Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:03.039> branch buildings and the the judicial branch buildings and the the judicial
• We bought Granite Place, the new DOJ, and Agriculture is there, and Judicial Council.
• We bought Granite Place, the new DOJ, and Agriculture is there, and Judicial Council.
• We bought Granite Place, the new DOJ, and Agriculture is there, and Judicial Council.
• <00:48:18.440> branch we've recently added the judicial branch we've recently added the judicial

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• branch to the Judicial Council.
• branch to the Judicial Council.
• branch to the Judicial Council.
• branch to the Judicial Council.
• Thank you. judicial branch to the judicial council. judicial branch to the judicial council.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just, um, real quick again, Jackie Steel, attorney, 27th Judicial Circuit.
• There's protections in the judicial system for that material so it doesn't get out.
• <00:13:57.519> Um<00:13:58.639> again attorney 27th Judicial Circuit.
• Um again attorney 27th Judicial Circuit.
• There's protections<00:14:40.000> in<00:14:40.399> the<00:14:40.639> judicial<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met for its third meeting of the 2026 session and considered three bills. House Bill 50, relating to the removal of persons unlawfully occupying real property, was presented by Rep. Emily Callaway, who said it built on last session’s House Bill 10 addressing squatter-related criminal trespass and noted positive implementation feedback from law enforcement. The committee took no substantive testimony against the bill and passed it 16-0, reporting it favorably. House Bill 249, relating to involuntary commitment, was introduced by Rep. Mitch Whitaker and would expand current involuntary commitment provisions to include sexual abuse in the first degree. Whitaker and Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steel argued the change was needed because some defendants charged with sexual offenses not currently covered could otherwise be released without treatment or supervision, creating a public safety risk. Rep. Burke passed on the vote to continue the conversation but said he expected to support it on the floor. The committee passed the bill 15-0 with one pass and reported it favorably. House Bill 305, relating to grand jury service, was presented by Rep. Candy Maserone and supported by Sheri Ballard, who described the impact of the Crystal Rogers case and said secretly recorded grand jury testimony had gone unaddressed because the statute of limitations was too short. The committee substitute extended the limitations period for secretly recorded grand jury testimony to 10 years, set a five-year period for unrecorded communications, and added discovery-related language. Jackie Steel supported the bill but asked for an exemption or clarification so prosecutors could perform grand jury duties without risking felony charges; members discussed secrecy, witness safety, and obstruction concerns. The committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 305 17-0, reporting it favorably as the Crystal Rogers Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• INDIVIDUALS, OR ARE YOU USING JUDICIAL WARRANTS?
• THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR A JUDICIAL WARRANT.
• AND THEY CAN'T BE JUDICIAL. >> Sen.
• Gruters: WE ARE UPPING THE RANKING TO A LEVEL IV IN TERMS OF THAT RANKING SYSTEM INSIDE THE JUDICIAL
• EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO THE AMOUNT OF POINTS WHEN YOU'RE OR IN FRONT OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND I AM

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't know if the new judiciously.
• I’m sure you’ve all heard of informed consent, but I’ll just kind of read the basic definition.
• So informed consent is an ethical cornerstone in our patients’ rights. provider thoroughly explains the
• > an<01:29:18.159> ethical informed consent is it's an ethical informed consent is it's
• And every time you go to the dentist and you're forced an X-ray, you're denied your informed consent.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That volume of orders over the last 5 to 10 years has grown significantly from the judicial system, which
• So with that capacity, that's essentially the number of beds that we are trying to serve the judicial
• significantly from the judicial system. significantly from the judicial system. uh<00:11:41.120>
• /c><00:12:14.959> to<00:12:15.200> serve<00:12:15.600> the<00:12:15.920> judicial
• <00:12:16.320> system are trying to serve the judicial system are trying to serve the judicial

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also appreciate the funding in the bill for an operational adjustment for the judicial branch.
• This funding will help judicial branch.
• They typically go judicial officer.
• judicial officer. judicial officer. Madam<00:38:50.160> Chair.
• judicial understanding the judicial branch<00:40:56.880> of<00:40:56.960> government,<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Zlatko Theodorovich from the Judicial Council. Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair.
• Zlatko Theodorovich from the Judicial Council.
• Yeah, I'm highly, highly frustrated by this judicial branch issue on a number of fronts.
• But I do know, and I'm here that the Chief has identified judicial pay as an important priority, and
• Hearing Department of Finance, so we work closely with the Judicial Council, and yes, the prior budget

Summary: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 heard the Governor’s May Revision proposals for the judicial branch, the Board of State and Community Corrections, the Department of Justice, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget remains structurally imbalanced and urged the Legislature to avoid new ongoing spending unless offset by reductions elsewhere. In the judicial branch discussion, the Judicial Council highlighted language access funding, appellate court security, a backfill for the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation room mandate; Finance supported most items but suggested reporting language on interpreter costs and reducing the General Fund backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial vacancies, long-term salary freezes, remote hearings, and the lack of progress on court staffing in some counties. For the Board of State and Community Corrections, the administration proposed $10 million one-time each for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People grant program and a human trafficking vertical prosecution grant program. The LAO said both should be weighed against other priorities and suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and asked whether ongoing support would be considered. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said BSC was a good fit because of its grant administration experience and prior vertical prosecution work, while legislators asked why the program was not placed with the Office of Emergency Services as originally contemplated in prior legislation. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse staffing, completion of organized retail criminal enterprise cases, and trailer bill language for a continuous appropriation from the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO supported the antitrust account use but questioned the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s ability to cover the full request without General Fund repayment, and recommended against a continuous appropriation for the restitution fund in favor of a more limited mechanism with legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. In the CDCR portion, the largest discussion centered on the Boston Consulting Group efficiency review and sharply reduced savings estimates; LAO said the department had not fully explained the proposed position eliminations or future $100 million savings target, while Finance said the work reflected deeper analysis and ongoing efforts to find savings. Members repeatedly pressed CDCR and Finance on the gap between earlier promised savings and the revised figures. CDCR also outlined population projections showing continued declines in prison and parole populations, while LAO again urged the state to close an additional prison to save ongoing costs. The department then walked through several May Revision items, including workers’ compensation funding, a Corcoran honor housing dorm, incarcerated firefighter pay implementation, an incarcerated menopause program, mental health receiver staffing, mental health resource teams and crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing changes, and AI note-taking for the electronic health record. LAO generally recommended limiting-term funding and more reporting for many of these proposals, while Finance defended them as necessary ongoing investments or court-ordered obligations. Members questioned the cost of workers’ compensation, the need for more prison closures, the lack of funding for women’s facility violence prevention, and the timing and transparency of the BCG savings process. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past it's came through Judicial. So it did two years ago.
• I'm the state court administrator for the Wyoming judicial branch.
• I'm the state court administrator for the Wyoming judicial branch.
• Judicial deference, Representative Webb. Thank you. I think Mr. Jackson is online for that.
• Uh, yeah, any questions on judicial deference for Mr. Jackson? No.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met under time constraints and asked members to rank interim topics for a letter to Management Council. The committee then took brief public testimony on a series of proposed study topics, with no formal votes recorded in the transcript. Early testimony focused on landlord eviction rights, where speakers said the court eviction process is too slow, can worsen housing shortages, and leaves landlords unable to recover rent, fees, or damage costs. The foster care topic was presented as a request to examine whether the system gives too much weight to reunification and not enough to the child’s best interests, especially for younger children. A Blue Envelope Program proposal was also discussed; supporters said it would help law enforcement communicate with autistic or otherwise communication-challenged individuals during traffic stops and emergencies, and improve consistency statewide. The committee also heard a proposal to study Wyoming’s homicide-by-vehicle statute, with testimony from a constituent whose mother was killed by a repeat dangerous driver. Speakers argued the current law leaves a gap because prior DUIs, high-risk driving history, and other aggravating factors do not meaningfully affect charging unless intoxication or extreme conduct is present. Related testimony from Wyoming Pathways said the change should be a tool in the toolbox for prosecutors and could improve safety for pedestrians and drivers. Senator Cooper then raised campaign finance reform and dark money, urging a resolution asking Wyoming’s congressional delegation to seek a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore state control over election spending transparency. Additional topics included a request from the Wyoming Livestock Board to review peace officer statutes so its investigators could act on felonies committed in their presence or prevent imminent bodily harm, while remaining within their current duties and certification. Representative Lee asked for review of non-disclosure agreements in public-private partnerships and executive sessions so the public can eventually understand how such agreements were used. Senator Pearson asked for interim consideration of shared custody amendments, saying fit parents should have a fair opportunity for shared parenting after separation. Representative Storer proposed revisiting DUI penalties, especially for refusal of chemical testing, arguing that refusal often prevents prosecution and that the law should impose treatment and license suspension consequences. The committee also heard a request to review statutes involving political parties, and the state court administrator asked for interim study of remote public access to court records, citing ongoing automation efforts, privacy concerns, and funding needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial branch um did not important.
• :42:58.400> repurposed the judicial branch has repurposed the judicial branch has repurposed several
• 14 through 17, there's two judicial 14 through 17, there's two judicial branch<00:44:26.000>
• <00:44:38.160> Those judicial branch projects there.
• Those judicial branch projects there.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to talk about the need for judicial resources.
• And so we needed to devote additional judicial resources.
• to justice across the state regardless of judicial district.
• processes to ensure equal access to justice across the state regardless of a judicial district.
• We have an ununified judicial system.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• ministerial department or division that records documents versus doing any type of adjudicator or judicial
• ministerial department or division that records documents, versus doing any type of adjudicator or judicial
• The answer is to strengthen them by fully funding SHPD, improving review timelines without waiving consent
• The answer is to strengthen them by fully funding SHPD, improving review timelines without waiving consent
• The answer is to strengthen them by fully funding SHPD, improving review timelines without waiving consent

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on February 3, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing a two-minute limit and noting that bills would die if the hearing ran past noon. For HB 1848, the Commission on Water Resource Management and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development both supported the measure with technical, non-substantive amendments. Testimony focused on requiring early consultation about water availability in district boundary amendment petitions, with water officials explaining that the petitioner should submit a written statement reflecting consultation and that the goal was to identify water constraints earlier in the development process. The Land Use Commission’s representative opposed the bill, arguing that water availability is already addressed through existing environmental review and agency consultation, that the issue had been raised and rejected before, and that the proposal could create unnecessary delay or litigation. The committee then heard HB 1728 on rainwater catchment systems. The Commission on Water Resource Management said it acknowledged the bill’s intent but deferred to counties and other regulatory agencies, including the Department of Health, on regulatory implications. Hawaii Realtors testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing shown. For HB 1652 on storm water management systems, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections created by Act 281 (“Sharkey’s Law”) and increase drowning risk for children by exempting certain water features from safety requirements. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii supported the bill, saying the language clarifies and better balances child safety with practical green stormwater infrastructure, including depth-based limits and exemptions for certain agricultural ponds. The Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the agricultural pond exemption, saying such ponds are used for irrigation, livestock, and fire control and are generally away from the public. A private testifier, Allison Schaers, opposed the bill and described her daughter’s drowning in a detention basin, arguing that poor maintenance can turn stormwater features into dangerous hazards. The hearing ended without any recorded committee action or vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the bill clarifies a duty judge requirement enacted in 1935 to reflect that each judicial circuit
• And finally, the bill creates an alternative option for judicial authentication of oaths, affidavits,
• Five, to reflect that each judicial circuit currently, excuse me, to reflect that each judicial circuit
• And finally, the bill creates an alternative option for judicial authentication of oaths, affidavits,
• For judicial authentication of oaths, affidavits, and acknowledgments in circumstances where a court

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard three bills. SB 514, by Senator Harrell, clarified that medical quality review committees used by managing entities are treated like other medical review committees for purposes of civil liability and public records protections. The committee adopted a Harrell amendment removing the word “malpractice” from the title, heard support from the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Association of Managing Entities, and Florida Smart Justice Alliance, and then voted 11-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 734, by Senator Yarborough, which would repeal the current wrongful death exception that bars certain parents and adult children from recovering non-economic damages in medical negligence cases. The bill drew extensive testimony from families describing deaths they said were caused by medical negligence and from supporters including AARP and the Florida Justice Association, while opponents from the health care, insurance, and business sectors argued it would raise malpractice premiums, increase litigation, worsen physician shortages, and reduce access to care. After debate, the committee voted 9-2 to report the bill favorably. Finally, SB 538, by Senator Bradley, was presented as the state courts legislative package. It updates court operations by clarifying duty judge requirements, removing a location limit on duty hearings, repealing a cap on arbitrator compensation in court-ordered non-binding arbitration, and allowing alternative judicial authentication of oaths and acknowledgments when a court seal is unavailable. The bill received supportive waiver forms from the Florida Bar ADR section and several judges, and was reported favorably on an 11-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the 10th Judicial District Attorney. Good afternoon. My name is Heidi Adams.
• I'm the 10th Judicial District Attorney. I proudly serve in Quay, Baca, and Harding Counties.
• You always have a prosecutor who's on call, but there are, you know, large judicial districts.
• My name is Heidi Adams with the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
• I'm the Judicial District Attorney. I stand in strong support of House Bill 60.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this team, and it really is a team helping ensure that we are putting the best and the brightest in judicial
• commission that people are not familiar with and have not heard of, that is truly the backstop for our judicial
• the last two years, we've confirmed 50 judges, including 38 last year alone, two on the Supreme Judicial
• that we put before you to ensure that we have well-respected, well-experienced individuals in our judicial

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint session convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and remarks from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor welcoming members, guests, and the Governor’s Councillors-elect. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the council’s role in reviewing judicial nominees and noted recent confirmations, including 50 judges over the past two years and 38 in the prior year, emphasizing the importance of the council’s work in ensuring qualified and experienced judges for the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth transmitted the certified returns of the November 5, 2024 election for councillors, as required by the Constitution. The councillors-elect were then sworn in, taking oaths to support the Constitutions of Massachusetts and the United States and to faithfully discharge their duties. They were reminded to sign required paperwork before leaving so their service would be official. After the swearing-in, the Sergeant-at-Arms escorted the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, councillors, and guests from the chamber. On motion by the Senator from Brockton, Mr. Brady, the joint convention voted to adjourn, and the motion carried by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• It strengthens our entire judicial system by ensuring it reflects the diversity of the communities it
• well as the deference given to the interpretation of laws and rules by state agencies in certain judicial
• Without judicial deference as a safeguard, a truly independent panel is our next best defense, one that
• the bill is acting in some part of the state agency rulemaking process from rule promulgation to judicial
• This is not a radical idea without judicial deference as a safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• , leased, rented, occupied, or maintained by state agencies, water management districts, and the judicial
• sources, including information submitted by state agencies, water management districts, and the judicial
• leases for state agencies, water management districts, state universities, state colleges, and the judicial
• leases for state agencies, water management districts, state universities, state colleges, and the judicial
• branch. districts, state universities, state colleges, and the judicial branch.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee reviewed several agency rules and objections under Chapter 120. First, the committee revisited prior objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules containing sunset provisions. AHCA’s general counsel said the agency amended 26 of the objected rules but declined to amend five others, arguing sunset provisions are lawful, are not themselves rules, and were consistent with a 2019 gubernatorial directive. Committee members questioned that position, especially for licensing and certificate-of-need rules, and urged the agency to consider legislative changes; no formal action was taken on that item during the discussion. The committee then considered an objection to Department of Management Services Rule 60G-1.001 defining the Governor’s Mansion grounds. Committee staff argued the rule is vague and improperly refers to future land acquisitions without updating the rule since 1998. DMS defended the rule as a general definition tied to publicly recorded property and a master lease, but said it would not object if the Legislature chose to codify the definition in statute. After discussion, the committee voted to file the objection. Members also received informational updates from the Department of Environmental Protection on the Solaris state lands inventory system, and from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on its response to the Tampa Bay Downs unadopted-rule litigation, in which the commission said it has stopped relying on the prior tax interpretation and will not promulgate a rule on that issue. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation said it would remove an unsupported cigar wholesale dealer permit reference, repeal an obsolete excise-tax deduction rule, and amend penalty guidelines and an affirmation in its alcohol, beverage, and tobacco rules. Finally, the Division of Administrative Hearings’ interim director discussed case-processing times, possible changes to ALJ status, and whether the Florida Rules of Evidence should apply in administrative proceedings, emphasizing the need to weigh costs, independence, and impacts on pro se litigants. The chair noted this was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our solution is a $45 million judicial building on land that the county already owns.
• Our solution is a $45 million judicial Our solution is a $45 million judicial building<00:32:19.200
• that there's no sales tax exemption for construction materials for judicial centers.
• construction materials for uh judicial construction materials for uh judicial centers.<00:37:36.720
• like a jail but not for quote a judicial like a jail but not for quote a judicial center.<00:38:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• federal civil immigration enforcement by addressing two federal immigration procedures that are not judicial
• Addressing two federal immigration procedures that are not judicial warrants: civil immigration warrants
• It's important to distinguish that, in contrast to judicial warrants, both civil immigration warrants
• felonies, registered sex offenders, repeat DUI offenders, domestic violence convictions, and valid judicial
• Judges verifying hardship claims and creating new procedures would divert already limited judicial resources

Bills: HJR11, HB59, HB418, HB342, HB408, HB409, HB133, HB134, HB414, HB355

Keywords: HOPE Court, homeless court, housing instability, homelessness, poverty elimination, problem-solving court, community court, diversion program, criminal justice reform, reentry, warrants, fines and fees, low-level offenses, housing access, public safety, recidivism, Delaware Judiciary, DSHA, DHSS, DELJIS

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and heard presentations on several bills. House Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute 1 for House Bill 145 would restrict government use of reverse keyword searches, generally prohibiting reverse keyword court orders and voluntary requests, with a narrow exception for Class A violent felony investigations and rules on notice, deletion, and inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 368, with House Amendment 1, would limit Delaware law enforcement and the Department of Correction’s participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, especially regarding civil immigration warrants and detainers, while preserving exceptions for serious offenses and valid judicial processes; the Department of Correction said it had no operational or fiscal impact and supported the exclusions, and an ACLU-affiliated witness testified in support. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 would allow certain 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in hunting and target practice without direct adult supervision if they have parental permission, hunter education, and a valid Delaware hunting license. House Bill 355, the “Speak Your Truth Act,” would expand anti-SLAPP-style protections for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, and harassment by raising the burden in defamation suits and allowing attorney’s fees and damages; advocates from the National Women’s Defense League and the Speak Your Truth movement supported it. House Bill 134 would increase penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenders and lengthen animal ownership bans. The committee also heard House Bill 133, as amended, which would create a hardship waiver process allowing courts to waive fines and fees for defendants who cannot afford them, while preserving restitution and exempting certain traffic-related penalties and victim compensation assessments. The administration said the bill is intended to address uncollectable debt and noted millions in outstanding fines and fees, while local government and police representatives raised concerns about lost revenue, administrative burden, and consistency; the Fines and Fees Justice Center supported the measure. Committee members asked about how the waiver funding would affect local governments, volunteer fire companies, and related fees, and the administration said the $5 million budgeted this year would cover the waiver costs and be treated as an annual expense going forward. No committee votes were taken during the excerpted discussion, but the chair indicated that bills ready for action would be circulated for signature or moved to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• information regarding the current caseload of assignments to circuit judges in Benton County, 9th West Judicial
• Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
• This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.
• Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
• This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.

Keywords: 1204, all