Video & Transcript : 'sexually violent predator' :

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WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session-Day 10, February 20, 2026-PM

Wyoming House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • amendment is essential for the Game and Fish Commission to maintain authority over its funds for predator
  • There's a joint board that deals with predator management, representatives from two different entities
  • Your JAC added $2.1 million for predator control this year.
  • It needs to actually be involved in this to free up funds for management of those predators.
  • So, um it it is more of a predators.
Keywords: 916, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/30/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ...live with someone who has been sexually assaulted as a child.
  • Sexual assault and sexual abuse have no place in our community.
  • Sexual assault and sexual abuse have no place in our communities. None. Zero. It's a game stopper.
  • And I think that sexual assault should not be tolerated. Thank you.
  • If you commit a sexual assault on anyone, you should be punished.
Keywords: 1182, all
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 12th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think it's number 516, House Bill 516, K through 12 instruction on sexual orientation.
  • I've just noticed reading the bill that it doesn't... ...say human sexuality.
  • It talks about terminology and definitions related to sexual orientation.
  • It lists the words sexual attraction, sexual orientation, or any form of sexual identity, gender identity
  • Orientation or any form of sexual identity, gender identity, gender ideology, gender conversion.
Committee: House Education
Summary: The committee first considered RS 33-117, a proposal from Rep. Levitt to give charter school enrollment priority to children of school founders, siblings, foster children, and then active-duty Title 10 military families. Members moved to introduce the bill, and the committee approved introduction by voice vote. The next item was House Bill 599 on digital curriculum funding. Rep. Raymond said the bill would change the program from first-come, first-served grants capped at $50,000 per district to a needs-based process administered by the State Department of Education. Superintendent Critchfield described a scoring rubric focused on underserved and rural districts, alignment with reading/math/college-and-career goals, implementation and evaluation plans, prior funding history, and sustainability. Some members questioned how “need” would be defined and worried the criteria were too discretionary. A motion to send the bill to the floor was replaced by a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee until a date certain, and the committee agreed to hold HB 599 until the 19th. The committee then heard House Bill 516, a cleanup bill related to last year’s law restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Rep. Hawkins and a lobbyist supporting the bill said the measure would remove leftover language from the earlier version and clarify that the K-12 restriction was intended to be broad. Opponents, including Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, argued the bill would erase age-appropriate discussion of LGBTQ topics and create vague censorship concerns. Idaho Family Policy Center supported the bill, saying schools were not complying with the prior law. Members raised questions about possible effects on CTE and health-related courses, parental opt-in rules, and legal conflicts with existing code. After testimony and discussion, the committee voted to send HB 516 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.
NE

Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services Committee - Room 1510 Jun 30th, 2026

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Youth Who Sexually Harm Program serves adolescent males who have engaged in sexually harmful behaviors
  • The program consists of with substance use disorders and youth who sexually harm.
  • One is obviously for youth who sexually harm.
  • A youth who might be in a program for sexual harm, for example, might have very different needs than
  • For the youth who sexually harm program, it's around 6 to 12 months. Okay.
Keywords: 956, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/13/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • sexual harassment and violence that harms our community.
  • and nearly one in four men have experienced sexual violence.
  • sexual harassment and violence that harms our community.
  • and nearly one in four men have experienced sexual violence.
  • April as Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month.
Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. May Modi. A series of personal privilege introductions followed, including the Chief of Security, members of the Junior League of Phoenix, several Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year candidates, and a student guest. Members also read a proclamation honoring the Junior League of Phoenix for civic engagement and volunteer service. The chamber then handled several procedural matters, including a motion to not concur in Senate amendments to HB 2010 and appoint a conference committee. The House moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted recommendations on a number of Senate bills. On the first calendar, SB 1009, SB 1046, SB 1143, SB 1221 as amended, and SB 1613 were advanced, with SB 1221 receiving an Olson floor amendment. On the second calendar, SB 1013, SB 1338, SB 1540 as amended, and later SB 1121 as amended, SB 1318, SB 1549, and SB 1786 as amended were all reported do pass, while SB 1270, SB 1400, and SB 1582 were retained on the calendar. Several bills drew debate. SB 1013 prompted discussion over merit-based hiring and whether the bill’s exclusions of sexual orientation and gender identity were appropriate. SB 1540 drew criticism as special legislation favoring the fuel industry, while supporters said it was a fairer approach to theft penalties. SB 1121 was described as a bipartisan health-care worker safety measure addressing radiation exposure, though opponents called it a vendor-driven mandate. SB 1318 was presented as a cleanup bill to align breast cancer notification language with federal standards, and SB 1786 received a technical amendment. The House also passed SB 1113, SB 1193, SB 1448, and SB 1503 on third reading, with SB 1503 receiving the required three-quarters vote and emergency clause. The House appointed a conference committee on HB 2003, and adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/30/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Was sexually assaulted and abused by a monster when she was a child.
  • Sexual assault and sexual abuse have no place in our community...
  • Sexual assault and sexual abuse have no place in our communities. None. Zero. It's a game stopper.
  • And I think that sexual assault should not be tolerated. Thank you.
  • If you commit a sexual assault on anyone, you should be punished.
Summary: The House convened, took attendance, approved the prior journal, and recognized a number of guests and proclamations, including a proclamation supporting freedom, life, and liberty for the people of Iran. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several Senate bills. SB 1166 and SB 1252 were reported do pass without controversy. SB 1184 drew debate over a floor amendment that would have added the pride flag to the list of flags HOAs and condo associations could not prohibit; the amendment was rejected on a 21-32 division vote, and the bill was then reported do pass. The House also entered an additional Committee of the Whole to amend SB 1092, adopted a floor amendment setting an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027, and reported the bill do pass as amended. On third reading, SB 1020, a special license plate bill benefiting the Arizona Space Commission and related space education efforts, passed 35-21 with several members explaining votes in support of space industry development and in opposition because a proposed community college scholarship plate was not included. SB 1247, an emergency measure relating to health care institutions, passed 55-1 and cleared the two-thirds threshold for its emergency clause. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to HB 2307, then later passed HB 2307 unanimously as an emergency measure relating to dangerous and incompetent defendants. The chamber also considered a bill repealing Cesar Chavez Day and replacing it with a different observance tied to the farm worker movement. Members on both sides spoke at length about sexual abuse allegations involving Cesar Chavez, the importance of standing with survivors, and the need to honor farm workers and the broader movement rather than one individual. The bill ultimately passed 48-8 with the two-thirds emergency requirement. The House then received announcements, including caucus and committee meeting notices, a remembrance of Christian Petillo, and a congratulatory note for the University of Arizona men’s basketball team, before adjourning until March 31, 2026.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Transcript Highlights:
  • principle eight, I am proposed— All right, in principle eight, I am proposing deleting the word 'violent
  • Questions or comments on deleting the word 'violent'? I see none. Sorry, did I need a comment? Yes.
  • simple and maintain parallel structure with section seven, I think it's just the deletion of the word 'violent
  • The motion is to eliminate the word 'violent' from this.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year. Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved. Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary A May 12th, 2026

Judiciary A

Transcript Highlights:
  • hate crimes and engaged in human trafficking more difficult and allow for the potential for some violent
  • and it sort of talks about all the things that you should do to sort of separate yourself from a violent
  • Certainly, we are not against a security guard using lethal force in the event that something violent
  • ... ...against a security guard using lethal force in the event that something violent is about to happen
Committee: Senate Judiciary A
Summary: The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably. Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure. The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary A May 12th, 2026

Judiciary A

Transcript Highlights:
  • hate crimes and engaged in human trafficking more difficult and allow for the potential for some violent
  • and it sort of talks about all the things that you should do to sort of separate yourself from a violent
  • Certainly, we are not against a security guard using lethal force in the event that something violent
  • ... ...against a security guard using lethal force in the event that something violent is about to happen
Committee: Senate Judiciary A
Keywords: 974, senate, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Crime and Public Safety Feb 17th, 2026

Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • In times of crisis, whether it be civil unrest, natural disasters, or violent crime, there must be no
  • She is working drugs and violent crime, and I mean the violent of violent crime, and they refuse to back
Keywords: 959, house, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • to rid communities of murderous threats to families, making sure killers, gang members, and other violent
  • MAKING SURE KILLERS, GANG MEMBERS AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMINALS ARE DEPORTED, THE PRESIDENT IS RAMPING
  • African Americans who had been freed from slavery Were pushed back into an ugly version, an ugly, violent
  • And what they found was an America that was still deeply violent, deeply racial.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session May 20th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • person with threats to coerce others, or... ...or detaining a person with threats to coerce others, or violent
  • These are extreme, violent. This is about coercion that would be criminal under U.S. law.
  • hosting individuals who are here on temporary visas if they're advocating or promoting those types of violent
  • acts. ...if they're advocating or promoting those types of violent acts.
Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Human Services Committee Jun 30th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • does not clearly communicate whether a resident was physically assaulted, financially exploited, sexually
  • Find a way to allow that child to have some dignity in this process as they are removed from maybe a violent
Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Human Services Committee Jun 30th, 2026

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • does not clearly communicate whether a resident was physically assaulted, financially exploited, sexually
  • Find a way to allow that child to have some dignity in this process as they are removed from maybe a violent
Keywords: 988, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Mar 16th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're in violent agreement on that for sure. I'm sure you are.
  • do, of these foster parents making these kids essentially slaves—either house-cleaning slaves or sexual
Keywords: 965, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • violence years ago, but there was a clear and direct connection between the Muslim Brotherhood and violent
  • Every day on buses to and from school, I was subjected to the most shockingly vile, obscene sexual harassment
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 12th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think it's number 516: House Bill 516, K through 12 instruction on sexual orientation.
  • Gender ideology and sexual orientation are philosophies and ideas about these things.
  • I've just noticed reading the bill that it doesn't... ...say human sexuality.
  • It talks about terminology and definitions related to sexual orientation.
  • It lists the words sexual attraction, sexual orientation, or any form of sexual identity, gender identity
Committee: House Education
Keywords: 989, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26 - Part 1

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • and viable investigative leads for local, state, and federal law enforcement as they investigate violent
  • /c><00:18:08.320><c> for</c> I'd like to encourage the committee to avoid obscuring the fact that violent
  • Minnesota already has extensive criminal laws addressing violent offenses, illegal firearm possession
  • criminal Minnesota already has extensive criminal laws<00:21:00.000><c> addressing</c><00:21:00.400><c> violent
  • </c><00:21:00.720><c> offenses,</c> laws addressing violent offenses, laws addressing violent offenses
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-05 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They defined the actions as violently politically motivated attempts to disrupt a constitutional process
  • They define the actions as such violently political, motivated to attempt to disrupt a constitutional
  • The definition of terrorism in Florida statute says that it involves a violent act or an act dangerous
  • And so I don't, if a protest is not violent, you don't meet the criteria.
  • If a protest is not violent, you don't meet the criteria of the definition of terrorism.
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions before moving into a long special-order calendar. The chamber first considered two claims bills: SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents, and SB 26/HB 6509 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence. Both bills were substituted with their House companions and passed overwhelmingly. Members then approved several policy bills focused on child welfare, education, and professional regulation. CS/CS/SB 42/HB 47 required child protective investigators to consider certain medical diagnoses before proceeding in abuse cases; CS/SB 206/HB 851 expanded autism-related training and incentives for teacher preparation programs; SB 556/HB 453 allowed Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements for students with disabilities and clarified marching band credit; SB 688 reestablished licensure and regulation for naturopathic doctors; SB 878/HB 1347 addressed clinical laboratory personnel shortages by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards; and SB 914/HB 867 clarified that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling. Each of these measures passed, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The chamber also approved bills on court administration, public records, financial disclosure, and child welfare. SB 326/HB 131 modernized rules for curators of estates; SB 758/HB 625 updated the composition of the Justice Administrative Commission, with an amendment broadening the judicial member to a judge or senior judge; SB 830 created a public records exemption for certain local government executives and their families; SB 964/HB 6011 revised how gifts and honoraria are reported and, via amendment, restored a percentage-based reporting option for financial disclosures; and SB 1002 clarified that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow courts to order assessment and services. These bills all passed, with SB 830 drawing the most opposition among them. The most contentious debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a framework for very large planned communities with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a new growth-management tool and economic opportunity, while opponents warned it was too broad, lacked specificity, weakened local control, and could be exploited by large developers. After extensive debate and an amendment limiting data centers in commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 1632/HB 1471 on foreign law and domestic terrorist designations after a lengthy and divisive amendment debate over references to Sharia law, and SB 21/HB 218 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, which preserves SB 180 restrictions in storm-affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties.
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Apr 1st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Interest of minors of a very young child with no concept of sexuality.
  • And at the time, many people were concerned that completely benign books, you know, Sexuality.
  • If it's sexually explicit, we're not even going to look at harmful to minors.
  • If it's sexually explicit, we're not even going to look at harmful to minors.
  • If it's sexually explicit, we're not even going to look at harmful of the minors.
Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 1448, described by the sponsor and Deputy Attorney General Phil Skinner as a cleanup bill responding to a Ninth Circuit ruling in ongoing litigation over Idaho’s library law. Skinner said the bill removes language the court flagged as potentially unconstitutional, including a phrase that added subjective factors to the obscenity analysis, and adds an “adolescent minor” definition to align the statute more closely with Supreme Court obscenity precedent. He emphasized that the bill was intended to preserve the existing standard and penalties while helping moot the lawsuit and avoid further litigation costs and possible attorney fees. Several members raised concerns that the bill still left in place provisions defining “sexual conduct” in ways that could sweep in benign material, especially references to homosexuality, and questioned whether the bill truly fixed the constitutional problems. Representative Handy asked about the cost of the litigation and whether repealing the law would be an option; Skinner said the goal was to save the state money by resolving the case and that repeal would be a policy choice for lawmakers. Jenny Emery Davidson testified against the bill, arguing that the process was rushed, public access was limited, the new minor definition was problematic, and the better course would be to repeal the underlying law rather than amend it. Members also questioned the bill’s late arrival and legislative path. Chairman Scott explained that the bill had moved quickly through the Senate and that posting was limited because the bill number was not yet available. Skinner added that an earlier, similar House bill had not advanced and that this measure was a narrower attempt to address only the court-identified issues. After a motion to send S-1448 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, the committee voted, with at least one member requesting to be recorded as a no. In closing remarks, some members reflected on the cost and frequency of court-driven legislation and the challenges of passing bills that later require fixes.