Transcript Highlights:

• Are you in charge of all three counties? I'm in charge of all three counties.
• Members of the Committee. Good morning, Madam Chair. Members of the committee.
• To be candid, universally, 218 holders are angry because the question was asked during the drafting of
• Christy Iannelli, on behalf of the Delaware Department of Justice.
• I’m the head of the Family Court Office of the Office of Defense Services.

Bills: HB372 , HB414

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met and heard three bills. HB 372 would reorganize Justice of the Peace Court resources by shifting the number of judges and court locations among counties, consolidating overnight operations into a single 24-hour court in Kent County, and adjusting staffing to address workload and efficiency concerns. Chief Judge Alan Davis said the change responds to increased civil filings, automated enforcement, and staffing shortages, and that a Sussex County pilot closing a 24-hour facility had worked without major issues. Some members raised concerns about impacts on Sussex and Kent County, bail processing, and local response times, while public comment included one supporter. The committee voted to release HB 372. The committee then considered SB 324, which amends Delaware’s permit-to-purchase law to allow constable agencies, including those serving institutions like Delaware Tech, to purchase handguns for newly hired constables without duplicative background checks. Sponsor Representative Cook said the bill aligns constable procurement with existing law-enforcement exemptions while preserving gun-safety requirements. Public testimony included support from Delaware Tech and comments urging broader fixes to the permit-to-purchase law, including exemptions for retired officers with federal 218 credentials and clarification on firearms returned from manufacturers, gunsmiths, or police departments. The committee voted to release SB 324. Finally, the committee heard HB 414, which clarifies that the Superior Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over certain destructive-weapon offenses applies only to adults, while juvenile cases would still begin in Family Court. Sponsor Representative Romer said the bill preserves the Family Court’s role in handling youth cases and allows referral to Superior Court when appropriate. The Department of Justice said it still believes Superior Court is the proper venue for these serious charges, while the Office of Defense Services supported keeping youth cases in Family Court first, arguing that rehabilitation and juvenile-specific dispositions are more appropriate. After public comment, the committee voted to release HB 414, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then when we move virtually, because we are at the end of June, not just because of the amount of bills
• It does a lot of good things. The FFLs are in favor of it.
• The bill authorizes the use of a trained and vetted sentry in place of the more expensive options of
• Nellie, on behalf of the Delaware Department of Justice.
• proof of delivery.

Bills: HB372 , HB414

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, courts, and family law. House Bill 141, with House Amendment 1, would require the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to create a firearm responsibilities notice for firearm purchasers through licensed dealers, covering Delaware gun laws, safe storage, lost/stolen reporting, straw purchases, suicide prevention, and other safety responsibilities. Testimony from the NRA, Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, Moms Demand Action, the Coalition for Safer Delaware, and Delaware State Police was uniformly supportive, emphasizing education, standardized dealer practices, and potential evidence for straw-purchase prosecutions. No committee questions were raised, and the bill was moved forward after public comment. House Bill 326 would create a new offense for theft by impersonating a family member, aimed at scams involving spoofed calls, texts, or online messages that pressure victims to send money. The sponsor described the bill as a response to increasingly sophisticated fraud enabled by artificial intelligence, and noted that a House amendment removed an original mandatory minimum jail term, leaving sentencing to the courts. No public testimony was offered on the bill. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 150 would prohibit civil arrests inside courthouses and certain Department of Labor proceedings, with the sponsor arguing that such arrests deter people from coming to court or seeking protection; the bill would allow criminal arrests and civil arrests only with advance written notice. No testimony was taken on that measure. Senate Bill 284, the First State Emergency Responders Act, would create a narrowly tailored offense for intentionally approaching within 25 feet of first responders at emergency scenes after crossing a barrier or ignoring warnings, if done to interfere, threaten, or harass. Supporters, including police, fire service, and sportsmen’s groups, said it would protect responders and preserve emergency operations, while the Office of Defense Services opposed it on First Amendment and overbreadth grounds, arguing existing laws already cover much of the conduct. Senate Bill 304 would amend Delaware’s safe school zone law to allow private schools to use trained, vetted sentries or similar security arrangements; supporters said it would give smaller private schools an affordable safety option, while the sponsor said the bill needed more work and should not move forward yet. The committee also heard Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 314, which would clarify how courts handle evidence that a sexual assault complainant previously made a false allegation; DOJ and ODS said the substitute reflects a consensus approach, and YWCA Delaware supported it as a survivor-protective reform. Finally, Senate Bill 343 would expand methods for serving child support respondents in Family Court by authorizing service through certified mail and carriers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx, addressing cases where people avoid in-person service using doorbell cameras and other technology. The Division of Child Support Services supported the bill as a practical update that would improve timeliness while preserving proof-of-delivery safeguards. At the end of the meeting, a motion was made and seconded, and the chair adjourned the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 3 of the digest gives an overview of all...
• I mean, it's part of our job. It's part of their job.
• You know, I think it's a due process challenge in a lot of cases because of the expense of getting a
• care of in their branch of government.
• care of in their branch of government.

Bills: HB27 , HB143 , HB205 , HB308 , HB311 , HB417 , HB430 , HB562 , HB812 , HB1129

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation, hazardous waste, cleanup fund, environmental protection, state treasury, Consumer Price Index, law enforcement, firefighters, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> portion of the bill. portion of the bill.
• </c><00:42:11.360><c> we</c> just because of the timing of when we just because of the timing of when
• There's a lot of of a total package.
• 00:52:12.120><c> social</c> of the word so of of the words social of the word so of of the words social
• ><c> set</c><01:06:54.040><c> of</c> couple of years, very unusual set of couple of years, very unusual

Bills: HF4446 , HF4066 , HF1082

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety officer, survivor benefits, line of duty death, occupational cancer, firefighter, police officer, paramedic, EMT, correctional officer, first responder, workers' compensation, death benefits, occupational exposure, carcinogen, cancer presumption, mesothelioma, leukemia, lung cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Transcript Highlights:

• of six kids, some of which frequent the of six kids, some of which frequent the library,<00:26:18.159
• our</c> at the demand of our community of our at the demand of our community of our patrons<00:30:08.640
• </c><01:02:10.960><c> you</c> good pair of the bill in front of you good pair of the bill in front of
• </c> problem of inconsistency in quality of problem of inconsistency in quality of audio<01:21:04.400
• </c> section of law. section of law.

Bills: HF3698 , HF3067 , HF3730

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• of be respectful of again, just kind of be respectful of everybody's<00:04:04.720><c> time</c><00:04
• I'm here with the League of Women Voters of Alabama.
• of of members of committee and members of of here.<00:37:20.079><c> I</c><00:37:20.320><c> I</c><00:
• Of course I how well of course I'm this. Of course I want<00:54:07.280><c> that.
• </c> lot of room and there's not a lot of lot of room and there's not a lot of air.<00:59:28.640><c>

Bills: HB541 , SB194 , HB541 , SB194

Committee: House Ethics and Campaign Finance

Keywords: PFAS, drinking water, public health, environmental management, liability, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, primary elections, party registration, party affiliation, open primary, closed primary, runoff election, crossover voting, voter registration, Secretary of State, absentee ballot

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, for taking care of that business for me.
• It took out some of those things that were a little bit of an imposition on other things.
• Yes, members of the committee, I'd appreciate your indulgence on this.
• We've got some measuring requirements that are put in on all of those permitted users.
• policy for the state of Oklahoma.

Bills: SB1928 , SB259

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: groundwater, water rights, waste prevention, conservation, permitting, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, water permits, water use reporting, metering, permit enforcement, groundwater waste, well permitting, cease and desist, fines and penalties, permit suspension, data centers, data processing facilities, cooling systems, evaporative cooling

Transcript Highlights:

• As advanced air mobility represents a new dimension of transportation, a new dimension of safety, a new
• dimension of mobility, a new dimension of autonomy.
• Leaders of technology. Leaders of government. We need a heliport on the top of the sat.
• One of the things that was really great to be able to show as part of this demonstration today was that
• of the troopers.

Bills: HB2148 , HB2993

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: federal funding, state budget, appropriation, block grants, noncustodial funds, legislative authority, Arizona attorney general, Department of Public Safety, DPS, consumer fraud revolving fund, consumer protection fund, gang and immigration intelligence team enforcement mission fund, public safety appropriation, supplemental appropriation, outside counsel, state agency legal representation, legal services, state settlement proceeds, general fund, A.R.S. 41-192

Transcript Highlights:

• This talks about for the purpose of staffing ports of entry and way stations.
• We kind of want to use this as a kind of a somewhat of a pilot program to see how many uninsured vehicles
• a party of.
• of the House.
• of some sort.

Bills: SB1966 , SB175 , SB1475 , SB1950 , SB2049 , SB2052

Committee: Senate Aeronautics and Transportation

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• We kind of want to use this as a kind of somewhat of a pilot program to see how many uninsured vehicles
• We kind of want to use this as a kind of somewhat of a pilot program to see how many uninsured vehicles
• And so what the purpose of the bill was, was to add an extra layer of that.
• None of the bonding companies, none of the contractors just agree with it.
• Of all times. ...of all times anyway. I just don't think it's necessary.

Bills: SB1966 , SB175 , SB1475 , SB1950 , SB2049 , SB2052

Committee: Senate Aeronautics and Transportation

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee met during deadline week and heard several Senate bills. Senate Bill 1966, naming a bridge after Clyde and Grace Cook, was briefly explained by Senator Bullard and advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 1475, designating the I-35 and Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, also advanced after members confirmed the family’s support and clarified it was separate from a prior turnpike naming resolution. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 175, which creates an uninsured commercial vehicle recovery reimbursement fund to pay wreckers for cleaning up abandoned uninsured commercial vehicles. Members questioned the use of existing fee revenue, possible overlap with prior weigh station funding, and the $10,000 per-vehicle cap. Despite concerns, the bill advanced on an 8-3 vote. Senate Bill 1950, as amended, would prohibit using ADS-B aircraft tracking data to calculate or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators; the author said the goal was to preserve state registration revenue while preventing private third parties from using the data for fee collection. The bill advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 2049, as amended, would require the Transportation Commission rather than staff or the Attorney General to approve the decision to call a contractor’s bond on ODOT projects. Supporters said it adds oversight and protects staff, while opponents argued it is unnecessary and could delay action; it advanced 10-1. Senate Bill 2052 would update DPS commercial motor vehicle enforcement provisions, increase fines, and route appeals through the administrative process and then district court; members discussed fine levels, appeals, and related weigh station funding. It advanced 9-2, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> of</c><00:03:27.120><c> dollars</c> tunes of hundreds of millions of dollars tunes of hundreds of
• 20 of of page 20 if you look on page uh 20 of of page 20 line<00:08:59.680><c> 20.
• </c> unaware of. unaware of.
• </c> more of a shield, um, type of situation. more of a shield, um, type of situation.
• </c><01:50:27.199><c> of</c> the court the the clear vision of of the court the the clear vision of of

Bills: HB0070 , HB0043 , HB0103 , HB0157 , HB0092 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits

Bills: HB0070 , HB0043 , HB0103 , HB0157 , HB0092 , SF0092

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits

Bills: HB0070 , HB0043 , HB0103 , HB0157 , HB0092 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fund all of the anticipated costs of fund all of the anticipated costs of establishing<00:06:57.360
• ><c> the</c> portion of that amount of money for the portion of that amount of money for the specific
• </c><00:21:03.520><c> the</c> of the Senate and three-fifths of the of the Senate and three-fifths of
• lots of meetings and lots of there were lots of meetings and lots of conversations<00:22:56.880><c>
• </c> talk to some of the members of the talk to some of the members of the Republican<00:25:41.760><c

Bills: SF856 , HF3168 , HF3528 , HF389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, ethnic councils, diversity, governance, state participation, community representation, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, Minnesota Historical Society

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• This includes a $1 surcharge collected at the time of recording each deed of trust.
• As of this year, the funding only supports half of an investigator and less than half of a deputy prosecutor
• only participate in a handful of times over the course of their lives.
• of this legislation.

Bills: SB5109 , SB5835 , SB6065

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: mortgage lending, fraud, prosecution, financial regulations, consumer protection, retirement, lump sum payment, benefits, pension, financial security, SB 6065, school district transportation, transportation vehicle fund, pupil transportation, school buses, electric school buses, zero-emission buses, bus fleet electrification, charging stations, vehicle replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• Get up, say who you are, that you're proud of your parents. You're proud of you.
• </c><00:08:44.720><c> there</c> south of there south of there Margie<00:08:46.640><c> Wilcox</c><00:08
• I am a senior at the University of Alabama. >> All righty.
• So hair definition of cosmetology.
• The athletic trainer compact right now in the state of Alabama is doing a lot of jobs to make it easier

Bills: SB183 , SB160 , SB183 , SB160

Committee: House Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Keywords: tribal police, law enforcement, reservation safety, Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe, indigenous rights, sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax, local tax exemption, county tax, municipal tax, county commission, municipal ordinance, resolution, Alabama Department of Revenue, tax administration, fiscal year, September 1 effective date, local government, tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the privilege of serving the community of Torrington as the chief of police.
• Um, and I know type of a of an event.
• 1st of 26, we would insert January 1st of 27.
• Another thing you lot of a lot of time.
• Uh, mostly here just city of of Lander.

Bills: HB0026 , HB0042 , HB0067 , HB0069

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: tribal governments, vehicle registration, exemption, license plates, Wind River Indian Reservation, vehicle, accident, duty to stop, felony, personal injury, death, veterans property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, military tax exemption, Wyoming National Guard, active duty, reserve members, surviving spouse, surviving parent

Bills: HB0026 , HB0042 , HB0067 , HB0069

Committee: Senate Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: tribal governments, vehicle registration, exemption, license plates, Wind River Indian Reservation, vehicle, accident, duty to stop, felony, personal injury, death, veterans property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, military tax exemption, Wyoming National Guard, active duty, reserve members, surviving spouse, surviving parent

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the privilege of working alongside many of you for a number of years, and I continue to appreciate
• a part of a sermon.
• Can you give us a, of course, we've had a lot of conversation over the funding formulas and things of
• We've had a lot of criticism of Access and SNAP, and a whole variety of issues there.
• Senator Garcia moves to recommend confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children

Bills: S0556 , S0794 , S1600

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: high school diploma, graduation requirements, physical education credit, performing arts credit, marching band, Special Olympics, students with disabilities, IEP, individual education plan, 504 plan, Florida education, school credits, diploma substitution, ROTC, dance class, State Board of Education, public schools, graduation pathways, adaptive physical education, Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and a technical amendment that shifted the bill from creating an accreditation process to requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation, DCF, and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability in the child welfare sector and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027; the bill also included enforcement provisions for failure to provide requested information. Support was noted from child and family advocacy groups, and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard CS for SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, if included in the student’s IEP, and would clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy both PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, families, and other supporters testified in favor, emphasizing flexibility, access, and recognition of rigorous activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 794, which requires background screening for employees of residential facilities and day training programs serving people with developmental disabilities and directs a review of waiver support coordination, including quality, consistency, access, competencies, recruitment and retention, caseloads, and geographic gaps in services. An amendment to conform to the House version was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then questioned Secretary Taylor Hatch regarding her confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Senators raised concerns about child welfare system performance, parent notification and rights, CBC funding formulas, managing entities, opioid settlement spending, peer support expansion, and technology/interoperability improvements. Hatch described DCF’s recent data and initiatives, including reductions in out-of-home care entries, youth advisory efforts, missing children recovery operations, expanded behavioral health capacity, and technology upgrades for benefits processing. Public comment included support from family and provider organizations and concerns from a former foster care worker about medical misdiagnosis cases. The committee voted to recommend Hatch’s confirmation favorably, with Chair Grall voting no, and adjourned after allowing Senator Sharief to be recorded as voting in favor of SB 1600.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, due to the involvement of the University of Hawaii in this bill, we suggest indicating that it's
• a matter of statewide concern. >> Thank you. >> Deborah Halbert from University of Hawaii. >> It's Deborah
• c><00:21:32.799><c> of</c> &gt;&gt; Deborah Halbert from University of &gt;&gt; Deborah Halbert from
• University of Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii &gt;&gt; or<00:21:35.440><c> Dborah?
• Uh, the University of academic strategy.

Bills: SB3179 , SB2872 , SB2391 , SB3282 , SB2836 , SB2181

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: educational workers, harassment, workplace safety, temporary restraining orders, investigation procedures, retired education employees, teacher shortage, rehired retirants, entry level salary, collective bargaining agreements, pension benefits, education, teacher salaries, automatic increments, collective bargaining, teacher retention, workforce development, Pell grant program, short-term education, eligibility

Summary: The joint committee first heard SB 3179, which would require the Department of Education and charter schools to report harassment incidents involving educational workers and adopt procedures for handling them. DOE supported the bill, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying amendments to limit the measure to harassment directed at workers because of their position, to limit DOE legal assistance to temporary restraining order actions, and to clarify whether the harassment must come from outside the school system. Members also discussed whether the bill should cover non-DOE individuals on campus, whether investigations could be handled in-house, and whether training should be embedded in existing workday or school-year training rather than added as a separate requirement. The committee later voted to pass the bill with amendments as SD1. The committee then took up SB 2872, which would require retired teachers or administrators rehired into shortage or hard-to-fill positions to be paid the entry-level salary for that position. DOE supported the bill, and the Attorney General requested clarifying language about its effective date and that it would not affect already matured rights and duties. The Employees’ Retirement System administration emphasized that the bill should retain a 12-month break in service to preserve the pension system’s tax-exempt status and noted the importance of consistent classification of eligible positions. Members expressed support for using retired educators to help fill staffing gaps, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard SB 2391, which would provide annual step increases for public school teachers under bargaining unit 5, subject to funding. The Attorney General said the bill could conflict with collective bargaining procedures and Chapter 89, while DOE said unit 5 includes more than teachers and asked that the benefit be considered for other bargaining units as well, with funding provided if enacted. HSTA strongly supported the measure, arguing that annual step movement is already recognized in the collective bargaining agreement as a recruiting and retention tool. Testimony totals were noted as 16 in support, two in opposition, and three comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 3282, which would establish a statewide framework for the federal workforce Pell Grant program to fund short-term workforce education and training. The Attorney General suggested clarifying that the matter is one of statewide concern because UH is involved. UH and the Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, and DLIR testified that it is coordinating with DOE, the Workforce Development Council, and national groups on implementation. Members questioned whether the Workforce Development Council or DLIR should handle rulemaking and administration, and DLIR said the council is advisory while the department has grant administration expertise. The committee then moved into decision-making after discussion of possible amendments and implementation concerns.