Transcript Highlights:

• And Amendment 315 collects data on the cost of illegal aliens in our prison systems.
• What about our prisons?
• I think many of the prisons do know, and they are— Of our incarcerated population are illegal aliens?
• And I think you also said prisons, correct? Receiving state funds. Okay.
• And I think you also said prisons, correct? That's a separate amendment, sir, so I'm not...

Bills: HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB2143 , HJR2 , HB147 , HJR6 , HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , SB1

Keywords: career readiness, education reform, workforce training, public schools, financial aid, applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, mental health, telehealth

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget. A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes. The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6. Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you got taken prisoners of war. Some of them stayed to continue to work there.
• And these are some of the first prisoners of war during World War II of Americans.
• served in World War II to defend the United States and the hard time that they had to go through as prisoners
• Idaho that their family members were actually on Wake Island during this attack and were part of the prisoners

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, contrary to common assumptions, in-prison visitation is not a major source of contraband, and in
• 06:10.880><c> in</c> Um, contrary to common assumptions, in Um, contrary to common assumptions, in prison
• :11.840><c> not</c><00:06:11.919><c> a</c><00:06:12.080><c> major</c><00:06:12.319><c> source</c> prison
• visitation is not a major source prison visitation is not a major source of<00:06:12.639><c> contraband

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety met on April 17, 2025, to hear STR20, which urges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to re-evaluate policies on in-person contact visitation at correctional facilities statewide so incarcerated people can stay connected with loved ones who support rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson testified that the department supports the intent of the measure and would review its policies and procedures to see whether contact visits could be restarted at all facilities, noting that some facilities already allow them. The committee also acknowledged 11 written testimonies in support, and one Zoom testifier, Panda Valdono, spoke in favor, arguing that in-person visitation supports rehabilitation, mental health, family connection, and successful reentry, and that visitation is not a major source of contraband. After testimony, the committee initially lacked quorum and recessed until 3:40 p.m. When the meeting reopened with six members present, the chair recommended passing STR20 as is. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation, with members Morikawa, Puo, Witson, and Shimizu voting aye and several members excused. The measure was approved and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, there's been an increased activity and threat of the use of drones over prisons, oftentimes
• So what this bill does is it restricts the airspace directly around and above the prison itself, going
• So this only applies again up to 400 feet above ground level directly over the prison.
• Senators, there's been an increased activity and threat of the use of drones over prisons, oftentimes
• So this only applies again up to 400 feet above ground level directly over the prison.

Transcript Highlights:

• MH that they generally are if in prison MH that they generally are if in prison MH that they generally
• today probably what is that a in prison today probably what is that a in prison today probably what
• order got 52 years to serve in prison order got 52 years to serve in prison instead of three that's
• either way so I mean I I see it I prison either way so I mean I I see it I prison either way so I mean
• and we and and they already prisons and we and and they already prisons and we and and they already

Transcript Highlights:

• You are not ready to go to prison to serve a political point. Correct.
• We're talking about life in prison and criminal punishment.
• . in prison.
• Doctors are afraid to go to prison.
• Nobody's actually gone to prison. No physician's actually been prosecuted.

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• I have been in the prisons. They have visitation policies already.
• The taxpayer has bought the tablets and put them in the prisons. They have Wi-Fi in the prisons.
• People are visiting loved ones in prison. They are having contact visits in prison.
• THE TAXPAYER HAS BOUGHT THE TABLETS AND PUT THEM IN THE PRISONS. THEY HAVE WI-FI IN THE PRISONS.
• PEOPLE ARE VISITING LOVED ONES IN PRISON, THEY ARE HAVING CONTACT VISITS IN PRISON.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then processed a series of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills, which were so ordered. Several bills were also recalled from the Assembly, had reconsideration votes taken, and were restored to the third reading calendar after receiving 58 ayes. Amendments were received on a number of bills, and those measures retained their place on the calendar. The main business of the day was Privileged Resolution 2318, sponsored by Leader Stewart-Cousins, honoring Senator Michael Gianaris with the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader’s Legislative Legacy Award. The resolution and floor remarks reviewed his long career in the Assembly and Senate, his role as Deputy Majority Leader and floor leader, and his work on housing, criminal justice, voting rights, labor, environmental, consumer, transit, animal welfare, and other major legislation. Members from both parties spoke at length, praising his strategic skill, mentorship, humor, and influence, while also noting his support for younger members and his commitment to family. Several senators described personal experiences showing Gianaris’s mentorship and political guidance, and many referenced his Greek American identity, Queens roots, and interests such as Star Wars and the Mets. Senators also emphasized that he was leaving on his own terms to spend more time with his wife and daughters. The resolution was adopted with broad support, and Gianaris then spoke in response, reflecting on nearly 30 years in state government, the major laws passed during his tenure, and the relationships he built in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kat Brady, Community Alliance on Prisons.
• Kat Brady, Community Alliance on Prisons.
• Testimony in support from Community Alliance on Prisons. Ms. Kat Brady, good morning, committee.
• Testimony in support from Community Alliance on Prisons. Ms. Kat Brady, good morning, committee.
• </c><02:00:31.639><c> population</c> 40% of the jail and prison population 40% of the jail and prison

Summary: At the joint hearing on SB 951 SD2, the committees heard testimony on a child protection measure requiring mandatory child abuse and neglect reports to include military status and to improve communication between DHS and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense testified in support and described its coordinated community response process for abuse reports, saying the bill would help ensure child safety and better coordination with DHS. DHS was initially absent, later appeared, and said it supported the measure but was still working with DOD on implementation details and staff training. Members asked about how DHS becomes involved and whether there were gaps in the current process. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments, including changing the effective date to 7/1/25 and conforming related language, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The Public Safety committee then heard SB 1377 SD2, which would create a Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services in the Department of Defense to provide guidance, education, and technical assistance to state veteran cemeteries. DOD supported the bill and explained that county-run cemeteries must meet National Cemetery Administration standards to remain eligible for federal reimbursements and grants; witnesses described past compliance problems at several cemeteries, including one still not compliant in Hilo, and said the board would help counties prepare for future site visits and improve oversight without taking over operations. Members asked about costs, reimbursement amounts, and whether the state would assume cemetery operations; DOD said the current reimbursement process runs through the state to the counties and that direct takeover would be costly. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The committee also heard SB 1382, which would make intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a National Guard member performing duty a class C felony. The Hawaii National Guard and HPD supported the bill, citing incidents during the Maui response where Guard members encountered noncompliant and sometimes physically confrontational individuals while assisting police and protecting impacted areas. Testimony emphasized that Guard members are often unarmed and should receive protections similar to first responders. One witness opposed the bill, but the committee moved forward and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments. Finally, the committee took up SB 1379 SD2 on emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers. Hawaii Emergency Management supported the bill, and supporters said it would create a statewide framework for resilience hubs that can provide supplies, action plans, and refuge during disasters. Testimony highlighted recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards, and argued the measure would complement existing county efforts rather than replace them. County of Hawaii testimony opposed the bill, raising concerns about overlap and cost, while members asked about estimated expenses and implementation. The discussion ended with questions about planning and whether the bill would enhance existing programs; no final vote was captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that shows that there is an extreme uh prevalence of dyslexia in the prison population.
• So that shows that there is an extreme uh prevalence of dyslexia in the prison population.
• So that shows that there is an extreme uh prevalence of dyslexia in the prison population.
• So that shows that there is an extreme uh prevalence of dyslexia in the prison population.
• This would then allow prison population.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they do go to prison, they get one year when they get out of prison to try to get their life together
• Because we know it's tough to transition out of prison.
• And then the other end of it is this: if they've killed someone, they may be gone to prison; some of

Committee: House Children and Families

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1135, “Bentley and Mason’s Law,” which would require a person convicted of driving drunk or otherwise impaired and causing the death of a parent or parents to pay child support-like maintenance to the victim’s children until age 18, or 21 if in college. The sponsor explained that the amount would be determined through a clerk and court process similar to child support, based on the offender’s finances and the children’s prior standard of living. The bill also includes a provision intended to avoid “double dipping” by barring the maintenance claim if the family has already pursued a civil case against the insurance company, and it allows a one-year grace period after release from prison before payments begin. Committee members asked about the amount, whether health care or FAFSA would be affected, and whether penalties would apply for nonpayment; the sponsor said those issues were not fully specified and could be strengthened later. Members also raised concerns about enforceability and bankruptcy, while others supported the bill but suggested possible amendments. Public testimony was strongly in favor. Brooke Stewart described how her husband was killed by a drunk driver in Tennessee and said Bentley’s Law has provided her children with restitution that will help support them through adulthood, including college. She said the offender had prior DUI-related arrests and that the law gave her family relief and accountability. Heather Elder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving testified for the bill and said Missouri should pass it without amendment, noting that similar laws exist in other states and territories. She said the bill was created in response to Cecilia Williams’ family tragedy and that Bentley and Mason, the children named in the bill, have been attending hearings and understand what the legislation means. Witnesses also referenced related impaired-driving and social-host bills as broader prevention efforts. No one testified in opposition, and the committee took no vote, ending the hearing after the public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those people belong in prison.
• Uh those people belong<00:04:24.320><c> in</c><00:04:24.560><c> prison.
• ><c> we</c><00:04:25.199><c> need</c><00:04:25.280><c> to</c><00:04:25.440><c> make</c> belong in prison
• And we need to make belong in prison.

Summary: House DFL leader Stevenson said the tied House will require cooperation, noting the caucus has tried to model bipartisan work through co-chairs and that he has a good working relationship with Speaker Damuth. He highlighted the three new DFL special-election winners—Xp Lee, Shelley Buck, and Meg Luger-Nikolai—as bringing health, tribal leadership, nonprofit, labor, and education experience to the chamber. On policy, Stevenson said DFLers want to push back against certain federal immigration enforcement tactics, including masked officers and warrantless entries, and tied the issue to the murder of former Speaker Melissa Hortman. He also said the caucus will pursue gun restrictions such as bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, binary triggers, and ghost guns, while acknowledging that Republican leadership would need to allow a floor vote for any bill to advance. He added that DFLers are open to and will lead on fraud prevention, especially in programs serving vulnerable Minnesotans, and said those who steal public funds should face prison. Looking ahead to the second year of the biennium, Stevenson said he hopes for a large bonding bill focused on statewide infrastructure needs, but warned he will not support using bonding as leverage for unrelated policy concessions. He also said affordability will be a major focus, especially food, energy, housing, and health care costs, and argued Minnesota should try to counter rising premiums and hold insurers and pharmaceutical companies accountable.

Transcript Highlights:

• help advance the policy and make sure that we can have more of a rehabilitative kind of model in our prison
• kind of model more of a rehabilitative kind of model in<00:10:20.399><c> our</c><00:10:20.560><c> prison
• </c><00:10:21.200><c> So,</c><00:10:21.360><c> thank</c><00:10:21.440><c> you</c> in our prison system
• So, thank you in our prison system.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Director of RITE on Crime at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Kayden Norton from the Prison
• My name is Kayden Norton, and I'm here on behalf of Prison Fellowship Ministries in support of Senate
• As a brief introduction, Prison Fellowship is the nation's largest Christian non-profit serving currently
• Prison Fellowship serves men and women in over 20 Texas facilities through character education programs
• TTCJ reports data on prisons, probation, and parole.

Bills: SB614 , SB872 , SB1199 , SB1212 , SB1278 , SB1573 , SB1588 , SB1602 , SB1660 , SB1704 , SB1723 , SB1833 , SB1858 , SB1946 , SB2009 , SB2146 , SB2177 , SB2373 , SB2460 , SB2785

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they also have substantial costs involved as well in terms of prison costs, workhouse time, people
• Uh they're the correction officers in the state prisons.
• they're the correction officers in the they're the correction officers in the state<00:08:51.040><c> prisons
• c> They're</c><00:08:52.160><c> the</c><00:08:52.640><c> crime</c><00:08:52.959><c> lab</c> state prisons
• They're the crime lab state prisons.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2318, El-Hawari, facilitating medical care, do pass as amended to exclude jails and prisons.
• AB 2318, El-Hawari, facilitating medical care, do pass as amended to exclude jails and prisons.
• AB 2593, El-Hawari, treatment of prisoners, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2593, El-Hawari, treatment of prisoners, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2259, Ransom, prisons mental health, held in committee.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• We all know that we are severely underfunded as far as the housing of prisoners through this committee
• to apples, but we know that DOC today, they have an average of around $90 per day for their male prisoners
• bill standardizes penalties for theft of critical infrastructure and establishes a minimum 20-year prison
• to make it a penalty under R.S. 14:334, which is a misdemeanor of not greater than six months in prison
• if they're not deterred by what they did originally, then they should spend some serious time in prison

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on March 25, 2026, and first voluntarily deferred HB 884. The committee then took up HB 806, which strengthens Louisiana’s hit-and-run laws by adding rapid notification procedures through law enforcement systems and clarifying investigative protocols. Vice Chair LaFleur and several family members of hit-and-run victims testified in strong support, describing the bill as a needed accountability and public-safety measure; it was adopted as amended and reported favorably. The committee also heard HB 143, which raises the per diem paid to sheriffs for housing state inmates in parish jails from $26.39 to $29.39 to match current appropriations practice. Sheriffs and committee members emphasized that local jails are underfunded and provide important programming and cost savings to the state; the bill was reported favorably. The committee next approved several local or criminal justice measures. HB 93, which places the Lincoln Parish jury commission under the clerk or deputy clerk, was reported favorably without opposition. HB 166, which removes Vermilion Parish from the Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District, drew discussion about regional juvenile detention funding and representation, with members noting similar concerns from other parishes; it was reported favorably. HB 429, which adds theft or unauthorized entry of critical infrastructure as a predicate crime for terrorism and expands protections for energy facilities, received support from industry groups and law enforcement, with one opposition card filed; it was amended and reported favorably. HB 231, creating the crime of intentional evasion of service of process for certain court orders, especially protective orders, was also amended and reported favorably after testimony from the sponsor and support from domestic violence and women’s advocacy groups. The committee then advanced a package of bills by Chairwoman Villio aimed at protecting minors and addressing impaired driving. HB 58 and its companion constitutional amendment HB 51 would restrict post-conviction bail for offenders convicted of aggravated offenses against minors; the Attorney General’s office and law enforcement groups supported the measures, while the Southern Poverty Law Center opposed them, and both measures were reported favorably. HB 69 would make it a misdemeanor to tamper with or circumvent court-ordered ignition interlock requirements while on probation or otherwise required by law, and HB 82 would increase penalties for repeat DWI offenders with prior serious injury or death-related convictions; both were supported by prosecutors, police, sheriffs, and MADD, amended where needed, and reported favorably. The committee adjourned after completing action on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we get out of prison, there's nothing.
• So I said this before in another meeting: before we're in prison, before we go to prison, we're in prison
• The communities are like prisons. So I would say the stability has to move to infrastructure.
• Like, that is a prison. That is a jail.
• a problem. ...many people sitting on this board have children or grandkids or kids, but that's a prison

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee (JJPOC) met for administrative updates, approved the April meeting minutes, and discussed a proposed shift from monthly full committee meetings to a quarterly schedule beginning later this year. Members generally supported the change, saying it would reduce strain on agency and committee resources and allow more time for work groups to complete implementation tasks. Several members also asked for more flexible agendas and a clearer way to add issues between meetings, with staff suggesting a standardized form for submitting topics in advance. Work group updates covered cross-agency data sharing, diversion, education, incarceration, and community expertise. The data-sharing group reported continued work on the Equity Dashboard 2.0, a statewide expulsions analysis, municipal-level data collaboration with UConn’s IMRP, and a cross-system analysis of crossover youth. The diversion group described work on POST curriculum revisions for juvenile law, a youth-focused law enforcement interaction training, a community-police relationship toolkit, expansion of youth diversion teams, and pre-arrest diversion policy. The education group is reviewing implementation of the law creating educational oversight in juvenile facilities, along with a free public transportation pilot for high school students and truancy cleanup legislation. The incarceration group is tracking conditions of confinement, DOC restraint and chemical agent reports, the DOJ settlement monitoring process, the reentry success plan, and gender-responsive programming. The community expertise group emphasized elevating lived experience, youth voice, prevention, and conditions of confinement, with members urging the committee to focus on stability, infrastructure, and meaningful use of lived-experience perspectives. A major presentation from OPM outlined Connecticut’s effort to re-enter the federal Title II juvenile justice formula grant program. OPM explained the program’s core compliance requirements, including deinstitutionalization of status offenders, adult jail and lockup removal, sight-and-sound separation, and addressing racial and ethnic disparities. Staff said Connecticut is currently not fully compliant because of issues including youth being held in adult facilities and the state’s six-hour detention rule, and that Title II funding is on hold while OPM works toward compliance. OPM is developing a monitoring manual, identifying facilities to be monitored, and forming a state advisory group (SAG) to support the application and compliance process. Members questioned why a separate SAG is needed, whether JJPOC or the community expertise group could serve that role, and how lived-experience members would be selected; OPM said federal rules require the SAG to include youth or parents with lived experience and that the group cannot be composed of state or government employees in the key leadership roles. The committee agreed to circulate the federal parameters and ask members to suggest candidates for the SAG and to help move compliance work forward over the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• It could increase the penalty in state prison, but also it gives a minimum sentence or minimum jail time
• Assembly Bill 464 by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry and others, relating to prisons.
• California state prisons are supposed to have a zero-tolerance policy for rape and sexual assault.
• California state prisons are supposed to have a zero-tolerance policy for rape and sexual assault.
• Yet reports of sexual abuse by prison staff continue. This is completely unacceptable.

Transcript Highlights:

• But being in prison, what happens is that you're obviously convicted.
• So things change quite often in the prison setting.
• First of all, what charges were you convicted of that got you into prison?
• I spent over 30 years of my adult life in prison.
• During that 30-day period, you're moved from jail to prison.

Bills: HB2095 , HB2500 , HB2412 , HB2595 , HB2354 , HB2597

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, charitable organization, charity, nonprobate transfer, beneficiary designation, life insurance, retirement account, payable on death, POD account, transfer on death, TOD, financial institution, insurance company, transfer agent, estate planning, donor intent

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are really glad to see fraudsters going to prison.
• 08:41.680><c> to</c> really glad to see fraudsters going to really glad to see fraudsters going to prison
• <c> scammy</c><00:08:43.440><c> businesses</c><00:08:43.919><c> that</c><00:08:44.159><c> are</c> prison
• These scammy businesses that are prison.
• </c> accountable and sent to prison. accountable and sent to prison.