Transcript Highlights:

• One in particular that I wanted to highlight is forensic services.
• One in particular that I wanted to highlight is forensic services.
• Some could be the wait, but I think some is also looking at, you know, forensic services is you have
• Some could be the wait, but I think some is also looking at, you know, forensic services is you have
• Some could be the wait, but I think some is also looking at, you know, forensic services is you have

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll hear overlapping testimony from many experts as well.
• specialized training, partially by expanding access to modern investigative technology, and also improving forensic
• number of factors, so things like detective training, supervision, caseload reduction, modernizing forensic
• You need prosecutors, you need your AG, you need your crime lab folks, you need your forensic folks,

Summary: The House Committee on Community Safety held a December 4, 2025 work session focused first on crime trends and then on policing effectiveness. Adam Gelb of the Council on Criminal Justice reviewed long-term national data showing major declines in reported crime and victimization since the early 1990s, a pandemic-era spike in homicide and some violent crime, and a recent drop back toward pre-pandemic levels. He also highlighted a sharp decline in juvenile arrests and incarceration, a substantial reduction in racial disparities in imprisonment, and noted that much of the disparity reduction appears tied to changes in arrest patterns. James McMahon of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs then presented Washington’s 2024 crime report, saying total crime fell 8.4% from 2023, with decreases in violent crime, property crime, murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, hate crimes, and vehicle theft, while crimes against society rose. He emphasized that domestic violence makes up about half of crimes against persons, that Washington remains above its 2019 levels in several categories, and that underreporting affects the data. Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments Justice Center added that Washington remains one of the states still above 2019 violent-crime levels, with homicide and juvenile victimization especially concerning, and noted wide variation in juvenile arrests and violent-crime trends across cities and counties. Jeff Asher of the Real Time Crime Index said his near-real-time data through September 2025 suggests continued national and Washington declines in murder, violent crime, and property crime, with Washington’s murder trend likely continuing downward into 2025. The second half of the work session shifted to policing methods and clearance rates. Richard Hahn of the Niskanen Center argued that disorder and neighborhood conditions affect public safety perceptions, that environmental design and street lighting can reduce crime, and that police agencies need better deployment, investigative capacity, and clearance rates, especially amid staffing shortages. Mark Kropanski of Arnold Ventures summarized research finding that police staffing matters, hotspots and problem-oriented policing reduce crime, and better investigations increase deterrence and trust; he stressed that homicide clearance rates remain only around 60% in Washington and that property-crime clearance is much lower. Marshall Clement returned to focus on Washington’s solve rates, saying only 44% of violent crimes reported to police are solved, with 62% of homicides, 51% of aggravated assaults, 25% of rapes, and 31% of robberies cleared in 2024, and that large numbers of serious crimes remain unsolved over a three-year period. He urged state leaders to set goals, improve data collection, strengthen investigative resources, and support victims and witnesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the session was informational and included extensive member questions about juvenile crime, domestic violence, underreporting, detective staffing, and how to improve clearance rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide reevaluation services for IST dependents in jail, as well as to strategically deploy forensic
• evaluator resources to support the community IST treatment programs that do not have forensic evaluator
• prioritization of BCHIP round 2 funding and BHSA workforce dollars to increase substance use disorder and forensic
• primary care providers have stated that their patients' psychiatric care improves when consulting with experts

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:59:26.560><c> exam</c><01:59:26.880><c> after</c> the hospital for a forensic exam after the
• hospital for a forensic exam after being<01:59:27.440><c> sexually</c><01:59:27.760><c> assaulted</c>
• She is definitely the better expert when it comes to explaining exactly how it's going to work in the
• She is the definitely<02:28:38.319><c> the</c><02:28:38.560><c> better</c><02:28:38.880><c> expert</c
• better expert when it comes<02:28:39.760><c> to</c><02:28:40.000><c> explaining</c><02:28:40.560><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• DNA analysis has really become the gold standard of forensic testing, and we continue to see demands
• testing and we standard of forensic testing and we continue<00:09:36.400><c> to</c><00:09:36.520><c>
• We do a lot of forensic analysis for our partners in federal.
• We do a lot of forensic<00:16:45.240><c> analysis</c><00:16:45.800><c> for</c><00:16:45.959><c> our</
• c><00:16:46.079><c> partners</c> forensic analysis for our partners forensic analysis for our partners

Bills: HF3599 , HF3761 , HF3523 , HF3515 , HF573

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, bond issuance, Becker, sewer improvements, sanitation, Hibbing, state bonds, infrastructure funding, capital investment, safety improvements, mobility, U.S. Highway 12, bonds, transportation funding, trails, Prior Lake, bond funding, recreational improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• receive a written response analyzing the case, identifying missed investigative steps, reevaluating forensic
• However, cases without forensic evidence, many involving communities of color, often receive less attention
• This strategy of mostly pursuing forensic cases works great for the squad and the DA's office because
• This event brought together industry leaders, labor partners, and public health experts, including Mass
• Union leaders, our contractor members, and public health experts are working together not just to respond

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Representative David Linsky supported HB 3383, which would designate the song “Roadrunner” as the official rock song of Massachusetts, describing its Boston roots and cultural significance. Representative Sean Garberle supported HB 3335 on public access to historical records, arguing that records from state institutions should be released after 75 years and that families and researchers should be able to identify people buried in unmarked graves at former state institutions. Representative Rodney Elliott and Lowell officials supported HB 4138, authorizing easements for a Lowell sewer separation project; they said the project is needed for Clean Water Act compliance, will reduce combined sewer overflows into the Merrimack River, and must proceed quickly to meet SRF and consent-decree timelines. Committee members asked about Article 97, the location and scope of the easement, environmental justice impacts, and minority/small business participation in construction. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate 2183 and its House companion, which would elevate the Massachusetts National Guard to a cabinet-level position reporting directly to the Governor. Senators Mike Moore and John Velis, along with the National Guard Association’s Matthew McKenna, argued the change would reduce bureaucracy, improve communication and readiness, and reflect the Guard’s broad domestic and military missions. Velis cited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home tragedy as an example of a breakdown in communication, while committee members said they wanted more information, including input from the Governor’s office and Guard leadership, before acting. The committee noted the distinction between state-controlled and federalized Guard missions and said it would continue reviewing the issue. Senator Liz Miranda and a large panel of survivors, advocates, and Northeastern law students testified in support of S. 2174 and S. 2177, which would create an office and task force on unsolved homicides, allow families to petition for case review after three years, require written responses, and establish a tip line, database, and dedicated funding. Witnesses described long-standing lack of communication, low clearance rates, and the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. Senator Becca Rausch also testified on S. 2210, extending public records law to the governor and Legislature, and S. 2207, creating stronger information-governance and records-retention standards; she said both would improve transparency and reduce waste. The transcript does not reflect any votes taken during the hearing, though chairs repeatedly indicated support for moving some bills favorably and said the committee would continue reviewing the National Guard proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:17:57.599><c> motion</c><02:17:57.840><c> is</c><02:17:58.000><c> an</c><02:17:58.080><c> expert
• The motion is an expert. Oh, the role. The motion is an expert. Oh, I'm<02:17:59.200><c> sorry.
• </c><02:23:23.520><c> DNA</c><02:23:23.840><c> evidence</c><02:23:24.399><c> which</c> of forensic DNA
• </c><02:23:44.960><c> And</c> subject to forensic DNA evidence.
• And subject to forensic DNA evidence.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the DHS's forensics lab. the DHS's forensics lab.
• So, my work as uh at the forensics lab.
• </c><00:20:53.240><c> lab</c> came up that you um at the forensics lab came up that you um at the forensics
• </c> unit that was larger than the forensic unit that was larger than the forensic lab,<00:21:01.760>
• </c><00:53:33.760><c> lab</c> Stillman, is there still a forensic lab Stillman, is there still a forensic

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• “Due to the success of clearing the forensic kit backlog in the last few years, Missouri is preparing
• We initially saw the numbers of trained forensic examiners grow.
• Why victims had to struggle to find qualified forensic examiners and if it is getting ready to happen
• And that hospital, you had a 50/50 chance of them saying, we don’t do forensic exams, keep driving.”
• Like, there’s just nothing right now that sent, like, we don’t have enough forensic team.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety met with a quorum and first took up several bills in executive session. House Bill 2323, relating to a domestic violence registry, was discussed as a private law-enforcement database for domestic abuse offenders; members noted it was similar to other registry bills already advanced, though some said it differed in details. House Bill 2530, described as the scrap metal bill, was also voted do pass without discussion. House Bill 1882 was withdrawn from consideration after members noted it had been rolled with another bill and had been sent back from fiscal review and Rules. The committee then adopted a House committee substitute and two amendments for House Bill 3332, which concerns public safety personnel recruitment and retention and employment benefits for first responders; the substitute removed additional degree programs from scholarship eligibility and the amendments fixed scholarship prioritization language and removed a sunset from the line-of-duty death benefit. HB 3332 was voted do pass. In public hearing, Representative Justice presented House Bill 3174, Missouri’s version of Alyssa’s Law, requiring each school employee to have access to a wearable panic alert system tied to local emergency responders and school personnel. He said the bill is subject to appropriations and would use a qualified vendor list; members questioned cost, funding, liability, and whether schools could already implement such systems. Support testimony came from Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa’s mother, who described the Parkland shooting and argued that faster alerts save lives, including in medical emergencies, and from a teacher who said the system would help in both active shooter and non-shooter emergencies. No opposition testimony was offered. Representative Williams then presented House Bill 3434, which would create a Missouri statewide sexual assault response task force to examine reporting, investigation, medical response, advocacy, and prosecution and report recommendations by December 31, 2028. She said the task force would build on progress made reducing the sexual assault kit backlog but address ongoing inconsistencies across jurisdictions. Members asked about overlap with a prior expired task force, appointment structure, and whether the group should include more medical or law-enforcement representatives. Support testimony from the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence described the history of the kit backlog, the Telesane program, uneven services across the state, and the need for continued coordination and accountability; the Missouri Emergency Nurses Association also supported the bill, citing the need to address both rural and urban response challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• “Due to the success of clearing the forensic kit backlog in the last few years, Missouri is preparing
• We initially saw the numbers of trained forensic examiners grow.
• Missouri’s teleSANE program was intended to be a support network for in-person sexual assault forensic
• And that hospital, you had a 50-50 chance of them saying, we don't do forensic exams, keep driving.
• Like, there's just nothing right now that sent, like, we don't have enough forensic team.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a forensic audit. It's not an operational audit.
• would do.<00:11:37.519><c> It's</c><00:11:37.760><c> not</c><00:11:37.839><c> a</c><00:11:38.000><c> forensic
• It's not a forensic audit. It's not do. It's not a forensic audit.
• So, what we want to talk about today, and by we, I really mean Aaron because she's the expert on retired
• So, what we want to talk about today, and by we, I really mean Aaron because she's the expert on retired

Summary: The meeting began with quorum, approval of the prior minutes, and an announcement that the June meeting had been canceled and replaced by this combined May/June meeting; the next official PPOB meeting was announced for July 21 at 2:30. Staff then gave an overview of the Public Pension Oversight Board’s required actuarial audit process, explaining that House Bill 238 requires a review every five years of the retirement systems’ actuarial assumptions and methods, funded by the systems themselves. The presentation distinguished this audit from a financial or forensic audit, described the three possible audit levels (full replication, limited/spot review, or basic review), and noted that the last audit in 2021 was a level one performed by Milleman Consulting at a cost of about $190,000. Members discussed timing for the next audit cycle, with a request to LRC likely needed in July or August to target the June 30, 2026 valuation, and several members expressed interest in another level one review. Questions also addressed whether prior audits found major issues; staff said the 2021 review was generally clean but recommended more consistency in reporting and assumptions across systems. The committee then welcomed new staff and interns, including Odet Guanzi of KPPPA and Team Kentucky intern Amamira Bowman. Bo Barnes of the Teachers Retirement System presented an overview of the statutory framework for reemployment after retirement under KRS 161.605. He explained that the law is intended to let retirees return to help with staffing needs, do so in an actuarially sound way through required contributions, and keep TRS compliant with federal tax rules for a qualified plan under section 401(a). Barnes described the required breaks in service and earnings limits for retirees returning part-time or full-time, including the three-month or 12-month break depending on the employer, the 6,900-day limit, and the daily wage threshold based on years of service. He also noted a lightly used critical shortage program that allows school districts to hire retirees without a wage cap, while still observing the break-in-service rules. Members asked questions about who decides the scope and level of the actuarial audit, how the audit would treat leave balances and other benefit-related items, and whether the prior level one audit identified substantial problems. Staff said the committee would request the audit, but LRC would handle contracting, and that the audit scope could include items like sick leave and annual leave costs if requested. On the reemployment topic, Barnes emphasized that the rules are designed to avoid pre-arranged retire-and-return arrangements that could jeopardize TRS’s tax-qualified status. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the meeting concluded with the presentations and discussion of these pension oversight issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had many witnesses come in, many experts come in, and everybody took their vote last year.
• All of these changes, I believe, are the effect of the law that you passed. experts come in and everybody
• provides that every person in the state has the right to seek appropriate medical treatment or medical forensic
• It says permitted under West Virginia law or forensic care to obtain biological evidence as a result
• On Friday, February 20, 2026, at 10:30 hours, I attended a Child Advocacy Center emergency forensic interview

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• But you've got to remember, we're not the experts at what you do.
• But you've got to remember, we're not the experts at what you do.
• But you've got to remember, we're not the experts at what you do.
• That is the expert witness and court cost line item.
• That's what funds the investigators, the forensic experts, interpreters, and other services.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes mental health and substance abuse, forensic services, and sex offender program and like
• </c><00:13:17.480><c> services</c><00:13:18.480><c> and</c> substance abuse uh forensic services and
• </c> security hospital and the forensic security hospital and the forensic nursing<00:25:15.399><c> home
• , forensic mental health program, forensic nursing home transition services, and the competency restoration
• mental health program program forensic mental health program um<00:48:45.640><c> forensic</c><00:48:

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He is an expert in digital media forensics.
• And when I say he's an expert, he might even be the world's expert.
• I'm frequently called upon as an expert witness in cases in which the veracity of digital media is at
• </c> I'm frequently called upon as an expert I'm frequently called upon as an expert witness<03:14:03.680
• You all are the experts on that.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's been available outside the forensic community. For some time, it was used by the DOD.
• If our sexual assault kits and forensic casework are in laboratories and they're not being tested in
• It's still taking, I guess, 30 to 45 days or 90 days on the forensic side.
• Yeah, so there is an initiative to use rapid DNA on the forensic side as well.
• You know, we for a long time had issues in trying to find a way to accredit DNA forensic science labs

Bills: SB614 , SB872 , SB1199 , SB1212 , SB1278 , SB1573 , SB1588 , SB1602 , SB1660 , SB1704 , SB1723 , SB1833 , SB1858 , SB1946 , SB2009 , SB2146 , SB2177 , SB2373 , SB2460 , SB2785

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked for TRM Labs, which is one of the major blockchain forensics companies.
• I want to thank you for that expert presentation of this legislation.
• Then we'll go to a potential expert witness and then wrap it up with public comment.
• Walsh, and provide his thoughts on the importance of this measure, and then we'll go to potential expert
• on years of study and feedback from state agencies, local governments, developers, and technical experts

Bills: HB373

Committee: Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology

Summary: The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee met in hybrid format and heard testimony on several bills. HB 373, as amended, would regulate hemp-derived THC-infused beverages by defining the products, limiting them to 10 mg of Delta-9 THC per container, restricting sales to package stores and licensed marijuana retail stores, requiring testing and labeling, and imposing a 50-cent per container tax; the sponsor said the bill is intended to create guardrails and protect youth, and a wholesaler representative testified in support. HB 398 would allow racinos to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and remove local authority to require earlier closing times; the sponsor and Bally’s representative said it would help Delaware remain competitive and increase revenue, and no opposition was heard. HB 433 would let municipalities and counties extend last call for bars, restaurants, and clubs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.; a witness from Connect Delaware supported it as a competitiveness and retention measure, emphasizing that it is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 441, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks/crypto ATMs in Delaware and require existing machines to be removed within 90 days. The sponsor and supporters, including AARP, the Delaware Department of Justice, and the League of Women Voters, argued the machines are heavily used in scams, especially against older adults, and that regulation has not been effective. CoinFlip opposed the bill, saying it is a regulated operator, that the fraud statistics are overstated or incomplete, and that Delaware should instead adopt a regulatory framework and amendment. HB 465 would update the criminal code to formally define virtual currency and incorporate it into theft, money laundering, racketeering, and search-and-seizure provisions; the sponsor said it would align Delaware law with modern crypto-related crimes, and no opposition was presented. The committee then heard HB 467, which would prevent landlords from requiring renters to buy insurance from a specific company while still allowing them to require coverage meeting lease terms; the sponsor described it as a consumer-choice bill and there was no public opposition. HB 435 would require payment parity for certified registered nurse anesthetists and physicians when the same services are provided; the sponsor, nurse anesthetists, the Delaware Health Care Association, the Department of Insurance, and ChristianaCare supported it as a workforce and access-to-care measure, with no opposition. Finally, HS 1 for HB 450, the Road DE Act, would overhaul permitting and traffic-impact review, emphasize peak-hour traffic, set density standards in growth areas, create a transportation impact fee, and direct some revenue to open space, farmland, and coastal restoration; realtors, builders, environmental groups, engineers, and GEAR supported it as a way to speed permitting, reduce sprawl, and improve infrastructure planning. The committee adjourned after public comment; no votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I had the honor of being able to look at someone's resumes as I get to get expert recommendations
• They worked in conjunction with the auditor and also with Loft and the investigative or the forensic

Bills: HB3057 , HB3279 , HB4428 , HB3420

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, employment restrictions, state officers, prohibited acts, government contracts, public service, public finance, pension, pension fund, retirement system, board of trustees, proxy voting, proxy proposal, shareholder vote, shareholder activism, fiduciary duty

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I’m going to turn it over to the experts and other testifiers. Thank you.
• </c><00:07:35.440><c> and</c><00:07:35.680><c> other</c> turn it over to the experts and other turn it
• over to the experts and other testifiers.<00:07:36.639><c> Thank</c><00:07:36.800><c> you.
• </c> are people trained as EMTs with expert are people trained as EMTs with expert training<01:31:34.639
• 31:59.679><c> without</c><01:32:00.000><c> folks</c> experts in place and without folks experts in place

Bills: HF3661 , HF2380 , HF3468 , HF3483

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:58.000><c> It's</c><00:40:58.240><c> discovering</c> forensic audit is.
• It's discovering forensic audit is.
• </c> try and have a a an actual forensic try and have a a an actual forensic audit<00:41:12.079><c> is
• </c><05:21:40.000><c> agent</c> ...for an expert agent.
• </c><05:23:50.000><c> highway</c> to highway agents and um expert highway to highway agents and um expert

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026, to act on a series of bills. Early in the meeting, members agreed that they could consult the online submission summaries rather than have changing submission counts read aloud. The committee then took up House Bill 1386, which would have allowed citizens in a municipality to vote to require a financial audit of a local school district. Members opposing the bill argued that school districts already have audit authority and reporting requirements under existing law, and that the proposal was unnecessary and potentially burdensome. The committee voted 17-0 to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee next considered House Bill 1181FN on public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals. Members who opposed the bill said newspaper publication provides independent third-party verification and archival value, and that removing that requirement would weaken public notice. The committee voted 17-0 ITL and sent the bill to the consent calendar. It also voted 17-0 ITL on House Bill 1327, concerning the definition of commercially zoned land, largely because the sponsor was absent and members said they could not do due diligence without hearing from the sponsor. The committee then acted on House Bill 1473FN, concerning the use of agricultural fairground property, and House Bill 1147, concerning the use of capital reserve funds. In both cases, members cited the sponsor’s absence and the need for more information as reasons to recommend inexpedient to legislate; both votes were 17-0 and both bills were placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 1220, which would have allowed municipal governing bodies to review and approve school budgets, was also recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after members raised concerns about local control, legal conflicts between separate entities, and technical drafting problems. The committee recommended ought to pass on House Bill 118, which raises the amount of money municipal treasurers may hold before depositing it in the bank, with supporters saying the higher threshold would reduce unnecessary trips to the bank and improve efficiency. It also recommended ought to pass on House Bill 1151, a housekeeping bill correcting statutory references related to conservation commission appropriations, and it approved House Bill 1309 as amended after adopting Amendment 2026-0411H to clarify town meeting warrant language. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1385, prohibiting negative property tax rates in certain municipalities, and recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after testimony indicated the practice at issue had already ended and that a blanket prohibition could create problems for municipalities with excess revenues. The committee also began work on House Bill 1369, relating to posting warrants for special town meetings, and discussed an amendment to preserve newspaper notice while also allowing website posting where available.