Transcript Highlights:

• One case.
• in one case and another case with a charge.
• , if after we apply all of these canons and we say, well, if we have a criminal case, it's not going
• to be a criminal case.
• There is public interest in these cases, but our focus should be on the failures that allow these criminals

Transcript Highlights:

• That is how bail is established throughout a criminal case, including at the initial bail setting.
• That is how bail is established throughout a criminal case, including at the initial bail setting.
• That is how bail is established throughout a criminal case, including at the initial bail setting.
• The penalties in Immigration Court are as serious as those in criminal cases.
• criminal cases um you can um be separated<01:05:09.599> from<01:05:09.799> your<01:05:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 114, which would create a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election. The Office of Elections said the bill would cost about $4.1 million. Supporters, including the Hawaii Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, favored moving the process to a state-run primary, while several opponents, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and multiple individual testifiers, argued it would be too expensive, would shift control away from the parties, and would replace volunteer-run caucuses with a mail-in system. Committee members questioned the chief election officer about election timing, certification, and how a primary might be scheduled with other elections. Testimony was recorded as 11 in support, 41 opposed, and 3 comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 725, which would require judges to make findings about a defendant’s ability to afford bail. Judiciary and Attorney General witnesses asked that the bill be deferred or amended, saying the Judicial Council is already reviewing pretrial bail reform and that the bill’s language could create practical problems for police, sheriffs, and courts. Supporters, including the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the public defender, the Community Alliance on Prisons, the ACLU of Hawaii, and disability rights advocates, said cash bail disproportionately harms low-income defendants, increases pretrial detention costs, and should require clearer findings and records. Opponents included the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney. Members questioned how bail is initially set, what records exist, and whether the bill would change current practice; Judiciary witnesses said initial bail decisions are often made by police or judges and later reviewed on the record, while supporters argued the bill would strengthen front-end due process. The ACLU said it supported the bill with amendments, including clearer standards for ability to pay and written findings. The committee also began hearing SB 733, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a continuous legislative session. Early testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates arguing that the current 60-day session limits public participation, makes it hard for working people to testify, and prevents lawmakers from collaborating effectively. Supporters said a year-round model could improve transparency, reduce duplicate bills, and better accommodate neighbor island legislators. The excerpt ends during the opening testimony on SB 733, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no guarantee that you're going to get closure through the criminal justice process.
• <00:05:09.840> justice criminal justice criminal justice process. process. process.
• I recognize a member from Nicollet, Representative Schwarz. criminal justice system and people not criminal
• We will still go after the criminals who commit harm. Prosecutors will prosecute.
• the criminals who commit harm. the criminals who commit harm.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We take these cases very important, very seriously.
• But like with every other criminal case, I realize this criminal case is unique.
• And it's not like every other. criminal case, but we defer to the district attorney whether we release
• cases impacting their military radar.
• They're not going to prosecute local clock switch cases.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But that’s not always the case.
• Five, restrictions on ownership for criminals.
• Five, restrictions on ownership for criminals.
• If there is no notice, this dog will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
• In this particular case, Pam was a mail carrier.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 1272 on guardianship, which would limit a guardian’s ability to isolate an adult ward from family and require notice of major events such as a ward’s death or relocation to a more restrictive setting. Senator Jones and supportive speakers said the bill was intended to protect wards from abuse and isolation by bad actors, while still preserving good-faith guardianship. With no opposition testimony or debate, the committee voted 8-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then considered CS for Senate Bill 1284, which would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow civil claims for the death of an unborn child. An amendment was adopted to define “unborn child” as a member of the species Homo sapiens carried in the womb and to state that the act does not authorize claims against the mother or against health care providers acting within the lawful standard of care. The bill drew extensive debate and testimony. Supporters argued it would give parents parity and fuller damages, including economic losses and mental anguish, when negligence causes the death of an unborn child. Opponents, including the ACLU, medical professionals, and reproductive rights advocates, warned it could be used to target abortion care, increase malpractice exposure, worsen physician shortages, and create speculative damages. The committee approved the bill 6-4. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 1288 on parental rights, with a strike-all amendment that would strengthen parental control over minors’ medical decisions, surveys, and biofeedback devices, while adding exceptions for emergencies, court orders, certain legal statuses, and situations involving abuse or out-of-home placement. Supporters said the measure restores parents as primary decision-makers and protects children from inappropriate questioning or treatment without consent. Opponents argued it could block minors from confidential care for STIs, mental health, or abuse-related issues, and could chill school and medical screenings. The transcript ends during testimony and debate on this bill, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Case for go ahead.
• He off of cases like this.
• Criminal charges.
• Article 5 Section 15 in the case. Law of the U.S. Constitution. Article 5 Section 15 in the case.
• in Case B and therefore our the citizen members different from case to case or are you appointed to

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I work for the elected official, Brett Ligon, who is board-certified in criminal law and is the chief
• And the third reason is a case I have currently pending involving someone named Mrs. B.
• It also adds a penalty enhancement to the next higher category of offense if the criminal knew or had
• Much of that criminal activity is related to malware. Criminals are gaining access to checks.
• Does not hold perpetrators criminally responsible for their actions in these cases.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What you got in case somebody else shows up? I think it's hard.
• So they have to... it has to be a pending court case in order to be able to issue us. case in order to
• But at this point, is there an open court case? Okay, at this point it could not be. It...
• There's sexual abuse of criminal investigation.
• And if that's the case, we take that out. You got a lot of changes to make in a substitute. Okay.

Bills: HB493

Keywords: child advocacy centers, certification, funding allocation, Alabama Network, forensic evaluation, children's welfare, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:12.079> history three, we talk about criminal history three, we talk about criminal
• trafficking cases here in New Hampshire. trafficking cases here in New Hampshire.
• So, typically we do it on a case-by<01:37:38.239> case<01:37:38.480> basis.
• case basis.
• If we see trends, case-by case basis.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the case?
• And now the criminal case is just getting ramped up.
• Um, TIDC works to improve public defense in adult criminal cases, juvenile justice cases, and more, more
• cases.
• Procedure, which is drafted for attorneys who take criminal defense cases.

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• Felony cases and case processing time is significantly longer than misdemeanors.
• is between $650 and $700 per case.
• We are still looking for attorneys for cases with notices of appeal filed as far back as June in criminal
• cases.
• August for child welfare cases, and October for juvenile delinquency cases.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me be clear, this bill is not about making criminals out of anyone.
• I'm a criminal defense lawyer. The problem is you're going to criminalize kids for truancy.
• criminal, their juvenile criminal records to Established, for lack of a better word, that they've been
• It doesn't go in your criminal record.
• And that's exactly what they do in criminal court.

Transcript Highlights:

• cases.
• just violation-level cases, and not just cases under RSA 265, which is the motor vehicle code.
• cases.
• Supreme Court case.' Representative Sher gave an example of a U.S. Supreme Court case.
• We don't discuss ongoing cases.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a case number the case Judiciary so with a case number the case number<01:06:35.000> has<01:06
• court case there's no court case court case there's no court case associated<01:06:51.839> with
• requesting case number and court case requesting case number and court case number<01:07:14.720>
• case number and court case case number and court case number number number um<01:14:19.199> I
• case.

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:

• the required disclosures of certain political advertising that contains altered media, creating a criminal
• Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, HB 503 by Tepper relating to the eligibility of certain counties
• I refer to the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, HB 508 by Moran.
• on Criminal Jurisprudence, HB 579.
• penalty, refer to the Committee on Criminal Justice.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• really stressful on the parties in cases really stressful on the parties in cases um<00:30:07.279
• make decisions certainly in the criminal make decisions certainly in the criminal context<00:32:
• are willing to do these kinds of cases are willing to do these kinds of cases court<00:48:58.559
• Judge Johnson's chambers has called me on the same case weeks apart, begging me to take these cases,
• and criminal proceedings.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way this bill is written, it provides liberty for criminals.
• What we had before was liberty for criminals; what we have now is more liberty for criminals.
• This bill is written, it provides liberty for criminals.
• What we had before was liberty for criminals; what we have now is more liberty for criminals.
• <01:17:17.560> conduct charged with additional criminal conduct charged with additional criminal

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• justice agencies to provide criminal history records information to requesting agencies when they are
• This reimbursement is paid by the federal government to the criminal justice agency.
• justice agencies to provide criminal justice agencies to provide criminal<00:04:54.400> history
• records information to criminal history records information to requesting<00:04:57.440> agencies<
• <00:05:16.759> records related to the criminal records related to the criminal records information

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then heard an announcement inviting members to the Kentucky National Guard’s annual legislator briefing and rotary-wing flight over Frankfort on March 10, with a Friday deadline to RSVP. After roll call, the committee took up House Bill 340, sponsored by Representative Tony Hampton, with testimony from Hampton and representatives of the Kentucky sheriffs and law enforcement community. HB 340 would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 requiring criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records information to requesting federal agencies conducting suitability or fitness assessments for federal or contractor employees under 5 U.S.C. 9101. The bill also allows a $25 fee to reimburse agencies for the cost of providing the records and makes a conforming change to juvenile justice records law. Supporters said the measure is needed to bring Kentucky into compliance with federal law, noting the state had been out of compliance and could risk federal funding; they also said sheriffs’ offices need statutory authority to charge the fee. Members asked about whether the bill covers all background checks, sealed or expunged records, and juvenile records. Testimony explained that the bill applies to federal security-related background checks, that federal law requires access to sealed or expunged records, and that juvenile information would remain in-house but could be relevant when applicants disclose past conduct. One example was given involving a juvenile firearms-related offense discovered during a federal suitability review. The committee then voted on the bill, and House Bill 340 passed with favorable expression, with the chair announcing it should do the same in the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the criminal defendant in a case.
• <00:31:20.480> or<00:31:20.720> the<00:31:20.880> criminal victims in a case
• or the criminal victims in a case or the criminal defendant<00:31:21.559> in<00:31:21.679>
• And so you have to weigh the balances there, and each case is going to be a case-by-case basis and a
• going to be a case-by case basis and a going to be a case-by case basis and a fact<01:58:12.679>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was just really on a case-by-case basis where the family was not a good option for the kid to
• Because these are not all criminals. And the large percent is not criminal.
• So again, in this particular case, this child had a lengthy criminal history, a lengthy violent criminal
• I'm going to beat that case.
• Often that is the case, yes.