Transcript Highlights:

• Not 29, not 28, not 31, 33 sheriffs. 33 sheriffs in the state of New Mexico voted to endorse this bill
• I know my county sheriff supports this bill.
• I know my county sheriff supports this bill.
• Every single one of your sheriffs, every lawmaker in this room, your sheriff, constitutionally elected
• And my sheriff is Shane Ferrari.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I think also, Department and go to the sheriff for services.
• So computer systems, it gets technical, and technically the bailiffs, who are sheriffs, the sheriffs
• We did not include the sheriff in our math.
• most contentious one, maybe once every six or seven years, is the sheriff.
• We have a great working relationship with our sheriff.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes heard first from city representatives through the Florida League of Cities, who argued that property taxes are a stable local revenue source that funds core services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and stormwater work. Casey Cook emphasized that cities are optional governments with widely different tax bases and service levels, that exemptions shift the burden to fewer taxpayers, and that transparency already exists through TRIM notices, public budgets, and local hearings. Sarah Campbell of Fernandina Beach, T. Michael Stavris of Winter Haven, and Stephen O’Kee of Port St. Lucie described their budget processes, the share of general-fund revenue coming from property taxes, reserve policies, debt and capital planning, and the impact of inflation, minimum wage increases, and personnel costs. They all said local governments need predictable revenue and that any property tax changes would require careful consideration of replacement funding or service reductions. Members questioned the city panel about whether homebuyers are clearly informed about city versus county taxes and services, the role of HOAs, how many lobbyists cities employ, reserve levels, average salaries, and whether utility revenues are used only for utility purposes. The panel said TRIM notices, realtor listings, and city websites provide tax information; HOAs generally do not provide emergency services; lobbyists help local governments track Tallahassee legislation; reserves vary by city and fund; and utility revenues are generally restricted, though some cities use limited transfers. Members also asked about revenue replacement if ad valorem taxes were reduced or eliminated, and the panel said options would likely include user fees, service cuts, or other local revenue shifts. The chair also asked about public safety consolidation, and the response was that such decisions are local and may shift costs rather than create true savings. The committee then heard from county representatives after an overview by the Florida Association of Counties’ Davin Suggs, who framed counties as shared partners with the state and emphasized the gap between rising market values and the shrinking share of taxable value after exemptions and assessment limits. He said counties face a mismatch between revenue based on taxable value and expenses driven by real-world costs, and noted that most counties either held millage steady or lowered it without reaching rollback rates. He also highlighted that property taxes are only one part of county revenue, with charges for services and intergovernmental revenue often larger in some counties, and that public safety at the county level includes more than law enforcement, such as EMS, emergency management, inspections, and corrections. Deborah Manzo of Okeechobee County described a fiscally constrained rural county with limited staff, a county-supported airport, heavy reliance on property taxes for the general fund, and major cost pressures from inflation, insurance, retirement, and state and federal mandates. She said the county lowered millage slightly over recent years but still depends on multiple revenue sources and special assessments, and she flagged Medicaid, medical examiner costs, and possible firefighter workweek changes as significant concerns. Bay County Administrator Mark McQueen said his county’s budget is shaped by Hurricane Michael recovery, non-discretionary obligations, and rapid growth; he described ongoing FEMA reimbursement delays, substantial borrowing to cover disaster costs, and continuing interest expenses while the county waits for reimbursement. The county panel was still in progress when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:11.240> association I know that the sheriffs association I know that the sheriffs association
• just for the record, what the sheriffs just for the record, what the sheriffs association<00:09:
• There's a reason that the sheriffs has expressed concern and all the other concerns.
• There's a reason that the sheriffs has expressed concern and all the other concerns.
• There's a reason that the sheriffs has expressed concern and all the other concerns.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a seven-member council: four sheriffs, three police chiefs, and the head of the FDLE.
• And, by the way, the sheriffs today did come out and support this particular plan.
• .credibility in our local sheriffs, our local law enforcement officers, our sheriffs are not the issue
• Senators, yesterday we heard from Sheriff Galtieri and others about 287(g) programs.
• All of our sheriffs deserve our thanks.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not, remember, we have sheriffs that might be 30 and we have sheriffs that might be 70.
• They do not, remember, we have sheriffs that might be 30 and we have sheriffs that might be 70.
• > might<00:41:56.160> be 30 and we have sheriffs that might be 30 and we have sheriffs
• Every sheriff in this get physical.
• <00:42:40.079> elected sheriffs in this state elected sheriffs in this state elected positions

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current sheriff-coroner model, utilized by choice by a vast majority of California counties—48 of
• Legislative attempts to separate sheriff and coroner offices have been routinely defeated and or vetoed
• So no matter how many, you know, two different people, the coroner... ...the sheriff and coroner to be
• So having separating two individuals with different titles, one a sheriff and one a coroner, I don't
• And all of us here are aware of the influence that county sheriffs can have on county politics.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a long series of housing, land use, infrastructure, and local governance bills, beginning without a quorum and briefly operating as a subcommittee until members arrived. SB 1003 by Senator Grayson would create an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infill housing infrastructure; it drew support from housing advocates and senior housing groups, while Senator Seyarto questioned whether the state would actually fund another program. The bill passed 3-1 and remained on call. The committee then adopted a consent calendar containing SB 1169, SB 1086, SB 1126, and SB 1439 through SB 1442. SB 1014, also by Senator Grayson, would require local jurisdictions to provide early estimates of on-site and off-site improvements and limit later surprise requirements; supporters said it would reduce costly late-stage changes, while the City of San Mateo and county/city groups raised concerns about estimates being too speculative at the preliminary application stage. It passed 4-2 and remained on call. SB 1036, another Grayson bill, would require credit for prior site uses under the Mitigation Fee Act for redevelopment projects; it had broad support and passed unanimously. SB 1145 would streamline CEQA and surplus land procedures for the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project; supporters emphasized the long-planned 10,000-home transit-oriented redevelopment and labor agreements, while housing legal groups sought stronger affordability enforcement. The bill passed 6-0. The committee also heard SB 908 by Senator Wiener, which would streamline permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements and limit local and HOA design restrictions; supporters framed it as a way to lower energy bills and help affordable housing providers, while local government groups warned about overbroad state preemption and possible litigation exposure. It passed 3-1 and remained on call. SB 1172 by Senator Hurtado would place guardrails on tax-sharing consultant agreements, with the City of Shafter and League of California Cities supporting the measure as a taxpayer protection; it passed 4-0 and remained on call. SB 1379 by Senator Cervantes would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner and create an independent medical examiner in response to high in-custody death rates; supporters cited transparency and public trust, while the sheriff’s association and county representatives argued it would override local control and increase costs. The bill passed 4-1 and remained on call. SB 1283 by Senator Ashby would expand ministerial approval for EV charging stations to include canopies and on-site energy storage; supporters said it would modernize permitting and help fill charging gaps, while cities and counties raised safety, liability, and local review concerns. It passed 4-0 and remained on call. Later, SB 1414 by Senator Reyes proposed an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County. Supporters from Common Cause and the League of Women Voters said it would improve transparency and remove conflicts of interest from supervisorial map-drawing, while the county opposed the bill, citing its existing advisory commission and an estimated $2 million implementation cost. Senators Ashby and Arreguín voiced support for independent redistricting, and the committee continued discussion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:20:37.159> in sheriffs in sheriffs in America<01:20:39.199> we<01:20:40.000> too
• If the sheriff is accompanying, for example, the FBI on an interdiction of some type, the sheriff can
• the United States where local sheriffs the United States where local sheriffs did<01:24:16.199><
• Does the bill say the sheriff or his designee, or just the sheriff?
• law you know what it says about sheriffs law you know what it says about sheriffs U<01:34:37.199

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...about the chief of police, the sheriff, the mayor.
• , or you know... ...the chief or the sheriff, or, you know, the state government agency head.
• Right, so we're saying the police chiefs and the sheriffs are going to be... ...Chiefs and the sheriffs
• Um, so we need to... the sheriffs are responsible.
• The sheriff called the chief, who was sitting there with two of his… the chief is sitting there with

Bills: HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36, HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36

Keywords: law enforcement, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, education, property acquisition, municipality, land use, annexation, competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• CHAIR, THIS AMENDMENT CAPS THE GUARDIAN TRAINING FEES OF THE COST TO THE SHERIFF AND REPLACES THE REQUIREMENT
• OF DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT AND ALSO MATT DUNNIGAN FROM THE FLORIDA SHERIFFS
• UNDER MATT DUNNIGAN IS HERE TO REPRESENT, SHERIFF GAULTIERI HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND I WANT TO THANK THE
• TO THE HEART OF YOUR QUESTION I WOULD SAY AND ACTUALLY CHAIR PIZZO WAS REFERENCING IF THE DEPUTY SHERIFF
• WHO IS OBVIOUSLY EXEMPT AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF, BUT IF HIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE POST PARKLAND PEOPLE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason I asked is because I have two of my sheriffs in my county.
• And I would like to acknowledge our sheriffs. We have some good sheriffs back there in the back.
• Again, that continuity of care that exists with the probate judge and the sheriff being a part of that
• There's nothing that prohibits us from putting a probate judge or a sheriff on the board.
• here is... is really interesting here, or as a positive, is that if you have a situation where the sheriff

Bills: HB162, HB376, HB425, SB96, HB426

Keywords: homelessness, homeless individuals, unsheltered, transient, shelter, encampment, street outreach, relocation, displacement, law enforcement, municipal government, county government, local government, interjurisdictional transport, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalties, public safety, social services, Alabama Code 15-20A-4, environmental regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the legislation was brought by Sheriff Weyborn, the county sheriff in Tarrant County.
• This one is recommended from Sheriff Weyborn in Tarrant County.
• The chair calls Sheriff Brian Hawthorne. Thanks for coming down. Good morning, Sheriff.
• I'm the Sheriff of Chambers County, just east of Houston.
• Now, Sheriff Roy Boyd was going to come and testify today.

Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• In March, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 600,000 voted ballots from last year's
• For instance, for evidentiary purposes, the ballots seized by Sheriff Bianco are spoiled forever.
• This is particularly important because of incidents like Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of ballots in
• Existing law requires the sheriff to investigate public offenses which have been committed.
• Sheriffs are not election administrators.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• change, including separating the Office of Sheriff and Coroner.
• The sheriff does not do the autopsies. The sheriff does not determine who it is.
• The sheriff does not do the autopsies.
• The sheriff is not a doctor.
• In fact, I think Sheriff Bianco has called himself a, quote, constitutional sheriff.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.

Transcript Highlights:

• into the register goes to the hands of the worker or goes to the sheriff to give to the worker.
• So if you go down to the sheriff's office, you have to hire the sheriff and you pay the sheriff time
• And then you can make the employer pay that time and a half that the sheriff spent. Good luck.
• That the sheriff spent. Good luck.
• Like the partnership with the sheriff, right?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for those exempted positions, again looking at fiscal year 2025, um, for the sheriff appointments
• So, for those exempted positions, again looking at fiscal year 2025, um, for the sheriff appointments
• So, for those exempted positions, again looking at fiscal year 2025, um, for the sheriff appointments
• So, for those exempted positions, again looking at fiscal year 2025, um, for the sheriff appointments
• So, for those exempted positions, again looking at fiscal year 2025, um, for the sheriff appointments

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:54 Pension System Update 00:03:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date. A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs. Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be able to pay for an attorney that would give him advice for his duties as sheriff.
• Actually, this will be coming out of the budget for the sheriff for the city of St. Louis.
• Coming out of the budget for the sheriff for the city of St. Louis.
• Louis sheriff's office. coming out of the budget for the sheriff for the city of St. Louis.
• The attorney for the sheriff was part of her request.

Summary: The committee first called the roll and established a quorum with nine members present and seven absent. It then moved into executive session and took up House Committee Resolution 29, which was approved do pass by a 9-0 vote. Next, House Bill 2414 was considered and also approved do pass, by a vote of 6 ayes and 3 noes. The committee then took up Senate Bill 945, beginning with a House Committee Substitute ending in 0.04C that included cleanup language and a fee-related change. Two amendments were offered and adopted: Amendment No. 1 ending in 0.02H, which revised language related to the City of St. Louis sheriff’s office attorney funding, and Amendment No. 2 ending in 0.03H, which authorized treatment court administrator provisions and reimbursement language for circuits with treatment court divisions. After rolling the amendments into a new substitute, the committee voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 945 do pass by a vote of 9 ayes and 1 no. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• First I'd like to welcome Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lima.
• The Sheriff also serves as a member of the Victoria's Voice Foundation.
• Thank you for being here, Sheriff Lima.
• And Sheriff Lemma, back to you. Just one final question.
• In fact, Sheriff Lima is a leader in our state.

Keywords: opioid crisis, overdose, naloxone, drug trafficking, law enforcement, treatment, prevention, older adults, Medicaid expansion

Summary: The meeting convened to address the dire opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide, with a particular focus on the alarming rise of opioid use disorder among older adults. Key testimonies highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, treatment, and strict law enforcement actions against drug traffickers. Sheriff Dennis Lima from Seminole County outlined successful strategies implemented in Florida, including increased access to naloxone and legislative changes to hold drug dealers accountable for overdoses. Various members expressed a united front on tackling this multifaceted issue, advocating for the expansion of Medicaid and better access to treatment as essential steps to curbing the epidemic.

Transcript Highlights:

• I personally have had a deputy sheriff that is still... had a deputy sheriff that is still nine years
• I think it's just, and let me be clear about something: there's no sheriff, there's no police chief,
• Just like Sheriff M said, everyone believes that that's what this is doing.
• represent is Sheriff Paul Bur from Mobile County, who’s in the audience.
• Sheriff Bur has reached out to me about...

Bills: SB156, SB134, SB108, SB47, SB88, SB89, SB106, SB18, SB9, HB38, HB54

Keywords: habitual felony offender, resentencing, Alabama Department of Corrections, victim notification, criminal justice reform, life sentences, parole eligibility, pardon, parole, law enforcement, GPS monitoring, data sharing, mail theft, stolen mail, criminal penalties, personally identifying information, felony, misdemeanor, expungement, criminal records

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Sheriff, and congratulations, Mr. Commissioner.
• Sheriff Wiley. Mr.
• Kevin Cobb, Executive Director of the Louisiana Sheriffs Association.
• Sheriff Wiley has moved to report HB 1032 as amended favorably. Is there any objection?
• Thank you, Sheriff Wiley.

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several transportation-related bills. HB 988 by Rep. Bagley, which changes the fee distribution for current and retired legislators’ special prestige license plates so the proceeds would support the Pentagon, was reported favorably without objection. HB 1001 by Rep. Marcel, designating a portion of US 190 as the Jesse Jackson Memorial Highway, was also reported favorably without objection after brief remarks honoring Jackson’s civil rights legacy and a moment of silence. The committee then considered HB 989 by Rep. Boyer, which updates fees public license tag agents may charge. After testimony from the Louisiana Public Tag Agent Association and Commissioner Keith Neal, Rep. Phelps offered an amendment to exclude Shreveport from the fee increase; the committee rejected that amendment on a 13-2 vote, and the bill itself was then reported favorably on a 13-2 vote. HB 1192, creating a Louisiana Dental Hygienist Association specialty license plate, was amended to remove language narrowing eligibility to association members and then passed favorably without objection. HB 1032 by Rep. Wiley, clarifying statutory references related to operating a motor vehicle under the influence, was amended technically and reported favorably without objection. Later, HB 748 by Rep. Brough, exempting school board-owned and leased vehicles from tolls on bridges and highways, was amended to include leased vehicles and an effective date. Testimony from Plaquemines Parish school officials and the district attorney described toll costs tied to the Belle Chasse bridge, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1108 by Rep. Omade, creating a homeschool pride specialty license plate, was reported favorably without objection after discussion of the plate design and the intended recipient organization. Finally, HB 1081 by Chairman Wright, restructuring the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission under the Office of Multimodal Commerce, was amended to clarify administrative placement and terminology and then reported favorably without objection. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• In that jurisdiction, whether it be the sheriff, the chief, an investigating authority, or myself in
• Again, the relationships that we built with chiefs and sheriffs and prosecutors across the state, once
• So our sheriffs and chiefs and prosecutors are stepping up to the plate and holding people accountable
• to consider that citizen complaint and seek a decertification in conjunction by working with the sheriff
• That would prompt us to have conversations with that chief and sheriff: does this officer need to be

Summary: The committee first heard from Arkansas State Police leadership about efforts to reduce vehicle pursuits and fleeing from law enforcement. Members discussed prior legislation that made fleeing a felony and enhanced penalties when suspects exit moving vehicles, and the State Police reported those changes, along with a social media/public service campaign and work with prosecutors, were associated with a 29% decline in pursuits from 2023 to 2025, or 180 fewer pursuits last year than in 2023. Members also asked about a recent mistaken PIT/TVI incident involving the wrong vehicle; the agency said the family was not injured, had requested privacy, and the trooper involved was terminated. The committee also received an overview of the Arkansas State Police Foundation, which funds scholarships, emergency assistance for troopers’ families, and facilities and training support, with no lobbying role reported. The committee then heard from the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training on officer decertification and hiring accountability. Director Chris Chapman explained that every officer separation must be reported, that files are flagged when conduct may warrant decertification even if it does not meet that threshold, and that hiring agencies must be told about prior misconduct before they can add an officer to their roster. He said the commission now receives more decertification requests than before, with requests rising from 158 in the prior three-year period to 256 in the last three years, and that 147 officers were pending hearings, down from a prior backlog that had stretched to about four and a half years. He also said the commission meets every other month for two-day hearings, and that most decertifications involve integrity or honesty issues. Members asked about open investigations, citizen complaints, appeals, and public access to decertification records. Chapman said resignations during internal affairs or criminal investigations are flagged, citizen complaints are usually handled through supervisors, chiefs, sheriffs, or prosecutors and may lead to decertification review if warranted, and decertified officers can appeal to circuit court. He added that decertification records are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and may be used in civil claims. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after discussion of a possible future committee meeting at the fish hatchery in Lonoke.