Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation includes a narrow exception for investigations involving Class A violent felonies.
• Class F felony.
• After one felony conviction, any further violations that would have been felonies become a Class E felony
• Class F felony.
• After one felony conviction, any further violations that would have been felonies become a Class E felony

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

Keywords: HOPE Court, homeless court, housing instability, homelessness, poverty elimination, problem-solving court, community court, diversion program, criminal justice reform, reentry, warrants, fines and fees, low-level offenses, housing access, public safety, recidivism, Delaware Judiciary, DSHA, DHSS, DELJIS

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I know a few years ago I was at a conference and we found out me and my freshman class at the time was
• a shock that a lot... ...a conference and we found out me and my freshman class at the time was a shock
• federally authorized force, a federally regulated force, a federally equipped force, and a federally
• I think that seems to be, you know, there's a question: why do we make a phone call to ask ICE for a
• I guess when somebody gets booked into a prison, a jail, a regional jail, or a local county facility,

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

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 568 had a substitute conforming it to HB 1486. Do you have a motion on the substitute?
• A motion to report. Recommended reporting 10 to 0. A motion to report.
• Do I have a motion to add a reenactment clause?
• We are waiting on a couple patrons, but we do have a few more identical bills.
• Which makes a number of changes. Do we have a motion to refer to appropriations?

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

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlmy4po0EA8, 2026-06-21T07:17:01+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Due to a network issue the live stream cut off part way through.... we will upload a full video later today., 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• > revenues between of a 5% level, so a revenues between of a 5% level, so a more<00:08:11.039> minimal
• If we have a a some hard fiscal plan?
• c><00:11:13.120> step is, but just as a um a good first step is, but just as a um a good first
• for about a year, maybe a little longer. for about a year, maybe a little longer.
• a a a roof fall in on kids. kids. kids.

Bills: HB245, SB16, SB59, SB62, SB79, SB88

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• Class A rather than a Class B.
• A state jail felony rather than a class A if the total value of the property involved of the property
• Those value ladders that you discussed, it goes from a class E misdemeanor to a class. be a misdemeanor
• Most offenses will be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor. to a State Jail felony.
• The bill amends the penal code to elevate this offense from a Class A misdemeanor. to a state jail felony

Bills: SB1281, SB1300, SB1379, SB1451, SB1497, SB1498, SB1499

Keywords: mail theft, postal theft, package theft, identity theft, negotiable instrument, check theft, mail receptacle key, mailbox lock, postal key, delivery service, courier, USPS, United States Postal Service, fraud, property crime, elderly victims, disabled victims, identity information, rebuttable presumption, felony enhancement

Keywords: Jud A - Room 216, 15 July, 2026; 5:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 3 March, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 26 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at lines 51, there’s a trigger language, or actually it’s a backstop language, that says
• I guess my concern is not necessarily a question.
• /c> my concern is is not necessarily a my concern is is not necessarily a question.<00:02:03.759>
• It was a very um all went into it.
• There's been a two-year hodge podge.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 17 February, 2026; 10:45 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up a technical fix to last year’s judicial redistricting plan, affecting only parts of Carroll, Grenada, Montgomery, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Yalobusha Counties. The sponsor explained that the bill corrects issues left out of the prior redistricting legislation, including judgeship/chancellery details and qualifying deadlines. Because the original February 2 qualifying date had already passed, the bill includes backstop language allowing qualifying until May 1, 2026 if the measure is not enacted in time. Senator Turner Ford raised concerns that the bill was changing the law after some judges had already qualified and may have believed they were unopposed, saying the timing felt unfair and that he would likely vote against it. The sponsor responded that a cleanup bill had already been passed, that this measure applies only to the affected district, and that judges and other interested parties had been notified during the two-year redistricting process. He said the changes were necessary technical corrections rather than a hodgepodge approach. The committee then approved the bill, adopting a motion that the title was sufficient and that it do pass. The motion to rise and report also passed, and the bill was sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we have a number of bills.
• 00:13:35.600> custody<00:13:36.079> and<00:13:36.320> a recognizes a a physical
• custody and a recognizes a a physical custody and a legal<00:13:37.440> custody.
• Do I have<00:20:41.039> a<00:20:41.200> motion? have a motion? have a motion?
• Uh this is a simple bill. Uh this is a simple bill.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2893, a municipalities bill on zoning notice requirements. The committee substitute would require notice of proposed zoning changes to be posted on Facebook, Instagram, and X 30 and 15 days before the hearing, while also continuing newspaper publication, posting on a local website if available, making the proposal available at a government office or library, and extending the appeal period for landowners from 10 to 20 days. Members raised concerns about relying on social media for accurate notice and whether local governments would need accounts on those platforms, but the sponsor said the bill was meant to supplement, not replace, newspaper notice. The bill was described as supported by municipal interests, and the committee adopted a motion for a title sufficient, due pass committee substitute. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2027, which creates a rebuttable presumption that joint physical custody is in the best interest of a child. The sponsor and other senators said the bill is intended to add a tool to existing custody law, not replace the Albright factors or other custody standards, and would apply even where the parents were never married. Questions focused on paternity, how the presumption could be rebutted, and whether distance between parents would defeat equal time; the sponsors said paternity rules would remain unchanged and courts could deviate when joint custody is not feasible, such as when parents live far apart. Senators also asked about chancellors’ reactions, and the sponsor said he had discussed the measure with many of them and had revised the bill in response to prior concerns. The committee then passed the bill on a motion for title sufficient, due pass. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2747, a consumer legal funding bill. The sponsor and a representative of the industry described the measure as regulating consumer legal funding, which provides small advances to injured plaintiffs for household expenses while litigation is pending, and distinguishing it from litigation financing, which pays litigation costs. They said the bill would impose consumer protections, require attorney review, prohibit quid pro quo arrangements between funders and law firms, bar law firms from operating side funding businesses, and block foreign money from entering the market. The discussion was informational at this stage, with the witness explaining that the bill is intended to regulate an existing practice and protect consumers and the legal system.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> Jed A Jed A uh <00:07:20.579>toh <00:07:21.158>neh <00:07:21.737>xayyowtem <
• But I have a lot of concerns.
• That’s a problem.
• But I have a lot of concerns.
• A person who is working in the chancery court in another state is counted as a chancery position.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 2 February, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The meeting focused heavily on proposed changes to Mississippi’s chancery court system, especially Senate Bill 2472 and related bills. The discussion centered on moving or expanding certain chancery court functions, creating a statewide or county-based structure for some positions, and whether those changes would be workable in practice. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that any reform should be functional, not just well-intentioned, and raised concerns about preserving court operations, confidentiality, and the ability of judges and staff to handle cases locally. A major theme was opposition from some chancery judges and related officials, who argued that the proposal could undermine the existing chancery system and create problems for CPS, delinquency matters, and other sensitive cases. Supporters of the reform said the current system is uneven and that a clearer, more modern structure is needed. There was also discussion of a pilot program in LeFlore County and comparisons to practices in Georgia and other states, with some testimony suggesting the pilot showed the concept could work. The transcript also touched on funding and implementation details, including judicial operations funding, budget notes, and the need for a roadmap before moving forward. Several speakers asked for the bill language to be clarified, including specific line references and effective dates, and discussed whether the changes would require amendments to existing law. The exchange ended with continued disagreement over whether the proposal should advance as written or be revised further before action.

Transcript Highlights:

• you a committee subst a also have before you a committee subst a proposed<00:05:28.639> committee
• have a motion? have a motion?
• would be um there was a there was a a would be um there was a there was a a vehicular<00:18:11.440><
• a a nonprofit?
• c> a<01:03:35.359> personal holder of a CDL driving a personal holder of a CDL driving a personal

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss several bills, beginning with a block motion on Senate Bills 2138, 2697, 2707, 2717, and 2726. Those measures were described as code-section updates involving redrawn Supreme Court districts, youth court reforms, Administrative Office of Courts matters, replacement of the MyKids youth court computer system, and Mississippi opioid settlement commission procedures. The committee agreed to take them up together, and the motion to report them title sufficient and due pass carried without opposition. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2890, dealing with the judicial operations fund. Members were told the fund no longer has sufficient revenue to cover court operations and requested judicial raises, and the proposed committee substitute would repeal the fund while conforming related code references. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported title sufficient and due pass. Senate Bill 2730, granting immunity to nonprofits and churches that open during declared emergencies, was amended with a reverse repealer and then passed as amended. Next, Senate Bill 2135 was explained as a change to jury summons procedures so clerks could use the SEMS active/inactive voter designation and summon only active voters, without removing anyone from the voter rolls. The bill drew no opposition and passed, though a reverse repealer was later requested on similar procedural grounds in other bills. Senate Bill 2360 would create a public registry of entities that, though appearing private, are covered by the Mississippi Tort Claims Act; members discussed whether such entities should also be required to identify themselves on websites and written materials, and an amendment to that effect was adopted. A reverse repealer was then added, and the bill passed as amended. Finally, Senate Bill 2362 was presented as a proposal to create a private cause of action under the Unfair Trade Practices Act, allowing claimants to sue directly while still notifying the Attorney General. The sponsor said the bill would not add extra damages and noted similar laws in other states. The committee discussion was cut off in the transcript before a final vote on that bill is shown.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, October 23, 2025; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, September 24, 2025; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 29 May, 2025; 1:15 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 4 March, 2025; 2:15 P.M., 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 27 February, 2025; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 4 February, 2025; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 4 February, 2025; 8:30 A.M., 925, all