Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:24:38.320><c> we</c> case insurance fraud and wage theft we case insurance fraud and wage theft
• </c><01:25:44.119><c> state</c> Insurance uh fraud wage theft state Insurance uh fraud wage theft state
• </c> the time and then also the auto theft the time and then also the auto theft program<01:25:51.400
• > fairly</c> statute our theft statute is a fairly statute our theft statute is a fairly robust<01:26
• </c> jurisdiction around incidence of theft jurisdiction around incidence of theft and<01:40:32.280><

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, for purposes of identity theft crime.
• It includes and identity theft crimes.
• </c> used to commit identity theft offenses. used to commit identity theft offenses.
• for certain theft and fraud offenses.<00:08:26.320><c> Mr.
• </c><01:05:19.040><c> And</c> of equipment. And of equipment.

Summary: The Public Safety Policy Conference Committee met on May 8, 2026, with all conferees present. The chair opened with decorum instructions, explained that the meeting was policy-only, and noted that no public testimony had been signed up. Members then introduced themselves, with several noting they were retiring at the end of the session or year. The committee adopted a series of provisions, mostly by unanimous voice vote, including House language on identity theft and financial crimes updates, supervision abatement and restitution considerations for corrections, protective-order enhancements for murder penalties, prediction markets, victim-notification requirements for plea and sentencing hearings, research data privacy, ignition interlock and impaired-driving license changes, DOC licensing and sanctions for juvenile/adult community-based residential facilities, criminal-conviction employment and licensing standards, jail medication procedures, domestic abuse law changes, and a grant-use extension for dual-status/crossover youth funding. Several items were described as technical or clarifying changes, while others updated law to address AI-related identity theft, foreign protective orders, victim privacy, and corrections oversight. The committee also heard discussion on a Senate provision allowing victims of domestic violence to petition for wireless account and phone-number transfers. A witness supported the concept but urged changes to better align the state language with existing federal law; members noted the issue might need another vehicle or further work. For the domestic abuse item, staff explained that an A15 amendment would later adjust the warrantless-arrest window from 28 days to 14 days. On the jail-medication item, a member emphasized the changes were clarifying and not an admission that last year’s law was flawed. All adopted provisions passed by voice vote without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:00.679><c> is</c> manufactured and the equipment is manufactured and the equipment is obsolete
• Thank you. resilience training we equip individuals resilience training we equip individuals from<02:
• </c> therapy specialized medical equipment therapy specialized medical equipment and<02:49:53.279><c>
• </c><03:08:39.760><c> wage</c><03:08:40.040><c> theft</c> workers never see wage theft wage theft workers
• never see wage theft wage theft can<03:08:40.600><c> happen</c><03:08:40.840><c> to</c><03:08:41.080

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• we can come to a realization where we can combine both bills to make it a fair wage theft bill.
• The truck and its driver, equipped with those, could see in front of them.
• This includes debt incurred through fraud, identity theft, Of control to dominate the other.
• This includes debt incurred through fraud, identity theft, or threats and intimidation.
• I cannot even claim identity theft.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> dangerous firearms and equipment dangerous firearms and equipment including<00:26:55.679><c> binary
• The next slide: theft of public funds is also part of the governor's package.
• The governor recommends adding a theft of public funds statute and increasing the penalty for this crime
• </c><00:29:14.480><c> technology</c><00:29:15.640><c> and</c> purchase safety equipment technology and
• </c> state program fraud, and wage theft state program fraud, and wage theft investigations.<00:31:26.720

Bills: HF4446 , HF4066 , HF1082

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's happened with durable medical equipment.
• When identity theft occurs, it often goes undetected for years.
• Madam Chair, Representative Contreras, this does not address identity theft after the fact.
• Just a quick question: how many kids do you think are affected by this credit identity theft?
• Unless the recording equipment malfunctions or unforeseen circumstances occur.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard a JLBC presentation on H.R. 1’s SNAP impacts, including expanded work requirements, higher state administrative costs, and a potential state share of benefits if Arizona’s payment error rate remains above 6%. JLBC estimated the administrative cost increase at about $33 million in FY 2027 and $44 million in FY 2028, and said a 2024 error rate of 8.8% could expose the state to about $139 million in benefit costs starting in FY 2028. The chair also opened the meeting by asking members and speakers to keep remarks shorter to improve efficiency. The committee then considered several SNAP-related bills. HB 2797, which requires DES to more frequently verify eligibility through data matching, post fraud/noncompliance data, and address out-of-state EBT purchases, passed 7-5. HB 2442, requiring certain able-bodied SNAP adults with school-age children to participate in employment and training unless exempt, also passed 7-5. HB 2448, which limits DES’s ability to seek work-requirement waivers or discretionary exemptions without legislative authorization, passed 7-5. HB 2206, which sets a goal of reducing the SNAP payment error rate to 3% by 2030 and adds reporting and corrective-action requirements, passed 7-5 after debate over staffing, technology, and whether the target was realistic. The committee also advanced HB 2180, appropriating $2.5 million to the University of Arizona for AZ REACH, a hospital transfer coordination program serving rural facilities. Supporters said it improves patient transfers and reduces burdens on rural hospitals; some health system representatives were neutral but asked for operational improvements. HB 2180 passed 11-1. HB 2184, as amended, passed 7-4-1; it would extend fetal death certificate filing and require patients to be informed of the option to transfer fetal remains to a funeral home, with supporters describing it as a matter of parental dignity and closure. HB 2188, as amended, creating a Language Acquisition Grant Program for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, passed unanimously after testimony about balancing spoken-language and ASL options. The committee then began hearing HB 2194, a bill requiring insurers to provide a contact for detailed explanations after claim or prior-authorization denials, but the transcript ends before action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• and whether staff took reasonable steps when deciding whether to investigate allegations of fraud, theft
• of kickbacks, allegations of kickbacks not containing other allegations are indications of fraud, theft
• This relates to kickback allegations alone and not to other conduct that relates to fraud, theft, abuse
• This relates to kickback allegations alone and not to other conduct that relates to fraud, theft, abuse
• How many... ...would you say were left uninvestigated completely, and what can we do to equip you to

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had amazing success in our county at curtailing auto thefts and carjackings.
• </c><00:07:38.520><c> by</c><00:07:38.720><c> probably</c> auto thefts by probably auto thefts by probably
• </c><00:20:40.480><c> they</c> members that focus on auto theft they members that focus on auto theft
• It's tracking of a stolen piece of equipment.
• It's tracking of a stolen piece of equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2075, Steve Bennett, fire safety and equipment standards, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 1941, Mark Gonzalez, organized metal theft, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 1941, Mark Gonzalez, organized metal theft, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2108, Sharp-Collins, retail theft, do pass. That's out on a B roll call.
• AB 1727, Tawa, DNA theft, held in committee. AB 1872, Tawa, false reporting, do pass.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dean Zaffirini has done a lot of work. a lot of work on oil theft over the last couple of sessions.
• And not just of petroleum, but also of equipment.
• And so we're seeing theft of materials, we're seeing theft of commodities, we're seeing, you know, all
• We've seen a lot on border security, actually, where we saw a lot of oil theft cases and situations.
• Chairman there may be even a question to the industry so back to the oil field theft, which is highly

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So under wage theft, we have the Department of Labor which you can go through if you have an issue as
• So I'm just curious, under wage theft, what part of this proclamation, what are we talking about when
• it says wage theft?
• In **XPS 1-2**, these are very particular: risk of eviction, wage theft, and intimate partner violence
• What do you mean by eviction, wage theft, and intimate partner violence?

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• When a park needs to add equipment for children with disabilities and special needs, we are there.
• buying safety equipment for First Responders<00:28:50.039><c> providing</c><00:28:50.720><c> funding
• </c><00:31:06.919><c> the</c><00:31:07.080><c> theft</c><00:31:07.519><c> by</c> deftly covered the theft
• the theft by deftly covered the theft the theft by altering<00:31:08.240><c> the</c><00:31:08.440><c
• </c><00:31:17.080><c> was</c> collections shortly after the theft was collections shortly after the theft

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 48 by Darby Irling to the creation of an organized oil field theft prevention.
• HB 2502 by Dorazio. relating to the software installation of certain voting equipment, or for the Committee
• HB 2547 by Kane, when prohibited manufacturing and sale of motor vehicles equipped with a remote vehicle
• greeting a civil penalty referred to the Committee on State Affairs. 2567 by Goodwin relating to the equipment
• , HB 2594 by Metcalfe, relating to the venue for prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving theft

Transcript Highlights:

• Pressurized canisters can explode during collection or processing, damage equipment, and endanger workers
• When a cemetery is abandoned, the people interred and the property are subject to vandalism and theft
• Chargers must often be tested on-site using specialized equipment that can cost tens of thousands of
• Counties have also already invested over $3.2 million thus far in the equipment necessary to regulate
• And this is an example where this security officer intervened in what was a retail theft incident.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, they must adopt rules on operation, testing, equipment standards, and back-up systems.
• for certain documents concerning real property, creating the criminal offenses of real property theft
• Deed fraud and title theft cost Texans thousands upon thousands of dollars to clear their title, and
• is not tailored to this type of theft.
• First, it makes mandatory that a person filing a property transaction document in person report theft

Bills: HB8 , HB12 , SB 3 , HJR1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14 , HB8 , HB 12 , SB3 , HJR1 , SB11 , SB16 , SB14

Transcript Highlights:

• Retail gift card paying for the theft.
• Further, the level of offense under current theft laws are governed by the value of the property.
• </c> the level of offense under current theft the level of offense under current theft laws<01:06:35.200
• </c> um as the course of conduct of theft um as the course of conduct of theft defined<01:11:27.120><
• You know, retailers don't waste time, honestly, with small individual thefts.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us to reject the discouraging voices that tell us we are too small, too weak, or too ill-equipped
• It increases the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force appropriation under the Department of Insurance and
• Financial Institutions by $100,000 and decreases the automobile theft authority operating budget by
• It increases the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force appropriation under the Department of Insurance and
• Three, renames the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Law Enforcement Equipment Fund.

Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wage theft is the largest form of theft in this country.
• It's greater than robberies, burglaries, larceny, and motor vehicle theft combined.
• of wage theft is more systemic rather than a one-off.
• to, this bill will not solve wage theft entirely.
• be health theft, domestic violence.

Summary: On January 20, 2026, the committee held public hearings on House Bill 2102, House Bill 2161, and House Bill 2332. HB 2102 would sharply limit legal financial obligations by prohibiting courts from imposing costs unless specifically authorized by statute, repealing many fees and interest on restitution, and making eliminated debts unenforceable and satisfied. The sponsor and supporters argued that LFOs are harmful, inconsistently applied, and create uncollectable debt that burdens indigent defendants and hinders reentry. Opponents, including local government and collections representatives, warned the bill would shift costs to cities and counties, reduce accountability tools, and could cost local jurisdictions millions. No vote was taken. HB 2161 would expand the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands for possible violations involving civil rights, labor standards, jail standards, immigration-related restrictions, and police use-of-force laws. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office, labor groups, and civil rights advocates said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases, while not changing substantive enforcement authority. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and business groups argued the bill was overbroad, lacked sufficient standards, and could create due process, confidentiality, and separation-of-powers concerns. Members asked about safeguards, and staff and the AGO described court challenge procedures and internal review standards. No action was taken. HB 2332 would regulate automated license plate readers used by state and local agencies, generally limiting use to specified law enforcement, parking, toll, and transportation purposes, restricting sharing and retention, and prohibiting uses tied to immigration enforcement or protected health care. The sponsor and privacy, immigrant-rights, and reproductive-rights advocates said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of sensitive location data and to close loopholes that could allow out-of-state or federal access. Law enforcement, cities, vendors, and some business and campus representatives supported privacy guardrails but said the 72-hour retention limit, warrant requirements, and other restrictions were too strict and could hinder investigations, victim recovery, and parking enforcement. The hearing ended with testimony still underway and no vote or final action reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stauff, I'd like to start with you and talk about the CCP's IP theft and research. Security.
• And when it comes to the CCP theft of U.S. research and IP, where are we most vulnerable?
• IP theft, at least the way our legal statutes are designed—particularly 1831 and 1832 of the criminal
• code—have very specific requirements to prove that it's theft.
• In 2018, Chinese intellectual property theft was estimated to cost our economy over $600 billion. $600

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• investigative demands for investigating peace officer standards for use of force or tactics and equipment
• Peace officer standards for use of force or tactics and equipment, which was authorized under the substitute
• relates to part of it, a Jails Act, and then various statutes related to wages, minimum wages, wage theft
• You've heard about wage theft and the Washington law against discrimination.
• protect the sensitive data from misuse and theft, is to collect less of it.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on civil investigative demands for the Attorney General (ESSB 5925), automated license plate readers (ESSB 6002/6702), medical debt interest limits (ESSB 5993), default judgments in consumer debt cases (SSB 5720), adult guardianship technical changes (ESSB 5837), and Court of Appeals bailiff authority (SB 6011). Sponsors and agency staff generally framed the bills as targeted tools or clarifications, while opponents raised concerns about privacy, due process, overreach, and unintended consequences. The AG’s office supported 5925 as a way to investigate civil rights, wage theft, and related laws more efficiently; opponents argued it gave too much pre-suit power and lacked sufficient judicial safeguards. The Court of Appeals bailiff bill was presented as a near-identical extension of authority already given to Supreme Court bailiffs, with no major controversy beyond questions about training. The ALPR bill drew the sharpest policy split. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and civil rights advocates, argued Washington lacks meaningful regulation of license plate readers and needs limits on retention, sharing, and vendor access to protect privacy and prevent misuse. Law enforcement, cities, and some parking-related users said the bill was necessary but too restrictive or technically flawed, warning it could effectively shut down the technology or prevent use in serious cases; they asked for broader crime coverage, clearer definitions, and longer retention. Privacy and civil liberties groups supported regulation but urged stronger protections, especially shorter retention periods and tighter limits on third-party access. On medical debt, the sponsor and supporters argued that capping interest at 1% would reduce financial harm to patients, especially those facing serious illness, and would still allow administrative costs to be covered. They cited bankruptcy risk, chronic illness, and the burden on families, while noting the bill was narrowed from an earlier version and made prospective. Hospitals, collectors, dentists, and physician groups opposed the bill, saying it would not solve broader affordability problems, could reduce repayment incentives, and might push providers toward cash-only models or credit cards, especially harming small and rural practices. The committee also heard support for the consumer debt default judgment bill as a negotiated compromise that improves notice and preserves existing debt-buyer protections, and for the guardianship bill as a technical cleanup of adult guardianship and supported decision-making provisions. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.