Transcript Highlights:

• If there's an offer, then they must reveal what crime it was. Then they can say...
• If there's an offer, then they must reveal what crime it was.
• If there's an offer, then they must reveal what crime it was.
• If there's an offer, then they must reveal what crime it was.
• If there's an offer, then they must reveal what crime it was.

Bills: SB137, SB164, SB165, SB49

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of bills that we heard in Crime and Public Safety.
• It came out of Crime and Public Safety, 17 to 0.
• I think we heard this in Crime and Public Safety.
• You don't want to do something about crime.
• You don't want to do something about crime.

Summary: The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures. Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted. The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is real, and crime is not going to stop.
• We allow even violent crime, gun crime into our pre-prosecution diversion program.
• The reality is crime rates will skyrocket.
• It takes them about two years to then enter into felony, lower level felony crimes, nonviolent crimes
• We've got to address crime. And we hear reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:40.479><c> and</c> Crime and Crime and um<00:07:42.720><c> I've</c><00:07:42.960><c> given</c>
• Crimes manipulative and it's immoral. Crimes will<00:09:29.279><c> increase.
• Crime spikes in gambling hubs.
• Crime spikes in diverse population. Crime spikes in gambling<00:12:24.160><c> hubs.
• I mean is it is it the crime discussion? I mean is it is it the crime factor?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs briefly met and adjourned after noting that GM 574, a nomination on its agenda, had been withdrawn, leaving the committee with no business to consider. A separate joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs then took up HCR 192, a resolution to convene a tourism and gaming working group. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Nation of Hawaii, and CARES, said the measure would allow Hawaiians to have a seat at the table, learn from Native nations with gaming experience, and make informed decisions about whether and how gaming should be approached. Some supporters emphasized that the working group was about research and self-determination, not immediate legalization, and suggested the state should focus on broader economic development options as well. Opponents, including the Honolulu prosecuting attorney and several community members and faith leaders, warned that gambling would increase addiction, crime, family breakdown, debt, and exploitation of low-income and vulnerable residents. They argued that online sports betting and other forms of gaming would be especially harmful, with some citing examples from other states and concerns about problem gambling, domestic violence, and illegal activity. Committee members questioned witnesses about the purpose of the working group and whether it could provide enough data to make an informed decision, while supporters and opponents alike acknowledged the need for Hawaiians to be involved in any future discussion. No vote or final action on HCR 192 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you can see our crime rates are extremely low, given where we're...
• Our crime rates are extremely low, given where we were 20, 30, 40 years ago, index crimes per 100,000
• Crime is kind of consistent. Now moving on. Kind of consistent.
• And they work a variety of crime, everything from violent crime to public integrity, drug crime, domestic
• We funded departments the modernization of their Crime, that sort of thing.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2146 is the bill related to the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor.
• As a reminder, House Bill 2430 concerns the crime victim penalty assessment, or CVPA.
• or when law enforcement is investigating another crime. ...is a misdemeanor.
• or when law enforcement is investigating another crime.
• That is actually committing a crime. There's where the difference comes in.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met in executive session on several bills previously heard, first reviewing proposed substitutes and amendments, then taking final action after a caucus recess. House Bill 1591, which provides sentencing, resentencing, and record-vacation relief for defendants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, was advanced on a 7-2 vote after adopting substitute H3302.1. Members supporting the bill emphasized the need for a close causal connection and documentary proof of victimization; opponents raised concerns about cases involving harm to third parties and wanted more refinement. The committee also advanced House Bill 2146 on sexual exploitation of a minor after adopting Amendment 348, which clarified that the offense covers causing a minor to view sexually explicit conduct when the minor’s viewing will be photographed or part of a live performance. House Bill 2220, dealing with oversight and hearings procedures for the Criminal Justice Training Commission, was reported out on a 7-2 vote under substitute H3305.3, which dropped a higher burden of proof, adjusted hearing panel size, and allowed an administrative law judge to issue an initial order if the panel deadlocks. House Bill 2430, concerning the crime victim penalty assessment, was also reported out unanimously; its substitute increased assessment amounts, added a surcharge for defendants with substantial resources, tightened indigency exemptions, and restored an indigency exception for certain offenses. House Bill 2526 on prostitution generated the most debate. The committee withdrew one proposed substitute, then adopted substitute H3308.1 and Amendment Whale 275, which shifted the bill toward a model that increases penalties for buyers while requiring referrals to services for the first two investigative detentions of a person engaged in prostitution and limiting arrest until a third detention. Supporters said the changes would reduce criminalization of survivors and improve access to services, while opponents argued the bill and amendment would weaken enforcement and fail to protect trafficking victims. The committee reported the bill out 5-4. House Bill 2641 was deferred. Finally, House Bill 2648, addressing state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement, was amended with Lang 185 to require body cameras and reporting when officers encounter federal agents conducting immigration enforcement, remove a proposed Attorney General representation requirement, and require indemnification by the employing government. Supporters framed the bill as protecting civil rights and clarifying officers’ duties; opponents said it could hinder cooperation with federal partners and create operational problems. The committee approved the bill 6-3 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He spent his last six years as the Internet Crimes Against Children Commander.
• Today, live streaming is a major source of new crime.
• Now, imagine having to do that in front of your abuser as someone who's suffered imaginable crimes at
• If the report is being made, then there is a belief that a crime has occurred.
• At the end of the day, our work should lead to fewer... victims of these terrible crimes.

Keywords: Stop CSAM Act, child exploitation, online safety, reporting requirements, tech accountability, NCMEC, survivor support, legislative testimony

Summary: The committee meeting centered around the urgent need to address child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, focusing primarily on the testimony and discussions surrounding the Stop CSAM Act. Several witnesses, including representatives from law enforcement and advocacy organizations, highlighted the significant drop in reports of child exploitation cases despite an alarming increase in actual incidents. Concerns were raised about tech companies' reporting practices, with calls for more stringent requirements to ensure timely and accurate reporting of suspected abuse. The legislation aims to fortify protections for child victims by imposing stricter obligations on tech platforms to report incidents and support law enforcement in investigations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the classification is C3 or classification three... crimes that are identified in here, crimes
• Uh, my which are more serious crimes.
• estimate of how many of those 1,982 are serving sentences under those crimes?
• are serving sentences under those are serving sentences under those crimes? crimes? crimes?
• </c> &gt;&gt; definitely give you a crime breakdown.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing was on an SP 15 replace-all, non-germane amendment to Senate Bill 15, a proposal to require hard labor for certain serious offenses in the New Hampshire prison system. Representative Jennifer Rhodess, the co-sponsor, said the bill is intended to make incarcerated people productive, help reduce costs, and serve as a deterrent; she also noted a two-year effective date for implementation and said anyone who refuses hard labor would receive a 50% sentence increase. She framed the work as ordinary labor already done by many people in the state and said the committee would later hear related testimony and possible amendments. Committee members questioned how the proposal would work in practice, especially for people already incarcerated, the difference between current prison work and the bill’s “hard labor,” and the impact on prison security and staffing. Rhodess said the bill only applies going forward, not retroactively, and that the Department of Corrections could better address operational details. Members also discussed the terminology, noting that “capital murder” is not a current New Hampshire charge and that the relevant offense is first-degree murder with mandatory life without parole. Department of Corrections officials Jane Graham and Nicholas Duffy testified in a neutral position but raised significant implementation concerns. They said the department would need more resources, vehicles, security equipment, and possibly armed supervision for higher-risk crews, and noted a 47% corrections officer vacancy rate. Duffy described current work programs inside prisons and in the community, including correctional industries, kitchen and education jobs, transitional work crews, and community service projects such as road work and landscaping. He explained that current community crews are limited by custody level, court approval, staffing, and safety, and said C1 and C2 inmates are already in transitional or work-release settings, while C3 and higher inmates would pose greater risks if taken outside the walls. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, because of what we're doing with the crime packages and also for ... ...crime packages and also for
• They are required to also report timely their crime stats.
• I think that may be the Crime Commission adding the stats. And I think that's it.
• I'm the State Crime Information Director. I work at Aaliyah and U, so anything...
• There were several legislators there, and what came up is the crime.

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:

• And the person that committed this unfortunate crime was on community supervision.
• because criminals know little about the sanctions of crimes.
• A 25-year study on elder crime patterns using FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and arrest statistics stated
• A 25-year study on elder crime patterns using FBI's uniform crime reports, arrest statistics, stated
• that people who commit violent crimes are in statistics stated that people who commit violent crimes

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard an informational presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections on how the prison and community supervision systems operate after sentencing. Assistant Deputy Secretary Hope Gartman described the reception process for new inmates, including intake, medical and mental health screening, classification, custody and housing levels, gain time, and the department’s academic, vocational, substance abuse, chaplaincy, visitation, and communication programs. She emphasized that reentry begins on day one and that program placement is driven by risk and needs assessments, with facilities matched to inmates’ medical, mental health, and security requirements. Members also asked about family contact, visitor applications, inmate welfare trust funds, tablet access, private prison placement, staffing shortages, overtime, contraband interdiction, and waiting lists for programs; several follow-up materials were requested for distribution to all members. Mr. Winkler then outlined community corrections, explaining the different supervision types under Florida law, including probation, drug offender probation, community control, sex offender supervision, conditional release, and addiction recovery supervision. He described the department’s monitoring tools, such as office and field visits, warrantless searches, alternative sanctioning for technical violations, telephone reporting for low-risk offenders, employment assistance, and mobile probation and reentry units. He said the department’s supervision success rate is about 62%, with more than 91% of successful completers not returning to custody within three years. Members questioned officer workloads, the use of radios and GPS check-ins, the rollout of uniforms and firearms, how violations are handled, and whether all circuits participate in alternative sanctioning; Winkler said the program is statewide and that the department is seeking funding for radios. During public comment, Florida Cares Charity urged the committee to consider evidence on deterrence, parole, and recidivism, arguing that community supervision is less costly than incarceration and can be effective. James Beardy of the Florida PBA emphasized the dangers faced by correctional and probation officers, including long shifts, field searches, and working alone, and argued for higher pay and better support comparable to other law enforcement. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking the presenters and public speakers, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any legislative votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three includes sexual extortion in the definition of sex crime under Kentucky law.
• </c> this as the fastest growing crime this as the fastest growing crime against<00:26:14.360><c> children
• Brian Wilson is a very dangerous predator for his crimes against women.
• They told her to call the sex crimes unit, and she tried.
• </c> stalking when we sued him for the crimes stalking when we sued him for the crimes he<00:42:13.000

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:05 Roll Call: 00:00:14 SB 26: 00:01:50 SB 64: 00:18:29 SB 73: 00:22:54, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Chair Storm, would protect parents and prospective parents with disabilities by barring disability alone from being the sole basis for denying an adoption petition or terminating parental rights. Testimony from Judge Marcus Vanover and Crystal Adams described the bill as a product of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health and its work groups, cited Kentucky and national cases and federal ADA guidance, and said the bill would require consideration of supportive services, clearer documentation, retention of records, and conforming language changes. Senator Carroll asked how the bill would apply to a hypothetical adult child with special needs; witnesses said the bill is aimed at adoption and termination proceedings where the Cabinet is already involved, not proactive service requests. The committee approved SB 26 by a unanimous 7-0 vote and sent it to the floor with favorable expression. The committee next considered Senate Bill 64, also sponsored by Chair Storm, which would expand the definition of key infrastructure assets to include telecommunications services such as telephone lines and broadband and make damaging, tampering with, or rendering those services inoperable a Class D felony. Representatives from Charter/Spectrum and AT&T testified that copper theft and vandalism have increasingly damaged fiber and other facilities, citing more than 20 incidents in Kentucky in 2024 affecting over 30,000 customers and diverting resources from broadband expansion. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then passed SB 64 by a 7-0 vote with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Julie Adams, which would create a felony offense for sexual extortion, allow victims or their representatives to bring civil actions, include the offense in Kentucky’s sex-crime definitions, and require school-based notification and education efforts along with resource information for students. Senator Adams and witness Lady T. Thompson described sextortion as a fast-growing online crime targeting minors, often through social media, gaming, and messaging apps, and argued that stronger penalties and prevention efforts are needed. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on SB 73.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a crime that should be eligible for the death penalty.
• That is a shock to conscious crime.
• And I'm with you in terms of the type of crime.
• And I'm with you in terms of the type of crime.
• And I'm with you in terms of the type of crime.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 5:15 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So a couple of the changes that we made is we removed language that said crimes against the state.
• So, definitionally, any crime against an individual who is paid by taxpayer dollars for that crime because
• So a couple of the changes that we made is we removed language that said, and crime So a couple of the
• changes that we made is we removed language that said crimes against the state.
• So definitionally, any crime against an individual who is paid by taxpayer dollars for that crime being

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee heard RS 32967 from Representative Manwaring, which would expand protections for state and public employees who communicate with the legislature. He said the proposal would treat good-faith communications with lawmakers as protected activity, prohibit gag policies or prior-approval requirements, tie violations to whistleblower-style remedies, and add a specific public-records provision for legislative requests. In response to a question, he gave an example of an employee being restricted from meeting without others present and said the measure was intended to address such situations while preserving existing subpoena authority. The committee moved to introduce RS 32967, and the motion carried. The committee then considered RS 33032 from Representative Church, a measure focused on political violence and public trust in government. Church explained that the RS had been revised after earlier discussion: language referring to "crimes against the state" was removed because it was unclear, and a 2025 limitation was removed so the measure would apply going forward, while still referencing the 2025 incidents involving Charlie Kirk and Representative Hortman. Members voiced support, and the committee voted to introduce RS 33032 and send it directly to the second reading calendar. Before adjourning, the chair noted that only one RS remained for the next day and encouraged members to get any remaining items to the committee quickly. No further business was taken up.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee identified that there's no quantifiable impact on crime rates, actually.
• You could look at certain violent crime or things that are longer crimes as a determinant-plus feature
• There's no prohibition on certain crimes or time.
• The crime lab looks at the evidence, tells us what could be tested.
• You have to have a reason to believe that there was a crime.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are hubs for serious crimes, even if the requisite crime itself—if an illegal casino is currently
• a misdemeanor, we'll talk about that—lots more serious crime is happening there.
• If these places are left, more serious crime can attach itself to it, frankly, or crimes that are treated
• The statutory scheme itself is not stringent enough to repel this crime in our communities.
• They know that what they're doing is a crime.

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard a presentation from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on illegal gambling in Florida. Executive Director Ross Marchman described the commission’s role, the limited number of legal slot-machine locations in the state, and the prevalence of illegal casinos, including “fish tables” and other machines found in strip malls, gas stations, and back rooms. He said the commission has received thousands of complaints, conducted 88 operations, seized thousands of machines and millions in cash and other property, and is currently storing large amounts of seized evidence at significant cost because the cases and appeals are still pending. Marchman argued that illegal casinos are tied to broader criminal activity, including robberies, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms offenses, and even murders, and said the current penalties are too weak because most gaming offenses are second-degree misdemeanors. He and members discussed the need for stronger deterrents, better resources, and possible changes to the law, including whether evidence could be reduced to samples rather than retained in full. Senators also asked about cease-and-desist letters to online gaming operators, the role of manufacturers and landlords, and how the commission distinguishes legal amusement machines from illegal slot machines. Daniel McGinn, speaking as an individual, supported the commission’s concerns and said prior enforcement efforts were limited by the statutory scheme. He referenced the Gator Coin case and explained that operators often use licensing agreements and repeated cash-split arrangements to keep machines in circulation. He urged legislative action, noted a gap in the statute regarding private rights of action, and warned against creating carve-outs that could raise constitutional or compact issues. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first will be crimes involving sexually explicit depictions of minors, and the second will be the
• There is a full breakdown of these crimes on pages 2 and 3 of the bill analysis.
• Now, secondly, a brief background on the specific crime of sexual exploitation of a minor.
• You know, I want to take a minute and just recognize ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children.
• at is these types of crimes.

Summary: The committee heard briefings and testimony on several bills, with members repeatedly noting limited time and that some measures were already familiar from prior hearings. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5880 would allow cities and counties to use ISO/IEC-accredited private toxicology labs for blood or breath testing, accept private donations for that purpose, and reimburse the State Patrol for evidence transport costs. Senator Wagoner said the bill is a temporary fix for a major toxicology backlog that delays justice; prosecutors, police chiefs, and the Seattle City Attorney supported it as a way to relieve the backlog, while defense representatives said it would not solve the problem and raised due process concerns about out-of-state labs and access to witnesses. Members discussed possible amendments on in-state/out-of-state labs and litigation logistics, and the bill was set for executive action the following Tuesday. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5436 would create a gross misdemeanor for willfully or recklessly interfering with access to or from a place of worship or disrupting religious services through obstruction, trespass, repeated calls or electronic communications, or threats. Senator Solomon said the bill responds to rising intolerance and is modeled on protections for health care facilities; supporters from the Anti-Defamation League, Faith Action Network, Jewish and Sikh community organizations described harassment, threats, and security costs at houses of worship. Defense and law enforcement groups raised concerns about overbreadth, possible impacts on peaceful protest, and unintended effects on law enforcement or immigration enforcement, and asked for clarifying amendments. The sponsor said he was open to changes, and the committee indicated it would continue working on the bill before executive action next Tuesday. Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5105 would expand child sexual abuse material offenses to cover digitally created or altered obscene depictions, even when the minor is not identifiable, extend the statute of limitations for those felony offenses from three to ten years, and broaden sexual exploitation of a minor to include knowingly causing a minor who is unconscious or unaware to be photographed or part of a live performance. Supporters including the Attorney General’s Office, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ chiefs said the bill is needed to address AI and other technology that can evade current law and to keep pace with rapidly changing digital abuse material. Opponents from the defense bar and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission argued the bill may still be overbroad and raise First Amendment problems under Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, especially where no actual minor is identified. The committee also heard and then quickly acted on other bills: Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, requiring one year of community custody for unlawful possession of a firearm, was amended and reported out due pass as amended; Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, addressing penalties for violence against referees and school volunteers, was reported out due pass; and Engrossed Senate Bill 5286, concerning reimbursement for costs in cities with state psychiatric hospitals, was also reported out due pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• violent crimes.
• There's no issue with the funds to cover them for the victims' crime reparations.
• Obviously, battery is a contact crime versus assault.
• I've never seen a state prosecute a crime against a federal officer.
• Spit on or whatever, even though it's way lower of a crime than this.

Bills: HB9, HB50

Keywords: Immigrant Safety Act, immigration detention, civil immigration violations, ICE, federal immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, public bodies, local government, sheriff's department, school district, higher education, deputization, 287(g), 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 C.F.R. 287.7, intergovernmental services agreement, detainer, immigration cooperation, public property, attorney general enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• , and that extending that crime wouldn't necessarily do anything to deter the crime in the first place
• you know, take a different track than trying to extend the crime itself.
• In 2023 alone, ATF recovered and traced over 400 silencers from crime scenes.
• They have not been convicted of any crime.
• Talk about getting rid of the possibility of a crime altogether.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An attorney is going to think in terms of the details of the elements of the crime.
• If there's a crime and we're addressing that, that is outside of the House.
• It is a legal crime. Are we talking about lying? Lying, we understand what lying is.
• If it's a crime, if there's a crime, it's going to hit the criminal process.
• And it's also a very narrow, narrow crime. And it's rarely charged for that reason.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 13, 2026, then took up House Resolution 27, which proposed major changes to House ethics procedures. Representative Barbieri argued the rule should make ethics complaints confidential until the committee finds a breach, allow the committee to choose its own chair, and remove attorneys from the process because ethics is an internal House matter rather than a legal proceeding. The Idaho Press Club testified in opposition, warning that secrecy would reduce public accountability and trust. Members debated transparency, due process, possible criminal implications, and whether counsel should be allowed; several said the current rule had worked well, while others objected to limiting representation and public access. After a series of substitute motions, the committee rejected a motion to hold the resolution and then approved a motion to send H.R. 27 to the floor with a due pass recommendation by an 8-7 vote. Representative Barbieri was designated to carry the bill. The committee then moved through several Idaho State Police administrative rules, approving changes to civil asset forfeiture reporting, the state public safety and security information system, criminal history records, and the sex offender registry. Those rules were described as mostly technical cleanups to comply with zero-based regulation, simplify language, or align the rule text with current system functionality, with no substantive changes and no public objections. The committee also approved temporary and pending rules from the Sexual Offender Management Board that reduced continuing education requirements for certified evaluators and treatment providers and removed duplicative language, with an early effective date requested for the pending rule. Finally, the Office of Administrative Hearings presented pending rules updating Idaho’s administrative procedure rules, including new provisions addressing artificial intelligence in contested cases, sanctions for misuse, and site visits by administrative law judges. Members raised concerns about broad discretion, legislative intent, self-represented parties, and judges entering private property. The committee ultimately approved the OAH rule with sections 11, 12, and 515 removed, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• An attorney is going to think in terms of the details of the elements of the crime.
• If there's a crime, and we're addressing that, that is outside of the House.
• It is a legal crime. Are we talking about lying? Lying, we understand what lying is.
• If it's a crime, if there's a crime, it's going to hit the criminal process.
• And it's also a very narrow, a narrow crime. And it's rarely charged for that reason.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 13, 2026, then took up House Resolution 27, a proposed change to House ethics rules. Representative Barbieri argued the changes would keep ethics complaints confidential until the committee determines there is a breach, remove attorneys from the process, allow the committee to choose its own chair, and reduce public spectacle and outside influence. Several members raised concerns about secrecy, transparency, due process, possible criminal implications, and the lack of counsel, while the Idaho Press Club testified in opposition, saying the public has a right to know about accusations against elected officials. After debate, a motion to send the resolution to the floor with no recommendation failed, a motion to hold it in committee also failed, and the original motion to send it to the floor with a due pass recommendation passed 8-7. The committee then turned to Idaho State Police administrative rules tied to the governor’s zero-based regulation effort. Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley presented several dockets, explaining that changes to civil asset forfeiture reporting, public safety and security information systems, state criminal history records, and the sex offender registry were largely non-substantive cleanups that removed duplicate language or updated procedures, with one sex offender registry change reflecting a new photo-transfer process after a DMV system change. The committee approved those rule dockets after brief questions about fiscal impact and whether forms or required information were being removed. Next, Nancy Woolley of the Sexual Offender Management Board presented a temporary rule and a pending rule reducing continuing education requirements for certified evaluators and treatment providers and removing duplicative language. The committee approved the temporary rule and then approved the pending rule with an early effective date of sine die. Finally, Brian Nichols of the Office of Administrative Hearings presented pending rules updating the Idaho Rules of Administrative Procedure, including new provisions addressing artificial intelligence use in contested cases, sanctions for misuse, and site visits by presiding officers. Members raised concerns about broad discretion, legislative intent, self-represented parties, and whether site visits should be allowed. The committee ultimately approved the pending rule but exempted sections 11, 12, and 515 from approval.