Video & Transcript : 'sentencing enhancement' :

Page 45 of 500
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Feb 24th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Public Safety Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, if the shorter sentences, if the repeat offenses and the short sentences, To be rehabilitated
  • Imagine if it was you or your child who had been wrongfully sentenced to life in prison or even death
  • Slightly longer prison sentences will not have any significant deterring effect.
  • ... ...times within seven years that you should have a slightly enhanced criminal penalty.
  • Extensive research has shown that longer sentences do not deter crime.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, the way the sentence reads is annual incremental step movements are subject to funding, and you are
  • Um the way the sentence<00:21:24.720><c> reads</c><00:21:25.080><c> is</c><00:21:25.600><c> annual</c
  • ><00:21:25.920><c> incremental</c> sentence reads is annual incremental sentence reads is annual incremental
  • House Bill 2092 creates enhanced penalties for harassment but only against certain people: legislators
  • House Bill 2092 creates enhanced penalties for harassment but only against certain people: legislators
Bills: SB2567 , SB2448 , SB3046 , SB2231 , SB2526
Committee: House Labor
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PSM-HWN Informational Briefing 04-13-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The offenses there are individuals who have been sentenced for major crimes and there's because of their
  • </c><00:31:26.240><c> for</c><00:31:26.400><c> major</c> have been sentenced for major have been sentenced
  • </c><00:43:01.840><c> And</c><00:43:02.080><c> so,</c> done with the sentence.
  • And so, done with the sentence.
  • </c><01:01:22.800><c> The</c> light and enhancing the area. The light and enhancing the area.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (02/17/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • and enhancing the independence and functional<00:28:02.080><c> capabilities</c><00:28:02.720><c> of<
  • I'm shocked there's no exclamation point after that sentence.
  • I've never seen such dramatic sentence.
  • act of of cyber security and enhancement act of of 2014.<01:42:09.760><c> It's</c><01:42:10.159><c>
  • He noted that the amendment adds a sentence and said he was not quite sure why it was needed, except
Keywords: 1189, house, all
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 66 Mar 18th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • separate enhancement bills.
  • The Appropriations Committee will address enhancements to agency budgets in separate enhancement bills
  • separate enhancement bills.
  • It is nothing to do with the enhancement bill.
  • It is nothing to do with the enhancement bill.
Keywords: 989, all
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Mar 9th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • specifically requires stricter deadlines, electronic monitoring for domestic violence offenses, enhanced
  • Enhanced penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses and prior domestic violence convictions, makes
  • Repeat sexual offenders face longer mandatory minimum sentences.
  • Certain offenses are incorporated into Florida's criminal punishment code to ensure sentencing reflects
  • Certain offenses are incorporated into Florida's criminal punishment code to ensure sentencing reflects
Summary: The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognitions, including the doctor of the day and a lighthearted “Cannoli Day” introduction. The chamber then held an extended farewell celebration for Senator Joe Gruters, with numerous senators, colleagues, and family members praising his loyalty, political skill, family focus, and service in the Legislature and Republican Party. Gruters was presented with a commemorative gift recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety and immigration bill that prohibited sanctuary cities and required local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Senate adopted a motion to spread Gruters’s remarks upon the journal and then recessed briefly. After recess, the Senate returned to regular business and took up third-reading bills. Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 354, relating to blue ribbon projects, was temporarily postponed. The chamber then considered Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1758, relating to public assistance, with Senator Gates explaining that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system discussed earlier in session. During debate on SB 1758, Senator Berman opposed the bill, saying he could not support it in its current form because he believed the Medicaid-related provisions would create a coverage cliff after the one-year transition period and could leave people without care while increasing costs to hospitals and taxpayers. He also said SNAP error reduction should be a priority, but argued the state should focus on fixing administrative errors and fraud rather than imposing a work requirement whose costs and effects were uncertain.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><01:05:48.960><c> retirement</c> investigator in the enhanced retirement investigator in the enhanced
  • We'll strike the sentences from page 5, lines 3 to 5, beginning with "the injured employee" and ending
  • We'll<01:15:21.600><c> strike</c><01:15:21.840><c> the</c><01:15:22.080><c> sentences</c><01:15:22.480
  • ><c> from</c><01:15:22.800><c> page</c> We'll strike the sentences from page We'll strike the sentences
  • </c> I'm sorry we'll strike the sentences I'm sorry we'll strike the sentences from<01:15:31.920><c>
Bills: SB3082 , SB3110 , SB3251
Committee: House Labor
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 29th, 2026

Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • So typically, misdemeanor offenders in Louisiana are given the same sentence with no regard for whether
  • By requiring screening for offenders early in their DUI careers, judges could craft sentences that address
  • The screenings occurred after conviction, but before sentencing.
  • But the first thing that we look at when somebody gets convicted and sentenced is sentence length.
  • And what the bill does is it creates a mandatory minimum sentence for second offense.
Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on April 29, 2026, and first voluntarily deferred House Bill 517. The committee then heard and passed several bills focused on impaired driving, wrongful conviction compensation, gaming promo play, child protection, and criminal penalties related to sexual exploitation and worship-service interference. Senate Bill 118 would require substance use disorder screening for all misdemeanor DUI offenders, with supporters arguing early screening could identify treatment needs and reduce repeat offenses; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 125 increased the wrongful conviction compensation cap from 10 to 15 years and from $400,000 to $600,000, with testimony emphasizing the hardship faced by people who were wrongfully imprisoned for decades; it also passed favorably. Senate Bill 294 allowed gaming operators to allocate promotional play across licenses without increasing the total amount, and it was reported favorably despite one opposition card. The committee also approved Senate Bill 87, which clarified the definition of commercial sexual activity to address conflicts in child sex trafficking statutes and better reach online solicitation and related conduct. Senate Bill 93 established minimum bond amounts for certain child sex abuse material offenses, and Chair Villio offered an amendment expanding related bail and revocation provisions for certain violent, sex, and firearm offenses; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 98 added certain school employees, including school resource officers and security guards, to the definition of educator for purposes of prohibited sexual conduct with students, and it passed favorably. Senate Bill 199 imposed a mandatory minimum sentence for a second offense of purchasing commercial sexual activity and required sex offender registration; after a technical amendment, it was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up House Bill 333, which would require the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to house inmates within 30 miles of their home or offense location. The author argued this would preserve family ties and reduce recidivism, but sheriffs, district attorneys, and DOC representatives opposed it as impractical given limited bed space, security needs, and existing placement criteria; the bill was not moved. House Bill 828 would create an independent Louisiana Correctional Medical Review Board to investigate deaths in custody, but law enforcement and corrections witnesses warned it could interfere with homicide investigations and duplicate existing coroner and agency reviews; the author asked for voluntary deferral, which the committee granted. House Bill 146, authorizing a Sabine Parish sports wagering election, was heard but received no motion and remained in committee. The committee also approved Senate Bill 277, expanding concealed-carry exemptions for certain statewide elected officials in the State Capitol, and Senate Bill 306, creating the crime of obstructing worship services in a church or other place of worship; SB 306 was amended to reduce a proposed fine from $10,000 to $2,500 after concerns about jury-trial implications. The meeting ended with adjournment after all remaining items were disposed of.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So we don't just have pretrial individuals or sentenced individuals.
  • So in addition to that, I think it's worthy to note that, you know, our sentences are proportionally
  • In 2016, 20% of the population had first- or second-degree sentences, and today that's 28%.
  • So kind of a good snapshot for the group, as a length of sentence that people that are in our custody
  • over 70, where we include people from the community who are willing to come in and supplement and enhance
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The commission met with a new member from Prisoners’ Legal Services and approved the July 11 minutes. The main presentation came from Department of Correction Commissioner Sean Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Mitzie Peterson, who gave an overview of DOC facilities, population trends, and the department’s broad mission, including sentenced prisoners, pretrial detainees, civil commitments, Bridgewater State Hospital, and the Section 35 program. They noted the custody population has fallen from about 10,000 in 2016 to roughly 6,000–6,600, while the share serving first- or second-degree sentences has increased. They also reviewed the department’s facility footprint, including Souza-Baranowski, MCI Norfolk, MCI Framingham, Bridgewater, and the planned transfer of the Section 35 program to Health and Human Services by the end of 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on programming, education, health care, and reentry. DOC described tablet access for all incarcerated people, free phone calls, email, and more than 330,000 hours of educational, vocational, and reentry use. They highlighted partnerships with colleges and universities such as Tufts, Boston College, Emerson, and others, along with HiSET completion, vocational training, and programs like The Last Mile and Persevere. Health care spending was discussed in detail, including a total annual health-related contract cost of about $300 million, with separate contracts for prison health care, Bridgewater State Hospital, MassAQC, and MAT services. DOC said it has nearly eradicated Hep C and MRSA and now offers all three FDA-approved MAT medications, including long-acting injectables when clinically indicated. Commissioners also asked about specialized programming, language and disability access on tablets, and how programming is distributed across facilities. DOC explained that nothing is mandatory, but program participation is encouraged and can affect parole consideration. Staff described assessments using COMPAS, criminal thinking interventions, trauma-related treatment, and specialized units for emerging adults, mental health, and substance use. The department said programming costs were about $101 million in fiscal year 2025, or roughly 12% of the operating budget, excluding health care. Members praised the elimination of restrictive housing and the rollout of body-worn cameras, while DOC said the cameras required new policy and union negotiations but are now used for training, accountability, and de-escalation. The meeting ended with a plan for DOC to return in September with more detailed information on SAUs, programming statistics, and facility structure, and the commission voted to adjourn.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • linkage to appropriate long-term services and supports, and to care management programs such as enhanced
  • Administration definition of disability based on 1995 clinical guidelines, back when HIV was a death sentence
  • And they include topics specific to LGBTQ... ...care and enhanced cultural competency, and they include
  • And then if things are particularly egregious, there are civil penalties, enhanced civil penalties.
  • There are civil penalties, enhanced civil penalties. We can exclude staff members.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • linkage to appropriate long-term services and supports, and to care management programs such as enhanced
  • Administration definition of disability based on 1995 clinical guidelines, back when HIV was a death sentence
  • And they include topics specific to LGBTQ... ...care and enhanced cultural competency, and they include
  • And then if things are particularly egregious, there are civil penalties, enhanced civil penalties.
  • There are civil penalties, enhanced civil penalties. We can exclude staff members.
Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBT Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, including older adults living with HIV and transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex seniors. Committee members and state officials discussed the California Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide survey of LGBTQIA older adults, and the need to address discrimination, social isolation, housing insecurity, economic instability, and gaps in culturally competent care. Several speakers emphasized that older LGBTQ adults often lack traditional family caregiving supports and may face vulnerability in nursing homes or other institutional settings. Testimony from advocates and people with lived experience highlighted the impact of federal actions, including H.R. 1, on Medi-Cal, housing, and benefits, and called for stronger state action, outreach, and navigation services. Justice in Aging urged more investment in home- and community-based services and warned that Medicaid cuts could increase institutionalization. The Department of Aging described its survey findings and said it had convened a lived-experience advisory board, updated data tools, and incorporated HIV as a factor in local aging plans under SB 258, though members pressed for clearer implementation and accountability. CalHHS described coordination across departments, Medi-Cal coverage of gender-affirming care, PACE, and other services, while the Department of Public Health outlined Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP programs serving older adults with HIV. The hearing also featured extensive testimony from people aging with HIV, who described fragmented systems, benefits cliffs, housing costs, and the need for legal and case-management support. One witness urged funding for HIV-specific housing and navigation services, while another described how case management and safety-net programs help clients manage medication, food, transportation, and housing needs. In the final panel, the Department of Social Services reviewed protections for TGI seniors in licensed care facilities, including SB 219, nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required staff training, and complaint investigations. No formal votes were taken; the chair repeatedly asked departments to follow up on implementation gaps, data visibility, and possible budget or policy responses.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Select Water Committee, January 21, 2026 - PM

Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that's what the however piece, that really long sentence there, that's intended to get at.
  • </c><02:08:34.000><c> our</c> the right deal we can enhance our the right deal we can enhance our tourism
  • It's only for that first sentence of just the separating hydrogen oxygen to produce hydrogen.
  • It's only for that first sentence of just the separating hydrogen oxygen to produce hydrogen.
  • </c> fall in that in that second sentence. fall in that in that second sentence.
Keywords: 916, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Public Safety Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, if the shorter sentences, if the repeat offenses, and the short time that they're doing doesn't
  • Imagine if it was you or your child who had been wrongfully sentenced to life in prison or even death
  • Slightly longer prison sentences will not have any significant deterring effect.
  • ... ...times within seven years that you should have a slightly enhanced criminal penalty.
  • Extensive research has shown that longer sentences do not deter crime.
Summary: The committee began without a quorum and heard several bills in subcommittee format. AB 1546, which would increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders by allowing a third DUI within 10 years to be charged as a wobbler, requiring a fifth DUI to be a felony, and lengthening ignition interlock and license revocation periods, drew strong support from law enforcement and district attorney groups and opposition from public defenders and reform advocates who argued the bill would further criminalize substance use and mental health issues. No vote was taken because there was no quorum at the time. AB 1595, aimed at standardizing post-conviction procedures for wrongful conviction claims and clarifying courts’ authority to consider new evidence, was supported by innocence and public defender organizations and opposed by district attorneys, who said existing habeas law is already clear and that the bill would add complexity and burden courts. AB 292, which would impose mandatory jail time for repeat felony domestic violence offenders within seven years, was supported by sheriffs, prosecutors, probation officers, and local governments, but opposed by domestic violence survivor advocates and public defender groups who warned it would not deter abuse and could criminalize survivors and divert resources from services. AB 1816, allowing courts to extend probation up to one additional year for sex offenders who have not completed required treatment, drew support from probation and law enforcement groups and opposition from public defenders and civil liberties advocates concerned about longer supervision, technical violations, and barriers such as poverty and treatment access; the committee later took a roll call and passed the bill 3-1, with one member not voting, sending it to Appropriations. After quorum was established, the committee also passed AB 1627, which would bar people with misconduct in immigration enforcement from becoming California peace officers, and AB 1927, which would create a misdemeanor for falsely impersonating a bail agent to solicit bail, both on due pass motions to Judiciary/Appropriations as amended. AB 1854, a shield-law measure expanding protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care providers, patients, and related businesses from out-of-state legal process, was supported by the Attorney General’s office and reproductive rights groups and opposed by anti-abortion and family policy organizations; it was moved on a due pass motion to Judiciary. The committee then heard AB 1872, which would make repeat adult swatting offenses a felony/wobbler and require restitution for property damage, with support from law enforcement, prosecutors, and civil liberties advocates and opposition from public defenders and justice reform groups who argued the bill would not deter conduct and could disproportionately affect people with mental illness or undocumented status. A motion to advance AB 1872 was made, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on that bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 02/26/25

Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can have one last sentence, but that's it. The bottom line: this program works.
  • but that's it okay you have sentence but that's it okay you have anything<00:42:44.400><c> else</c><
  • the bottom line this one last sentence the bottom line this program<00:42:47.800><c> works</c><00:42
  • If there's one last sentence you want to give us, that's fine, but other than that, your time is up.
  • </c><01:39:00.040><c> Oh</c> you want to finish your last sentence Oh you want to finish your last sentence
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • I can't speak to that at the time of sentencing, but this is well past sentencing once they are on the
  • So this is... ...past sentencing once they are on the list. So this is...
  • And third, it greatly enhances the scope of Oklahoma identity theft laws. Move for adoption.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 02/12/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><01:16:51.320><c> to</c> felony and may be sentenced to felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment
  • </c><01:17:06.199><c> to</c> felony and may be sentenced to felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment
  • </c><01:54:57.400><c> penalties</c> certainly open to enhancing penalties certainly open to enhancing
  • I like a wider range, a larger possibility for a sentence to be a bit more severe.
  • I like a wider range, a larger possibility for a sentence to be a bit more severe.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Essentially, we were served a life sentence with no chance to return to our lives pre-accident.
  • Essentially, we were served a life sentence with no chance to return to our lives pre-accident.
  • were served this accident essentially we were served a<00:04:43.400><c> life</c><00:04:43.639><c> sentence
  • c> no</c><00:04:44.639><c> chance</c><00:04:44.919><c> to</c><00:04:45.199><c> return</c> a life sentence
  • with no chance to return a life sentence with no chance to return to<00:04:45.520><c> our</c><00:04:
Keywords: 1183, house