Transcript Highlights:

• Tammany, the same is true in Caddo, and to a lesser extent in some of the other judicial districts.
• Because the judicial system is central to public safety.
• The district attorney is at the center of the whole judicial system.
• Because the judicial system is central to public safety. the The judicial system is central to public
• The district attorney is at the center of the whole judicial system.

Bills: HR252, HR253, HR254, HR255, HR256, HCR103, HCR104, HR244, HR245, HR246, HR247, HR248, HR249, HR250, HR251, HCR101, HCR102, SCR40, SCR60, SB112, SB131, SB145, SB194, SB268, SB307, SB312, SB319, SB333, SB341, SB346, SB464, SB466, SB488, SB495, SB503, SB507, SB509, HR9, HR196, HCR27, HCR28, HCR50, HCR62, HCR67, HCR71, HCR78, HCR81, SCR20, HB123, HB251, HB625, HB662, HB709, HB769, HB775, HB783, HB895, HB1011, HB1057, HB1155, HB1186, HB1224, HB1245, HB1247, HB1253, HB1254, HB1255, HB1256, SB8, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB20, SB21, SB22, SB40, SB48, SB55, SB69, SB75, SB77, SB78, SB85, SB102, SB115, SB133, SB140, SB148, SB151, SB165, SB169, SB170, SB185, SB197, SB200, SB217, SB235, SB278, SB280, SB291, SB300, SB303, SB315, SB324, SB330, SB411, SB416, SB420, SB436, SB438, SB449, SB455, SB456, SB477, SB489, SB521, SB97, SB105, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, HCR72, HR37, HCR64, HR170, HR191, HR206, HR207, HR208, HR217, HCR11, HCR53, HCR60, HCR66, HCR68, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, SCR2, HCR6, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB258, HB633, HB801, HB61, HB98, HB102, HB139, HB142, HB170, HB185, HB194, HB199, HB231, HB247, HB294, HB336, HB474, HB661, HB842, HB852, HB66, HB153, HB165, HB326, HB387, HB455, HB513, HB603, HB660, HB719, HB762, HB766, HB802, HB816, HB833, HB940, HB950, HB975, HB1028, HB1039, HB1051, HB1053, HB1080, HB1201, HB1215, HB1228, HB1251, HB1252, SB1, SB23, SB32, SB42, SB43, SB46, SB51, SB110, SB113, SB150, SB154, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB221, SB253, SB289, SB310, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB502, SB26, SB28, SB29, SB30, SB41, SB44, SB64, SB84, SB87, SB93, SB98, SB107, SB118, SB142, SB192, SB195, SB199, SB219, SB222, SB234, SB241, SB255, SB275, SB277, SB292, SB294, SB306, SB314, SB482, HCR32, HB798, HB998, HB1084, HB1223, HB59, HB955, HB1191, HB1234, HB646, HB824, HB341, SB397, SB442, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB911, HB926, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1240, SB47, SB82, SB89, SB149, SB382

Keywords: consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction, building codes, inspection practices, housing costs, task force, HR254, House Resolution 254, Ty Hebert, Acadiana Legislative Delegation, Louisiana State University, LSU, graduation, commendation

Summary: The House met with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, adopted the journal, and received a large number of Senate messages, committee reports, and bill referrals. Members also introduced several resolutions and recognized guests, including students from Allen Parish, federal appointees Brandon Beach and Paul Hollis, and other visitors. The chamber then moved through a lengthy agenda of House and Senate measures, with many bills and resolutions reported favorably, amended, or referred to committee. Among the notable floor actions, the House adopted H.R. 32 urging the Port of New Orleans to obtain backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. It also passed bills on a wide range of topics, including local court and ordinance procedures for Alexandria, prohibiting reporting criminal fines and fees to credit bureaus, veterans’ lottery benefits, police chief residency in Tickfaw, fire marshal plan review authority, expanding the definition of first responder to include public works employees, NIL protections for student athletes, salary increases and additional positions for assistant district attorneys, limiting OMV debt referrals for unpaid reinstatement fees, watershed restoration and flood control funding, a sexual assault survivor task force, elderly consumer protection education, recreation of the Public Service Commission, Medicaid reimbursement for non-emergency medical transportation, local sales tax audit procedures, alcoholic beverage definitions for salons and similar businesses, transfer of removed monuments to state park property, hearing aid dealer regulation updates, a permit fee for small in-state distillers, expanded city court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish, and a narrowed version of the Alexandria administrative adjudication bill. Several measures were amended on the floor before passage, including the Alexandria ordinance bill, the sales tax audit bill, the alcohol/beverage bill, and the monument transfer bill. The House also temporarily returned some bills to the calendar for later consideration. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, though House Bill 153 on criminal court debt reporting passed with 67 yeas and 18 nays, House Bill 660 on assistant district attorney salaries passed 94-1, House Bill 719 on additional ADA positions passed 95-0, House Bill 883 on the sexual assault task force passed 86-2, House Bill 1028 on non-emergency medical transportation passed 81-15, and House Bill 1215 on monuments passed 78-14.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Judicial Branch. I'm pleased Minnesota Judicial Branch.
• independence of the judicial branch. independence of the judicial branch.
• Both the MDJA and the Judicial Council have made judicial safety a continuing commitment through
• <01:19:13.640> officials classification of judicials officials classification of judicials
• <01:24:58.320> In judicial particularly the judges. In judicial particularly the judges.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then judicial retirement is the judicial branch's portion of retirement for our judges.
• <00:08:00.160> judicial judicial retirement is the judicial judicial retirement is the judicial
• Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial Center, and
• Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial Center, and
• Center, Clark County Judicial Center, Greenup County Judicial Center, Knox County Judicial Center, and

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary met without a quorum and heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on the judicial branch budget. AOC Director Zach Ramsey and budget director Carol Henderson outlined the branch’s current funding structure, noting that fiscal year 2026 general fund support is about 2.77% of the state general fund, below the National Center for State Courts’ typical 2% to 4% range. They emphasized Kentucky’s unusual responsibility for courthouse facilities, with the judicial branch directly involved in construction, maintenance, and operations across 229 facilities in all 120 counties. AOC said nearly 91% of its general fund is spent on personnel and other non-discretionary costs, and that the branch has long relied on agency revenue, restricted fund carryforwards, and vacancy credits to balance court operations. Members were told that Senate Bill 25 required a $34.5 million transfer into a reserve account, part of which was used to purchase the Chamberlain Avenue building in Frankfort. AOC reported that only $11.9 million remains in restricted funds, while it projects needing about $13.5 million to cover fiscal year 2026 obligations, not including roughly $9 million in flood-related remediation costs for Hardin and Franklin counties, much of which it expects to recover through insurance and FEMA. Looking ahead to the next biennium, AOC said it will seek full funding of court operations at $341 million annually, a $13.5 million increase to bring current services into the base appropriation rather than relying on reserves. It also previewed additional requests, including a 15% across-the-board pay parity plan for Kentucky Court of Justice personnel, replacement of declining master commissioner fee revenue tied to 141 deputy circuit court clerk positions, funding for technology subscription and case management system costs, JAV audiovisual system upgrades, AEDs and medical kits for courthouses, and other staffing and operational needs. Senator Funky Frommeyer asked whether the 15% salary proposal was included in the $13.5 million increase; AOC said it was not, and that it would be an additional request. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• judicial officer funded.
• We have our drug court judicial officers and we have our judicial officer, our public defender, our DA
• Theodorovic, Director of Budget Services, Judicial Council, long-term Judicial Service Council member
• I'm the Administrative Director of the Judicial Council.
• We are grateful to the Judicial Council for its support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Outlined in the preamble of the judicial conduct, which judges are typically bound by the judicial conduct
• Judicial Conduct.
• The code of judicial conduct. Code of judicial conduct? Right, and that is already in statute.
• Judicial conduct there. Correct. I would just replace ethical standards with judicial conduct.
• Judicial conduct.

Bills: HB1455

Keywords: tribal consultation, Indian Affairs Commission, tribal governments, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations, Native American, tribal nations, consultation requirement, legislative process, jurisdiction, sovereignty, North Dakota tribes, government-to-government consultation, tribal chairpersons, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first heard House Bill 1455, which would require the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications and conduct consultation with affected tribes. Rep. Collette Brown said the bill was intended to formalize and strengthen tribal consultation, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe representative Ross Bell testified in support. Brad Hawk, executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission, testified neutrally, saying the office already does much of this work but that the bill would add structure; several senators raised concerns about duplication, possible future staffing costs, and whether the bill was necessary. The committee amended the bill to replace “each measure” with “all legislation,” then passed a do-not-pass recommendation on HB 1455 by recorded vote, with Sen. Luick designated as carrier. The committee then took up House Bill 1032, dealing with municipal courts, appeals, and judge qualifications. Legislative Council and court staff walked through proposed amendments, including making municipal courts courts of record on a delayed effective date, clarifying appeal procedures, and adding standards for municipal judges. Members discussed whether to use the term “ethical standards” or “judicial conduct”; after questions about definitions and enforcement, the committee settled on replacing the language with “judicial conduct” in the amended bill. The committee adopted the amendments and then passed HB 1032 as amended on a do-pass vote, with Sen. Cory to carry. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1263, which would make it easier for people with criminal records to seek sealing after a denial by allowing an appeal and reducing the waiting period for a new petition from three years to one year. Rep. Nels Christensen, Christopher Davis, Travis Fink, and Brad Peterson all supported the bill’s goal of giving people a better path to rehabilitation and employment. The main point of disagreement was whether to keep the statutory presumption that the benefit to the petitioner must outweigh the presumption of openness of criminal records; several witnesses urged removing that language, while others said it was part of the compromise that created the current law. The committee closed the hearing without taking final action and said it would review the House discussion before deciding later.

Transcript Highlights:

• She planned the judicial luncheon.
• There were some concerning marks in your judicial performance evaluation.
• Foley, candidate for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, representing Norfolk.
• Cruz, candidate for the 16th Judicial District, JDR.
• Just say the 15th Judicial District. Yes.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit,<01:25:52.640>
• and whereas section 109 of the judicial and whereas section 109 of the judicial article<01:26:47.920
• proceedings of a member of the judicial proceedings of a member of the judicial branch, branch,
• Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit<01:35:39.400> consisting
• circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit<01:36:35.560>

Keywords: In an effort to stave off issues that may occur with long format live streams, we have split this stream into two parts., 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of concern around the integrity of judicial evidence.
• But we knew that there was opposition by the Judicial Council.
• But we knew that there was opposition by the judicial council.
• Judicial records are presumptively public.
• So the Judicial Council has—” “...question on the implementation.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, family law, privacy, housing, and artificial intelligence. SB 477 would clarify FEHA procedures for the Civil Rights Department, including tolling deadlines by agreement and updating complaint definitions; it drew some concern about venue and convenience but was moved forward. SB 450 would confirm California jurisdiction over adoption proceedings for children born in the state even if families have moved away, and would require all legal parents to be listed on adoption orders; it received strong support, especially from LGBTQ family advocates, and passed to Appropriations. SB 683 would clarify that people whose name, image, or likeness is misused may seek TROs or injunctions under existing publicity-rights law; opposition from media and First Amendment groups focused on the 48-hour compliance default and speech concerns, but the bill advanced as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also considered SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, which would regulate voice, image, and video cloning technology, require warnings, and direct the Judicial Council to develop evidence standards for AI; it passed to Public Safety. SCR 66, a resolution designating May 1 as Law Day and emphasizing the rule of law, was adopted unanimously after supportive comments from members. SB 808 would create expedited judicial review for housing permit denials that violate state law; supporters said it would reduce costly delay and help housing production, while the Judicial Council opposed it as imposing unreasonable timelines and staffing burdens. The bill passed to Appropriations despite concerns about court resources and broader housing-law issues. The committee then took up two privacy bills from Senator Wiener. SB 59 would automatically keep confidential court records for adult and retroactive gender/name change petitions, expanding protections previously enacted for minors; supporters described real-world doxxing and harassment, while opponents raised First Amendment and public-records objections, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 497 would require warrants for out-of-state law enforcement access to California prescription monitoring data, expand transgender shield protections for gender-affirming care records, and bar certain disclosures without legal process; the author framed it as a response to out-of-state anti-trans enforcement, and the bill was presented with support from trans advocacy groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial pay. That's what I said last week is our top priority.
• I agree or I believe that judicial compensation is beginning.
• of Court of Administration of the Texas Judicial System, the State Law Library, the Texas Judicial Council
• LaVoy on the Judicial Selection Reform Commission.
• The chair calls Jacqueline Haversham and Cyndia Thomas with the State Commission on Judicial Judicial

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so judicial pay. That's what I said last week is our top priority.
• Conduct, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas judicial system.
• The State Law Library, the Texas Judicial Council, the Judicial Branch Certification Commission, the
• Lavoie on the Judicial Selection Reform Commission.
• I serve as the executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer."
• The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer."
• And with independent judicial officer."

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, currently, complaints regarding judicial conduct are sent to the judicial conduct committee, also
• > overreach The monarchal and judicial overreach The monarchal and judicial overreach ensured<
• have checks and balances on the judicial have checks and balances on the judicial system.<01:58:
• of unchecked executive and judicial of unchecked executive and judicial authority<02:03:08.159><
• That's the judicial privileges. >> Right. That's the judicial privileges.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• judicial judicial branch.<00:31:27.760> The<00:31:28.000> independent<00:31:28.640>
• democracy to continue, the judicial democracy to continue, the judicial branch<00:31:47.039>
• The judicial funded appropriately.
• judicial judicial branch.<00:32:14.640> None<00:32:14.960> of<00:32:15.039> us<
• that underfunds the judicial that underfunds the judicial branch<00:32:50.000> that<00:32

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:39.599> Judiciary Grove uh I served on a judici Judiciary Grove uh I served on a judici
• Judiciary earlier this year the judicial Judiciary earlier this year the judicial Council<00:16:
• enes mcmc's and so on there are judicial enes mcmc's and so on there are judicial officers<00:36
• Shorba about the judicial process.
• Shorba about the judicial process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, my agency, the Council on Judicial Complaints, is the investigatory arm.
• We existed within the judicial branch until 1999.
• The reason for which the council put together this Judicial College.
• And it is $60,000 for that five-day judicial college training.
• Any questions about the judicial college before I move on? I have one.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as it came to us from judicial budget as as it came to us from the<00:04:27.360> judicial<00:
• I I want to say the judicial branch.
• <00:14:25.839> employees quite sure that the judicial employees quite sure that the judicial
• increased staffing of the judicial increased staffing of the judicial security<00:36:06.160>
• > judicial<00:37:05.040> security employees for the judicial security employees for the

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3874, the Judiciary budget bill, and first moved it to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was described as funding the judicial branch’s budget request, including courthouse and judge security measures, home safety for judges and staff, a $1 million courthouse safety grant program, and funding related to paid family and medical leave costs that the courts must absorb. A court administrator explained that some base adjustments were budget-neutral internal shifts within the court system, moving money from district courts to other courts to better meet overall needs. Members then debated several amendments. The A7 amendment, which reduced some of the requested security funding for administrators and aligned it more closely with legislative security levels while retaining flexible Supreme Court security personnel, was adopted. The A1 amendment, which would have deleted the additional operating adjustment for paid family and medical leave, failed on a 7-7 tie after debate over whether the courts should bear the employer share of that cost and whether the program itself was an unfunded mandate. The A2 amendment, also related to paid family and medical leave funding, likewise failed on a 7-7 tie after similar discussion about the judiciary’s ongoing employment costs and the branch’s inability to raise its own revenue. The committee then adopted the A4 amendment, which increased the courthouse safety grant program from $1 million to $4 million. Supporters said there was unmet demand for courthouse security grants and that the money would help with hardware such as screening equipment, while the court administrator said the branch would not spend more than it could use and that the grants would be reviewed by a committee including law enforcement and county representatives. The administrator noted the funding would be one-time money and would not cover staffing costs. The committee also discussed the judiciary’s ongoing need for funding, with members arguing both that the courts should be treated like other employers and that the judicial branch, as an independent branch of government, must be funded by the legislature. The final A5 amendment was then introduced, with staff noting it would delete a section already covered by the adopted A7 amendment and reduce an appropriation on page four, line 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• judicial judicial official.<00:36:27.040> On<00:36:27.359> R<00:36:27.760> 27,<
• <01:02:52.240> panel uh that sometimes the judicial panel uh that sometimes the judicial panel
• before the the cup or the judicial before the the cup or the judicial appeal<01:18:47.280> panel
• Change was made to have a judicial panel to allow someone out of MSOP.
• review process: “That is the judicial review process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial counsel. for uh judicial counsel if you'd like to for uh judicial counsel if you'd like to go
• But this says judicial branch. That doesn't say judicial council. Is that wrong? That is my fault.
• That doesn't say judicial branch.
• <00:24:08.799> All judicial council. I see. Thank you. All judicial council. I see.
• <00:30:17.120> Does judicial council? I don't have any. Does judicial council?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through several HB 2 budget amendments, focusing first on energy-related transfers and then on judicial funding. For the energy item, members discussed moving remaining money from the renewable energy fund into the general fund for the biennium, with later-year amounts going to the general fund rather than ratepayers. They noted the proposal was based on prior House Bill 111 language, that the exact amount was still being worked out with the Department of Energy, and that some language about “incentive payments” was being removed or clarified. Amendment 1211H was moved and adopted on a 5-4 vote. The committee then considered amendment 1040 on the governor’s scholarship fund, which would eliminate the program and sweep uncommitted funds. Members supporting the program argued it helps New Hampshire students afford in-state college and should be reworked rather than repealed; opponents said the remaining balance was limited and the program should be ended. Amendment 1040 was defeated 4-5. The committee then turned to a judicial council request tied to a Franklin Pierce criminal justice clinic that had previously used ARPA funds. Supporters said the clinic cleared 323 cases in nine months, provided training for future attorneys, and could reduce more expensive assigned-counsel costs by helping the public defender system handle cases more efficiently. The amendment would add $100,000 to the judicial council line for that purpose. There was some confusion over the line item and whether the request should be attributed to the judicial branch or judicial council, which was corrected during discussion. Members also discussed a larger issue: the judicial council’s budget request appeared lower than intended because of a possible clerical error in how prior-year funding was calculated, especially after the last budget combined HB 1 and HB 2 funding. The committee compared the public defender line and assigned counsel line, noting that if public defender funding is cut, more cases would shift to assigned counsel, which is more expensive. No final vote on the judicial council amendment is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :14:18.320> the board of judicial standards, the board of judicial standards, the committee<00
• lease cost at the Minnesota Judicial lease cost at the Minnesota Judicial Center.<00:30:29.360><
• the legislative session, our judicial the legislative session, our judicial branch<00:31:38.240>
• failed to consult with the judicial failed to consult with the judicial branch<00:37:10.960>
• general definition for judicial general definition for judicial officials,<00:58:37.440> it

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee met late on Friday evening to discuss the Public Safety and Judiciary budget agreement, beginning with a brief exchange among members about concerns that the executive branch had been delaying the committee’s work by waiting to approve legislative decisions. Members emphasized that the legislature should retain its independence while still allowing normal collaboration with the governor’s office. The committee then moved through several outstanding policy items and adopted them without opposition, including the A38 amendment addressing data-sharing concerns involving disability-related information, a study of firefighting services by the state fire marshal, and an A46 amendment governing access to unredacted portable recording system data in collision investigations, with guardrails on disclosure and use. The committee next reviewed the spreadsheet and budget targets. Fiscal staff explained the judiciary side of the agreement, including funding for court operating costs, a one-time Justice Partner Access Program appropriation, forensic exam rate increases, guardian ad litem funding, public defense, human rights, the competency attainment board, the cannabis expungement board, and fee increases for civil filings and motions. On the public safety side, staff described the target as well as the discretionary items funded, including nonprofit security grants, BCA staffing changes, fire marshal initiatives, a 10-year arson statute of limitations, prosecutor training grants, legal representation for children, E911 funding for critical infrastructure, Philando Castile Training Fund support, corrections-related savings from the Stillwater phased closure and sentence-to-serve elimination, a mandatory minimums task force, a victims of crime account transfer, a decommissioning study, in-service use-of-force training, and extensions of several expiring appropriations. The committee also noted a correction to a spreadsheet label related to the Stillwater closure item. After the spreadsheet walkthrough, the committee took testimony from Chief Justice Natalie Hudson and State Court Administrator Jeff Shorban on behalf of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hudson thanked the committee for its work and said the agreement covers some unavoidable costs, including insurance, lease expenses, forensic examiner pay, and the new access system, but argued it does not adequately address the judiciary’s most urgent problem: staffing and judicial compensation. She said court employees are leaving for better-paying jobs, judicial salaries are frozen for two years, and applicant pools for judgeships have declined, especially in greater Minnesota. She also said the judicial branch was not meaningfully consulted on the budget target and urged lawmakers to recognize the courts as a constitutional obligation rather than a discretionary program.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're doing what we can to divert individuals out of the judicial system.
• We're on to the fifth judicial district. We're ready when you are.
• I am District Attorney Diana Luce from the 5th Judicial District.
• January 1st is the CMO for the first judicial district.
• This is about the same amount of cases as the four judicial districts.