Video & Transcript Research : 'wrongful death'
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HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
HHS-EIG, EIG DEFER, EIG-AEN Public Hearings 02-06-2025
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- They were wrong.
- So basically, that clog turned an area of Rolling Hills between the playground and backyards into a death
- <00:01:53.159>
and inspired by the story of her death and inspired by the story of her death - um and so basically that they were wrong um and so basically that clog<00:02:20.560>
turned <00 - Pit and even the people who into a Death Pit and even the people who went<00:02:26.640>
in <00
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on SB 1221 and SB 1222, both relating to storm water management and detention/retention ponds. Testifiers, including the Department of Health, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and a family member affected by a drowning death in a poorly maintained detention pond, strongly supported stronger statewide safety standards, inspections, and maintenance requirements. Several speakers urged that the bills be combined or aligned so they would cover both existing and future ponds, and there was discussion about whether responsibility should remain with DOH or be shifted to DLNR, which members said has more relevant expertise. The committee ultimately amended SB 1221 to move responsibilities from DOH to DLNR, add two positions, and include existing ponds, then passed SB 1221 with amendments. SB 1222 was deferred.
The committees also heard SB 1432, concerning changes to the Department of Health’s responsibilities related to Kalaupapa as the patient population declines. DOH testified in support, saying the bill begins the conversation about future responsibilities after there are no longer patients at Kalaupapa. Testimony from K4dhana O Kalaupapa, descendants, and community members emphasized that the affected community and other stakeholders should be included in planning, and several speakers asked for more detail on the state’s transition plan, financial responsibilities, and preservation of the site’s cultural and historical significance. Members discussed the need for a coordinated plan among DOH, DLNR, and DHHL, and asked for more detailed cost information and a clearer roadmap. The committee passed SB 1432 with amendments, including stakeholder consultation language and a requirement for a state plan and financial details to be reported back.
Later, the committees heard SB 1339, which would create a program to characterize statewide carbon sequestration potential and underground water resources. DBEDT and the Chief Energy Officer testified in support, describing it as part of a broader coordinated effort involving DHHL, DBEDT, the University of Hawaii, and the Energy Office to advance geothermal and related research. No vote or final action on SB 1339 was taken in the portion provided.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-05-01 (11:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So what's wrong with the bill before us?
- And in some senses, we're going to even give them the death penalty.
- And in some senses, we're going to even give them the death penalty.
- Oh, wait, wait, I'm wrong. We did something. Oh, wait, wait, I'm wrong. We did something.
- The victims and the families of wrongful death due to medical malpractice deserve this bill.
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures.
The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill.
The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, February 6, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- scapegoat for everything that goes wrong scapegoat for everything that goes wrong diversity<01:17
- poisoning, raising the death rate for teens to 5.2 deaths per 100,000, driven by fentanyl and counterfeit
- Raising the death rate for teens to 5.2 deaths per 100,000, driven by fentanyl and counterfeit pills,
- Seventy-five thousand deaths a year.
- age 50 the number one cause of death age 50 the number one cause of death anything<03:30:07.479>
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Aug 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm gonna quote a number; if I'm wrong, text Dr.
- If something... wrong or bad were to happen and we had the opportunity to draft something that would
- death.
- determine what the actual time of death is, but rather the time that individual was found.
- Nelson was actually registered for the wrong bill. I think he was here for two, not one.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Judiciary (2-26-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- But if it was wrongful, then there would be liability.
- But if it was wrongful, then I would have liability. That’s right.
- Okay, thank you. wrongful so there is a stipulation so wrongful so there is a stipulation so the<00:34
- but if it was a wrongful but if it was a wrongful<00:34:22.280>
then <00:34:22.399>I <00 - There's nothing wrong with protesting, attempting to make your voice heard.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:00
Roll Call: 00:00:02
HB 446: 00:01:44
HB 456: 00:07:08
Discussion in Opposition to HB 456: 00:15:20
HB 10: 00:26:18
HB 96: 00:36:54
HB 399: 00:56:31
HB 465: 01:03:04, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 446, as amended by committee substitute, which would expand third-degree assault protections to cover judges and justices of the Court of Justice and public transportation drivers. Supporters said the bill responds to violence and threats against judges and would extend protections already given to other public servants. Members generally supported the bill, though several suggested broadening it further to include circuit clerks or all officers of the court. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 446 on an 18-0 vote.
The committee then considered House Bill 456, a DUI-related cleanup bill sponsored by Representative Patrick Flanery and presented by County Attorney Joe Ross. The bill would add fentanyl, Flexeril, and clopene to the per se DUI list, treat driving on a suspended license as an aggravating circumstance, revise implied-consent notice language, and make changes to ignition interlock rules, including suspension periods and fees. Representative Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified in opposition, warning that some interlock violations and fees could unfairly extend suspensions and discourage participation, while members and the sponsor said the bill would strengthen DUI enforcement and that non-listed substances could still support DUI charges under other provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 456 by a 16-0 vote with one pass.
Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 10, relating to the rights of real property owners, sponsored by Representatives Maryanne Proctor and Emily Callaway, with testimony from a Pacific Legal Foundation representative and a Boone County Sheriff’s Office staff attorney. The sponsors said the bill is intended to address squatting by defining squatters and improving property-owner remedies, and noted support from sheriffs and realtors. The transcript cuts off before the bill’s full presentation or any committee action on HB 10.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In my district alone, wrong.
- And so this is a life and death And so this is a life and death discussion<00:42:17.119>
that - death discussion. Mr. death discussion. Mr.
- All in all, expanded and death.
- HR1969, the No Wrong Door Act, as HR1969, the No Wrong Door Act, as amended.<05:41:56.638>
I <05
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, January 12, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- ends in poverty, death, and despair. ends in poverty, death, and despair.
- in tyranny and death every time. in tyranny and death every time.
- While today's bill absolutely wrong.
- Americans know this is wrong and down.
- Following her tragic death at the away.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, correct me if I'm wrong.
- There was something wrong.
- At that point in my life, the only way out I could see was death.
- But she proved me wrong, and I thank God for it every day.
- The pharmaceutical companies were wrong. Correct.
Bills:
HB35, HB4490, HB4454, HB2188, HB3078, HB4743, HB2556, HB46, HB5342, HB4783, HB3785, HB5278, HB1639, HB2581, HB4224, HB4070, HB4099, HB4882, HB3794, HB46
Keywords:
peer support, first responders, mental health, confidentiality, emergency services, disclosure, next of kin, public information, deceased persons, privacy rights, patient solicitation, marketing practices, healthcare regulation, task force, deceptive advertising, nurse aide, certification, Texas Board of Nursing, healthcare workforce, nursing standards
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And I guess, TDI, I can come up and tell, maybe where I'm wrong.
- Potentially, am I wrong about that? You got a court?
- We know that wrongful convictions happen.
- Death investigations by non-law enforcement entities.
- If I'm not, tell me where I'm wrong.
Bills:
HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148
Keywords:
criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Instead, we Good, that is bad, this is right, that's wrong.
- did something wrong, then take them to court.
- What's wrong if they're around polling centers, but they're not doing anything wrong?
- In one case, the death certificate delay was over three years.
- This is wrong. There's no justification for it. And that is why every day This is wrong.
Summary:
The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal, and then took up a long third-reading file. Early procedural actions included moving AB 1589 to the inactive file and continuing reconsideration items. The chamber then considered a series of bills largely focused on immigration enforcement, detention, worker protections, child care, voting access, and related public services.
Several immigration-related measures passed, including AB 2393 on damages for false imprisonment/arrest, AB 1994 on an immigrant victims’ rights and resources card, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 1633 imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, AB 1650 requiring decals on rental vehicles used for enforcement, AB 1655 protecting CalWORKs benefits when a child is detained, and AB 1896 disqualifying people who participated in immigration enforcement from certain public employment. AB 2230, which would bar immigration enforcement near polling places and child care facilities, also passed after extensive debate. Supporters framed these bills as accountability and protection for vulnerable communities; opponents argued they targeted federal law enforcement, were unnecessary, or raised constitutional concerns. AB 1851 on statewide school mental-health guidance also passed unanimously.
After the midday recess, the Assembly returned and continued with more bills tied to immigration impacts and child welfare. AB 2379 passed with urgency, requiring child care providers to be informed of constitutional rights and trained on protections when confronted by immigration enforcement. AB 2460 passed to update school behavioral-health referral protocols for students affected by immigration enforcement trauma. AB 2495 passed to expand prohibitions on employer immigration-related threats, and AB 2662 was presented as a way for California to monitor and document federal enforcement actions and report on their community impacts. Throughout the day, the floor featured repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real problems or were political messaging, but the measures that came to a vote generally advanced with majority support.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- Their families now have to deal with their deaths from hanging.
- In here, I'm dubbed the companion of death.
- I think it's completely wrong. parole bills.
- He endured the deaths of family members from a prison cell.
- My husband was liberated from a wrongful conviction just yesterday.
Summary:
The hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security focused on several correction-related bills, including visitation reform, elder and medical parole, incarcerated persons’ human rights, and creation of an independent correctional oversight office. Vice Chair Christopher Worrell chaired the hearing in place of Chair Dan Cahill for much of the session and explained that the committee would first hear from incarcerated individuals remotely, then move to public testimony. The committee repeatedly enforced three-minute limits and accepted written testimony as well.
Much of the testimony from incarcerated people emphasized that visitation is central to rehabilitation, family stability, and reentry, and that current DOC policies—visitor caps, pre-approval requirements, scheduling rules, dress-code enforcement, and restrictions on contact—have reduced family contact and caused harm. Several speakers argued that elderly and medically frail prisoners should be released through parole because incarceration is costly, ineffective, and inhumane for people who pose little public-safety risk. Others described poor prison conditions, limited programming, inadequate healthcare, segregation-like housing, and the impact of K2 use, suicides, and self-harm. Supporters of the oversight bill said an independent office is needed to address racial disparities, grievance failures, and lack of accountability within the DOC.
A number of speakers tied their support to personal experiences, including alleged racial discrimination, denial of programs, and barriers to family visits. Some testified that rehabilitative programming, education, and restorative justice reduce violence and improve outcomes, while others said the DOC spends too little on programming and too much on punishment. Committee members asked a few follow-up questions, including about K2 contraband and how to reduce drugs in facilities, and one member asked about typical visitation lengths. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony on the bills and several witnesses urged favorable reports.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 35 (2-26-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- leading deaths leading deaths in<00:54:40.320>
Kentucky <00:54:40.880>of <00:54:41.000 - ,<01:05:34.200>
I there's been several recent deaths, I there's been several recent deaths - all those deaths have been ruled homicide. homicide. homicide.
- But I do know something is terribly wrong.
- Something is terribly wrong. Something is terribly wrong.
Summary:
The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and excused absent members. The chamber received second readings of several bills and resolutions, including measures on ad valorem taxes, planning and zoning, tax-dollar restrictions, provisional medical licensing, Medicaid oversight, environmental regulations, municipal financial reporting, nuclear workforce development, and county law libraries. Committee reports advanced bills on economic development, education, judiciary, and veterans/public protection, and the body also received a list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics such as rural revitalization, athletics, SNAP eligibility, diaper tax exemption, domestic violence, middle school math, pedestrian bridges, constitutional amendments, education, and several honorary resolutions.
The Senate then took up House Bill 314, which would reorganize the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (Kentucky Wired) by moving it under the Commonwealth Office of Technology, restructuring its board, and adding members representing cities and counties. Supporters said the bill was an administrative change, not a funding measure, intended to focus the network on students, teachers, and public users while awaiting an audit. Critics argued the project has been a costly taxpayer burden and called for stronger oversight. The bill passed final passage 32-6.
The chamber also passed Senate Bill 157, which aligns Kentucky law with federal mortgage rules so that certain rate buy-down payments do not count against borrower fee caps, with supporters saying it would help housing affordability and reduce costs for borrowers. Senate Bill 214 also passed unanimously; it allows the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to accept non-federal funding for grants without routing those funds through the Department of Finance. The Senate later adopted several resolutions, including Senate Resolution 61 recognizing Links Incorporated Day, Senate Resolution 114 commemorating the 80th Southern Legislative Conference, and Senate Resolution 118 honoring Joseph H. Mattingly Jr. Additional remarks highlighted a Black History Celebration event and a lengthy floor speech criticizing the Kentucky Hospital Association’s reserves and urging investigation, followed by consideration of Senate Resolution 55 on Profound Autism Day in Kentucky.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
State of the Union Address by the President of the United States (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They got it totally wrong. They got it really wrong. happy. They're not making money like happy.
- <01:12:17.600>
really <01:12:17.920>wrong. - <01:12:18.800>
And Wrong. They got it really wrong. - And battled back from the edge of death.
- we're talking about the edge of death. we're talking about the edge of death. on<01:54:46.880>
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating Jun 18th, 2026
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating
Transcript Highlights:
- There are other causes that led to those deaths, other failures that led to those deaths.
- The 1:14 a.m. warning also stated, most deaths occur in vehicles.
- This is a statement provided to me from DSHS to provide to you, and it is wrong.
- So I am really glad that they reported the deaths.
- Our final report does more than recount what went wrong on that tragic day.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- There's been charts going around that There's been charts going around that you can get wrongful death
- And so this also presumes human suffering as part of every wrongful death action. It is not.
- The other type of case, of course, is a wrongful death action by the family.
- The other type of case, of course, is a wrongful death action by the family, which allows recovery of
- You would then have a situation where there could be theoretically both a wrongful death action on behalf
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote.
SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously.
The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (Part I) Mar 26th, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- It is wrong. And over the years we've found data.
- It was clear that things were going wrong and that this was creating uncertainty.
- Are you aware that since 2017, the leading cause of death for children is accidental death, and the leading
- cause of those accidental deaths is, in fact, firearms and gun violence?
- In 2017, guns have been a leading cause of death for children.
Bills:
SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034
Keywords:
SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These deaths impact families, but they impact entire communities.
- the leading cause of death for Black children since 2006.
- Every death is someone's loved one.
- Gun violence is the leading cause of death of children in America.
- And now that gun violence is the number one cause of death of children. one cause of death of children
NV
Transcript Highlights:
- Section 34.3 provides that a certificate of innocence and provision of an award in a wrongful death action
- For DUI causing death, where the person has a prior DUI conviction, the penalty range would be 5 to 25
- His death was County deputies. He was experiencing a mental health crisis.
- His death was ruled a homicide, but no one was held accountable.
- It's about life and death.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- For decades, the families carried the weight of wrongful conviction, wrongful incarceration, and wrongful
- death.
- For decades, the families carried the weight of wrongful convictions, wrongful incarcerations, and wrongful
- death.
- death.
Summary:
The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, visiting groups, and special honorees in the galleries. The chamber then took up committee and executive appointment business, adopting a report confirming 42 gubernatorial appointments by a vote of 36-0.
The Senate next considered a long special-order calendar of bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Measures included public-records sunset reviews and trade secret/cybersecurity exemptions; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; commercial driving school oversight; human trafficking training for nurses; a new injunction for protection against serious violence and its related public-records exemption; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove protection; a chiropractic trust-funds cap repeal; specialty license plates; a waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill with multiple agriculture, biosolids, and enforcement provisions; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety reporting procedures for public postsecondary institutions; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary critical-need practice certificates, and domestic animals.
The floor debate featured the most discussion on the farm bill, the HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill, the autism law-enforcement bill, and the school athletics bill. The HCSM bill drew extended debate over whether licensed insurance agents should be allowed to market faith-based health care sharing ministries, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free speech, and religious liberty, and opponents warning about unregulated products and commissions; it passed 32-5. The athletics bill, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater/Miami Northwestern situation, would let coaches provide good-faith support to student-athletes while requiring reporting and FHSAA oversight; it passed 38-0. Most other measures passed overwhelmingly, including the autism bill 38-0, the campus safety bill 37-0, the public school patriotic displays bill 36-2, and the farm bill 38-0 after amendments addressing Everglades lands and biosolids timing were adopted.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In 1636, which is as far back as we're able to trace, blasphemy was punishable by death.
- Sorry, 1641, we got another version, still punishable by death, and quoting the Old Testament.
- Blasphemy no longer punishable by death, but instead by imprisonment of six months, sitting in pillory
- And we filed this amendment, we filed the bill actually before this to write this wrong.
- Each was convicted and sentenced to death.
Summary:
The Senate took up several committee reports, resolutions, and House messages, then moved through a series of bills on the calendar. Early action included adopting a Ways and Means order on Senate Bill 2549, which promotes student learning and mental health, by substituting a new draft and setting amendment deadlines and a second reading date. The chamber also adopted congratulatory resolutions for the Sport Fish Restoration Program’s 75th anniversary and the Hawthorn Hotel’s 100th anniversary, and suspended rules on a sick leave bank petition for a trial court employee and on a House bill validating a special election in Hardwick, which was ordered to a third reading. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Peter Hayden Lapin of Springfield, a veteran and former public servant.
The Senate then considered Senate Bill 137, renaming and updating references in the General Laws to replace outdated and offensive terms regarding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Senators spoke at length in support of the bill, emphasizing respect, disability rights, and the work of advocates such as Melissa Riley and the Arc of Massachusetts. An amendment by Senator Creem replaced “hearing impaired” with “deaf or hard of hearing,” and a corrective amendment by Senator Lovely was also adopted. The bill was then passed to be engrossed by a unanimous 40-0 roll call.
Next, the Senate considered Senate Bill 1034, which repeals archaic laws including sodomy-related provisions, the common nightwalker law, and the blasphemy statute, and creates a commission to review archaic laws going forward. Senators described the measure as a civil liberties and dignity issue, with particular attention to the misuse of the common nightwalker law against women and trans people and the historical injustice of blasphemy laws. Amendments were adopted to add the Supreme Court as a recipient of commission reports and to remove the crime of petite treason. The bill was then passed to be engrossed unanimously, 40-0.
Finally, the Senate considered Senate Bill 2558, the “blue envelope” bill to improve interactions between police officers and people with autism spectrum disorder. Supporters said the voluntary program would help drivers and passengers with ASD during traffic stops and would be made permanent through the Registry of Motor Vehicles, with the State Police and advocacy groups involved. An amendment requiring in-service training by the Massachusetts Police Training Council was adopted, while a proposed yellow-dot amendment for older drivers with chronic illness was rejected 5-34. A Ways and Means amendment was then adopted, and the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously, 39-0. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned.