Video & Transcript : 'parole officers' :

Page 51 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • and in periods of authorized stay, lawful permanent— residents, DACA holders, people with military parole
  • I was re-arrested under orders from the sheriff's office, facing and imposed. million-dollar bond.
  • 5 allows magistrates to preventively detain people accused of violent offenses, according to the office
  • According to the Office of Court Administration, in the fiscal year 2023, as many as 75,000 cases were
Bills: SB9 , SB1047 , SB1048 , SJR17 , SJR49 , SB40 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 1
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

PSM Informational Briefing 11-21-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's not enough officers.
  • </c> full-blown police officers. full-blown police officers.
  • </c> officers who complete their probation. officers who complete their probation.
  • </c> Prosecuting Attorney's Office on Zoom. Prosecuting Attorney's Office on Zoom.
  • </c> something that we did within our office. something that we did within our office.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives May 11th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Attorney General for malfeasance and office. So the reason that Mr.
  • It simply modernizes and strengthens the Office of the State Inspector General.
  • of veterans as school resource officers.
  • House Bill 682 doesn't diminish the role of our school resource officers.
  • Chris Turner, Senator Wheat, and I have a shrimp boil at the Speaker's office. Thank you.
Bills: HR257 , HR258 , HR259 , HR260 , HR261 , HR262 , HR263 , HCR105 , HCR106 , HR252 , HR253 , HR254 , HR255 , HR256 , HCR103 , HCR104 , SB83 , SB143 , SB155 , SB228 , SB283 , SB295 , SB338 , SB388 , SB408 , SB431 , HR84 , HR188 , HR205 , HB302 , HB597 , HB819 , HB1257 , HB1258 , SCR24 , SB45 , SB58 , SB71 , SB81 , SB92 , SB100 , SB109 , SB141 , SB156 , SB181 , SB203 , SB204 , SB205 , SB207 , SB213 , SB214 , SB216 , SB229 , SB257 , SB274 , SB290 , SB304 , SB374 , SB379 , SB396 , SB410 , SB425 , SB427 , SB429 , SB479 , SB522 , SB357 , SB406 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , HCR72 , HR37 , HCR64 , HR170 , HR191 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR217 , HCR11 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR66 , HCR68 , HR9 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR50 , HCR62 , HCR67 , HCR71 , HCR78 , HCR81 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , SCR11 , SCR22 , SCR2 , SCR20 , 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 , HB301 , HB359 , HB657 , HB675 , HB680 , HB727 , HB79 , HB251 , HB625 , HB769 , HB775 , HB783 , HB895 , HB1011 , HB1057 , HB1155 , HB1186 , HB1224 , HB1245 , HB1247 , HB1253 , HB1254 , HB1255 , HB1256 , 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 , 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 , HB646 , HB824 , HB341 , HB682 , HB766 , HB926 , HB998 , HB1051 , HB1080 , HB1201 , HB1223 , HB603 , HB940 , HB1191 , SB47 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , SB82 , SB89 , SB149 , SB382
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/28/25

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> facilities uh so we do uh open Office facilities uh so we do uh open Office hours<00:04:21.959><
  • </c><00:21:33.760><c> changes</c> applications renewals officer changes applications renewals officer
  • </c><01:26:59.480><c> of</c> like there's a lot in the office of like there's a lot in the office of
  • </c><01:27:51.080><c> of</c> the programs moving are the office of the programs moving are the office
  • </c><01:32:50.080><c> 2</c> approximately 75 peace officers 2 approximately 75 peace officers 2 million
Bills: HF2432
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Mar 3rd, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • 503 by Tepper relating to the eligibility of certain counties to participate in the Rural Sheriff's Office
  • Assistance Grant Program and the Rural Prosecutor Office Salary Assistance Grant Program for this Club
  • by the House of Representatives and appealing the requirement that an officer against the Articles of
  • Impeachment who have been preferred to be suspended by the exercise of their duties of offices during
  • Terminate the sentence of a person who has successfully required the number of years on parole, referred
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Over the years, under various sheriffs, before I was in office, there were modifications made, not to
  • So if one's thinking about what it costs to build a conventional office, you have to consider a much
  • requirement for a level of durability that exceeds what you would expect to see in a classroom or an office
  • I can imagine, by the way, I think we want to push the parole presentation out a little bit further;
  • Parole policy is not on the table for this commission, for example. So, okay.
Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on October 17 with members attending in person and virtually. The commission approved the September 15 minutes and then heard a detailed presentation from DCAM Commissioner Adam Bakey on the correctional facilities portfolio, including the age and condition of DOC and sheriff facilities, deferred maintenance, ADA compliance, decarbonization mandates, and how capital funding is allocated. Bakey said the correctional portfolio includes 36 facilities, with average ages over 50 years, and described how older, rapidly built facilities from the tough-on-crime era now face significant maintenance and replacement needs. He also explained the distinction between catch-up deferred maintenance and ongoing keep-up needs, and noted that construction costs and code thresholds have made projects more expensive. Commissioners and sheriffs asked about ADA requirements, aging and overcrowded facilities, hazardous materials, parts availability for obsolete systems, plumbing and health risks, and whether a newer, more modern correctional facility should be considered. Bakey said many projects trigger broader code upgrades, that some dormant facilities remain in the portfolio, and that health-care and correctional construction are among the most expensive building types. He outlined current funding, including annual deferred maintenance allocations for DOC and formula-based five-year commitments for sheriffs, plus a new competitive capital program for larger sheriff projects. He also explained the Designer Selection Board and “house doctor” process used to procure architects and engineers. The commission then shifted to planning its next steps, focusing on public input. Members agreed the next meeting should likely be a public hearing or include public testimony, with possible input from people with lived experience and consideration of facility tours, especially of women’s facilities such as Framingham. Members emphasized the need to define the commission’s scope clearly so testimony stays focused on structural and consolidation issues rather than all correctional policy topics. The meeting ended with plans for the co-chairs to coordinate the public process and a motion to adjourn, which passed without opposition.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the way that you have conducted yourself in the office.
  • Even if he is here, he would rather just stay in my office.
  • I don't know if they're officers.
  • , still understaffed when it comes to Police officers, and they pay very well as far as police officers
  • and may not be on parole.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • That's not a legitimate reason to parole someone under our... ...law.
  • We had 10.5 million border encounters since Biden took office.
  • We've also voted to keep our law enforcement officers safe.
  • When Joe Biden took office, that number was 2.8%.
  • The Office of Disease Infection, I want to keep it open, don't y'all?
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Mar 3rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Ladies and gentlemen, the Administrative Office of Courts deals with judicial education, not only for
  • >> I think if you have a police officer that's watching for this kind of thing and you see the police
  • officer watch the drone and then bring the drone back down to where the controller in it where it's
  • >> I think if you have a police officer that's watching for this kind of thing and you see the police
  • So I was at the administrative office of court several years.
Bills: HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261 , HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261
Committee: Senate Judiciary
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Feb 7th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Instead of requiring the governor's office and the Attorney General's Office to appoint representatives
  • office to participate on the task force.
  • or the AG's office to participate on the task force.
  • consult instead of coordinate with the Office of Equity for that purpose.
  • Additionally, we recognized a continuing crisis in affording officers.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PBS Public Hearing - Fri Feb 6, 2026 @ 8:30 AM HST

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • Third, I want to be very specific that our office is a state office, right?
  • Um, our office sees extingencies.
  • </c> and community relations office uh title. and community relations office uh title.
  • We are a officer at Worth Rises.
  • </c> Office of Wellness and Resilience. Office of Wellness and Resilience.
Bills: HB676
Committee: House Public Safety
Summary: The committee heard three public safety bills. HB 2235 would appropriate $1.3 million for the Military Affairs and Community Relations Office to strengthen coordination on military and defense issues. Supporters, including the Hawaii National Guard and DBEDT’s military relations office, said the office helps Hawaiʻi understand federal contracting, USA Jobs, and military-related economic impacts. One member questioned why the state should fund a DoD-related office while Hawaiʻi remains under-reimbursed on impact aid; supporters responded that the office serves Hawaiʻi communities and helps prepare residents for federal jobs. The chair said she intended to recommend the bill pass with a HD1, a blank appropriation to be filled in the committee report, technical amendments, a defective effective date, and updated office title language. HB 2263 would expand Hawaiʻi family leave law to cover qualifying military exigencies. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii National Guard supported the measure, saying military families often face short-notice deployments, relocations, briefings, and urgent family arrangements that require time away from work, and that aligning state law with federal standards would provide clarity and consistency. The chair said she would recommend passage with a HD1, a defective effective date, and technical amendments. HB 2291 would clarify that certain National Guard Youth and Educational Programs employees are excluded from collective bargaining, rename the program, and codify its Hawaiian name. The Hawaii National Guard said it was a housekeeping bill with no appropriation, but requested an amendment to align the bill with updated authorities and program references; the chair asked for proposed language before the later decision-making. She said she would recommend passage with a defective date and the requested amendment if provided, and then recessed the hearing until 11:30 a.m. for decision-making on all three bills.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 112 May 6th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Anybody sentenced to life without parole is excluded, always has been from introduction.
  • </c><01:06:35.440><c> is</c> sentenced on life without parole is sentenced on life without parole is
  • a peace officer or other first<01:07:02.160><c> responder</c><01:07:02.960><c> victim.
  • ><c> for</c><03:25:06.479><c> general</c> elected offices prohibited for general elected offices prohibited
  • </c> county executive officer disclosures. county executive officer disclosures.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Press Conference: Lt. Governor Dan Patrick Feb 12th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We left the hearing, walked across to the Speaker's office, and we've been there for the last hour.
  • Astros game when we incurred the wrath of a person who was a two-time felon who had been out on parole
  • I was in the mayor's office for 18 years, at the Houston Police Department, and I'm now running Crime
  • We started the Houston Crime Commission a long time ago, long before I was in office.
  • Now it sounds like you kind of just walked into Speaker Burroughs' office and had this discussion with
Bills: SJR2 , SB4 , SJR36 , SJR2 , SB4 , SR42 , SR74 , SR76 , HCR5 , SB710 , SB710
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Mar 13th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • I do think that issue was incorporated. ...in offices or applicability to Idaho.
  • We've got twice as many centers, and then we have twice as many officers.
  • And officers per 100,000 residents were three times.
  • So instead, these salaries are embedded in other budgets like the sheriff's office.
  • We won't hear particularly from the governor's office other than what you have.
Summary: The committee approved minutes from September 25 and December 2, 2025, then heard seven topic requests for possible Office of Performance Evaluations studies. Topics included the impacts of growth on agriculture and infrastructure, Medicaid hospital billing, Your Health Idaho plan selection, fund balance management for boards and commissions under DOPL, the Board of Community Guardians, sexual assault in women’s prisons, and drivers of prison population growth. Requesters emphasized issues such as conversion of farmland to development, possible Medicaid billing upcoding, uninsured Idahoans’ costs, uneven board fund balances after consolidation, gaps in guardianship services, prison safety and oversight, and factors driving incarceration growth. OPE staff said all were feasible, with some smaller, medium, or larger in scope depending on the topic. After a secret ballot, the committee selected four studies for OPE: the Board of Community Guardians, drivers of prison population growth, impacts of growth on agriculture and infrastructure, and oversight of sexual assault in women’s correctional facilities. Members noted the remaining topics received fewer votes, but the director said the office could potentially take on additional work later if capacity allowed. The committee also agreed to follow up on the Idaho Home Learning Academy report and the 2023 direct care workforce report, with follow-up timing suggested for December and June, respectively. The committee then received a follow-up report on Idaho’s 911 system. OPE said the system faces four major pressures: insufficient funding, staffing shortages, too many centers relative to call demand, and weak statewide data and oversight. The report recommended evolving the Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission into a statewide program with authority to oversee the system, collect standardized financial data, set performance standards, and clarify cost responsibilities. The committee heard responses from the IPSCC chairman, the Military Division, and others, who generally agreed with the need for better data and coordination but stressed local control, outdated radio infrastructure, and the lack of a clear funding estimate. The committee discussed whether to pursue a follow-up focused on funding gaps and system costs, and OPE said it could do additional background work with the commission and Military Division to see what data are available.
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 11 Jan 22nd, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The corrected journal will be filed in the office of the Secretary. Mr. President.
  • consideration the gubernatorial appointment of Scott Smith, appointed to the Commission of Pardons and Parole
  • The correspondence will be filed in the office of the Secretary. Mr. President. Senator Den Hartog.
  • captioning for Idaho in Session is provided by the Idaho Legislature and Idaho Legislative Services Office
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Mar 12th, 2026

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, we have Anne Leighton Lee, that is our guest intern of the Lieutenant Governor's office.
  • </c><00:03:58.480><c> She's</c> the Lieutenant Governor's office.
  • She's the Lieutenant Governor's office.
  • &gt;&gt; Um almost like we got partner parole. &gt;&gt; Um almost like we got partner parole.
  • </c> in parole. in parole.
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 28 senators present. The body agreed to excuse absent senators, dispense with reading and adopt the previous journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The presiding officer also recognized several guests on the floor and in the gallery, including an intern from the Lieutenant Governor’s office and guests of Senator Chambliss. Committee reports focused on confirmations for Alabama State University’s Board of Trustees. Patricia Anne Jones (Confirmation 79), Angela Star (Confirmation 80), and Bobby Singleton (Confirmation 78) each received favorable committee reports and were confirmed by the full Senate, with roll-call votes showing unanimous or near-unanimous support. The chamber spent considerable time in lighthearted debate and personal remarks during Singleton’s confirmation before adopting the motion and confirming him. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 81 commending the Coach Safely Foundation for youth sports injury mitigation, and several other resolutions honoring individuals and organizations, including Johnny Williams, Jim America, Senior Trooper Hunter Woodruff, and retired Army Colonel Shawn Thomas Prricett. A resolution encouraging Alabama public high schools to form a consortium was also adopted. On local bills, the Senate passed Senate Bill 243 regarding Jefferson County and House Bill 532 regarding Shelby County, both by using the previous roll and with no opposition. The Rules Committee then reported a special order calendar for the 22nd legislative day, which the Senate adopted 30-0. The special order calendar included bills on the Board of Funeral Services, the Public Service Commission, tax abatements, electric utilities, child support, dogs, school lands, Chambers County, and real property. The first special-order bill taken up was Senate Bill 107 by Senators Figures and Gudger, concerning the Alabama Board of Funeral Services. Senators discussed the bill’s purpose of funding the board’s increased duties, the effect on funeral home license fees, and an amendment offered by Senator Bell to reduce certain fees. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was explained as not affecting pre-need funeral arrangements. Debate continued as members asked questions about costs to families and funeral homes, but the chamber had not yet reached final disposition of the bill by the end of the excerpt.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/12/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, there's a difference between parole and probation. Parole is an extension of your sentence.
  • Now, there's a difference between parole and probation. Parole is an extension of your sentence.
  • Parole is an extension of your sentence.
  • We have our chief operating officer, Matt Specht, unrivaled.
  • In my office, I have those who I've lost in all my 14 years here.
Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, approved the journal, and took up several Senate bills and one Senate concurrent resolution through motions to reconsider, return bills for reconsideration, and refer measures to additional Committee of the Whole sessions for further amendment. Early actions included returning SB 1175 and SB 1198 to the Senate for reconsideration, rescinding passage of SB 1336 so it could be reconsidered, and referring SB 1111 and SB 152 to an additional COW. The House also recognized Representative Travers for a personal privilege statement honoring National Women Veterans Recognition Day and recorded attendance. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted floor amendments and recommended passage for SB 1511, SB 1552, SB 1198, SB 1110, SB 1618, SB 1431, and SCR 1004, with some debate on SB 1110’s home-confinement/reentry program, SB 1618’s Military Affairs Commission changes, and SB 1431’s city and town authority over residential project standards and streetscapes. The House later adopted the COW reports and moved the measures to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. SB 1336 and SB 1519 were also advanced from committee, while SB 1004 was reconsidered and ultimately failed on reconsideration. On third or final reading, the House passed SB 1127, SB 1180, SB 1428, SB 1198, SB 1336, SB 1511, SCR 1004, SB 1552, HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2114, HB 2311, HB 2729, and HB 4117. SB 1687, SB 1004, SB 1519, and SB 1502 failed. Members explained votes on several measures, including support for tax administration clarity in SB 1180, objections and support for the May primary proposal in SB 1687, concerns about sex offender monitoring in SB 1004, support for the Arizona Beef Council in SB 1198, and debate over the photo enforcement referral in SCR 1004. The session also included recesses for caucuses, lunch, and dinner, plus a brief technical outage of the live stream.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 18th, 2026

Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have an office in Kansas City. I'm licensed in Arkansas as well.
  • You've been around the AG's office a long time.
  • I'm a career prosecutor at the Attorney General's office.
  • I'm a career prosecutor at the Attorney General's office.
  • , not in the same office potentially, but it was ineffective?
Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in executive session and approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2765, which was amended to revise hemp beverage retailer delivery language, adjust retailer fees and renewals, require product registration, and remove residency requirements. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported do pass by a 10-0 vote. The committee also voted House Bill 2848, relating to mass intimidation offenses, do pass by a 9-0 vote. In public hearing, the committee took testimony on House Joint Resolution 130, which would ask Missouri voters to authorize retrospective civil laws for child sexual abuse claims. The sponsor and survivor advocates argued the measure is needed to allow revival windows and address delayed disclosure, while opponents from the insurance, tort reform, and business communities warned it could expose third parties such as schools, churches, nonprofits, and employers to broad, open-ended liability and higher insurance costs. No vote was taken on the resolution. The committee also heard House Bill 2254, which would speed capital post-conviction review by requiring earlier appointment of counsel and aligning Missouri procedures with federal standards. Supporters, including victims’ family members and the Attorney General’s office, said it would reduce years of delay and bring closure, while opponents raised concerns about wrongful convictions, conflicts from simultaneous representation, and increased public defender workload. Finally, House Bill 2206 on catalytic converter theft was heard; the sponsor and law enforcement supported stronger recordkeeping and licensing rules, while scrap/recycling and press representatives objected to added paperwork and a separate provision affecting public notice for self-storage sales. The hearing on HB 2206 was interrupted by the floor schedule and not completed in the transcript.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Apr 10th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • In fact, President Trump abolished the Office of Gun Safety and Prevention.
  • I am also currently an intern at the State Attorney's Office in the Victim and Witness Unit.
  • I am also currently an intern at the State Attorney's Office in the Victim and Witness Unit.
  • Candace Brower, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, waiving in support.
  • Candace Brower, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, waiving in support.
Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, victims’ rights, and related bills. SB 984 on aggravating factors in capital cases was reported favorably after debate over its focus on religious, school, and government gatherings; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters said it was about accountability rather than deterrence. CS for SB 1140 creating a Hillsborough County substance abuse pilot program for offenders, CS for SB 1180 broadening child sexual image protections, CS for SB 10 compensating Sidney Holmes for a wrongful conviction, CS for SB 500 creating a Spectrum Alert system for missing children with autism, and SB 1054 on tampering with electronic monitoring devices all passed favorably, with the substance abuse bill drawing supportive testimony about treatment and recovery and the Holmes bill receiving emotional support from Holmes himself. The committee also approved SB 1072 on expedited DNA testing grants, CS for SB 240 on domestic and dating violence victims, CS for SB 494 creating a statewide animal abuse database, and CS for SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure and weaponized drones. SB 240 drew extensive testimony from advocates describing a feasibility study for a discreet emergency alert system and the need to align domestic and dating violence protections; SB 494 drew strong support from animal welfare groups and county officials who described local registries and the link between animal abuse and violence toward people, while members discussed whether the bill should also bar known abusers from adopting animals. SB 1422 passed after questions about “reasonable force” against drones and concerns about firearms use, with the sponsor saying the bill was meant to protect privacy and property rights. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 1268 updating Department of Law Enforcement statutes and increasing reimbursement for retired police dogs, CS for SB 1344 revising juvenile status-offender procedures, CS for SB 1252 creating a feasibility study for a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 1386 increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers, CS for SB 1084 strengthening sexual cyber harassment laws for intimate and digitally forged images, CS for SB 1654 revising sex offender/predator registration and reporting rules, CS for SB 1650 expanding the vexatious litigant law, and CS for SB 1652 creating a public records exemption for stricken court filings. The final and most heavily debated bill, CS for SB 1284 on wrongful death of an unborn child, drew extensive testimony from supporters who framed it as recognizing unborn life and opponents who warned it could be used to harass abortion patients, providers, and supporters and could increase malpractice exposure; the sponsor said the bill would allow parents to recover damages while protecting mothers and lawful medical care. The transcript ends before the roll call on SB 1284 is completed, but the committee had already reported the other measures favorably by recorded votes, generally along party lines with broad support from members present.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PSM Public Hearing 02-02-2026

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> defender for the State of Hawaii, Office defender for the State of Hawaii, Office of<00:01:35.920
  • </c><01:29:39.120><c> Uh</c> for Attorney General's office. Uh for Attorney General's office.
  • Office of Public Defender, Thank you. Office of Public Defender, Haley<01:30:16.639><c> Ching.
  • </c> to assist an officer during a struggle. to assist an officer during a struggle.
  • </c> officers throughout the state of Hawaii. officers throughout the state of Hawaii.
Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 433, which would restrict the carrying of “bladed weapons” and related items. The Office of the Public Defender, Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Knife Rights, and many individual testifiers opposed the bill, arguing it is overbroad, vague, and likely unconstitutional. Common concerns were that the term “bladed weapon” could sweep in ordinary tools such as pocketknives, Leathermans, multi-tools, fishing and camping gear, and items used by farmers, ranchers, hunters, divers, and martial arts practitioners. Several speakers also warned that the bill could burden lawful self-defense and create an affirmative-defense scheme that shifts costs and proof burdens onto defendants. Supporters and opponents alike focused on the need for a clearer definition, with HPD saying a narrower definition would help distinguish ordinary tools from dangerous weapons used in assaults. Opponents repeatedly urged the committee to defer or kill the measure, citing pending and related court cases and the risk of new constitutional challenges. Some testifiers tied the bill to Native Hawaiian gathering rights and subsistence practices, saying it would interfere with hunting, fishing, and food gathering, while others argued it would do little to deter criminals and instead penalize law-abiding residents and visitors. After finishing testimony on SB 433, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 2575 relating to firearms. The transcript shows the start of that item with the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies being called, but no substantive testimony or action on SB 2575 is included before the excerpt ends. No votes or final committee actions are reflected in the portion provided.