Video & Transcript : 'survivors' :
Page 42 of 159
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- unwavering golf tournament, and their unwavering support<00:10:02.200><c> for</c><00:10:02.320><c> survivors
- ,</c><00:10:03.720><c> caregivers,</c><00:10:04.560><c> and</c> support for survivors, caregivers, and
- support for survivors, caregivers, and participants.<00:10:06.120><c> Their</c><00:10:06.360><c> compassion
- Members, we will begin with Senate Bill 89, which is an act relating to expanding survivor benefits.
- S. 89, an act relating to expanding survivor benefits.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- He's a fire survivor who also His sister in the Eaton Fire.
- He is a fire survivor who also suffered losing a loved one and was asked for his driver's license three
- Will Abrams with the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition, monitoring and tend to support, but we're a
- victims in a sustainable way going forward, nowhere within those key stakeholder groups are wildfire survivors
- , our communities for wildfire survivors, or nonprofit serving wildfire survivors.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Summary:
The committee heard a long agenda of energy, water, and utility bills. SB 952, SB 1417, SB 924, SB 925, SB 1011, SB 1168, SB 1196, and SB 1350 were all discussed, along with consent items SB 1008 and SB 1245. SB 952 would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility in meeting clean energy procurement goals for the State Water Project; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. SB 1417 would extend transparency and notice requirements to mutual water companies, especially in response to wildfire-related rate increases in Altadena; supporters described lack of notice, meeting access, and public accountability, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and potentially conflicting with existing law. SB 924 would modernize low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs to better measure affordability outcomes and tenant benefits, and it passed with broad support. SB 925 would direct the Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; it was supported by industry and clean energy groups and passed without opposition. SB 1011 would require CPUC standards for human review of utility AI systems and labor consultation; supporters framed it as a safety and workforce protection measure, while utilities and business groups warned about cost, duplication, and overbroad regulation. SB 1168, now a study bill, would have the CPUC examine how data centers pay for load growth and rate impacts; it drew mixed reactions, with some industry opposition and some labor support after amendments. SB 1196 would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines; housing advocates supported it and it passed. SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with strong support from hydrogen, labor, and utility interests, but TURN opposed it unless amended, arguing it lacked safeguards against greenwashing and resource shuffling. The committee also approved the consent calendar and several bills were reported out on recorded votes, with most measures advancing on strong bipartisan support and a few no votes from Senators Strickland and Dahle on selected items.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- He's a fire survivor who also, His sister in the Eaton Fire.
- He is a fire survivor who also suffered losing a loved one and was asked for his driver's license three
- Will Abrams with the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition, monitoring and tends to support, but we're
- victims in a sustainable way going forward, nowhere within those key stakeholder groups are wildfire survivors
- , our communities for wildfire survivors, or nonprofit serving wildfire survivors.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications heard a long agenda of energy, water, housing, and technology bills. SB 952 (Laird, presented by Perez) would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility to meet the State Water Project’s 100% clean energy procurement goal by 2035 while managing costs; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. The committee also heard SB 1417, which would extend transparency, notice, and public meeting requirements to mutual water companies’ rate increases; Senator Perez and supporters tied the bill to post-Eaton Fire recovery in Altadena, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed it, citing conflicts with tenant billing laws, privacy concerns, and burdensome meeting requirements. SB 1417 was approved on a split vote and the roll was left open.
Members then considered SB 924, a low-income utility assistance/weatherization bill by Hurtado, which would require measurable affordability outcomes and better tenant-focused benefits; it passed to Appropriations with broad support from clean energy and community groups and no opposition. SB 925 (McNerney) would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; supporters from General Atomics, Clean Air Task Force, and TAE Technologies argued it would help keep fusion investment in California, and it passed unanimously to Environmental Quality. SB 1011 (McNerney) would require CPUC standards for human review and labor consultation before utilities deploy AI in operations; labor and utility engineer witnesses supported guardrails, while business and utility groups opposed or sought more review, warning of overregulation and overlap with other laws. The bill passed to Privacy, Digital Technology and Consumer Protection on a divided vote.
The committee also advanced SB 1168 (McNerney), a study bill directing the CPUC to examine how data centers can pay their fair share of grid costs; data center and utility groups were opposed or neutral pending amendments, while climate advocates supported it, and it moved to Revenue and Taxation. SB 1196 (McNerney) would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines and penalties; housing advocates supported it and it passed to Local Government. SB 1350 (McNerney) would allow renewable portfolio standard credits for power plants using green hydrogen, drawing strong support from hydrogen, labor, utility, and local government interests, but opposition from TURN over greenwashing and tracking concerns; it passed to Environmental Quality. Finally, SB 1158 (Stern) would expand quarterly reliability reporting by the CEC and CPUC to include transmission and grid upgrade status; it was presented as a common-sense reliability measure and moved forward with support.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- He's a fire survivor who also, His sister in the Eaton Fire.
- He is a fire survivor who also suffered losing a loved one and was asked for his driver's license three
- Will Abrams with the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition, monitoring and tend to support, but we're a
- victims in a sustainable way going forward, nowhere within those key stakeholder groups are wildfire survivors
- , our communities for wildfire survivors, or nonprofit[s] serving wildfire survivors.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Feb 19th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- honor the day of remembrance, and as I understand, the good senator will be introducing some of the survivors
- To our survivors, your testimony is a gift and a warning.
- We are deeply honored today to welcome to the rear of the chambers a group of survivors.
- To welcome to the rear of the chambers a group of survivors, family members, and activists who continue
- Have been spoken about by so many colleagues, we stand in the congressional district of one of the survivors
Summary:
The Senate first took up two budget-related transportation trailer bills. AB 107 was described as a budget junior bill making technical corrections, updating federal appropriations by about $15 million, and exempting certain Proposition 4 appropriations from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed spending; Senator Niello objected to the transparency implications, but the bill passed 28-10. AB 117 then authorized a $590 million state loan from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to provide operating support to Bay Area transit agencies, with repayment secured by transit assistance revenues and interest; supporters called it an emergency bridge to prevent major service cuts at BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain, while critics questioned ridership recovery, governance, and accountability. The measure passed 28-9 after extensive debate, with several senators emphasizing both Bay Area urgency and the need for broader statewide transit funding and reform.
The Senate then confirmed two California Air Resources Board appointees. Linda Hopkins, Sonoma County supervisor and air district chair, was confirmed after brief support from Senator Becker highlighting her rural North Bay perspective. Patricia Locke Dawson, Riverside mayor and South Bay air district representative, was also confirmed, with Senator Becker again praising her academic and practical background. Both confirmations passed on largely party-line votes with broad support from the majority and opposition from a small group of Republicans.
The chamber next considered SCR 89, a resolution by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas condemning federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs under President Trump. Supporters from both parties and multiple caucuses framed DEI as essential to civil rights, education, workforce development, national defense, and inclusion for marginalized communities, while the author argued California must resist federal rollbacks. The resolution passed after a lengthy debate and roll call, with several senators also using the discussion to share personal experiences with educational access and discrimination.
Finally, the Senate took up SCR 78, authored by Senator Cabaldon, commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and warning against repeating such abuses. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, citing the injustice of Executive Order 9066, the resilience and military service of Japanese Americans, and the importance of museums and historic sites such as Manzanar and the Japanese American National Museum. The resolution was presented as both remembrance and a caution against fear-driven policies and erosion of due process.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- It sweeps in survivors of trafficking who entered this country unlawfully when fleeing violence.
- My name is Sherry Lopez, president of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivors Coalition, and I'm here
- My name is Sherry Lopez, president of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivors Coalition, and I'm here
- As a survivor, I know trafficking depends on access and control.
- We meet survivors living with injuries, trauma, and a justice process they never asked to navigate.
Bills:
HB2495 , HB2557 , HB2594 , HB2615 , HB2800 , HB2861 , HB2862 , HB2931 , HB2995 , HB4042 , HB4070 , HB4117 , HB4136
Committees:
House Judiciary , House House Judiciary Committee of Reference
Keywords:
vulnerable adults, sentencing, felonies, criminal justice, enhanced penalties, medical records, patient rights, healthcare access, privacy, healthcare providers, timeliness, address confidentiality, domestic violence, privacy protection, voter registration, court proceedings, parenting time, supervised visitation, family court, high-risk cases
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 70 Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:48 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- reported receiving 288 signals from Massachusetts, and 91 of those signals were from victims and survivors
- Massachusetts Lodging Association, the Hotel Workers Union Local 26, My Life, My Choice, human trafficking survivors
- To my colleagues, I respectfully request your support, and I will leave you with a quote from a survivor
Summary:
The House began with ceremonial and procedural business, including adoption of resolutions recognizing the National Asian Pacific American Caucus and several orders extending reporting deadlines for committees, all of which were adopted by suspension of the rules. The House also concurred with a Senate petition concerning accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former Boston firefighter, referring it to the Committee on Public Service.
The chamber then took up several Ways and Means bills and local matters, including human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, teacher benefits under the Retirement Plus program, and land/easement measures for Westford, Wellesley, and Bourne. Most of these items were advanced to third reading after amendments were adopted. The House also moved through a series of local bills on the calendar, ordering multiple measures to third reading, including bills related to Watertown digital legal notices, Newton alarm divisions, Springfield property tax assessment, Natick’s charter, Beckett conservation commission membership, and Leicester stabilization funds.
Later, the House considered and passed two major bills to be engrossed by roll call vote. H. 4361, relative to benefits for teachers, was supported by members who described it as a long-sought fix to Retirement Plus enrollment problems caused by unclear implementation and communication years ago; it passed 158-0. H. 4360, requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, also drew strong support from members and advocates emphasizing victim identification, hotel and motel staff training, and anti-trafficking enforcement; an amendment updating the training language was adopted, and the bill likewise passed 158-0. The House then recessed until the next day.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Jurors typically lack experience in trauma, coercive control, and survivor safety, increasing the risk
- Survivors of domestic violence are disproportionately impacted by financial abuse and economic instability
- greater financial resources to leverage the cost of litigation as a coercive tactic to pressure survivors
- more training in that area jurors typically though lack experience in trauma coercive control and survivor
- Survivors of domestic violence are disproportionately impacted by financial abuse and economic instability
Bills:
SB1067 , SB1234 , SB1285 , SB1295 , SB1392 , SB1413 , SB1436 , SB1470 , SB1476 , SB1489 , SB1512 , SB1535 , SB1540 , SB1556 , SB1568 , SB1569 , SB1570 , SB1573 , SB1585 , SB1609 , SB1627 , SB1634 , SB1635 , SB1644 , SB1647 , SB1648 , SB1650 , SB1653 , SB1654 , SB1655 , SB1656 , SB1657 , SB1658 , SB1661 , SB1662 , SB1664 , SB1666 , SB1667 , SB1669 , SB1709 , SB1720 , SB1723 , SB1725 , SB1743 , SB1746 , SB1748 , SB1755 , SB1786 , SB1820 , SB1822 , SB1829 , SCR1027 , SCR1040 , SCR1048
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Elections
Keywords:
tax lien, property tax lien, real property tax lien, foreclosure, right of redemption, redeem, excess proceeds, county abatement lien, abatement lien, lien priority, assessment lien, easement, county treasurer, certificate of purchase, tax delinquency, delinquent property taxes, property owner equity, judgment foreclosure, title report, Arizona Revised Statutes
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 4/10/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- A survey of cancer patients and survivors done by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network found
- The legislature has an opportunity to provide real support for Minnesotans, patients, survivors, and
- The legislature has an opportunity to provide real support for Minnesotans, patients, survivors, and
- The legislature has an opportunity to provide real support for Minnesotans, patients, survivors, and
- The legislature has an opportunity to provide real support for Minnesotans, patients, survivors, and
Committee:
House Commerce Finance and Policy
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- MassArt, even though it doesn't fall within the DCF tuition fee waiver, and they can save their survivor
- fighting in the state is the continued practice of interception of federal benefits like SSI and survivor
- These aren't just numbers on paper; these are SSI checks and survivor benefits meant to support us—youth
- I don't... ...survivors' benefits because they've lost a parent. I won't repeat again.
- I'm here to talk about how survivors of victims of homicide are affected by their Social Security money
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting foster youth, child welfare oversight, homelessness services, juvenile justice, social work licensure, and human services workforce supports. Committee co-chairs Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone opened the hybrid hearing by outlining testimony procedures and accessibility measures. Several members and legislators participated throughout the day, and many witnesses were invited to submit additional written testimony after speaking.
A major portion of the hearing focused on House 227/Senate 105, which would protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care. Supporters, including advocates from Hopewell, the Disability Law Center, CPCS, the Children’s Law Center, More Than Words, Friends of Children, and youth witness Onyx Rosario, said DCF had already ended the practice of taking most Social Security and SSI benefits and now conserves them in accounts for youth, but argued the policy should be codified to prevent future reversals. Witnesses described how conserved benefits help with basic needs, housing, education, transportation, and transition to adulthood, and several noted the bill also adds financial literacy and transparency requirements. Senator Joan Comerford and others said the change would protect vulnerable youth, especially children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. The committee also heard testimony on House 225, which would expand the grandparents-raising-grandchildren commission by adding appointments and helping with quorum and representation.
The committee also took testimony on Senate 136, which would improve emergency housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness by easing documentation requirements, allowing use of existing state data to verify eligibility, requiring notice before benefit reductions, and creating an ombudsperson. Senator Adam Gomez and other supporters said the bill would reduce barriers for families in crisis. On House 262/Senate 148, an omnibus child welfare bill, witnesses supported provisions on data reporting, education coordination, and Office of the Child Advocate reforms, while CPCS raised concerns about expanded access to sensitive records and the OCA’s role in certain proceedings. The Office of the Child Advocate supported codifying current practices and also backed child fatality review changes in House 234/Senate 133. The committee additionally heard support for Senate 108, which would require attorneys and audio/video recording during juvenile custodial interrogations, and for House 247/Senate 116, which would update the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board to add supported lived-experience seats.
Finally, the committee heard competing testimony on Senate 135, a bill to ensure parity in social work licensure. SEIU Local 509 and supporters argued the current exam requirement disproportionately harms Black, Latino, multilingual, and multicultural applicants and worsens workforce shortages, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, saying the exam is a necessary public-protection measure and that removing it would conflict with interstate compact efforts. The hearing also included testimony in support of a loan repayment program for human service workers, with providers and workers describing low wages, high student debt, and the need to retain staff in essential services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 40 Apr 29th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is not just about justice for survivors. It is about public safety.
- It's about survivors like my constituent Caitlin.
- Since then, I have heard from many survivors, like Jen, and individuals who came forward who testified
- Since then, I have heard from many survivors like Jen and individuals who came forward, testified, and
- And most of all, I want to thank the survivors, those who shared their stories, who pushed for change
Summary:
The House first adopted several ceremonial resolutions congratulating three Eagle Scouts, then concurred in Senate amendments to House bills affecting the town of Milford’s alcohol licensing law and the town of Middleton’s charter. It also passed to enact a Senate bill on maintenance of private roads in Gloucester and engrossed a House bill allowing Plymouth to create a special revenue account for land acquisition. The chamber later observed moments of silence for former Lynn City Councilor Richard “Rick” Ford, Portuguese American community leader Louis Pedroso, and Quincy veteran Mildred “Millie” Cox, and welcomed several guest groups and dignitaries, including students from Fall River, D.A.R. Good Citizen award recipients, and a British minister visiting the State House.
Most of the floor session centered on FY27 budget amendments, especially housing and shelter policy. Members debated and rejected multiple Republican amendments that would have tightened eligibility for the HomeBASE and emergency shelter programs by requiring citizenship or limiting access to U.S. citizens with Massachusetts residency, with supporters arguing the changes would reduce costs and opponents saying the programs already have strict eligibility rules and that the proposals would exclude lawful residents and vulnerable families. The House also rejected an amendment to block Housing and Livable Communities grants from being conditioned on MBTA Communities Act compliance, with supporters calling it a reprieve for noncompliant towns and opponents saying the law is helping address the housing shortage. A consolidated housing/environment amendment was then adopted 154-0, funding major housing, shelter, clean water, climate, and food assistance accounts.
The chamber also defeated amendments to create a data center commission and to eliminate the vocational-technical school admissions lottery, though the latter was withdrawn after debate. Another rejected amendment would have suspended public policy and public benefit charges on electric and gas bills; opponents said that would eliminate low-income and senior bill relief. The House then turned to education-related amendments, rejecting proposals to change special education reimbursement formulas and to raise the reimbursement rate from 75% to 80%, with opponents arguing the ideas needed committee review and cost analysis. Finally, the House began debating an amendment to fully fund regional school transportation by removing “subject to appropriation,” but the transcript ends before any final vote on that item.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- I am a survivor. I am a survivor of sexual assault.
- I am a survivor of violent sexual assault. I speak today from lived experience, not from hate.
- The trauma carried by every survivor. The country. My PTSD is very real.
- The trauma carried by every survivor in our state is real, and it is being dismissed as intolerance.
- So I am begging all of you on behalf of every child changing for swim lessons, for every survivor who
Committee:
House Judiciary, Rules and Administration
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- This has to do with the LEOFF 2 retirement program and the survivors of those folks that were killed
- while to go through that process to make sure that everything is proper in the way and there's a survivor
- This has to do with the left two retirement program and the survivors of those folks that were killed
- while to go through that process to make sure that everything is proper in the way and there's a survivor
- . and there's a survivor, the person who was killed, make sure it was done properly.
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, failure to register, criminal justice, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, nonprofit, grant funding, pilot program, financial support, community development, child care, childcare, subsidy rates, rate regions, market rate survey
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 Apr 25th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They are important for sexual assault survivors, having advocates.
- Undocumented survivors are frequently afraid of contacting emergency services, including law enforcement
- This fear is often enough To prevent a survivor from accessing critical resources.
- Abusive partners, employers, and family members further isolate victim survivors of violence by using
- As a survivor of assault, it is important to hold all of these people accountable for their horrible
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We've taken this issue over the last 10 years to the United Nations with survivors who have spoken about
- I'm a survivor of the government boarding school, the government relocation program, and I was a victim
- This bill is not only an act of Promise and justice, but survivors and their people, if this is a historic
- I have been proud to serve the courageous Community of survivors of rape, child abuse, and trauma for
Committee:
Senate Senate Rules
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Mar 26th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- retirement system 2, or JRS 2, to allow judges to designate a non-spouse beneficiary to receive survivor
- retirement benefits and to ensure that all vested judges can access survivor benefit protections.
- registered domestic partner to receive Only a spouse or registered domestic partner to receive ongoing survivor
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Will Abrams, with the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition.
- However, when you look at complex litigation, where many wildfire survivors are really reliant upon as
- victims, Wildfire survivors are really reliant upon as victims trying to recover losses.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee met to hear several bills, with the main discussion focused on SB 1159 by Senator Cabaldon and SB 932 by Senator Dato. SB 1159 would allow public agencies to treat AI-generated or bot-generated participation differently from human public comment and public records activity, in response to concerns that automated systems can flood local governments with fake comments and requests. Supporters, including Sierra Club California, the League of California Cities, county and city associations, and local officials, said the bill would protect genuine public participation and reduce burdens on clerks and agencies. Committee members raised questions about how agencies would detect AI-generated submissions, what enforcement would look like, and whether the bill could create First Amendment or liability issues if real human comments were mistakenly excluded. The author said the bill was intended to clarify that agencies are not required to treat bots as people and that detection standards and safeguards would need further work.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Will Abrams, with the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition: We certainly respect the effort here, and
- However, when you look at complex litigation, where many wildfire survivors are really reliant upon as
- victims, Wildfire survivors are really reliant upon as victims trying to recover losses.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/23/2026 - Senate Military Affairs and Border Security
Military Affairs and Border Security
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Travers, I'll never forget the first day I met you when we were celebrating the last survivors
- I'll never forget the first day I met you when we were celebrating the last survivors of Pearl Harbor
- I'll ever forget the first day I met you when we were celebrating the last survivors of the Pearl Harbor
Committee:
Senate Military Affairs and Border Security
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- So New Mexico administers significant state and federal funds for survivors of domestic violence, yet
- Timelines don't always align with crisis response, and when systems are opaque, survivors pay the price
- Timelines don't always align with crisis response, and when systems are opaque, survivors pay the price
Bills:
SB241
Summary:
The Senate began by outlining the day’s agenda, then received several House messages, including the House’s request for concurrence on Senate Bill 151 and notice that the House had concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 2, 3, and 70. The Senate also received enrolled bills SB 64 and SB 101, and later adopted committee reports on House Bill 120 and SB 64. The chamber then took up concurrence on SB 151, a tax package that the House amended to remove the gross receipts tax provision for medical supplies, add a 1% salary increase for state employees, higher education, and public schools, extend a high-wage job tax credit, and add sunsets. Senator Hamblen supported concurrence as a friendly amendment, while Senator Cervantes argued the House changes transformed the bill into an unconstitutional appropriations measure and urged a conference committee. The Senate nevertheless concurred, 22-14.
On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 61, which increases the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony to align with other sentencing provisions. Supporters, including Senator Cervantes, cited consistency in the criminal code and noted the Sentencing Commission’s endorsement; the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed House Joint Memorial 3, directing the Environment Department to convene stakeholders and report on implementation of the PFAS Protection Act, despite a brief exchange over whether the memorial could be read as expanding authority under the existing PFAS law; it passed 22-13.
The chamber then passed several memorials: Senate Memorial 20, amended to include youth and family voices and legislative appointees in a statewide youth violence summit, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 21, calling for a study of a statewide overdose prevention program, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 22, which asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group on domestic violence funding and CYFD-related funding flows, passed; and Senate Memorial 27, urging expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act to compensate New Mexicans affected by atomic testing and uranium mining, passed 34-0. At the end of the session, the Senate received a governor’s message authorizing consideration of SB 74 on cockfighting penalties, followed by a playful Senate response message. The body also agreed to move House Joint Memorial 2 from Rules to the President’s table and then recessed until 8:30 a.m. the next day.