were resolved. HB 3905 would allow judges to order GPS monitoring for certain stalking and domestic-violence-related defendants, with the victim able to receive proximity alerts; members questioned the scope of victim notification and the fact that the bill applies in civil VPO proceedings as well as criminal cases, but it was advanced. Later, HB 3968 was presented as codifying a Supreme Court decision, though members raised a late-added fiscal note and possible ODOT/OTA issues; the bill was still passed out of committee, with discussion of striking title on the floor if needed. HB 3835 would create a path for trafficking survivors to seek relief from convictions tied to their victimization, and HB 3386 would require mediation in eviction cases involving minor children; that bill prompted extensive debate over whether it created an affirmative defense, potential Fair Housing Act concerns, and whether it shifted costs to landlords, with the author agreeing to strike title and revise the language. The committee also advanced HB 2650 on summary administrations in probate and HB 3742, a negotiated criminal discovery bill, after adopting a small amendment limiting certain recordings to those directly related to the case and changing “approximate” to “appropriate.”

Bills: HB2, HB27, HB54, HB49, HB58, HB40, HB38, HB43, HB2, HB27, HB40, HB38, HB43, HB54, HB49, HB58

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, sex offender, employment, first responder, childcare, public safety, juvenile protection, emergency orders, child custody, court authority, abuse and neglect, firearm possession, law enforcement, criminal penalty, concealed carry, Alabama law

Transcript Highlights:

• Does anybody have any suggestions for the chair or objections to the way that I'm conducting the committee
• In 2021, the criminal statute was repealed. In 2023, we passed the Health Care Freedom Act.
• We believe that abortion reporting requirements are harmful because they fuel criminalization and put
• In a time when we are seeing a rise in pregnancy criminalization and a culture of surveillance around
• clarify the parole board process for the people in prison appearing before the parole board, for criminal

Bills: SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records, health care providers, repeal, New Mexico, pregnancy termination, abortion data, state reporting requirements, confidentiality, reproductive health, parole, life imprisonment, rehabilitation, criminal justice, victim rights, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• The first will be a public work session arising out of another work session this committee conducted
• To be more ethical in how they were conducting their interviews.
• I spent three years as a visiting scholar with John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
• The Criminal Justice Division of the AGO contains the major economic crimes unit.
• That granted the Attorney General investigator the authority to conduct the search, to conduct the investigation

Bills: HB1982, HB2156

Keywords: Indian rights, treaty rights, convictions, tribal members, criminal justice reform, Attorney General, AG investigators, limited authority peace officer, peace officer certification, economic crimes, financial crimes, white-collar crime, fraud investigation, search warrant service, electronic service, business records, law enforcement authority, criminal background check, training requirements, Washington RCW

Summary: The committee began with a public work session on interrogation techniques, hearing from Matthew Jones, a retired homicide detective and interview trainer, and Mark Fallon, a former federal agent and consultant. Both argued for science-based, information-gathering interviews over confession-driven or coercive tactics, emphasizing rapport, open-ended questioning, corroboration, and avoiding deception, especially with vulnerable interviewees. Members asked for source materials and raised a concern about whether a friendly interview style could be traumatizing to victims if later viewed on video; the witnesses said some minimization tactics used in sex-crime cases can be especially problematic. No votes were taken in the work session. The committee then held a hearing on House Bill 1982, which would expand Washington’s existing process for vacating convictions tied to treaty Indian rights. Staff explained that the bill would extend eligibility beyond fishing to hunting, gathering, and pasturing rights; remove the pre-1975 time limit; allow vacation of convictions based on enjoined local ordinances; authorize the Office of Public Defense to provide direct representation and consultation; and create a tribal liaison position. The prime sponsor and tribal leaders from the Squaxin Island and Nisqually Tribes testified in support, describing the bill as a way to correct historic wrongs and remove barriers to housing, employment, and other opportunities. The Office of Public Defense supported the bill, said its fiscal note was just under $200,000, and explained it would serve as a hub to help identify cases and assist families and tribes. Questions focused on the number of affected cases, costs, whether the state or federal government should handle treaty issues, and whether the bill could divert resources from other cases; supporters said the process would be measured and case-by-case. The hearing also included testimony from a county commissioner, a data scientist, and a tribal liaison from the Attorney General’s Office, who said amendments were being discussed to clarify the process. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2156, which would give Attorney General investigators limited authority to serve search warrants on businesses when the AGO has concurrent criminal investigative authority. Staff said the bill would limit investigators to the authority of the granting entity, require judicial authorization for business search warrants, and bar investigators from arresting, detaining, or carrying weapons. The bill sponsor said it would reduce delays in economic crime cases, especially for electronic business records. Opposition came from the sheriffs and police chiefs association and a retired veteran, who argued the bill blurs the line between investigation and prosecution, lacks sufficient oversight, and gives non-commissioned personnel powers that should remain with peace officers. An AGO attorney responded that the bill is only about serving electronic warrants, not granting full police powers, and said most AGO investigators are retired law enforcement, but acknowledged they are not commissioned officers and do not have CJTC requirements. The committee did not take final action on either bill during the hearing.