Transcript Highlights:

• cases, where the state has a compelling interest to protect the child against physical abuse and child
• He added that the correct standard is also the correct standard in child abuse and neglect cases, and
• a compelling interest to protect the child against physical abuse and child neglect, and that this law
• So, what that means is that when the government has an interest in protecting a child against child abuse
• way to that compelling interest of the government protecting the child against physical abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• :29:27.520><c> amongst</c> talk about domestic abuse amongst talk about domestic abuse amongst intimate
• </c> substance abuse disorder. substance abuse disorder.
• </c><00:35:06.600><c> or</c> get better from substance abuse or get better from substance abuse or mental
• </c> Um, relating to child welfare.
• </c> ombudsman to a birth family when a child ombudsman to a birth family when a child is is is enters

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 963, which would make crimes against elders age 60 and over strict liability offenses by removing the requirement that the perpetrator knew or should have known the victim’s age. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that removing the state-of-mind element would create unfair and subjective results and suggesting sentencing enhancements or broader vulnerability-based language instead. Supporters, including Sandy Wong and another testifier with elder-abuse experience, said the current knowledge requirement creates a loophole that lets offenders avoid the elder enhancement even when they target vulnerable older adults. No vote was taken on the measure in the portion provided. The committee also heard HB 384, which increases penalties for promoting minor-produced sexual images, extends probation terms for felony obscenity offenses, tolls the statute of limitations during a victim’s minority, and requires sex offender registration for certain felony obscenity offenses involving minors. The Public Defender opposed the bill as overly broad and warned of absurd results, while the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney supported it, saying the bill addresses sextortion and other exploitation cases where adults solicit images from minors and that the 3-year age-gap threshold preserves ordinary teen relationships. Committee members questioned whether the bill was aimed at adults only and whether the age-gap carveout was narrow enough; the prosecutor said it was intended to cover adult predators and not consensual peer conduct. No final action was reported. HB 1100, which renames the Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program to use “low vision” instead of “visually impaired,” was supported by the Department of Human Services and disability advocates, who said the current term is derogatory and that the change responds to the blind community. The department said it was beginning work on administrative rules and expected to seek an appropriation, with implementation hoped for in 2026. The committee then heard HB 1283, exempting paternity proceedings from mediation when domestic abuse is alleged; the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and others supported it as consistent with divorce law and important for survivor safety. HB 689, creating safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement help, drew support from HPD, Emua Alliance, the Judiciary, and others, who said it would prevent traffickers from using prostitution charges to silence victims. Finally, HB 383, reinstating mandatory minimum jail terms for successive violations of protective orders and removing the court’s ability to suspend those minimums, drew opposition from the Public Defender, who said some repeat violations stem from mental health or substance use issues, and support from the Prosecuting Attorney, who argued the bill treats protective orders like temporary restraining orders and preserves judicial discretion within a misdemeanor framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that child. that child.
• result of child abuse or neglect.
• Last year we were appointed to over 900 cases of child abuse and neglect, and we served nearly 1,500
• > and</c><01:57:56.560><c> we</c> cases of child abuse and neglect and we cases of child abuse and neglect
• </c> children who have been victims of child children who have been victims of child abuse<02:00:44.480

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Boys who see mom abused are 10 times more likely to abuse female partners.
• Girls raised in a home with abuse are six times more likely to later stay in an abusive relationship.
• Over 70% of men in batterers intervention programs report having witnessed domestic abuse as a child.
• pornography or being part of video or photography and displaying that child in child pornography?
• The way I see this bill is that it's preventing grooming of having a child being abused sexually by another

Bills: SB1450 , SB1458 , SB1232 , SB1238 , SB1325 , SB1209 , SB1362 , SB2072 , SB1451 , SB1540 , SB1581 , SB1535 , SB1266 , SB1927 , SB1460 , SB2084 , SB2182

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and considered a long series of bills, mostly on criminal justice, elections, civil procedure, and higher education liability. Early measures included SB 1450, allowing judges to waive certain fines and fees for people who have completed probation or incarceration, with an amendment requiring a request and a judicial order; SB 1458, repealing a statute that allowed disclosure of grand jury witnesses; SB 1232, increasing penalties for tower vandalism and copper theft; SB 1238, making domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor a felony on the first offense; and SB 1325, requiring GPS monitoring and victim-alert protections for certain domestic abuse defendants before release. All of those bills advanced, most on strong or unanimous votes, though SB 1458 and SB 1232 each had one nay. The committee also advanced SB 1209, which adjusted eviction-related civil procedure timelines by replacing “weekends” with Sundays and holidays in the filing-to-summons period, and SB 1362, which standardized early voting hours across the state’s consolidated election schedule, with Thursdays through Saturdays set at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesdays retained for general elections. Members asked about the effect on landlords, voters, rural counties, and staffing, and the authors said the changes were intended to improve consistency and give more time for payment or mediation. SB 2072, dealing with deed fraud and title theft, was amended to clarify that fee waivers apply to orders restoring title after a fraudulent conveyance, and then advanced unanimously. Later, the committee considered SB 1451, which adds a checkbox for prior voter registration, codifies cancellation of prior registrations, and requires an annual statistical report on registration notices; it advanced on a 6-2 vote after questions about whether the bill could burden voters. SB 1540 created a new felony offense for “grooming” a minor, prompting debate over whether existing indecent-proposal statutes already cover similar conduct; it advanced 7-1. SB 1581 extended the time for county grand jury initiative petitions from 45 to 90 days and added a protest period, and SB 1535 would adjust charity-enforcement procedures for the Attorney General; both advanced. The committee also advanced SB 1266, increasing penalties for violations of the anti-notario law, SB 1927, elevating unauthorized boarding or refusal to leave a school bus to a felony, SB 1460, strengthening penalties for repeat peeping Tom and clandestine recording offenses, and SB 2182, creating civil remedies for nonconsensual sharing of intimate images. SB 1618 was laid over, and the meeting adjourned with notice of another meeting the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and we have a real opportunity a day.
• Real-world examples of this: a child is hospitalized; a child, for some reason, has a change in the case
• Abuse does happen, and it's terrible.
• Abuse does happen, and it's terrible.
• I was abused, et cetera, et cetera.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• My friend, this is her first child, she waited for this child, she prayed for this child.
• Every adult is legally obligated to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
• abuse, and especially fathers, in situations where it's sexual abuse towards a child.
• As they recounted... that their child had been abused by someone.
• abuse and neglect.

Bills: HB2646 , HB3941 , HB5153 , HB5155 , HB5394 , HB 1106 , HB426 , HB4529 , HB3984 , HB4273 , HB 1097 , HB3940 , HB1941 , HB4377 , HB3153

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• WHAT IF THE CHILD WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY THE PARENTS? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
• IF A CHILD IS ABUSED BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WE ARE NOW SAYING, THE CHILD HAS TO GET CONSENT FROM THE ABUSER
• ONE IN FOUR AND ONE IN 20 BOYS IN THE UNITED STATES EXPERIENCED ACTUAL ABUSE. 90% OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
• AS OF TODAY THE ONLY TRAINING THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL HAVE TO TAKE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS FOR CHILD ABUSE
• SO SENATOR DAVIS, AGAIN THEY ALREADY ARE GIVING TRAINING ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no instance of child abuse in this case.
• Required to report child abuse, the ultimate determination of whether or not abuse has occurred is at
• or treat the child who was the subject of the alleged abuse or neglect.
• And so to prevent that, he reported the mother for child abuse to keep it covered up.
• Nobody is talking about not reporting child abuse; we're talking about the abuse of the system, where

Bills: SB128 , SB640 , SB672 , SB904 , SB1141 , SB1263 , SB1525 , SB1528 , SB2041 , SB2306 , SB2308 , SB2357 , SB2446 , SB2695 , SB2857 , SB2891 , SB2583

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court has repeatedly noted that child sexual abuse is different.
• , or county counsel evaluating an allegation of child abuse.
• Unfortunately, child welfare agencies that are tasked with investigating child abuse and neglect allegations
• CAC video recordings are integral components to child welfare services and child abuse investigations
• A recent example from our child abuse hotline illustrates this problem.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So currently, we were going to do a removal of a child from a kinship caregiver, it has to do with abuse
• The Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry proliferated because of federal requirements.
• Under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act passed in 1974, as originally designed, the Registry
• I think the child abuse neglect registry actually provides some level of false comfort.
• In fact, people also often call it the Child Abuse Registry.

Bills: HB741 , HB 1199 , HB2070 , HB2402 , HB2542 , HB2665 , HB2789 , HB3096 , HB3396 , HB3595 , HB3747 , HB4116 , HB4127

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another of my efforts to begin addressing child abuse in the state of Minnesota.
• Child abuse is a significant, but often overlooked, issue in Minnesota.
• </c> efforts to begin addressing uh child efforts to begin addressing uh child abuse<00:52:05.359><c>
• system<00:53:55.000><c> child</c><00:53:55.319><c> abuse</c><00:53:55.640><c> is</c><00:53:55.760><c
• </c><00:56:41.200><c> abuse</c> in child Mal treatment a child abuse in child Mal treatment a child abuse

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Recording face-to-face interviews for child abuse is essential for several reasons.
• It says assessment is initiated for alleged child abuse, interview the child.
• initiated for alleged child abuse.
• It says assessment is initiated for alleged child abuse, interview the child.
• initiated for alleged child abuse.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• be a neglected child.
• We are matching the definition to the federal definition in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
• Yes, come on up. criminal cases involving child abuse and child homicide for nearly all of my career.
• abuse.
• Do people read state law before they report child abuse? I would think not, pardon me, Mr.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:03.600><c> abuse</c> &gt;&gt; Hello, I'm Christina Howard, child abuse &gt;&gt; Hello, I'm
• other charge because it’s not delineated specifically for child abuse.
• </c><00:24:02.880><c> We</c> violation for with its child abuse.
• We violation for with its child abuse.
• </c><00:24:18.960><c> So</c> specifically for for child abuse. So specifically for for child abuse.

Summary: The committee approved the October 22, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel on accidental ingestion of illegal drug products by children. Panel members said pediatric ingestions have become the most common case type they review, with the highest-risk children ages one to four, and that fatal cases have increased in recent years. They reported that the substances most often involved are fentanyl, cannabinoids including THC products, methamphetamine, and increasingly xylazine; they also noted a decline in buprenorphine-related ingestions, which they viewed as a positive trend. The panel used several case examples to highlight recurring problems in investigations and medical response, including delayed DCBS involvement, failure to administer Narcan, inadequate drug testing, lack of child abuse team involvement, and limited or absent law enforcement investigation. They said law enforcement issues are especially common in pediatric ingestion cases and are concentrated in Jefferson County and the Bluegrass/KIPA regions. One example involved a one-year-old who died from fentanyl and Benadryl intoxication; another involved a two-year-old who died after ingesting multiple substances; and a third involved a four-year-old with near-fatal THC gummy ingestion where delayed treatment worsened the child’s condition. They also described a 10-month-old THC ingestion case that resulted in a criminal abuse conviction, which they presented as an example without missed investigative opportunities. Committee members discussed possible policy responses, including creating a more specific criminal child abuse offense or clarifying existing abuse and neglect definitions to cover unsafe access to illegal drugs, while preserving room for true accidents and prescribed medications. Members also raised the need for statewide standardization in reporting, investigation, and medical response, and suggested the panel should be able to call in agencies such as law enforcement, DCBS, judges, and hospitals for closed-session review of selected cases. The panel chair said they were already pursuing meetings with LMPD and would provide Jefferson County-specific breakdowns, and members expressed interest in additional data and agency follow-up before considering legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• When the state removes a child from their home, it assumes a constitutional duty to protect the child
• When the state removes a child from their home, it assumes a constitutional duty to protect the child
• Our adopted son carried his experience of sexual abuse into our home, onto our biological child and his
• And finally, if a child discloses abuse while in foster care, should that child have a right to timely
• If the child—does the child have any say in who's...

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• , spoken to a child, or seen a child, what are the consequences?
• ><c> a</c> to a child seen a to a child seen a child<01:03:41.960><c> what</c><01:03:42.039><c> are</
• Maybe the child has bruises.
• I want to know what my child is doing. I will support my child.
• Representative Gilman said that this bill does nothing to stop abuse or open the doors for abusers to

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 275 strengthens accountability when domestic abuse occurs in the presence of a child.
• When a child witnesses or is present for abuse, the trauma becomes lifelong.
• When abuse occurs in front of a child, the distinction matters.
• Particularly in this situation, if you look at the enhancement for child endangerment for domestic abuse
• And could we tighten the language up on the child being present, child seeing it?

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several criminal justice bills. HB 322, which would prohibit fees for victims or family members requesting transcripts of executive-session testimony before the Board of Pardons and Parole, was described as a cleanup measure and was reported favorably without objection. HB 635, dealing with criminal activity by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations, received extensive support testimony from advocacy groups focused on foreign influence and transnational repression; the committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 132, which expands battery of a police officer to cover intentional sound directed at an officer and related conduct, drew strong support from law enforcement groups and significant opposition from civil liberties and criminal defense organizations concerned about vagueness, First Amendment issues, and impacts on parades and protests; after adopting an amendment moving the sound-related language into the general battery definition, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also considered HB 275, which increases minimum sentences when domestic abuse occurs in the presence of a child and extends the penalty to battery of a dating partner. Supporters argued the bill recognizes the lasting trauma to children exposed to domestic violence, while opponents warned that mandatory minimums reduce judicial discretion and that the child-presence language is broad; the committee adopted two amendment sets and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 808, revising Louisiana’s HIV exposure law to require a substantial likelihood of transmission based on current medical science and to narrow criminal liability for negligible-risk conduct, drew broad support from physicians, advocates, and people living with HIV, with testimony emphasizing that the law should reflect modern science and avoid overcriminalization; after adopting an amendment set, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. Finally, HB 1054, sponsored by Chair Villio, would allow certain law-enforcement drone footage to be self-authenticating with notice requirements; it received support from prosecutors and sheriffs’ groups and was reported favorably without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Individuals who are being investigated for potential child abuse or accessing or creating child pornography
• I've talked a lot about different issues related to child sexual abuse and various aspects of our foster
• I wasn't expecting child abuse to be such a huge issue, especially child abuse.
• I heard some other folks talk about how they didn't expect to be talking about child abuse. I did.
• I always expect to be talking about child abuse. It's kind of become a thing in my life.

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• about abuse.
• I'm thinking children and the situation where there's an abused child that falls under mandatory reporting
• Maybe it's, I'm just concerned with, to consult the child and the child's attorney, a child might be
• Madam Chair, members, Senate Bill 1631 requires protocols for child abuse and neglect investigations
• When a child goes through a trauma such as sexual abuse, they should have a forensic interview within

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes, then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain lab services when a member was referred by a contracting provider and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address unpaid claims and improve access, while Access testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create a fiscal impact. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement rates to no more than contracting rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require Access to contract with an administrative services organization for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping Access ultimately responsible for administration. The chair’s amendment expanded ASO duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed Access claims-payment authority, added tribal observers to the selection committee, and exempted IHS and tribal-facility services. The sponsor and tribal witnesses described the bill as a response to fraud, provider nonpayment, and harm to Native communities, while Access raised concerns about the fast timeline, tribal consultation requirements, possible duplication of program-integrity functions, and fiscal uncertainty. After debate over the emergency clause and tribal consultation, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct Access to seek federal approval for a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness. Supporters said the bill would create a long-term community-care option for the sickest SMI members, reduce cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness, and potentially save state general fund dollars; family members and advocates testified in support. Access was neutral and said it was finalizing a fiscal estimate. The Angus amendment narrowed eligibility to long-term SMI, reduced the enrollment cap from 500 to 250, changed reporting to semiannual, and removed priority-order language; the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 as amended unanimously. Later, the committee passed Senate Bill 1193, which protects emergency medical care technicians’ personal identifying information from sale or disclosure by the Department of Health Services, after adopting a clarifying amendment expanding the protected information and addressing commercial requests. It then heard Senate Bill 1318, which repeals the state’s separate dense-breast notification requirement so Arizona law aligns with the FDA’s newer mammography notice standard; the sponsor and DHS said the change would reduce confusion from duplicate, slightly different notices, and the bill was moving forward with discussion of possible future amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• Relative to child welfare, to provide for the duties and responsibilities of the state child ombudsman
• is a child.
• Yes, um, that was simply because I believe the availability of a board-certified child abuse pediatrician
• Yes, um, that was simply because I believe the availability of a board-certified child abuse pediatrician
• Amendment number 30, this was very specific in terms of if there is a supposed moment of child-to-child

Bills: SB237

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 20 and took up Senate Bill 237 by Senator Barrow, a child welfare measure addressing the duties of the state child ombudsman, DCFS, public reporting, confidentiality, critical incident reviews, multidisciplinary investigative teams, forensic interviews, mandatory reporter training, and related child abuse and neglect procedures. Before discussion, the committee reconsidered and withdrew a previously adopted amendment set, then heard the bill re-read and reviewed a new amendment package developed through meetings among Senator Barrow, Representatives Spell and Berault, DCFS, and the ombudsman’s office. Members described the revised bill as narrowing and clarifying several provisions: reducing the number of law enforcement liaisons, limiting death/near-fatality notifications to legislative leadership and committee chairs with later notice to affected district members if substantiated, adjusting medical review language, and adding quality-improvement and training components. Other changes included keeping school-related reports routed to law enforcement, changing some mandatory language to discretionary language for certain child-on-child sexual abuse situations, aligning multidisciplinary team procedures with existing interagency protocols, and making technical revisions to reduce burden and likely lower the fiscal note. The committee also adopted a separate amendment to include recreation language for the Department of Children and Family Services. Senator Barrow and several representatives emphasized that the goal was to improve child protection and review processes while making the bill workable for DCFS and other agencies. They noted the importance of outside review, ombudsman access to records, and using review findings to drive implementation changes. After no objections, the committee adopted the amendment sets and reported Senate Bill 237 favorably with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.