Transcript Highlights:

• In the last few budgets, we have significantly increased the amount of dollars that went to the attorney
• I don't think this bill would require any more money because these people are already prosecuted.
• more money because these people are more money because these people are already<00:12:45.920><c> prosecuted
• </c><00:12:46.639><c> It</c><00:12:46.800><c> they're</c><00:12:47.040><c> we're</c> already prosecuted
• It they're we're already prosecuted.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:11 Report of Committees 06:05 Orders of the Day/HB 320 07:52 HB 366 14:55 HB 389 17:22 HB 56 22:10 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 25:47 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 29:20 Petition of Impeachment Filed 31:24 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 32:03 ConC/Rules Report 36:31 Floor Amendments 37:29 Adjournment 37:47, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded 96 members present, excused absences, and approved the journal from January 27, 2026. The Senate clerk announced passage of Senate Bills 17 and 181 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on health insurance, judiciary, local government, and transportation topics, including measures on pharmacist reimbursements, hearing aid coverage, feeding and eating disorders, grooming a minor, local government liability, water fluoridation, cigar bars, chickens on residential property, highway pavement markings, motor vehicle titles, and pedestrian issues; all favorable reports were treated as first readings and placed on the calendar. The House then took up and passed House Bill 320 on human trafficking, with the sponsor explaining it would equalize penalties for promoting human trafficking with those for trafficking itself and increase the penalty when the victim is under 18. A member asked whether the bill included additional funding for cyber enforcement; the sponsor replied it was not an appropriation and would not require new funding, though prior budgets had increased support for anti-trafficking efforts. The House adopted a title amendment changing the bill’s title to combating human trafficking. The chamber also passed House Bill 366, which clarifies that materials portraying a sexual performance by a minor include computer-generated images and requires 85% service of the sentence before probation or parole; the sponsor said it was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. House Bill 389 on reading and writing in schools also passed as amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said it would require annual updates to the state dyslexia toolkit, expand professional development and coaching, require local school boards to develop processes for universal screening and diagnostic tools, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher preparation programs; the substitute added conformity with IDEA and revised the instructional language. Members spoke in support of early dyslexia detection and one member noted the bill updated prior legislation associated with former Rep. Bam Carney. House Bill 56, an omnibus Department of Agriculture bill, then passed; it addressed amusement ride inspections, grain warehousing penalties, egg handler licensing renewal timing, exemptions for small producers, and repealed obsolete tobacco and egg marketing board provisions. All three bills passed by roll call with 95 or 94 votes in favor and none opposed, and clinchers were applied. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings and events, including a suits-and-sneakers day and cancer-related breakfast, caucus meetings, and committee meetings. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on local occupational license fees, early learning and child care, tuition waivers, an adult workforce diploma pilot, motor vehicle usage tax, contract procurement, Fish and Wildlife Resources, adoption, veterans’ benefits, Cabinet for Health and Family Services operations, organ donation safety, hate crimes, prescription drugs, and resolutions on the Kentucky-Japan partnership and veterans’ benefits accreditation. The clerk also reported a petition of impeachment filed against Judge Julie Goodman. The House then referred a group of bills to committees, reported floor amendments for House Bills 321 and 416, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• , sponsored by Senator Fortunato, authorize the state to pay for an accused signature gatherer's attorney
• , proposed statute, and that's going to be turned over to the county prosecutor or whatever for prosecution
• So the state on one end is going to be prosecuting you, but you're going to have to defend yourself with
• , proposed statute, and that's going to be turned over to the county prosecutor or whatever for prosecution
• So the state on one end is going to be prosecuting you, but you're going to have to defend yourself with

Bills: SB5973, SB5892, SB6081, SB5842, SB5827, SB5968, SB6034, SB6035, SB5888, SB6123, SB5853

Keywords: initiative, referendum, ballot measure, petition, signature gathering, circulator, per-signature pay, paid circulator, election integrity, voter fraud, ballot title, Secretary of State, Code Reviser, direct democracy, citizen lawsuit, civil penalties, Washington elections, initiative process, referendum process, grassroots petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, why that's in the governor's budget as opposed to, like, attorney general.
• Here tomorrow there is some funding also in the Attorney General's budget, but we'll talk about that
• Division to enhance the state's ability to successfully investigate and prosecute crime.
• When that debt is issued, and the information goes to the Attorney General's office, we take those debt
• We respectfully request an additional 62 million in general revenue to the Office of the Attorney, I'm

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so would the school district attorney be able to provide any type of, I guess it would be up to
• forward the results of their investigation to the state attorney's office for potential criminal prosecution
• Whether or not the suspected fraud is investigated by B-PAPF or prosecuted by the SAO, the ELCs can,
• You know, when you see that, hey, the state's not playing, they're really going to prosecute this when

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 731, which would address coach and extracurricular sponsor compensation and change how student-athlete transfer eligibility is determined. The bill would allow local school boards to adopt policies letting booster clubs or similar associations support coaches and activity sponsors, and it would let superintendents treat certain coaches and athletic leaders as administrative personnel for compensation purposes. It would also shift eligibility decisions for transferred student-athletes to the governing athletic association and require clearer bylaws and timelines for those determinations. Members raised questions about booster club oversight, pay equity, the new athletic administrator language, and safeguards against abuse or unequal treatment, while supporters argued the bill would help retain coaches and better support student athletics. The bill was debated and then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received presentations from the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning and the Florida Association of Early Learning Coalitions on school readiness fraud prevention and mitigation. Speakers explained that Florida’s school readiness program pays providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment, requires daily parent sign-in/sign-out records, and uses multiple layers of oversight including coalition anti-fraud plans, annual audits, programmatic monitoring, DCF inspections, and referrals to state fraud investigators when needed. They emphasized that Florida delayed implementation of a federal rule that would have required prospective enrollment-based payments, and said the state’s current system makes fraud difficult. Members asked about military and grandparent guardianship situations, audit findings, and the number of fraud referrals; presenters said fraud cases are relatively limited and that the existing controls and public enforcement act as deterrents. The meeting ended after members thanked the presenters and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just want to understand, you mentioned about attorneys present.
• So in that situation, the chairman of the committee had an attorney, the accused had an attorney, Chairman
• of the committee had an attorney, the accused had an attorney, and there were attorneys that were actually
• prosecuting that action.
• had their own attorney, there would have been no reason for the accused to have an attorney because

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee considered and introduced a series of RS measures, largely sponsored by Representative Barbieri and Representative Scott, along with proposals from Representatives Furness, Petske, Monks, and others. Topics included defamation retraction law (RS-33606), hospital conveyance and nonprofit transparency and notice requirements (RS-33609 and RS-33610), approval of DAPI rules (RS-33614), and an internal House ethics resolution (RS-33624) that would make ethics committee work confidential and limit public records access; Representative Birch expressed concern about the impact on legal representation and voted no on that motion. The committee also introduced RS-33630 to place the Department of Finance under the Department of Insurance for efficiency review, RS-33646 to extend Idaho residency requirements for lifetime hunting licenses from six months to five years, and RS-33651 to expand prohibitions on the sale, purchase, or lease of human remains and body parts, with exemptions for medical, law enforcement, and coroner uses. Representative Scott presented several family-law and parental-rights measures: RS-33666 on parents’ access to records and information about a minor child, RS-33667 making court-appointed professionals advisory only and requiring disclosure and cross-examination, RS-33668 requiring make-up parenting time when custody time is lost due to unfounded allegations, and RS-33615 updating the 2024 medical parental rights law to clarify treatment standards, 988-related language, and evidence collection in child-crime cases. Members raised questions about custody status, judicial discretion, and the effect on legal representation, but each RS was ultimately introduced. The committee also introduced RS-33675, which would allow universities to apply for tourism-related grants funded through the lodging tax; Representative Monks said it would not affect auditorium district room-tax collections. Most motions to introduce passed without opposition, and RS-33614 was also sent to the second reading calendar. The committee adjourned after noting that additional measures might return later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• , when we understand what, in fact, an assistant district attorney... ...for an assistant district attorney
• district attorney salaries.
• Hiller Moore, District Attorney in Baton Rouge.
• attorney, Hiller Moore.
• The office of the district attorney, I could fill a page with the number of jobs many district attorneys

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 513 by Representative Young, which would regulate name, image, and likeness activity for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes, especially high school athletes. Young said the bill reflects recommendations from a task force and sets guardrails such as parental consent and prohibited NIL categories. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended. Members then heard several Senate bills from Senator Mizell and Senator Cloud. Senate Bill 233 would create a statewide data exchange compact to allow state agencies to share information more efficiently; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 300 would make various changes to the Procurement Code, including auction techniques, sole sourcing for consulting services in limited cases, and procurement process clarifications; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 303 would allow executive branch agencies to buy or share technology solutions with other states and use the federal GSA schedule, and it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 411, removing a 20-year lease limitation for certain Orleans Parish state property, was also reported favorably. The committee spent substantial time on House Bill 660 and House Bill 719, both dealing with district attorney funding and staffing. HB 660 would raise the state warrant amount for assistant district attorney salaries from $50,000 to $60,000, with supporters arguing it is needed to recruit and retain prosecutors; an opposition witness argued the state should fund both prosecutors and public defenders more equitably. The committee adopted an amendment making the bill effective only upon appropriation and reported it favorably as amended. HB 719 would increase the number of assistant district attorney warrants statewide, with most of the new warrants directed to Baton Rouge, St. Tammany, and Caddo; it too was amended to be subject to appropriation and reported favorably as amended. House Bill 596, which would have created an inactive well-feet assessment credit for oil and gas operators, was voluntarily deferred after concerns that it could reduce funding for the oil field site restoration fund. Later, the committee reported favorably as amended House Bill 802, which redirects existing revenue to watershed and flood restoration work in the Amite River Basin, and House Bill 940, which creates a task force and rules framework for law enforcement responses to unlawful drone activity. It also reported favorably House Bill 76 on coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications, House Bill 950 on consumer protection materials for seniors, and began discussion of House Bill 1028, which would require higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clearly, legal services—that's pure attorney-client privilege. That's important.
• Also, it requires the Attorney General, when looking at these requests, to narrowly construe attorney-client
• I'm an attorney with Haynes and Boone here in Austin.
• Local attorneys typically pursue civil injunctions against IMBs to shut them down.
• I'm an attorney practicing in Texas, centered in San Antonio, living outside of San Antonio.

Bills: HB111

Summary: The committee heard a long series of House bills, with most measures laid out by Senate sponsors and then left pending after brief public testimony. Early bills focused on construction and licensing issues, including HB 305 on prompt payment for public construction audits, HB 5093 on restoring public access to notary contact information, HB 2037 on updating landlord-tenant repair and security deposit rules, HB 4214 on a centralized public information request contact database, and HB 5435 exempting higher education institutions from a 90-day notice requirement for certain public-private partnership projects. Testimony was generally supportive on these bills, and no votes were taken; each was left pending. The committee also considered several transparency and regulatory bills. HB 111 would expand the Public Information Act to certain nonprofit state associations and narrow some attorney-client and working-paper exceptions, with supporters arguing it would improve oversight of public funds and critics questioning the scope and thresholds. HB 5129 would protect occupational license holders’ personal identifying information from disclosure without consent, HB 4350 would allow peace officers to redact personal information from online real property records, HB 4748 would authorize multiple-award state purchasing contracts, and HB 4765 would clean up code enforcement officer licensing rules. HB 4134 would allow motor vehicle creditors to charge limited fees for electronic payment options while requiring a free alternative, and HB 1043 would direct a study of blockchain-based property title records; both drew testimony, with some concern about the practical effects and vendor implications of the blockchain study. Several bills addressed insurance, workforce, and digital-asset regulation. HB 3520 would reduce the insurance coverage required for transportation network companies during the period when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger, drawing support from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and opposition from trial lawyers who argued the higher coverage better protects the public. HB 3320 would create a self-insurance pool for religious institutions, with TDI explaining it would still be regulated but operate under a special statutory framework. HB 4233 would modernize rules for digital asset service providers by removing certain auditor-access requirements and updating reporting and licensing provisions. HB 3923 would reduce bachelor’s-degree requirements for some state jobs, though Every Texan argued low pay, not degree requirements, is the main driver of turnover. HB 4518 would create a legal structure for decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations tied to blockchain governance; business law experts opposed it as unnecessary and potentially risky, while crypto advocates supported it. Finally, HB 1803 would join an interstate compact for dentists and dental hygienists, with supporters citing workforce shortages and opponents saying Texas already licenses quickly and that the compact could weaken state oversight. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly closed testimony and left bills pending, and a quorum was eventually established before later items were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Brett Ligon and I'm the elected District Attorney of Montgomery County.
• I'm the executive director of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.
• One, the STR-5 provides... the prosecution, the opportunity to appeal a bond is too low.
• Prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, victim advocates.
• There should be some type of attorney representing the individual.

Bills: SB9, SB1047, SB1048, SJR17, SJR49, SB40, SJR1, SJR5, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 1

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just want to understand, you mentioned about attorneys present.
• So in that situation, the chairman of the committee had an attorney, the accused had an attorney, Chairman
• of the committee had an attorney, the accused had an attorney, and there were attorneys that were actually
• prosecuting that action.
• had their own attorney, there would have been no reason for the accused to have an attorney because

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met to consider a series of RS introductions, mostly sponsored by Representatives Barbieri and Scott, along with measures from Furness, Petske, Ehart, and Monks. Barbieri presented three related proposals concerning hospital conveyances and nonprofit conversions: one on libel/slander retractions and punitive damages (RS-33606), and two aimed at adding transparency, notice, and limits on transfers of former public hospitals to nonprofit or other entities (RS-33609 and RS-33610). The committee also introduced RS-33614, an internal House rules resolution, after a substitute motion to send it to the second reading calendar. RS-33624, another internal House ethics rules proposal, drew the most discussion and concern over confidentiality and attorney participation; it was introduced with amendments, with Representative Birch recorded as voting no. The committee also introduced RS-33630, which would place the Department of Finance under the Department of Insurance to seek cross-departmental efficiencies beginning in July 2027, and RS-33646, which would extend Idaho residency requirements for lifetime hunting licenses from six months to five years. Representative Scott’s measures were all introduced: RS-33651 would expand prohibitions on the sale, purchase, or lease of human remains artifacts; RS-33666, RS-33667, and RS-33668 were part of a split-up parental rights/custody package, addressing parental access to records, court-appointed professionals serving only in an advisory role, and make-up parenting time when custody is lost due to unsubstantiated allegations. Representative Ehart’s RS-33615 updated the 2024 medical parental rights law to clarify treatment standards, 988-related language, and evidence collection in child-crime allegations. Finally, the committee introduced RS-33675, which would allow universities to apply for a share of tourism-related bed tax grant funds currently distributed through the Department of Commerce to nonprofit tourism-promoting organizations. Several members asked clarifying questions on the various RSs, but no bills were advanced beyond introduction except RS-33614, which was also recommended to the second reading calendar. The committee then adjourned, with the chair noting more measures may return later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that held by county attorneys. that held by county attorneys.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• </c> ahead, Attorney General. Thank you, Mr. ahead, Attorney General. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's we've been told that that this person's been prosecuted or that this person's been prosecuted
• investigate to prosecute.
• So if there was ever a mix-up on jurisdiction, that would certainly be vetted by the prosecuting attorney
• So if there was ever a mix-up on jurisdiction, that would certainly be vetted by the prosecuting attorney
• So if there was ever a mix-up on jurisdiction, that would certainly be vetted by the prosecuting attorney

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Though the Sixth Amendment enshrines the right to counsel for defendants in criminal prosecutions, the
• Though the Sixth Amendment enshrines the right to counsel for defendants in criminal prosecutions, the
• And if we don't know, then in one county they're contracting with a private attorney firm and have an
• . ...versus another county that has in-house attorneys but they just haven't filled vacancies, we don't
• and you're assigned an attorney, it's your constitutional right to counsel and you're indigent, you

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney General comes out if they find something to be suspicious.
• Obviously, criminal prosecution comes out... ...find something to be suspicious.
• DHS attorney not here today? Am I observing it right?
• And if not, why is the DHS attorney not here to sit with y'all to answer questions?
• Or are y'all the DHS attorneys? Oh, no, sir. No, sir.

Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve prior minutes and then focused on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center, later clarified in discussion as the Warren facility. DHS officials described Moore’s background, said he died after a prolonged prone restraint followed by a delayed chemical restraint, and reported that 13 staff were terminated, the superintendent was replaced, a consultant was brought in, and the agency entered a settlement with the family for $725,000. Members pressed DHS on the cause of death, restraint policies, staff training, supervision, family notification, and why the family had not been kept informed; DHS said a family-notification procedure exists but that communications during litigation had been handled through counsel. The committee also heard that six staff had been criminally charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person, and that the death certificate listed the manner of death as homicide with cause of death tied to physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. DHS officials gave broader context on the five human development centers, their licensing and accreditation, resident population, mortality review process, and training programs. They said the centers serve highly medically and behaviorally complex residents, that annual restraint training and CPI-based instruction are required, and that the mortality review committee and Office of Long-Term Care review deaths and make recommendations. Members repeatedly criticized the agency for not having complete information at the meeting and for what they saw as gaps in oversight, staffing, and chain-of-command clarity during emergencies. DHS responded that the Warren facility had not been meeting the same standards as the others, that the consultant’s root-cause analysis identified multiple failures, and that new crisis-team and chain-of-command procedures were being drafted. A second major topic was staffing and recruitment. Members discussed low pay, turnover, use of float and on-call staff, rural staffing shortages, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based services. DHS said CNAs at the centers start at about $39,000 a year, that a broader retention and recruitment plan is being drafted for all five centers, and that a separate rate study for PASS services will be implemented in January 2027 but does not cover CNA pay. The meeting ended with testimony from Moore’s mother, Angela Stevens, who said money could not replace her son and urged stronger training, background checks, and supervision so other residents would be protected. The committee asked DHS to keep members and Stevens updated on consultant reports, recruitment efforts, and follow-up on the family communication issue, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just, as an attorney, how do I do that? How do I bring that machine into a... How do I do that?
• as a manager and as a trial attorney... ...investigating, and prosecuting as a manager and as a trial
• attorney, fraud and integrity crimes.
• But as a workers' comp attorney... In my community, we have some great staffing agencies.
• But as a workers' comp attorney for 30 years, I can assure you that there are many staffing agencies

Summary: The committee heard several labor-related bills focused on workplace technology, data centers, staffing agencies, and environmental health. SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” would require human review before automated systems can be used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis; labor groups and worker advocates supported it, while business and industry groups opposed it as overbroad and litigation-prone. After extended discussion about due process, human oversight, and private rights of action, the bill passed 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay for new infrastructure costs, create a separate rate structure to protect other ratepayers, and impose skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said it would prevent cost shifts to households and ensure good jobs, while opponents argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings and that the bill unfairly singles out one industry. The committee discussed balancing economic growth with labor and ratepayer protections, and the bill passed 3-1 to Senate Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for AI-related layoffs and require reporting on displaced jobs and first consideration for openings; supporters said it would improve transparency and help policymakers respond to AI-driven job loss, while opponents warned it was too broad and conflicted with existing WARN law. It passed 3-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also considered SB 1032, which would create a licensing and registration framework for temporary staffing agencies. Supporters said it would curb fraud and protect workers from illicit staffing operators, while opponents—many from the staffing industry—said the bill was vague, burdensome, and could hinder small and minority-owned businesses. The bill passed 3-1 to Senate Judiciary. Finally, SB 1046, dealing with protections for lifeguards and park rangers exposed to transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards for exposure, PPE, training, and incident reporting. With support from park workers and community groups and no opposition, it passed unanimously 4-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved a consent calendar item and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• That case was found, prosecuted, and that's good.
• , to get them the help that they need... ...and I worked with these folks to get them attorneys, to get
• But the attorneys made it quite clear that this happens quite often.
• And these folks have to get attorneys.
• Even if you're a citizen and you lie on your document, you could be prosecuted.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I can't speak for trial attorneys.
• We took advice from the district attorneys, and we took advice from the public defenders.
• Every single day, we're discovering murder cases that aren't prosecuted.
• But when you have 30 child rape cases that weren't prosecuted—child rape—that were just dismissed.
• He was an attorney.

Transcript Highlights:

• TO ENGAGE IN A SCHEME TO DEFRAUD OR TO STEAL SOMEONE'S GIFT CARD, BUT THIS BRINGS CLARITY TO THE PROSECUTION
• SENATE BILL 806 CLARIFIES THE INTENT EXPRESSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN 2017 THAT THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL
• THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FLORIDA HAS HAD A RIGHT BUT NOT THE OBLIGATION TO SPEAK AND CHARITABLE PURPOSE TRUST

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Went over to grade and event for vocational high school along with another attorney, Attorney Martin.
• My name is Attorney Eileen.
• Went over to grade and event for vocational high school along with another attorney, Attorney Martin.
• I was an attorney, and I still am an attorney, because of my trade, because of my time at the DA’s office
• This man is an attorney.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its third hearing of the 194th General Court session, taking testimony on several individual bills and home rule petitions, mostly involving retirement and pension-related relief. The committee chair outlined hearing procedures, including three-minute limits for individuals, ten-minute limits for panels, livestreaming, and the deadline for written testimony. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that House matters heard that day must be reported by Friday, July 11, 2025, subject to extensions, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded. Several witnesses supported bills seeking retirement credit or pension adjustments for public employees. These included H. 2917 for Dedham-Westwood Water District employees seeking pension buy-in credit; H. 2976 for Eileen Mullen to purchase creditable service for teaching in a criminal justice pilot program; H. 2996 for Virginia Cummings, a retired Department of Correction lieutenant seeking greater pension parity; H. 2977 for Wendy Lopieri to buy back part-time community college service; and H. 2989 for Wayne Taylor, who said he was mistakenly credited for fewer years of select board service than he expected. Testimony emphasized long public service, injuries, and what witnesses described as unfair denials or flawed interpretations of retirement law. The committee also heard testimony on bills involving post-retirement earnings and disability-related relief. Kevin Blanchett testified in opposition to H. 2931, arguing it would improperly reduce money owed to a regional retirement system and its members, while the bill’s sponsor argued the retirement board was seeking an excessive recovery based on law firm gross earnings rather than the individual’s earnings. Jamie Magarian described severe injuries from a 2018 crash and urged favorable action on his bill, with support from the State Police Association. Michael Palmer testified in favor of S. 1841, seeking to extend prior violent-crime retirement income-cap relief to his case after being shot on duty and later finding that even part-time private-sector work exceeded his retirement earnings limit.

Transcript Highlights:

• This fund allows the Attorney General's Office to provide grants to a limited number of local law enforcement
• I do want to highlight that we are bringing this over to be in the Attorney General's Office to be able
• that a person that would cause an accident that would result in something like that would face prosecution
• You say in this bill, they would face prosecution. How is that different than the previous bill?

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and first held House Bill 3045. It then heard and passed several bills, beginning with HB 1250, which creates a public safety technology revolving fund for Attorney General grants to support the Blue Jay pilot program, a voluntary traffic-stop safety app. Members questioned whether the fund would actually be financed this year and how municipalities would be selected; the author said no funding source was yet identified and the bill was only creating the fund. HB 1250 passed 8-0. The committee also passed HB 2710, creating the Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act and a 15-member board to develop a strategic plan for improving emergency radio communications among state, local, and tribal agencies. The author explained the bill was meant to address communication gaps and interoperability problems, with no fiscal impact. HB 3831, dealing with Oklahoma Task Force One, drew extensive discussion over its funding structure and blank appropriations language. The bill would place the urban search and rescue team in state law and seek a reliable funding source; members discussed the team’s statewide disaster response role, its Tulsa and Oklahoma City bases, and a carve-out excluding wildland firefighting. It passed 8-0. Other measures approved included HB 4408, which sets a protocol for calculating and directing savings from State Questions 780 and 781 into the proper drug diversion account; HB 1002, requiring law enforcement to inform stalking victims about certified domestic violence program advocates; HB 3008, extending the sunset date for the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2031; HB 3086, requiring the Department of Corrections director to keep the Board of Corrections informed about budgets and inmate deaths; HB 3595, creating a DPS revolving fund for counties and municipalities to buy vehicle-barrier equipment to prevent crowd-vehicle attacks; HB 3678, expanding electronic-harassment protections for public officials to include municipal officials and school board members; HB 4107, establishing penalties for unauthorized activation or misuse of emergency warning sirens; and HB 3695, revising the definition of great bodily injury in a DUI-related context. HB 3595 passed 6-1 and HB 4107 passed 6-2; the other bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief questioning and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, next to testify, we have the Department of Prosecuting Attorney, Prosecutor Elms, in person.
• Um, next to testify, we have the Department of Prosecuting Attorney, Prosecutor Elms, in person.

Keywords: 910, house, all