Transcript Highlights:

• I'm serving victim one of several, excuse me, I am a surviving victim of one of several violent sexual
• After being ordered to report to the warden's conference room by Rodriguez in 2022, he violently held
• I'm serving victim one of several, excuse me, I am a surviving victim of one of several violent sexual
• After being ordered to report to the warden's conference room by Rodriguez in 2022, he violently held
• After being ordered to report to the warden's conference room by Rodriguez in 2022, he violently held

Transcript Highlights:

• And the point of the deferred prosecution program is to take low-level non-violent offenders, put them
• offenders, put them into non-violent offenders, put them into treatment,<01:10:46.719><c> and</c><01
• We're not just turning these folks loose into the community to go commit new offenses or walk in the
• We're not just turning these folks loose into the community to go commit new offenses or walk in the
• offenders that we are non-violent offenders that we are looking<01:13:13.600><c> to</c><01:13:13.920

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> what the severity of the current offense what the severity of the current offense is<00:33:09.679
• should be uh to give the judge a offense should be uh to give the judge a starting<00:33:13.840><c>
• </c><00:58:55.400><c> crime</c> benefits to victims of violent crime benefits to victims of violent crime
• He also provided funding for a violent crime reduction unit in the last biennium.
• </c> he also provided funding for a violent he also provided funding for a violent crime<01:08:47.839

Bills: HF2432

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last several years, violent juvenile crime has increased significantly throughout our state,
• When serious violent crimes are committed, the justice system must respond accordingly and consistently
• a firearm or violence that doesn't rise to the level, then being punctuated by a serious youthful offense
• or a youthful offense towards the tail end.
• And what we see is that these youth then come back and re-offend, and their re-offense escalates.

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of the bill is strengthening existing offenses that we have under our election code.
• talks about the penalty, Where it talks about the penalty, that it would be in addition to any other offense
• We are creating a new offense of intentionally obstructing the polling place.
• If there was a violent person in the courtroom, we need to have the ability to be armed to provide the
• New Mexico's experiencing significant violent crime challenges.

Bills: SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264 , HB195 , HB279 , SB30 , HB234 , HB292 , SB100 , SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, misappropriation, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, racketeering, criminal penalties, New Mexico, public safety, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, election integrity, voter coercion, emergency procedures, polling place security

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons convicted of certain offenses can be mandated to serve a period of time on community custody.
• Other violent crimes like sex offenses and felony DUIs require supervision after release, and stalking
• just say that you have more rights as a criminal defendant than you do being charged with a civil offense
• Part of the reason that people are... ...do being charged with a civil offense under immigration.
• In my job, I routinely work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crime around

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held an evening hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 6249, sponsored by Sen. Torres, would require all people convicted of stalking to be supervised by the Department of Corrections. Staff explained current community custody rules and said the bill would make stalking convictions subject to DOC supervision; the fiscal note had been requested but not yet received. The sponsor and several survivors and advocates testified in support, saying stalking is dangerous, victims need ongoing monitoring, and supervision could help prevent future harm. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6255, sponsored by Sen. Lovelett, which renames and updates the Legislative Executive Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force (LuPRO) as the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force, expands membership, and revises duties to monitor and update the state’s 10-year plan to dismantle poverty. Staff said the bill has a partial fiscal note showing a $4,000 OSPI cost for a report, with no additional cost beyond that this biennium. Testimony from DSHS and a constituent supported the bill as a way to improve coordination and accountability in poverty reduction efforts. Senate Bill 6286, sponsored by Sen. Orwall, would authorize the Department of Health to fine private detention facilities that deny inspectors entry, with escalating daily fines and a new account to support people harmed by wrongful detention or ICE-related abuse. The sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a human rights and public health measure, citing complaints about food, sanitation, medical care, and mental health conditions in private detention facilities. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6224, sponsored by Chair Wilson, which would create a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Leadership Council to implement the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and extend the existing work group. Supporters from state agencies, providers, parents, and advocates emphasized early intervention, cross-system coordination, and youth mental health needs; one witness opposed the bill, arguing it should focus more on non-psychiatric causes of distress. The hearing ended with no recorded votes or final action on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• PROVIDE A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCY WITH INFORMATION RELATED TO A VICTIM OR WITNESS TO A CRIMINAL OFFENSE
• CRIMINAL ILLEGALS IN THE PRISON SYSTEM ARE SERVING TIME FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CRIMES, CERTAINLY THE VIOLENT
• SCORESHEET AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT TEETH IN THESE THINGS THE REAL CRIMINALS YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF OFFENSE
• IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY MISDEMEANOR, THIS IS A LEVEL FOR OFFENSE WHICH IS 22 POINTS ON THE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT
• MY LINE 1035 SENATOR GRUTERS I WILL RAISE HELL IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT

Transcript Highlights:

• So, 202C deals with violent crime.
• So, if someone is accused of a violent crime and they have been determined that they can't go to trial
• So, 202C deals with violent crime.
• So, if someone is accused of a violent crime and they have been determined that they can't go to trial
• ,</c><00:34:57.160><c> all</c><00:34:57.360><c> that</c> uh to a misdemeanor offense, all that uh to

Transcript Highlights:

• As the committee is aware, vacating a conviction means that the offense is no longer included in the
• person's criminal history... ...a conviction means that the offense is no longer included in the person's
• This legislation recognizes the pain and suffering caused by the violent and discriminatory enforcement
• The explosion of violent crime is getting better, but it's still very present, and their main focus,
• rightly so, has to be on the prosecution of violent crime.

Bills: HB1982 , HB2156

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: Indian rights, treaty rights, convictions, tribal members, criminal justice reform, Attorney General, AG investigators, limited authority peace officer, peace officer certification, economic crimes, financial crimes, white-collar crime, fraud investigation, search warrant service, electronic service, business records, law enforcement authority, criminal background check, training requirements, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a little certificate here, and it's about acknowledging the victims of violent crimes and their
• President, that this is something that I'd like to give out to some of the victims of those violent crimes
• Year of these victims of violent crime that these lives are gone, and again their families' lives are
• Casey Foundation, which suggests children with low risk profiles and less serious offensive histories
• President: I know that we have a problem with juvenile offense.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislature, we adopted the DNA Database Act and required submission of DNA samples for 22 listed violent
• And over time, that has been amended since 1997 to include all felony crimes and some sex offenses.
• misdemeanor domestic violence is because research shows these two crimes have a propensity for additional violent
• , I believe it does provide justice for victims and potentially protects future victims of these offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Article 15 requires that any offenses, so that's limit offenses is wide, but crimes specifically
• It is a crime or an offense. An offense which is a civil tort.
• I am not a violent person. civil. I am not a violent person.
• That's a violent crime.
• </c> crime and a violent crime. crime and a violent crime.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• of cases where you've had an individual that, and I know this has been very much limited on the offenses
• , not just one mistake, multiple offenses, not just one mistake, but<00:34:13.240><c> multiple</c><00
• offenses, violation of protective orders, violation of interpersonal protective orders, stalking second
• </c><00:57:03.160><c> resolution</c><00:57:03.880><c> to</c><00:57:04.000><c> a</c> toward a violent
• resolution to a toward a violent resolution to a conflict<00:57:05.040><c> or</c><00:57:05.240><c> an

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• , 177,000 weapons charges, 6,400 kidnappings, and 4,000 commercial sex offenses.
• </c><01:01:39.920><c> 177,000</c><01:01:40.799><c> weapons</c><01:01:41.200><c> charges</c> DUI offenses
• 177,000 weapons charges DUI offenses 177,000 weapons charges 6,400<01:01:43.079><c> kidnappings</c><
• and that doesn't that that list offenses and that doesn't that that list doesn't<01:01:48.480><c> even
• We all dread a violent criminal event by citizens or non-citizens.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates criminal offenses and increases criminal punishment for existing criminal offenses.
• HB 3726 by Perez of Harris relates to the offense of passing certain vehicles on the highway for the
• It authorizes fees, administrative and civil penalties, and creates criminal offenses for violations,
• HB 3790 by Morgan relates to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed.
• HB 3816 by Metcalf relates to the prosecution of the criminal offense of cruelty to livestock animals

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 24 of the calendar, Senate Bill 318, by Senator Coleman, relating to crimes and offenses.
• Senator Coleman relating to<02:17:16.240><c> crimes</c><02:17:16.639><c> and</c><02:17:16.800><c> offenses
• </c> to crimes and offenses. to crimes and offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not just in Minneapolis where they have essentially been occupied by this violent militant force
• My colleagues have made excellent... explicitly say that they are training these masked, armed, violent
• So this is just so un-American and, you know, so offensive as well, especially to what I said earlier
• SB 1520 is dangerous and violent. I vote no. Senator Ortiz votes no.
• SB 1520 is dangerous and violent. I vote no. Senator Ortiz votes no.

Summary: The Senate met in multiple Committee of the Whole sessions and considered a large number of bills, many related to digital assets and cryptocurrency, including SB 1042, SB 1043, SB 1044, SB 1045, SB 1432, SCR 1003, SCR 1033, and SCR 1028. Members discussed whether the state should accept cryptocurrency for payments, tax or exempt virtual currency, ban central bank digital currency, and support digital assets in retirement systems. Senator Epstein repeatedly argued against the measures and tried to offer amendments targeting data center tax exemptions, but one such amendment was ruled not germane and the ruling was upheld on a division vote. The bills and resolutions in that group generally advanced with do-pass recommendations, with SB 1043 and SB 1044 amended before advancing. The Senate also advanced several bills on family law, public records, scholarship organizations, property conveyances, underground facilities, and environmental and energy issues, including SB 1039, SB 1139, SB 1147, SB 1148, SB 1328, SB 1078, SB 1142, SB 1184, SB 1254, SB 1278, SB 1281, SB 1418, SB 1445, and SB 1566. Some measures drew discussion and amendments: SB 1254 received a clarifying amendment for deeds handled by title and escrow professionals; SB 1278 had a floor amendment withdrawn; SB 1281 was amended by committee and floor changes; SB 1418 prompted questions about small modular reactors and concerns about uranium mining and health impacts; and SB 1566 was amended to address malicious delay enforcement and judicial review. Most of these bills received do-pass recommendations. In the health and human services calendar, the Senate advanced SB 1052, SB 1115, SB 1149, SB 1193, SB 1233, SB 1345, SB 1346, and SB 1631, with SB 1124 retained on the calendar. Debate centered on ACCESS and remote work, administrative deficiency cure periods, anonymous complaints, fee-for-service claims, and DCS-related hearings and investigations. Senator Gonzales opposed several ACCESS-related bills, arguing they lacked appropriations, could disrupt services, or conflicted with federal Medicaid law, while sponsors said the bills addressed agency performance and provider complaints. SB 1115, SB 1149, SB 1193, SB 1233, and SB 1345 were amended before receiving do-pass recommendations, and SB 1345’s sponsor said ACCESS was removed from the bill. The final calendar included regulatory and veterinary-related bills such as SB 1137, SB 1144, SB 1205, and SB 1286. SB 1205, dealing with motor vehicle booting fees, received a floor amendment requiring an appeals process for private parking lots. SB 1286, on veterinary telemedicine and prescriptions, drew the most extended debate, with a committee amendment and a Kavanagh floor amendment restoring a 14-day prescription extension and adding flea and tick treatment; Senator Leach opposed the floor amendment, describing prior stakeholder negotiations and changes in committee support. The transcript ends while that debate is still underway, after several bills have already been reported out with do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation includes a narrow exception for investigations involving Class A violent felonies.
• public safety exceptions for serious offenders and other circumstances authorized by law, including violent
• Toll violations, red-light cameras, speed camera penalties, and voluntary assessment offenses are excluded

Bills: HJR11 , HB59 , HB418 , HB342 , HB408 , HB409 , HB133 , HB134 , HB414 , HB355

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and heard presentations on several bills. House Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute 1 for House Bill 145 would restrict government use of reverse keyword searches, generally prohibiting reverse keyword court orders and voluntary requests, with a narrow exception for Class A violent felony investigations and rules on notice, deletion, and inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 368, with House Amendment 1, would limit Delaware law enforcement and the Department of Correction’s participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, especially regarding civil immigration warrants and detainers, while preserving exceptions for serious offenses and valid judicial processes; the Department of Correction said it had no operational or fiscal impact and supported the exclusions, and an ACLU-affiliated witness testified in support. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 would allow certain 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in hunting and target practice without direct adult supervision if they have parental permission, hunter education, and a valid Delaware hunting license. House Bill 355, the “Speak Your Truth Act,” would expand anti-SLAPP-style protections for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, and harassment by raising the burden in defamation suits and allowing attorney’s fees and damages; advocates from the National Women’s Defense League and the Speak Your Truth movement supported it. House Bill 134 would increase penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenders and lengthen animal ownership bans. The committee also heard House Bill 133, as amended, which would create a hardship waiver process allowing courts to waive fines and fees for defendants who cannot afford them, while preserving restitution and exempting certain traffic-related penalties and victim compensation assessments. The administration said the bill is intended to address uncollectable debt and noted millions in outstanding fines and fees, while local government and police representatives raised concerns about lost revenue, administrative burden, and consistency; the Fines and Fees Justice Center supported the measure. Committee members asked about how the waiver funding would affect local governments, volunteer fire companies, and related fees, and the administration said the $5 million budgeted this year would cover the waiver costs and be treated as an annual expense going forward. No committee votes were taken during the excerpted discussion, but the chair indicated that bills ready for action would be circulated for signature or moved to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current law allows principals to permanently expel students for three offenses: weapons, drugs, and
• motivated by the perceived need to exclude several students charged with or convicted of serious violent
• The department's recommendations reserve the exclusive power for these types of offenses.
• The departments recommend that principles reserve the exclusive power for these types of offenses.
• It protects our educators from violent and dangerous situations. Again, this gives clarity.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with much of the testimony focused on school discipline and student equity. Bills discussed included measures to address inequities in suspension and expulsion, clarify school exclusion rules, reduce discipline for dress and grooming violations, and expand protections related to fair educational practices. Committee members repeatedly reminded witnesses of the two-minute limit and asked for written testimony to supplement oral remarks. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on the RAISE Act and related school discipline bills, including H. 730/S. 376 and H. 731/S. 380. Testifiers from advocacy groups, legal services, and the legislature argued that exclusionary discipline disproportionately affects Black and Latino students, students with disabilities, low-income students, and DCF-involved youth. They said current law is overly broad or unclear in areas such as “assault on educational staff,” indefinite suspensions tied to felony complaints, and definitions of weapons, leading to unnecessary removals from school. Supporters said the bills would add due process, clearer definitions, and better accountability, while one legislator testified in support of the discipline reforms and opposed several other bills on the agenda. The committee also heard testimony on H. 576/S. 368, which would prohibit suspensions and expulsions for dress and grooming violations and require clearer, non-discriminatory dress code policies. Witnesses cited research and personal stories about disproportionate enforcement against Black girls, girls of color, non-binary students, and students wearing religious attire, and said the bill would prevent physical contact used to enforce dress codes. Another major topic was H. 641/S. 349, which would add “special medical status” protections in education; supporters said it would prevent exclusion based on medical decisions or conditions, though members questioned how it would interact with existing disability law and vaccination-related school requirements. The committee also heard testimony on H. 625, which would extend the ban on corporal punishment from public to private schools, with witnesses citing research on harm and disproportionate impact. Additional testimony covered bills on accelerated learning and gifted education, with parents, educators, and advocates saying Massachusetts under-identifies advanced learners and lacks adequate acceleration pathways. A senator also testified for S. 406 on recovery high schools, saying the funding formula should be updated to better support students in recovery. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair closed testimony on several bill groups and noted that written testimony would remain open for a week.

Transcript Highlights:

• described in 90, uh, in the violent offense as defined in the code section 97-32.
• </c> described in 90 uh in the violent described in 90 uh in the violent offense<01:45:00.880><c> as<
• If they use a firearm during the commission of a violent offense, the original jurisdiction will be in
• </c><01:46:40.560><c> offense,</c> commission of a violent offense, commission of a violent offense,
• </c> a violent offense with the firearm. a violent offense with the firearm.