Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a victim crime by any means, and the individuals within our administration we are trying so
• data collection and reporting, community engagement, education, and technical assistance. a victim crime
• by any means and the a victim crime by any means and the individuals<00:02:32.440> that<00:02
• And so this is a growing area of crimes that we need to continue to focus on.
• and so this is a growing area of crimes and so this is a growing area of crimes that<01:20:47.520

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not going to excuse their crimes. It is not going to give them any time.
• Representative Blackman: It is not going to excuse their crimes.
• referral pipeline to immigration enforcement, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crimes
• SB 1055 makes people afraid to report crimes and seek help.
• This objectively means more crime goes unreported and unsolved.

Bills: SB1032, SB1055, SB1107

Keywords: corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, immigration enforcement, law enforcement, illegal aliens, state legislation, civil penalties, peace officer certification, police certification, law enforcement licensing, Arizona POST, peace officer standards and training, military police, veterans, honorably discharged, veteran hiring, abbreviated academy

Transcript Highlights:

• Yep, who has my wonderful counterpart in crime. Thank you.
• Yep, who has my wonderful counterpart in crime.
• Even if you committed a heinous crime, like murder, in the situation we have, they cannot be charged
• Even if you committed a heinous crime, let's say murder, like in the situation we have, they cannot be
• The alternative is to let them on the streets, where they could potentially commit more crimes and not

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VERY IMPORTANT REASON I'M SURPRISED NO ONE HAS MENTIONED YET IS CONNECTION BETWEEN GREEN SPACES AND CRIME
• RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FOUND CITIES WITH MORE GREEN SPACES TEND TO HAVE LOWER CRIME
• WE NEED LOWER CRIME RATES.
• SO BY PROTECTING THE GREEN SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITY THIS BILL WOULD DECREASE CRIME RATES AND THAT IS WHY
• LAST YEAR WE HAD CREATED INCREASED PENALTIES FOR GAMBLING CRIMES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , victims of crimes, victims of crimes, which<00:31:24.720> they<00:31:24.840> do<00
• Our recoveries go back to the crime Our recoveries go back to the crime victims,<00:31:28.760>
• defraud them, or individual crime defraud them, or individual crime victims. victims. victims.
• crimes.
• Um crimes.

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• elements of the crime would not apply to this uh elements that he's listed in the amendment.
• <00:28:48.720> and understand there's elements of crime and understand there's elements of
• elements of the crime would would uh the elements of the crime would would not<00:28:52.159> apply
• Again, there's elements of this crime. Again, there's elements of this crime.
• If If journalists are met in this crime.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:38:53.160> report in according to the BCA crime report in according to the BCA crime report
• in the state of Minnesota, but yet is the only crime that affects every single driver all the way down
• Chair. severity crime in the state of Minnesota severity crime in the state of Minnesota but<00:48:07.520
• <00:48:09.520> that<00:48:09.720> affects but yet is the only crime that affects but
• yet is the only crime that affects every<00:48:10.960> single every single every single driver

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're acknowledging in the bill it's going to be more crime because of this.
• We're going to create government in order to deal with that crime.
• <01:19:29.520> that's create um plans for a new crime that's create um plans for a new crime
• <01:19:41.960> because there's going to be more crime because there's going to be more crime
• <01:19:46.920> it's in order to deal with that crime it's in order to deal with that crime

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After she allowed him to spearhead and organize, sorry, I'm nervous, a successful and impactful Crime
• They've been perpetrators of crime. I have family members that have been victims of crime.
• Family members that have been victims of crime.
• The punishment must meet the crime, but when the time has been served, if it wasn't a life sentence,
• , family members, victims of crime, office partners, law enforcement partners, victims of crime at the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first handled several routine items, including governor’s appointments not required to appear, references to bills, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved the appointments of Heather Lynn Gonzalez and Allison Salton-Sall to the Court Reporters Board, and then moved on to appointments required to appear from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, both proposed associate directors in CDCR’s Division of Adult Institutions, testified about their backgrounds and emphasized staff safety, rehabilitation, trauma-informed practices, and the California model. Senators focused heavily on the rollout of the California model, the August 2024 use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, sexual abuse prevention, retaliation concerns, and prison visitation. Both nominees said the department had improved communication and training, had disciplined or removed staff in response to misconduct, and was working to strengthen PREA reporting, investigations, and family visiting consistency. Public testimony was strongly supportive, and the committee voted 4-0 to send both nominations to the Senate floor. The committee then heard from Jason Johnson, nominated as CDCR Undersecretary of Operations. Johnson framed his work around rehabilitation, public safety, and culture change, and addressed concerns raised in late opposition letters and a lawsuit alleging retaliation, hostile work environment, discrimination, and whistleblower issues. He said he could not discuss pending litigation in detail, but described his leadership as focused on accountability, professional standards, and improving relationships with staff and community partners. Senators questioned him about parole supervision, risk assessment, contraband interdiction, and the Prison Rape Elimination Act response; Johnson said adult parole uses risk-based supervision and GPS for registered sex offenders, operations is working with correctional safety and law enforcement on contraband and drone interdiction, and CDCR continues to expand reporting channels and training. The committee also discussed the importance of rehabilitation and reentry programs, with Johnson saying most people return to the community and that CDCR must prepare them for successful reintegration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crime are described in the slide.
• Slide 5 is showing me that juvenile crime is 30% below fiscal year 19.
• We don't even have a juvenile crime problem.' Look at 2009.
• Panel, on the referrals: what type of crimes?
• I know they're misdemeanors, but give me like just five quick crimes that would be referred.

Transcript Highlights:

• you stated, like if somebody decides to sell their car to invest in their child, to me that's not a crime
• What crimes have been committed against children?
• that one so I'm chair and representative you made a statement that this was to protect children what crimes
• of these events, certainly to be able to provide an opportunity for justice for survivors of these crimes
• and to look at what the legislature must do to... ...of these crimes and to look at what the legislature

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Derek Powell is a criminal investigator with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime
• Since taking office, she has been hard at work, focusing on fighting crime, protecting consumers, and
• To further improve public safety, our administration is also looking to take action on juvenile crime
• Violent crime committed by juveniles has reached a concerning level in Missouri.
• We must allow prosecutors to request a hearing before a judge for certain violent crimes committed by

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who's 18, if they commit a... ...took into consideration that somebody who's 18, if they commit a crime
• I am always open to conversations that increase penalties for violent crimes, regardless of the age,
• I think that our prosecutors in the state have discretion to make those charging decisions when crimes
• In fact, any sexualized depiction of a minor is a crime, and we must call it what it truly is.
• Using accurate terminology reinforces that this material is a serious crime against a child, and that

Summary: The committee first took up HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores the rights of adults 18 and older, emphasizing constitutional rights, military service, voting, jury duty, and parental responsibility. Opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates and several members, cited Parkland and the recent FSU shooting, argued that people under 21 are still developing and more impulsive, and said the current law helps protect public safety. After extensive debate and public testimony on both sides, the committee voted 11-5 to report HB 133 favorably. The committee then considered PCS for HB 35, which adds driving without a valid license to the offenses that can lead to habitual traffic offender designation and is named Isaiah’s Law in memory of a child killed by an unlicensed driver. Supporters said it addresses repeat dangerous conduct and should help prevent similar tragedies. One member questioned whether it was a knee-jerk response, while others said it was a reasonable accountability measure. The PCS passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 245, which updates Florida law to use more accurate terminology for child sexual abuse material rather than “child pornography,” and includes related technical corrections. The sponsor said the change better reflects the seriousness of the crime and asked whether the bill also covered AI-generated material; the sponsor said the statute already addresses such references. After a technical amendment was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. The chair also reminded members to maintain respect toward public witnesses and each other before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Election Crimes and Security is continuing to pursue violations of the Election Code.
• The Office of Election Crimes and Security is continuing to pursue violations of the Election Code.
• We are doing that work, and when I tell people all the time, when we think of election crimes and fraud
• Can you talk about, when you mentioned the Office of Election Crimes and Security, I know that when they
• I mean, we do not have guns and badges at the Office of Election Crimes. We investigate.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• victims, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, elder abuse, and other violent crimes
• There are exceptions with regard to if you commit involved crimes or commit homicidal thoughts, suicidal
• deputies and detectives were attempting to serve a search warrant to collect evidence related to crimes
• Information sharing has always been an enormous challenge when it comes to fighting crime and public
• Communication is the key to fight crime.

Bills: SB1161, SB1215, SB1270, SB1400, SB1537, SB1538, SB1580, SB1584, SB1627

Keywords: appropriation, public safety, Yuma County, funding exemption, family advocacy center, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows the judge to look at the circumstances of each crime instead of the prosecutor making that.
• ...it allows the judge to look at the circumstances of each crime instead of the prosecutor making that
• I have had a crime that has been expunged, but I have been charged along with my neighbor, whose crime
• had that case expunge or that crime had that case expunge or that crime expunge<01:16:14.000>
• You have the authority to make it non-searchable on the website, should a crime be considered expunged

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• To keep up with the times and how this is evolving, the bill aims to help pursue crimes and seek justice
• This will allow for prosecution of these crimes in the county where either the victim resides, the defendant
• This change aligns with current Texas law and other venue statutes in place for crimes such as fraud,

Bills: HB2217

Keywords: law enforcement, bullet-resistant, grant program, safety equipment, peace officers, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's basically, in my opinion, from my experience, this rises to the level of organized crime, and I
• They're basically, like I said, earlier, organized crime, you know, the racketeering from fraud to, you
• thousands of cell phones that have been confiscated, is there any data that shows a drop in other crimes
• But to be able to be specific, to answer, you know, what other crimes are down?
• But I know there's a lot of federal money to fight this type of crime and the organized-crime side.

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's basically, in my opinion, from my experience, this rises to the level of organized crime.
• It's basically, in my opinion, from my experience, this rises to the level of organized crime.
• They're basically, like I said earlier, organized crime, you know.
• thousands of cell phones that have been confiscated, is there any data that shows a drop in other crimes
• But I know there's a lot of federal money to fight this type of crime and the organized crime side.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our special victims unit has been assigned more than 240 cyber tips from the multi-agency Internet Crimes
• <00:04:21.120> against investigating internet crimes against investigating internet crimes
• cyber tips from the multi- agency 240 cyber tips from the multi- agency internet<00:05:09.039> crimes
• /c><00:05:09.520> against<00:05:09.759> children<00:05:10.160> task internet crimes
• against children task internet crimes against children task force.<00:05:11.759> Our<00:05:12.000

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:30 Office of the Attorney General 00:01:50 Kentucky River Authority 00:12:50, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met without a quorum at first, then heard an update on child exploitation enforcement efforts from the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Criminal Investigations. The presenters described the specialized investigation and prosecution unit funded in House Bill 6, saying the added resources allowed them to hire four staff members and expand work on cyber tips, search warrants, arrests, forensic processing, victim advocacy, and training for local law enforcement. They highlighted a recent rescue of a 5-year-old victim from a Discord-related case and said the office had also filed a civil lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the platform lacked adequate age verification and allowed predators access to children. Senators asked about the lawsuit, and the presenters said Kentucky was one of only two states to sue Roblox and that the complaint was based on evidence collected by the office. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky River Authority on lock and dam repairs funded in the 2024-2026 budget. The authority reported progress on three capital projects: upper guide repairs at Locks 2 and 3, design and repair work at Dam 7, and design work to reopen Lock 5 for navigation. Officials explained that river construction is limited by flooding and fish-spawn restrictions, and they described the engineering and safety issues involved in replacing guide walls and repairing Dam 7’s spillway. They also said the authority had demolished three obsolete lockmaster houses and filled a fifth lockmaster position, while continuing to work on pay retention for those employees. Members asked about the transfer of the lock and dam properties from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the permitting process through the Division of Water, and the timeline for reopening navigation. The authority said the Corps had transferred the properties to Kentucky, that permits for river work are handled through the Division of Water and the Army Corps, and that Locks 1 through 4 are open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October. Officials said Lock 5 would add 14 miles of navigation if reopened, but that it would still take a few more years before that project is complete.