Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:10.720><c> and</c> prosecuting attorney for the City and prosecuting attorney for the City
• </c> Hawaii County Office of the prosecuting Hawaii County Office of the prosecuting attorney<00:36:07.280
• Daniel Hugo for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu.
• Next is Kellin Walin for the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, also in support.
• </c> Hawai County Office of the prosecuting Hawai County Office of the prosecuting attorney<00:42:47.000

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 91 current reports reviewed, eight were referred to prosecuting attorneys and the attorney general
• This finding has been referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified
• This finding has been referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified
• This finding has been referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified
• This finding has been referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee approved the February 13 minutes and then heard several committee reports. The executive committee report noted that audit and special reports were scheduled for presentation, one requested report remained outstanding, and staff was asked to review selected Benton County circuit court case transfers. The committee also received and adopted reports from the counties and municipalities committee, the education committee, and the state agencies committee. Those reports covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, education audit reports, and state agency findings such as duplicate vendor payments, collateral issues, record-keeping problems, and vehicle log deficiencies. In each case, the committee voted to file or adopt the reports, with some reports deferred for follow-up or for officials to appear at a later meeting. A major portion of the meeting focused on the City of Pine Bluff’s 2024 financial audit. Auditors said the city received a clean opinion overall, but management letter findings identified serious issues in the mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation, and the finance department. The Parks and Recreation finding involved $179,629 in manual receipts that could not be traced to city deposits, missing receipts from several facilities, $48,415 in unallowable purchases, $13,000 in questionable purchases, altered invoices, unapproved vendors, and missing equipment; those matters were referred to the prosecuting attorney, attorney general, Governmental Bonding Board, and Arkansas State Police. The finance finding cited weak cash-receipting and bank-reconciliation procedures and late or missing deposits. City officials, including the mayor, finance director, and parks director, testified that the problems predated the current administration and said they had taken corrective steps. They described hiring a forensic audit firm, creating or updating standard operating procedures, improving receipting and deposit processes, adding procurement oversight, and moving Parks and Recreation to electronic or system-based receipting. Committee members questioned the officials about oversight, nonprofit relationships, and whether theft or system failures were to blame. After discussion, the committee voted to file the Pine Bluff report. The next meeting was announced for June 4-5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is supported by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and it is a response to multiple
• Attorneys Association, waiving in support.
• They are prosecuted.
• This was brought to me by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and will provide a tremendous
• prosecuting any subsequent cases.

Bills: S0212, S0656, S0682, S0810, S0812, S0890, S0892, S0900, S0928, S1084, S1284

Keywords: sexual offender, sexual predator, sex offender registry, child protection, residency restriction, loitering, proximity restriction, public swimming pool, school safety, child care facility, day care center, park, playground, conditional release, probation, community control, warrantless arrest, background check, registry screening, minor victims

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 1084, which exempts certain identifying and location information for non-legal support staff in state attorneys’ offices from public records requests, was supported by prosecuting attorneys and reported favorably. SB 212, as amended, created new restrictions related to sexual offenders and predators, including a 200-foot restricted presence provision near certain locations and updated notification/supervision requirements; it drew strong opposition from researchers, advocates, and affected families who argued it lacked evidence and would increase homelessness, but it was reported favorably. SB 682, addressing domestic violence, coercive control, strangulation, animal abuse, injunctions, and related training and enforcement issues, received emotional survivor testimony and support from animal welfare and law enforcement groups and was reported favorably. SB 656, creating and renaming FDLE Internet Crimes Against Children funding and grant programs, was amended and reported favorably and unanimously. The committee also considered SB 810 on sealing criminal history records, which would expand eligibility for some non-conviction records and one low-level misdemeanor conviction after waiting periods and judicial review; supporters said Florida is unusually restrictive, while one senator raised concerns about the scope, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 890, creating a standalone battery by strangulation offense applicable outside domestic relationships, was reported favorably after the sponsor said it would close a gap in current law. SB 892, revising habitual offender and violent career criminal sentencing procedures and notice requirements, was reported favorably, with defense lawyers supporting the clearer pretrial notice. SB 928, “Missy’s Law,” requiring immediate remand to custody after conviction of certain dangerous crimes, was amended to include computer pornography/child exploitation offenses and reported favorably after a family member of the namesake victim testified in support. Later, SB 1284 modernized arrest and search warrant statutes, expanding judicial summons options for some misdemeanors and broadening warrant/arrest authority in certain DUI, injunction, domestic violence, and misdemeanor force cases; defense lawyers supported the judicial-discretion portions but raised concerns about DUI/BUI arrests, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 812, a technical companion to SB 810 updating public records treatment for sealed criminal history records, was amended to clarify prosecutorial access for later cases and reported favorably. Several bills were supported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocacy groups, while others drew opposition from civil liberties, treatment, homelessness, and criminal defense advocates. The meeting adjourned after members recorded additional votes on selected tabs.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, because it has to do with federal prosecution versus state prosecution.
• Catherine Krechie, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• Again, Catherine Crichie, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• I'm Catherine Cretche, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Thank you.
• Chair and committee, I'm Catherine Cretchen, volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee heard several bills on criminal justice, public safety, and family law. HB 2047 would elevate trespass after service of a writ of restitution from third-degree to first-degree criminal trespass; the sponsor and a constables association representative said the current misdemeanor penalty is too low and discourages law enforcement response when former tenants refuse to leave. The bill passed with a do pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. HB 2136, which creates offenses for civil terrorism and subversion, expands racketeering predicates, and increases penalties for certain coordinated disorderly conduct and highway obstruction, drew extensive debate. Supporters said it targets coordinated intimidation and violent disruption, while opponents from the ACLU, immigrant advocacy groups, and others argued it would criminalize protest and speech. The committee approved it 6-3 after a long exchange over whether it would apply to events like January 6th and Arizona protest incidents. HB 2970, a jurisdictional clarification for fraudulent schemes and artifices, would allow Arizona to prosecute even if not every act occurred in the state. The sponsor said it would help local law enforcement pursue mortgage fraud and similar cases that are currently referred elsewhere, while an opposition witness said existing law already covers the conduct and warned of forum shopping. The bill received a do pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote. HB 2411 would make it a class 2 felony to knowingly administer abortion-inducing drugs to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent and with intent to cause an abortion. Supporters framed it as a protection against coercion and reproductive abuse; opponents said the conduct is already criminalized and warned of unintended effects on access to care. It also passed 6-3. The committee also approved HB 2198, which would allow immediate sealing of petty offense records after sentence completion, with supporters calling it a cleanup measure to extend record-sealing relief to minor offenses. HB 2966, which would bar early termination of probation for dangerous crimes against children, prompted emotional testimony from a parent of an autistic son convicted in a child pornography case, along with opposition from attorneys and advocates who raised ex post facto, juvenile justice, and probation-resource concerns. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said the bill could raise constitutional and workload issues but might be amendable; the committee ultimately passed it 6-3. The final bill discussed, HB 2662, would tighten expert-evidence standards in parenting-time cases involving alleged domestic violence or abuse, requiring recognized expertise and empirically validated methods while excluding polygraphs and similar techniques; the sponsor described it as a narrow evidentiary safeguard for child-related custody disputes.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, because it has to do with federal prosecution versus state prosecution.
• Catherine Krechie, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• Again, Catherine Crishie, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• I’m Catherine Cretchen, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• Chair and committee, I’m Catherine Cretchen, volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Bills: HB2047, HB2136, HB2198, HB2411, HB2662, HB2966, HB2970

Keywords: forcible entry, detainer, writ of restitution, criminal trespass, judgment enforcement, civil terrorism, disorderly conduct, vandalism, political activism, public order, subversion, government security, criminal records, sealing records, civil rights, expungement, rehabilitation, coerced abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, felony

Transcript Highlights:

• My island testifying, County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, in support. 2172? 2172?
• </c><00:32:52.720><c> Attorney</c><00:32:53.919><c> in</c> Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Office
• Uh, Daniel Hugo, prosecuting attorney. Okay. Good to see you again.
• Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelvin Walden testified in strong support of the bill.
• Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelvin Walen. We stand in strong support of this bill.

Bills: HB1694, HB1695, HB1986, HB1797, HB1879, HB2034

Keywords: sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, Hawaii, economic development, carbon footprint, aviation sector, renewable fuels, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation, clean fuel standard, alternative fuels, carbon intensity, emission reduction, greenhouse gases, transportation, autonomous vehicles

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a two-minute oral testimony limit and that decision-making would follow after testimony. It then took up SB 20008, which would set 55 mph as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the DKI/Saddle Road highway. The bill’s introducer described it as a response to safety concerns and noted prior public opposition when the speed limit was lowered from 60 mph; the Hawaii Police Department was listed in opposition, while DOT and several individuals testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 20009, requiring new plates/tags or emblems for used motor vehicles transferred between private individuals, and SB 2026, which would require drivers approaching stationary vehicles on the shoulder or roadside to slow down and, if necessary, change lanes. The Attorney General supported SB 2026 but recommended narrowing and clarifying the language by removing references to shoulder/roadside, collision or mechanical problem, and other limiting definitions so the duty would apply more broadly and be easier to enforce; AAA and OMA also supported the measure. Members discussed the practical need for a mandatory move-over rule, especially for roadside workers and tow operators, and the committee heard concerns about enforceability on two-lane roads and in accident scenes. SB 2053 was then heard, authorizing electronic signatures on supporting documents used to transfer ownership of total-loss vehicles to insurers without notarization and requiring insurers to indemnify the finance director for claims arising from those electronic title issuances. The Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, the City and County of Honolulu, and others supported the bill, with Copart describing it as a modernization that would reduce delays for total-loss settlements; technical amendments were requested. The committee also heard SB 2172, which would allow all-terrain vehicles to operate at night if equipped with lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem, adjust helmet requirements, define utility terrain vehicles, and include ATVs in motor vehicle insurance law. DOT said it could support the bill only if limited to low-speed areas, and the insurance industry warned it could create a new insurance scheme; the City and County of Honolulu opposed while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and an individual supported. Finally, SB 2253 was introduced to expand first-degree negligent injury to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, with DOT, county prosecutors, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office in support; Honolulu prosecutors said they would oppose a proposed amendment because they wanted the language to preserve the offense as a lesser included offense tied to negligent homicide.

Transcript Highlights:

• "But let's say that the district attorney is very close friends with that mayor and doesn't want to prosecute
• She prosecutes everybody. Why can't the Attorney General do this job? She can.
• The attorney general does not have the authority to initiate any criminal prosecution unless the district
• But the Attorney General can't prosecute a case on her own without the permission of the district attorney
• If a district attorney or the Attorney General, Rep.

Bills: HR9, HB709, HB1011, HB1057, HB1186, HB1245, HB1247, SB49, SB425, SB479

Keywords: human rights, individual liberties, Magna Carta, constitutionalism, free speech, Uniform Construction Code, building code, construction code, inspector licensing, building inspectors, plans examiners, public inspector, private inspector, private inspector company, building official, code enforcement, Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission, state fire marshal, International Building Code, International Residential Code

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is it gives prosecuting attorneys, whether that individual be a district attorney or a municipal
• The prosecuting attorney should not be subject to civil liability for the advice they give. ...to civil
• , the prosecutor, or the prosecuting attorneys.
• The thrust of this bill is that prosecuting attorneys... bill is that prosecuting attorneys should be
• , who is the prosecuting attorney, without the prosecuting attorney being concerned about any type of

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it so if we can just let the Attorney it so if we can just let the Attorney General<00:37:31.880
• </c><00:44:08.280><c> to</c> Division uh specifically a attorney to Division uh specifically a attorney
• I know either last session or the session ago the prosecuting attorney said they were handling state
• </c> session or session ago the prosecuting session or session ago the prosecuting attorney<00:49:48.359
• But it never prosecuted her.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• myself and to the Attorney General's office.
• With me are members from the Attorney General's office.
• Larry Freeman, Chief Deputy Attorney General.
• As you may know, Attorney General Liz Merle has made a commitment to the families of the victims Attorney
• And I apologize, I am not an attorney.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pamela Hicks, a volunteer attorney with the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
• Okay, Attorney Miller, come forward from Pinal County Attorney.
• I'm Brad Miller, Pinal County Attorney.
• Again, I'm Brad Miller, Pinal County Attorney.
• Thank you, Attorney Miller. Any other testifiers? Thank you, Attorney Miller. Any other testifiers?

Bills: HB2043, HB2046, HB2126, HB2131, HB2132, HB2133, HB2223, HB2265, HB2411, HB2666

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform, venue, employee conflict, superior court, legal proceedings, workplace disputes, weapons, explosives, trafficking, firearm regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• attorney.
• They threaten to file scene via the phone alleged attorney.
• We prosecute lawyers for misconduct and we also prosecute non-lawyers when they engage in the unlicensed
• And those are prosecuted by the state attorneys office like any other kind of criminal complaint.
• I think most attorneys will tell you that still the conduct of of attorneys is still the biggest issue

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That the prosecuting attorney then has original jurisdiction in juvenile court, which I don't think it
• It probably should continue and put a time period for which the prosecuting attorney has to bring the
• If somebody wants to walk in on a Thursday in front of the judge and the prosecuting attorney and say
• I'm the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney here for the Missouri Prosecutors Association.
• The bill requires the prosecuting attorney notify the J.O. within 14 days.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney, former U.S. Attorney Luger, talked to us about.
• Luger</c> attorney, former US attorney Luger attorney, former US attorney Luger talked<01:23:56.560><
• Here we are going years later to get to the final stage of prosecution by the attorney general's office
• </c> prosecution by the attorney general's prosecution by the attorney general's office<02:00:41.280>
• ><c> US</c><02:11:44.320><c> attorney</c><02:11:44.639><c> generals</c> two now attorney US attorney

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the prosecution of criminals in our communities.
• We have a number of attorneys that work.
• I'm the elected district attorney for Galveston County.
• , we are not like personal injury attorneys, wills and estates attorneys. is where we're equal.
• District Attorney, Brett Ligon.

Bills: SB330, SB663, SB1020, SB1152, SB1164, SB1896, SB2111, SB2196, SB2383, SB2581, SB2797, SB2798, SB2371

Keywords: county funding, prosecutors' offices, elections, law enforcement, local government, community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 1020, Texas, personal bond office, pretrial release, electronic monitoring, GPS monitoring, global positioning system, bond conditions, probation, parole

Transcript Highlights:

• prosecuting the case.
• , and other staff members of district attorney, criminal district attorney, and county attorney offices
• of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney, or a justice of the peace or
• Passage of this bill will help district attorneys, criminal district attorneys, county attorneys, JPs
• Attorney or Attorney General to bring murder charges on me again.

Bills: HB200

Keywords: HB 200, emergency communication, backup communications, satellite phone, portable satellite equipment, radio, floodplain, 100-year floodplain, FEMA, natural disaster, disaster preparedness, emergency preparedness, vulnerable populations, children, elderly, seniors, people with disabilities, care facilities, residential care, assisted living

Transcript Highlights:

• First as a state attorney in Palm Beach County for 12 years and then as an assistant United States attorney
• Or the case of Robert Solove, who in 2021 I prosecuted and created CSAM.
• This is parallel to the related criminal statutes that I prosecuted under.
• We can't prosecute our way out of the problem. The reports are coming in.
• Attorney 's Office in Minnesota has prioritized combating child sexual exploitation online.

Keywords: Stop CSAM Act, child exploitation, online safety, reporting requirements, tech accountability, NCMEC, survivor support, legislative testimony

Summary: The committee meeting centered around the urgent need to address child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, focusing primarily on the testimony and discussions surrounding the Stop CSAM Act. Several witnesses, including representatives from law enforcement and advocacy organizations, highlighted the significant drop in reports of child exploitation cases despite an alarming increase in actual incidents. Concerns were raised about tech companies' reporting practices, with calls for more stringent requirements to ensure timely and accurate reporting of suspected abuse. The legislation aims to fortify protections for child victims by imposing stricter obligations on tech platforms to report incidents and support law enforcement in investigations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it's been a very, I mean prosecuted people that needed to be prosecuted and uh made decisions based
• Oftentimes the prosecution doesn't know.
• During the prosecution phase, my entire identity was exposed.
• , I didn't need an attorney.
• Dean Thompson, is, does, is this attorney on what uh Rep Little asked, is this attorney like if like

Bills: HB47

Keywords: HB 47, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem taxes, property tax, voter-approval tax rate, tax rate election, taxing unit, injunction, taxpayer rights, property owner, local government finance, tax refund, attorney's fees, court costs, voter-approved tax increase, tax reform, municipal taxes, county taxes, school district taxes, bond election

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the prosecutors have to tell... us who is the attorney on record.
• My name is Staley Heatley, and I am the Wilbarger County Attorney.
• I've only been county attorney for a few months now.
• First, the bill narrows the definition of what the state is to just the prosecuting attorney and the
• I'm a policy attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• The Attorney General's office would manage those things today.
• <00:03:59.400><c> and</c> prosecute and prosecute and um<00:04:00.879><c> make</c><00:04:01.000><c> sure
• Attorney General's office to um uh Attorney General's office to um uh develop<00:15:12.800><c> the</c
• Those crimes are prosecuted right now if they can't actually find the person to start with.
• We do prosecute these types of criminals.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all