Transcript Highlights:

• Plus, as I said before, repeating it, the psyche of the child, the mental well-being of the child, also
• Plus, as I said before, repeating it, the psyche of the child, the mental well-being of the child also
• I saw on my legislative assistant's child sitting at my desk, if I could see that in another child,
• interest of the child.
• And the grandparents-and-child relationship is what's best for the child.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked for years in the Massachusetts child abuse hotline, have educated in schools to prevent child
• I worked for years in the Massachusetts child abuse hotline, have educated in schools to prevent child
• I worked for years in the Massachusetts child abuse hotline, have educated in schools to prevent child
• I worked for years in the Massachusetts child abuse hotline, have educated in schools to prevent child
• Massachusetts child abuse hotline have Massachusetts child abuse hotline have educated<00:33:13.480><

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So, of child abuse and neglect? You're right. And so, exactly.
• abuse.
• People will say, well, we're not buying a child. We're not selling a child.
• achieve a child.
• My maternal great-grandmother was a Black Muskogee child who was placed in an abusive federal Indian

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Certainly the child sexual abuse, I think we can all get behind that.
• Certainly the child sexual abuse, I think we can all get behind that.
• For now adult victims of child sexual abuse.
• to include more than just child sexual abuse because these are adults; it just that the abuse took place
• If we took and expanded the scope and made it for all victims of child or abuse sexual abuse and increased

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1645, which would reduce Missouri’s general personal injury statute of limitations from five years to two years for claims after August 28, 2026, while also extending the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims from 10 years to 20 years after the victim turns 21. Representative Overcast and supporters from the insurance and business communities argued the change would improve Missouri’s business climate, lower insurance costs, and align the state with most others; opponents, including trial lawyers and victim advocates, warned that shortening the filing window would harm injured adults and sexual abuse survivors who need more time to come forward. Representative Sites supported the child sexual abuse expansion but said broader retroactivity work was still ongoing. No vote was taken in the hearing itself, but the bill drew both support and opposition testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 1610 and House Bill 2182, both of which were described as similar proposals to shorten the general civil statute of limitations, with HB 1610 moving from five years to three years and HB 2182 moving from five years to two years. Supporters repeated the same business-climate and insurance-rate arguments, while opponents repeated concerns about access to justice and the time needed to investigate complex injuries. Several witnesses from the insurance, chamber, farm bureau, railroad, and business groups testified in support, and some said they preferred two years over three. The chair noted the testimony was largely repetitive across the bills, and the hearings concluded without recorded votes in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2714, which would change Missouri from a pure comparative fault system to a modified comparative fault system, barring recovery if a plaintiff is found more than 50% at fault. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would make Missouri more business-friendly and more consistent with neighboring states, while opponents from the trial bar argued it would unfairly cut off recovery for injured people and that juries already apportion fault under current law. Testimony focused on how fault percentages are determined, the effect on settlements and trials, and examples such as car crashes and product liability cases. The hearing ended with continued opposition testimony and no final committee action reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's like no reports of any child abuse or anything.
• And it's no fault of the child. So that's who's lost in all of this is the child.
• he was doing to the child.
• minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, child abuse, child sex trafficking, and aggravated luring a minor
• trafficking, taking a child for the purpose of prostitution, continuous sexual abuse of a child, bestiality

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills dealing with elections, juvenile representation, paternity, and campaign finance. SB 1489 would require paid petition circulators to disclose their name, residence, and paid status, wear a badge, register in some local petition efforts, and subject local initiatives to stricter compliance and fiscal disclosure rules. Supporters said it would standardize rules and improve transparency; opponents, including the ACLU, argued it would chill core political speech and compel identification. The bill received a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. SB 1609, an emergency measure restricting political party names from using terms like “independent” or “unaffiliated,” drew support from county election officials who said it would reduce voter confusion, and opposition from the Arizona Independent Party, which called it retroactive and anti-competitive. The committee adopted an amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. SCR 1040, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 subject to voter approval, was supported as reflecting longer life expectancy and retaining experienced judges, but opposed by some who favored age limits; it passed 5-2. The committee then took up SB 1234, which would change juvenile court representation by requiring a guardian ad litem in dependency and termination cases and allowing, rather than requiring, separate child counsel in some circumstances. Sponsor Senator Werner said the bill was part of a broader child-safety package and was informed by cases involving children who died after alleged system failures. Child welfare attorneys and advocates opposed the bill, warning it would weaken attorney-client privilege and take away children’s independent voice, while DCS said the bill was intended to clarify the GAL role and could work alongside child counsel. The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 5-2. SB 1661, allowing child support obligations to be terminated when genetic testing shows a presumed father is not the biological father, received broad support from the sponsor, a fathers’ advocacy group, and a family representative, and passed 6-0. Later, the committee considered election-administration and campaign-finance measures. SB 1392 would give governing bodies canvassing elections access to election-material locations to observe procedures and review records, while protecting privacy and security; county officials supported access but raised concerns about the term “agent,” and the bill passed 4-3. SB 1634 would require ADOT to provide county recorders with applicants’ handwritten signatures collected during voter registration; county officials said it would improve signature verification, and the bill passed 5-2 after some members noted amendment concerns. SB 1743 would redact donors’ employer street addresses and residence addresses from campaign finance reports; supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while opponents said employer information is important for transparency and identifying influence. It passed 5-2. SB 1099, a strike-everything amendment defining defamation standards for public and private figures, was presented as narrowing and clarifying defamation law and passed 4-3. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1535, which would make paying for sexual conduct a prostitution offense and add a $200 assessment to fund anti-human-trafficking services. Survivors, law enforcement, and neighborhood advocates supported stronger penalties aimed at buyers and demand reduction, while criminal-defense and victim-advocacy groups said the bill needed a rebuttable-presumption amendment to better protect trafficking victims. The transcript cuts off before the committee’s final action on SB 1535.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:09.640><c> care</c> additional support for child care additional support for child care providers
• </c> to get rid of the waste Fraud and Abuse to get rid of the waste Fraud and Abuse and<00:26:58.360
• </c> because there's waste Fraud and Abuse because there's waste Fraud and Abuse and<00:36:10.680><c>
• </c><01:18:21.120><c> we</c> dollars to control Fraud and Abuse we dollars to control Fraud and Abuse
• </c> health uh diseases substance abuse health uh diseases substance abuse disorder<01:21:46.760><c>

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I committed a kid that committed credit card abuse.
• I'm a former foster child.
• This is what happens when we let systems ignore abuse.
• This is not therapeutic, this is abuse.
• we will get back adults who are abusive.

Bills: HB31 , HB3360

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• And our child care providers are stretched. Taking a break.
• And our child care providers are stretched.
• . ...giving us a tool that is going to look at every possible abuse.
• You need a prediction: did the tool say the child was safe, and an outcome: was the child actually safe
• abuse.

Summary: The committee met to brief amendments and then took executive action on nine bills related to child care, DCYF oversight, and services for children and vulnerable populations. Before voting, members reviewed proposed substitutes and amendments for HB 1544, 2099, 2219, 2253, 2319, and 2350, with brief discussion on issues such as child welfare risk assessment tools, military family child care access, child care provider flexibility, licensing and monitoring requirements, and residential habilitation center terminology and notice requirements. The committee then reported HB 2099, HB 2185, HB 2219 as amended, HB 2253 as amended, HB 2317, HB 2318, HB 2319 as amended, and HB 2350 as amended out of committee with do pass recommendations. HB 2253 saw one amendment adopted to restore state monitoring and health/safety reviews at the Washington School for the Deaf, while other proposed amendments were withdrawn or rejected. HB 2319 was amended to correct technical language regarding Eastern State Hospital and Interlake School. HB 2350’s substitute changed notice procedures for residential habilitation center noncompliance to emphasize posted notices, email, preferred language, and plain-language summaries. HB 1544 drew the most debate. Amendments to add domestic violence, define “safe,” require an audit of missing safety-plan data, and prohibit use of an unvalidated risk tool to screen out referrals were considered; only the domestic-violence amendment was adopted, while the others failed. Members discussed concerns about the current DCYF risk assessment tool, cultural bias, and the need to improve validation, but also cautioned against narrowing the study too much. The committee ultimately reported the second substitute HB 1544 out with a do pass recommendation by a 9-0-2 vote, with two members voting no without recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, victims of child sexual abuse can seek damages against perpetrators for injury or illness
• According to Child USA, a think tank that aims to prevent child abuse and neglect, the average age that
• Missouri's civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse has not changed since 2004.
• Seventeen states have eliminated civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse entirely.
• My brother, Trey Carlock, was a victim of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Camps based in Representative

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse case. was because Placer County has arrested him on another child abuse case from 1996.
• child abuse.
• And they could also be charged with other items like child abuse endangerment.
• And they could also be charged with other items like child abuse endangerment.
• This child abuse endangerment with wobular two to four years.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. The chair announced recess and return times, noted several consent items, and said SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Testimony procedures were explained, including limits on principal witnesses and public comment. Several bills were heard out of file order with authors presenting and witnesses speaking in support and opposition. SB 1446 would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make votes public, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Supporters, including the author and district attorneys, said it would improve transparency and public safety; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual or serial sexual offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorneys cited recent releases of serious sex offenders and the need to respect victims and sentences, while opponents said the elderly parole process is already rigorous and evidence-based and that the bill would reduce rehabilitation incentives. The chair and other members strongly supported the measure, but no vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement forces from entering California without the governor’s permission; the author and supporters framed it as a state sovereignty and constitutional authority measure, and the committee discussed an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for implementation of Proposition 36; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and related services, while opponents called it fiscally reckless and said the budget process was the proper place to address funding. The chair summarized amendments removing a specific appropriation and limiting eligible recipients, and members emphasized that the voters approved Prop. 36 but it remains underfunded. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer oversight for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment providers, especially ABA providers serving children; it drew support from health plans and behavior analysis groups and no opposition. SB 1210 would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to all gang databases, including local ones; supporters described privacy harms and racial disparities, while police chiefs opposed applying CalGang rules to informal local investigative files. SB 1019 would create a DOJ cargo theft task force; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, and port interests described organized theft, rail sabotage, and supply-chain losses, and there was no opposition. SB 1217, on non-consensual intimate image removal, was introduced with privacy and public safety amendments and framed as a survivor-driven effort to create a DOJ clearinghouse for rapid takedown requests; the author said it would help end ongoing digital harm from exploitation.

Transcript Highlights:

• A child.
• Now, one of the unfortunate facts that is common to the crime of child sex abuse…” “Now, one of the unfortunate
• facts that is common to the crime of child sex abuse is that it often occurs more often than not, in
• abuse cases.
• While known…” “Diseases are not critical evidence in child abuse cases.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Child protection laws are designed to remove children from abuse and unsafe situations before harm becomes
• Only when the child faces significant risk.
• Four cases consisted out of that: CPS, criminal, family law, and the child abuse registry, where I had
• I appealed the child registry abuse registry, taking it before a senior district judge that cited the
• charge did not constitute a circumstance of child abuse and ordered the state to remove my name.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Last time I was here, I talked about my own experience in foster care as a child, experiencing abuse
• In fact, she threatened me. child care in the state?
• DCF threatened to take her child for neglect.
• They just took me away, so I was the bad child.
• My son was not removed from my care for any type of neglect or abuse.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a package of Department of Children and Families bills focused on care and protection proceedings, sibling placement, parenting time, foster parent eligibility, adoption timelines, and a proposed Harmony Montgomery Commission. Rep. Marjorie Decker framed her bills as a set intended to reduce trauma for children removed from home by promoting sibling placement, visitation, cultural continuity, and limits on barriers to foster/adoptive placement. Witnesses from CASA, the Massachusetts Child Welfare Coalition, CPCS, and others generally supported the sibling-placement and parenting-time bills and the Harmony Commission, while several urged that the commission include a birth parent with lived experience and that its scope remain focused on child safety and family rights. A former juvenile court judge also supported the Harmony Commission, citing failures in the Harmony Montgomery case and broader concerns about DCF power and child representation. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing focused on Senate 114, the “Family Protection and Transparency Act,” which would require DCF to provide families with written and verbal notice of their rights during investigations, including the right to remain silent, consult counsel, and refuse entry absent legal authority except in emergencies. Supporters included parents, former foster youth, attorneys, advocates, and a peer mentor, many of whom described personal experiences of confusion, coercion, retaliation, and family separation when DCF became involved. They argued the bill would improve due process, language access, transparency, and accountability without limiting DCF’s emergency powers. Several witnesses also described intergenerational DCF involvement and said families often need resources and legal guidance rather than punitive intervention. Testimony on House 268 emphasized the importance of keeping siblings together in foster care whenever possible. Advocates cited research showing better mental health, educational, and reunification outcomes when siblings remain together, and several young people testified about being separated from brothers and sisters and the lasting impact of that separation. CPCS supported the bill and said regular sibling visitation should be required when joint placement is not possible. House 269, 270, 271, 288, and 293 were also on the notice, but the transcript reflects little or no testimony on some of those measures. The hearing concluded after the committee heard from all scheduled witnesses and invited written testimony for additional details.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also, if it's a crime, that would go to child protection anyway and to child abuse, and it would
• Different names, same abuse, and this is still happening.
• Instead, I had experiences that no child should ever have.
• But abuse prospers when there's no transparency.
• If there's so much abuse there.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• for child support purposes by allowing child support calculations in certain orders to begin during
• child.
• In my family's case, my daughter is a survivor of child sexual abuse.
• If we've got, in the cases of child abuse as an example, you've got a...
• If we've got, in the cases of child abuse, as an example, you've got mandatory reporters to make sure

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a full roster of members present and heard a series of bills focused largely on criminal law, victims’ rights, and family law. The committee first heard HB 2133, which would require commercial websites distributing sexual material online to verify consent and age for each depicted person, including AI-generated or altered images. Supporters said it would close loopholes in existing revenge-porn and child-exploitation laws, while opponents warned it added more complexity to already lengthy criminal statutes. The bill passed 7-1. The committee then heard HB 2043, expanding felony murder to include unborn children; supporters argued it would close a gap in the homicide statutes, while opponents raised concerns about personhood, reproductive rights, and abortion-related implications. It passed 6-2. HB 2144, allowing child support calculations to begin during pregnancy and limiting pregnancy-related expenses, also passed 6-2 after testimony split between supporters citing parental responsibility and opponents warning about fetal personhood and abortion-related concerns. The committee next considered HB 2126, allowing a venue change in civil actions when a party is employed by the local judicial branch or clerk’s office. The sponsor described it as a fairness and public-confidence measure, and county representatives said they were working on amendments; it passed 7-0 with one member voting present pending amended language. HB 2045, expanding the definition of discharging a weapon from a motor vehicle to include the immediate area around the vehicle, drew testimony about drive-by shootings and concerns about vagueness and overlap with existing homicide laws; it passed 7-1. HB 2046, requiring notice to victims for pre-hearings in annual probation review hearings for certain young sex-offense probationers, passed unanimously. HB 2048, which would limit private process servers from serving certain exclusive-possession orders of protection, prompted debate over victim safety, service delays, and whether private servers were improperly charging fees; it passed 8-0 with one present. The committee also heard HB 2074, as amended, creating a mandatory reporting requirement for medical-facility employees, contractors, or volunteers who know a partial-birth abortion occurred, with the amendment increasing the penalty to a class six felony. Supporters framed it as a reporting and accountability measure, while opponents argued it targeted a procedure already banned and would add unnecessary abortion restrictions. The amended bill passed 5-3. Finally, the committee heard HB 264, creating criminal penalties for injuring or killing vulnerable pedestrians using mobility aids. Opponents said it duplicated existing traffic and homicide laws and could criminalize negligent accidents; after some members expressed reservations but voted yes pending further discussion, the bill passed 8-1. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we really do appreciate this bill to ensure that child quality, child care remains accessible and
• We track both the numbers and the capacity. of both child care centers and family child care homes.
• Child care centers returned after the pandemic, but our child care homes have not.
• Tilden Childs. Dr. Childen Tile, I'm sorry, Childs, Tilden, Childs, yes. If you would, Dr.
• Your child has strep throat.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• January 2026 to March of 2006, there were 8,610 reports accepted at the child abuse hotline, and 6,919
• abuse and neglect across ...to coordinate the response of child abuse and neglect across the state.
• Our CACs, our child advocacy centers, served 13,568 children and families in 2025.
• We, our CACs across the state of Arkansas, provide vital services to child abuse victims.
• You know, and our goal is to continue the work, ...to child abuse victims.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our counter-exploitation detectives and personnel go after criminals who are trading child sexual abuse
• </c> after criminals who are trading child after criminals who are trading child sexual<00:03:08.800>
• c> related</c> with child sex abuse material related with child sex abuse material related offenses.<
• A user uploaded child sexual abuse material to the platform involving a victim that was 5 years old and
• from further abuse.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met without a quorum at first, then heard an update on child exploitation enforcement efforts from the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Criminal Investigations. The presenters described the specialized investigation and prosecution unit funded in House Bill 6, saying the added resources allowed them to hire four staff members and expand work on cyber tips, search warrants, arrests, forensic processing, victim advocacy, and training for local law enforcement. They highlighted a recent rescue of a 5-year-old victim from a Discord-related case and said the office had also filed a civil lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the platform lacked adequate age verification and allowed predators access to children. Senators asked about the lawsuit, and the presenters said Kentucky was one of only two states to sue Roblox and that the complaint was based on evidence collected by the office. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky River Authority on lock and dam repairs funded in the 2024-2026 budget. The authority reported progress on three capital projects: upper guide repairs at Locks 2 and 3, design and repair work at Dam 7, and design work to reopen Lock 5 for navigation. Officials explained that river construction is limited by flooding and fish-spawn restrictions, and they described the engineering and safety issues involved in replacing guide walls and repairing Dam 7’s spillway. They also said the authority had demolished three obsolete lockmaster houses and filled a fifth lockmaster position, while continuing to work on pay retention for those employees. Members asked about the transfer of the lock and dam properties from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the permitting process through the Division of Water, and the timeline for reopening navigation. The authority said the Corps had transferred the properties to Kentucky, that permits for river work are handled through the Division of Water and the Army Corps, and that Locks 1 through 4 are open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October. Officials said Lock 5 would add 14 miles of navigation if reopened, but that it would still take a few more years before that project is complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what Oklahoma CASA does is we handle all the child abuse, neglect cases, per judicial discretion.
• We are only about representing those children that go through child abuse and in the neglect cases in
• They go through child abuse and neglect cases in our judicial system.
• So that a child with a little brown bruise-looking spot on it is not a bruise, and that that child should
• Felony domestic abuse charged within 10 years.

Bills: SB2065 , SB1641 , SB1642 , SB1589 , SB1597 , SB1216 , SB2173 , SB2028 , SB2117 , SB2127 , SB2134 , SB2014 , SB1805 , SB2044 , SB1836 , SB1380 , SB2179 , SB1436 , SB1558 , SB933 , SB1651 , SB1328 , SB1572 , SB1966 , SB175 , SB1475 , SB1950 , SB2049 , SB2052

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized the Doctor and Psychologist of the Day. The chamber also presented a citation to Oklahoma Task Force One’s K-9 search and rescue unit, with remarks praising its in-state and out-of-state disaster response work and professionalism. Several gallery introductions followed, including a student shadowing Senator Mann and the Crooked Oak Hispanic Student Association. The Senate then considered several bills. SB 2065, as amended, renamed the measure the Lucille Morehouse Pollinator Act and updated state insect/pollinator designations; it passed 48-0. SB 1641 required business entities to provide an email address on incorporation filings for electronic notice of annual reports; it passed 48-0. SB 1642 allowed physicians to make prescriptions in divided quantities, with discussion focused on opioid prescribing and post-surgical treatment; it passed 48-0. SB 1589 increased penalties for sweepstakes violations and expanded the law to target illegal online gambling operations; it passed 48-0. SB 1597 removed the requirement that the State CASA Association follow specific national standards while keeping local training and background-check requirements. Debate centered on whether removing national standards would reduce DEI-related training; Senator Boren opposed the bill on that basis, while the author argued it preserved Oklahoma flexibility. The bill passed 41-7. SB 1216 broadened judicial discretion for drug court eligibility for some offenders with prior domestic violence-related charges, and senators questioned whether the language was clear enough and whether it could affect eligibility rules; the author said the intent was to expand discretion, not change DV accountability. It passed 44-4. At the end of the session, the Senate voted to reject House amendments to SB 893 and request conference committee consideration. Announcements were made about committee meetings, a women’s caucus lunch, and an Irish Caucus gathering. The Senate then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• the hand of a child, and they decided to make a picture of nudity involving a young child.
• It helps protect not just my child, but every child and every person who could next be targeted.
• units. ...screen and assess every child that comes in, and from that screening and assessment, a child
• We will never put a child that's undersized or a child that's aggressive together. Thank you.
• That child cannot report to school, but... ...a home school with that child.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee met on March 18, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several criminal justice bills. HB 36 by Rep. Butler, as amended, removed Evangeline Parish from the Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District and was reported favorably. HB 160 by Rep. Knox increased penalties for domestic violence offenses involving strangulation; the committee adopted an amendment requiring at least one year without probation or suspension, heard strong support from survivors and prosecutors, and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 552 by Rep. Bryant, handled by Vice Chair LaFleur, clarified DWI law to include impairment beyond alcohol; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 119 by Rep. Fontenot created and strengthened penalties for AI-generated sexual images, especially involving minors; after amendments, including a new possession offense and a name change to “Act Ivy Daniels,” the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 171 by Rep. Spell corrected a citation in the personal surety provisions and was reported favorably without opposition. HB 140 by Rep. Cox drew the most debate. The bill lengthened juvenile delinquency filing and adjudication timelines and changed procedures for extensions and dismissals. Prosecutors and law enforcement supported the bill as a practical update to account for modern evidence gathering and case complexity, while public defenders, juvenile advocates, and other opponents argued it would prolong detention, undermine speedy-trial protections, increase costs, and harm children. After extensive testimony and discussion, the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 140 favorably as amended by a roll call vote of 8-3, with Representatives Knox, LaFleur, and Moore voting no. The committee also heard HB 68 by Rep. Schlegel, combined with concepts from Rep. Glorioso’s similar bill, to update disturbing-the-peace law to protect houses of worship from intentional disruption. An amendment clarified definitions of worship spaces and interruptions and increased the mandatory minimum jail time from 15 to 30 days, while enhancing penalties to a felony for more serious conduct such as battery, property damage, or carrying a dangerous weapon during the offense. Supporters framed it as a deterrent and protection for religious liberty, while opponents, including the ACLU, raised First Amendment concerns and asked for tighter language. The transcript cuts off during opposition testimony, and no final vote on HB 68 is shown in the excerpt.