Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :
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WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Jan 15th, 2026 at 09:04 am
Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- The primary drivers, as you'll hear, are PEIA cost increases, the 3% proposed pay raise, and the big
Committee:
Senate Finance
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Its mission is to serve as a backstop, not to be the primary competitor of the private market.
Committee:
Senate Banking and Insurance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The ESF remains the state's primary reserve emergency fund, a role that requires high liquidity and a
Bills:
HB104
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Mar 27th, 2025
S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health
Transcript Highlights:
- This is because kids with insurance are able to see their primary care pediatrician, who is able to prescribe
Keywords:
Medicaid, child health, express lane option, income verification, supplemental nutrition assistance, telepharmacy, healthcare access, remote dispensing, rural clinics, pharmacy regulations, health literacy, state health plan, health care, patient outcomes, public health, economic impact, healthcare, breast cancer, cervical cancer, insurance eligibility
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Banking & Insurance (3-11-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- previous and future health insurance coverage mandates, which are generally intended to only apply to primary
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00
Roll Call: 00:30
HB421 Discussion: 01:28
HB421 Vote: 02:19
HB184 Discussion: 03:20
HB184 Vote: 05:44
HB210 Discussion: 07:28
HB210 Vote: 08:14
HB415 Discussion: 09:05
HB415 Vote: 09:43
HB701 Discussion: 11:16
HB701 Vote: 13:42, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and moved quickly through several House bills related to health insurance, insurance regulation, dental benefits, and digital assets. Members repeatedly noted the need to keep testimony brief because of overlapping committee schedules and the late-session pace. The chair also reminded House members to coordinate floor sponsors since consent calendars were not being used this year.
House Bill 421, presented by Rep. Amy Neighbors with support from Dr. Russell Williams, would require full coverage of FDA-approved bowel preps with no out-of-pocket cost and no prior authorization barriers. House Bill 814, presented by Rep. Mike Klein and explained by Sen. Girdler, would extend the insurance regulatory sandbox through December 2030; supporters said the committee substitute was a vetted NAIC model already adopted in 28 states. House Bill 210, presented by Rep. Pollock with Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, would clarify assignment-of-benefit provisions so dentists are paid directly and with more transparency. House Bill 415, also by Rep. Pollock, would clarify that health insurance coverage mandates apply only to primary major medical policies.
House Bill 701, presented by Rep. Adam Bowling with Ash Gun of Coinbase, would establish clearer rules for blockchain and digital assets, affirm Kentuckians’ right to hold and transact digital assets, align money transmission licensing with digital assets, and specify that certain crypto activities are not securities. Members discussed the bill in general terms, including a light exchange about crypto market volatility, but no substantive opposition was raised. Each bill received a favorable expression by roll call, and the committee adopted the committee substitute and title amendment on HB 814. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, and the chair said another meeting later in the week was possible.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 20, March 5, 2026-PM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is owner-occupied primary residence. Okay.
- 40:51.360><c> occupied</c> owner occupied owner owner occupied owner occupied owner owner occupied primary
- </c> primary residence. primary residence.
- we'd made some changes where we'd removed some language in the bill to basically leave it more in an open
- We had kind of changed that to make kind of leave more of an open meeting for them.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 11, February 21, 2026-PM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> still open for business. Thank you. still open for business. Thank you.
- </c><01:12:15.600><c> There's</c> to have open and honest debate.
- There's to have open and honest debate.
- conversation</c><01:13:03.440><c> so</c> amendments, and open conversation so amendments, and open conversation
- </c> work, uh, we've had, uh, positions open work, uh, we've had, uh, positions open and<02:35:15.120
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The primary purpose of the House Ethics Committee is to create an avenue for representatives to hold
- So,<00:15:46.760><c> it's</c><00:15:46.920><c> an</c><00:15:47.000><c> open</c><00:15:47.240><c> question
- </c><00:15:48.360><c> whether</c> So, it's an open question whether So, it's an open question whether
- </c><00:43:26.320><c> Uh</c><00:43:26.480><c> they</c> game, which was opening day.
- Uh they game, which was opening day.
Committee:
House Ethics
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (6-4-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- c><00:56:46.799><c> lithium</c><00:56:47.200><c> as</c><00:56:47.440><c> the</c><00:56:47.680><c> primary
- </c> the PCAM and lithium as the primary the PCAM and lithium as the primary products.<00:56:48.640><
Keywords:
Meeting start 00:00:00
Discussion of Nickels and School Facility Funding 00:02:13
Economic Development Projects in Elizabethtown and Hopkinsville 00:29:33
Correspondence and Reports Received 01:09:25, 958, all
Summary:
The committee received an informational presentation from the Kentucky Department of Education and the School Facilities Construction Commission on school facilities funding. Staff explained the main funding sources used for school construction and renovation, including the mandatory “nickel” property tax levy, growth and equalized growth nickels, the equalized facility funding nickel, the Fort Knox/BRAC-related nickel for Hardin County, and the recallable nickel that districts can adopt locally. They also described the state equalization formula, noting that local construction costs have risen and that state support is formula-driven rather than a dollar-for-dollar match.
The SFCC outlined how unmet facility need is calculated through district facility plans, which are developed locally with community, staff, and board input and then reviewed by KDE staff for consistency and reasonableness. The commission said it will update the statewide unmet need report this fall, adopt it in December, and provide the figure to the committee in January 2026. It reported that the statewide unmet facility need was about $7 billion in 2023, with about $951 million in local revenue available, and said its offers of assistance are paid as debt service over eight years. The commission also said the most recent legislative offer of assistance was its smallest since SFCC’s creation in 1985, and requested an additional $60 million for the next biennium.
Members asked about how districts use nickel tax levies, who determines facility need, whether the process includes physical inspections, and how bonding capacity affects offers of assistance. Staff said nickel levies are generally adopted with regular tax rates, that facility need is locally developed but reviewed by KDE, and that KDE project managers and district-hired architects review plans on paper rather than through in-person inspections. They also explained that bonding capacity can affect a district’s ability to use or receive assistance. Questions were also raised about federal funds tied to earlier KIX grants and about districts with zero remaining offers of assistance; staff said most grant-funded projects are underway or complete, and that a zero balance means a district has spent its available assistance. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Our application process seeks to accomplish three primary goals.
- Representative Burkel responded that it was open, but it was really a volunteer process.
- Representative Burkel responded that yes, it was open, but it was really a volunteer process.
- Definitely open to more conversation, Chair Vang, about how that looks.
- Definitely open to more conversation, Chair Vang, about how that looks.
Bills:
HF4148
Committee:
House Legacy Finance
Keywords:
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources, 1183, house
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for being an open door and a listening ear.
- Everything happens out in the open.
- Their budget process is completely out in the open as it is.
- And you're opening up, I think, a lot of experiences for many of us.
- Rep, can you tell me why there are 30 days before the primary election?
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call, and several recognitions, including a moment of silence for service members killed in the Middle East conflict. The chamber adopted the special order report and then took up several bills on the special order calendar. Early action included passage of CS/CS/HB 981 on tributaries of the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River restoration after debate over environmental benefits versus concerns about impacts to Rodman Reservoir, rural communities, property values, and long-term uncertainty. The bill passed 107-3.
Members then considered CS/HB 1389 on affordable housing and the Live Local Act. The bill would expand multifamily and mixed-use allowances, limit local setback/stepback restrictions, remove local opt-out authority, address accessory dwelling units, and waive sovereign immunity for certain land-use discrimination claims. Supporters argued it would increase housing supply amid a statewide shortage; opponents objected to further state preemption of local control and the ADU provisions. The bill passed 78-29. The House also passed CS/CS/HB 1085, codifying the local government cybersecurity grant program and prioritizing fiscally constrained counties, by a unanimous 109-0 vote.
The chamber next debated CS/HB 273 on special districts, which would allow certain agreements in rural areas of opportunity and impose new transparency and budget rules on larger downtown development districts. Questions focused on the meaning of “directly benefit,” the 10% administrative cap, budget approval authority, and the bill’s effect on downtown development authorities. An amendment to remove the downtown district provisions failed, and the bill passed 88-0. The House later returned to the temporarily postponed CS/HB 989 on motor vehicle manufacturers and franchise dealers, which limits allocation of new vehicle lines to any one dealer group; it passed 109-1.
Finally, the House took up CS/HB 1329 on local government spending transparency. The bill requires tentative budgets to be posted 14 days before hearings, final budgets to remain online for five years, and budget data to be searchable and downloadable, with waivers for smaller governments. Members debated whether the bill would impose costs despite the sponsor’s claim of zero fiscal impact. An amendment by Representative Cheney would have added hardship assistance for small governments and CFO support, but the transcript ends during debate on that amendment before final disposition is shown.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- were an opportunity to work collaboratively in that effort, they would certainly be adaptive to and open
- to them we all education will be open to them we all know<03:37:16.239><c> that</c><03:37:16.399><c>
- Um, I think STEM education is really what opened my eyes to the possibility and the different sectors
- My intention is to recess this bill for a moment while we open and then recess these other two bills
- So at this point, I will recess House Bill 283, open House Bill 768, which is allowing public schools
Summary:
The committee began by announcing that afternoon hearings, including House Bill 283, would be moved to Representatives Hall because of expected public interest. It then took up House Bill 671, which would establish a kindergarten literacy readiness program. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, described the measure as a way to close gaps in early reading readiness and said it was intended as a first step, with only a placeholder appropriation while details are developed. He framed it as a targeted effort to help children who are not entering first grade ready to read.
Testimony on HB 671 was largely supportive. Representatives asked about the bill’s structure, whether a specific program had been identified, how it would interact with play-based learning, and why the provider was limited to a registered nonprofit. Waterford.org representatives Teresa Rosenberger and Rob Riley testified in support, describing Waterford Upstart as a home-based, evidence-based early learning program already used in New Hampshire. They said the program provides adaptive instruction, family coaching, and technology support, including computers, tablets, internet access, and translation services in more than 100 languages. They also said the model has been successful in New Hampshire, including a Nashua pilot and later statewide efforts, and that similar legislation has existed in other states. Rep. Jonah Wheeler also spoke in support of the bill. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 671.
After a fiscal note for HB 671 was distributed, the committee moved to House Bill 781, which would require school districts to adopt policies for a cell phone-free education and includes an appropriation. The transcript cuts off as Rep. Litchfield was introduced to testify on that bill, so no testimony, debate, or vote on HB 781 is included in the excerpt.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (03/04/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> before or just before the polls open before or just before the polls open whatever<00:40:17.880>
- </c><00:45:54.040><c> the</c> that until 701 when I've opened the that until 701 when I've opened the
- control prior to the polls opening is control prior to the polls opening is difficult<00:48:09.240><c
- </c> reason why clerks don't love opening reason why clerks don't love opening that<01:18:48.560><c>
- </c><01:19:10.480><c> it</c> envelope and then when you're opening it envelope and then when you're opening
Committee:
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Autonomous vehicles regulated 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's open the roads to those add it.
- </c> and testing rather than wide open and testing rather than wide open deployment<00:47:44.480><c>
- Chair, are you open to meeting tonight?
- Chair, are you open to meeting tonight?
- Chair, are you open to meeting tonight? Are you open to meeting tonight?
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Education Committee Interim Topics Meeting, March 6, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It is completely open to them to do that because we have not given specificity.
- So, these schools have to be open for over a year before they see any of that money back.
- So, these schools have to be open for over a year before they see any of that money back.
- </c><00:59:43.000><c> our</c> very challenging as we've opened our very challenging as we've opened our
- He opened the floor to anyone with further comments or anything they had not yet covered.
Summary:
The committee heard from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder on several interim topics centered on student-centered learning. She highlighted work-based learning and dual/concurrent enrollment, saying the state is updating accountability measures and should examine whether these programs are helping students progress, avoid duplicative costs, and reduce the need for remedial college coursework. She also discussed broader life-skills education, including financial literacy and soft skills, and said districts vary widely in what they offer. On gifted and talented programs, she noted that districts are statutorily required to provide them but the state does not have a clear picture of how consistently they are implemented, and she suggested the committee may want to study that area further.
Members asked follow-up questions about whether dual enrollment should be evaluated only by time-to-degree, and Degenfelder said the analysis should also consider additional credentials and remedial coursework. Senator Schuler and others raised the idea of making financial literacy or other life-skills content more common, though Degenfelder said she did not favor a statewide mandate and instead preferred incentives and district-level implementation. The committee also discussed artificial intelligence in schools as an information-sharing topic, with Degenfelder saying the department is beginning a landscape analysis with districts and teachers. She then reviewed NAEP results, noting Wyoming performs strongly in fourth grade but drops sharply by eighth grade, and said the state wants to understand where students are falling off. Members also raised concerns about international comparisons and the need to improve literacy and math outcomes.
The committee then moved to member-submitted topics. Representative Strock proposed reviewing the governance structure of state education, arguing that the current split among the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other boards creates inefficiency and confusion, especially for licensure and programs like CTE. Senator Scott noted that turnover in the superintendent’s office could be a practical issue in any restructuring, and Strock responded that administrative staff could handle day-to-day operations. Representative Williams then introduced a discussion of common core standards and literacy, arguing that standards may be too broad and not specific enough, especially in early grades, and that Wyoming should emphasize phonics, basic reading, math, and civics more directly. Representative Guggenmos agreed that narrowing early-grade focus to math and literacy could improve outcomes. Finally, Representative Williams raised virtual education, saying it is growing quickly and the committee should study funding, accountability, and student support more closely; the chair opened that topic for further discussion.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senators and guests in the gallery, please rise for the opening prayer, to be given today by Rabbi Moshe
- The gallery, please rise for the opening prayer, to be given today by Rabbi Moshe Mots with Agadath,
- addition to legal holidays, if the supervisor's duties do not otherwise require the office to remain open
- relevant information that our state and federal agencies have in order to ensure that that is not an open
- So I know you mentioned in your opening all the funding that we do for environmental projects, and I
Summary:
The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and pledge, and included a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a doctor of the day, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to special order business, with several bills temporarily postponed before taking up a series of measures on health care, public records, cybersecurity, court clerks, trademarks, septic permits, and elections.
The first major bill, CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, would require hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, train staff, designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment, and have AHCA publish scores and adopt minimum standards. Senator Harrell said the bill was intended to ensure emergency rooms are prepared for children, and it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which protects victim identities and temporarily exempts the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim from disclosure, after questions about access for victims of police misconduct; it passed 33-4.
The chamber then approved CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, after adopting an amendment and an amendment to the amendment that kept the program within Florida Digital Service and extended the grant-award timeline; Harrell said it would help local governments defend against ransomware and hacking, and it passed 37-0. CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments that let clerks retain more excess revenue and adjusted related fee distributions, though Leader Berman warned it would shift revenue away from municipalities and law enforcement. CS/HB 679 on trademark registration and CS/HB 589 on septic system permits also passed unanimously after technical amendments, with the septic bill intended to reduce permit delays and clarify liability if construction begins before a permit is issued.
The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/HB 991, which incorporated citizenship verification using Real ID data, changed candidate-qualifying rules, altered acceptable voter IDs, and added other election-related provisions. Multiple amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to preserve student and senior IDs for voting, exempt some seniors from citizenship-document requirements, rely on human review rather than automated systems, and delay implementation. Supporters argued the bill would improve election integrity and address non-citizen registration and voting, citing state reports and examples of prosecutions; opponents argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors, and create barriers based on access to documents. The amendment package was adopted, and debate on the underlying bill continued with questions about federal law, documentation, and whether voters could still participate if state verification failed.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (01/22/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I would like to open up our hearing for House Bill 216, and Representative Maguire, you're ready to present
- So we'll go— I will close the public hearing on House Bill 216, and I will open an executive session
- I will open the hearing on House Bill 244 and welcome Representative Maguire.
- I'm opening the hearing on House Bill 96, and I call Representative Wendy Thomas.
- </c><05:08:34.040><c> the</c> atmosphere it's better than opening the atmosphere it's better than opening
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 216, which Representative Carol Maguire described as a fix to a workers’ compensation/retirement “glitch.” The bill would remove the current limit that only one year of workers’ compensation time can be credited as retirement service time. Maguire argued the limit is arbitrary and affects only a very small number of grievously injured workers, while committee members asked about the fiscal impact, available data, and whether the change could affect workers’ compensation rates or incentives. Mark Kavar of the New Hampshire Retirement System said Labor could not provide data on how many people exceed a year on weekly indemnity benefits, so the fiscal note used a conservative estimate that could be scaled down; he also explained that workers’ comp is not earnable compensation, which is why service credit stops after a year, and noted that many long-term cases move into disability retirement or lump-sum settlements. The committee closed the hearing, entered executive session, and voted ought to pass on HB 216 by a 13-0 roll call, sending it to consent and noting it would also go to Finance.
The committee then acted on House Bill 85, adopting Amendment 0037 and then voting ought to pass as amended by another 13-0 roll call. The bill was described as allowing second-year respiratory therapy students to work under supervision using the skills they have already learned, with support from the Hospital Association and no opposition noted.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 267, the animal chiropractors bill. Members said the bill had been approved previously but was vetoed because of a defect; the problem has now been corrected, and the bill is intended to reduce delays caused by requiring veterinary referrals before chiropractors can treat animals. The committee voted ought to pass 13-0 and placed the bill on consent.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on S.F. 4760 - Omnibus Public Safety policy provisions - 05/08/26
Transcript Highlights:
- So, let’s open it up for member discussion.
- It also clarifies that the working group is subject to the state's open meeting laws, and it requires
- </c> is the subject to the state's open is the subject to the state's open meeting<01:16:00.200><c> laws
- The primary difference is the first section that you see on page one of the amendment.
- And I'm open for any questions.
Summary:
The Public Safety Policy Conference Committee met on May 8, 2026, with all conferees present. The chair opened with decorum instructions, explained that the meeting was policy-only, and noted that no public testimony had been signed up. Members then introduced themselves, with several noting they were retiring at the end of the session or year.
The committee adopted a series of provisions, mostly by unanimous voice vote, including House language on identity theft and financial crimes updates, supervision abatement and restitution considerations for corrections, protective-order enhancements for murder penalties, prediction markets, victim-notification requirements for plea and sentencing hearings, research data privacy, ignition interlock and impaired-driving license changes, DOC licensing and sanctions for juvenile/adult community-based residential facilities, criminal-conviction employment and licensing standards, jail medication procedures, domestic abuse law changes, and a grant-use extension for dual-status/crossover youth funding. Several items were described as technical or clarifying changes, while others updated law to address AI-related identity theft, foreign protective orders, victim privacy, and corrections oversight.
The committee also heard discussion on a Senate provision allowing victims of domestic violence to petition for wireless account and phone-number transfers. A witness supported the concept but urged changes to better align the state language with existing federal law; members noted the issue might need another vehicle or further work. For the domestic abuse item, staff explained that an A15 amendment would later adjust the warrantless-arrest window from 28 days to 14 days. On the jail-medication item, a member emphasized the changes were clarifying and not an admission that last year’s law was flawed. All adopted provisions passed by voice vote without opposition.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Elder Affairs Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- She battled Alzheimer's for 10 years before she passed away in 2010, and my mom served as her primary
Summary:
The Aging and Independence/Elder Affairs Committee heard testimony on several bills, with the main focus on H.769/S.468, an act to improve care and prepare for the new era of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Legislators and advocates described the bill’s provisions, including expanded dementia training for first responders, a dementia services coordinator/director in state government, improved hospital discharge and caregiver access protections, dementia care coordination benefits for certain MassHealth members, public awareness and data collection requirements, and expanded support for geriatric workforce recruitment. Representative Danielle Gregoire and Senator Gomez framed the measure as a zero-cost, bipartisan continuation of the 2018 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Act, while the Alzheimer’s Association, Boston Public Health Commission, police representatives, clinicians, and family caregivers all testified in support, emphasizing public health needs, early diagnosis, caregiver involvement, and safer emergency and hospital care.
The committee also heard testimony on H.796/S.476, which would establish an Office of Older Adult Advocate and a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program. Representative Steve Ultrino supported an independent older adult advocate to help navigate fragmented state services and improve constituent services, while committee members asked about funding and the office’s relationship to existing secretariats. On the long-term care commission bill, NAFA Massachusetts and LeadingAge Massachusetts supported creating a stakeholder commission to review actuarial findings and explore public-private financing options for long-term care, stressing that neither public nor private coverage alone is sufficient and that middle-income families need more planning tools and options.
The committee also took testimony on H.786/S.466, a bill to protect vulnerable elders by expanding the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ authority to investigate abuse or neglect in non-traditional custodial settings such as prisons, jails, shelters, group homes, and certain treatment facilities. Prisoners Legal Services said the bill would close a jurisdictional gap that leaves some older adults without an investigative agency once they age out of DPPC coverage. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 8th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- The primary perpetrator is the Chinese Communist Party, and I think it is a truism that the Chinese people
Committee:
House Administration of Criminal Justice
Summary:
The Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several criminal justice bills. HB 322, which would prohibit fees for victims or family members requesting transcripts of executive-session testimony before the Board of Pardons and Parole, was described as a cleanup measure and was reported favorably without objection. HB 635, dealing with criminal activity by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations, received extensive support testimony from advocacy groups focused on foreign influence and transnational repression; the committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 132, which expands battery of a police officer to cover intentional sound directed at an officer and related conduct, drew strong support from law enforcement groups and significant opposition from civil liberties and criminal defense organizations concerned about vagueness, First Amendment issues, and impacts on parades and protests; after adopting an amendment moving the sound-related language into the general battery definition, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended.
The committee also considered HB 275, which increases minimum sentences when domestic abuse occurs in the presence of a child and extends the penalty to battery of a dating partner. Supporters argued the bill recognizes the lasting trauma to children exposed to domestic violence, while opponents warned that mandatory minimums reduce judicial discretion and that the child-presence language is broad; the committee adopted two amendment sets and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 808, revising Louisiana’s HIV exposure law to require a substantial likelihood of transmission based on current medical science and to narrow criminal liability for negligible-risk conduct, drew broad support from physicians, advocates, and people living with HIV, with testimony emphasizing that the law should reflect modern science and avoid overcriminalization; after adopting an amendment set, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. Finally, HB 1054, sponsored by Chair Villio, would allow certain law-enforcement drone footage to be self-authenticating with notice requirements; it received support from prosecutors and sheriffs’ groups and was reported favorably without objection.