Video & Transcript Research : 'judicial experience'

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VA

Virginia 2026 Regular Session

March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2

Virginia House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ABC has a lot of experience in this. for his support and both in general laws and appropriations as well
  • ABC has a lot of experience in this. Underage enforcement program under ABC.
  • ABC has a lot of experience in this.
  • This conference report relates to the maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit.
  • also adds clarifications from the Senate bill requiring adherence to Virginia law and the use of judicial
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Governmental Oversight and Accountability Apr 1st, 2025

Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, they may get a... ...judicial bypass, and they may get a waiver before the circuit court for
  • We do have an appearance form: Blan Teagle, Executive Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission
  • And so my experience with those has been just that, and it's really impactful and helpful.
  • And so my experience with those has been just that, and it's really impactful and helpful.
  • And for our constituents, it would drastically change their call experience.
Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, many involving public records exemptions and government operations. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 342 on an Agency for Health Care Administration public records exemption for employees facing threats; SB 7018 preserving a public records exemption tied to parental consent/judicial bypass records for minors seeking abortions; SB 626 lowering quorum requirements and allowing remote participation for the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys; SB 710 protecting personal information of Crime Stoppers employees, board members, volunteers, and their families; SB 300 extending clerk personal-information protections to appellate court clerks; and SB 302 creating a similar exemption for Judicial Qualifications Commission employees. The committee also approved SB 7010 and SB 7008, which preserve and narrow public records exemptions related to the Department of Financial Services as receiver for insolvent insurers and the financial technology sandbox, respectively. The committee also heard and advanced several policy bills. SB 820 codifies the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor; Senator Polsky questioned whether the office was duplicative of existing services and raised concerns about religion in state governance, while supporters argued it complements existing networks and helps connect Floridians to services. SB 1144 codifies the Hope Florida program, with supporters describing it as a connector to community resources and critics again raising concerns about overlap, private donations, and accountability; both SB 820 and SB 1144 passed on largely party-line votes with Senator Polsky voting no. SB 804 would redesignate the SS American Victory as the state flagship, but Senator Rodriguez opposed giving up the current flagship designation for the Key West schooner, though the bill still passed favorably. SB 214 designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day and passed without opposition. SB 1088 requires certain state customer-service phone lines to offer callback features, and SB 576 makes technical fixes to service-of-process law; both were reported favorably. Additional bills included SB 1524, a broad Department of State measure with a strike-all amendment that revises grant-review procedures, adds an America 250 funding focus, and changes commission-fee and oath requirements; Senator Arrington and Senator Polsky expressed concerns about reviewer qualifications, grant criteria, and the impact on arts and cultural programs, and both voted no while the bill still passed. SB 1640, on confidentiality of lethality assessment forms in domestic violence cases, was amended to allow disclosure to domestic violence centers while barring disclosure to state attorneys, and it passed favorably. SB 1160 expands health insurance premium benefits for certain officers catastrophically injured or killed in the line of duty; supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in support, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also confirmed eight appointments to the Florida Commission on Community Service, the Investment Advisory Council, the Public Employees Relations Commission, and the State Retirement Commission. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • WITHOUT OPIOID MEDICATION PATIENTS MORE FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE MICHAEL CARDIA AND HYPOXIA DURING SURGERY
  • WHEN YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE, ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL PROCEDURE, WHEN YOUR BODY EXPERIENCES PAIN AND YOU HAVE
  • CHAIR, THEY CAN CERTAINLY FILE A COMPLAINT BUT THERE'S NOT THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE JUDICIAL
  • LOOKED BEYOND THE JUDICIAL ROUTE? BEYOND A ROUTE RELATED TO MONEY, QUITE FRANKLY?
  • I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE IF FLORIDA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 04/15/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • This funding will help judicial branch.
  • They typically go judicial officer.
  • judicial officer. judicial officer. Madam<00:38:50.160> Chair.
  • judicial understanding the judicial branch<00:40:56.880> of<00:40:56.960> government,<
  • Uh, this has been a tremendous experience.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING Feb 13th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Transcript Highlights:
  • information regarding the current caseload of assignments to circuit judges in Benton County, 9th West Judicial
  • Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
  • This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.
  • It was creating relationships and creating cultural experiences for first those prospective college students
Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes and then adopted reports from its executive and standing committees. The Executive Committee reported on scheduled audits, denied a special report request concerning the I-owned fire department, approved questions to the Arkansas Department of Health about Title V sexual risk avoidance education funds, authorized the Office of Property Risk to hire a CPA for its annual audit, and asked staff to gather information on circuit judge caseload assignments in Benton County. The Counties and Municipalities Committee reported progress on delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of 19 entities after required reports were filed and 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities submitting reports. It also noted that Adona was now in substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, while officials from Denning and Gum Springs appeared regarding noncompliance. Of 109 current reports reviewed, 15 were referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General, two were certified to the Governmental Bonding Board, 94 were filed, and 15 were deferred. The Education Institutions Committee filed 31 audit reports, including one for Cedarville School District that was referred to the prosecuting attorney, Attorney General, and Governmental Bonding Board, and the State Agencies Committee filed 10 reports involving issues at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs. The committee also heard a Medicaid Subcommittee report that included presentations from DHS, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Office on their Medicaid-related roles. In special reports, Legislative Audit presented a review of Cleburne County’s library expenses, finding more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases lacking a documented business purpose, undocumented disbursements, and possible improper fuel expenses; the matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General. The committee also reviewed the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UALR, where auditors found scholarship awards to ineligible students, numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, and that the program had ceased in 2024 with remaining funds returned to the school districts. After discussion, the committee filed both special reports and adjourned, with the next meeting set for March 12-13, 2026.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING Feb 13th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Transcript Highlights:
  • information regarding the current caseload of assignments to circuit judges in Benton County, 9th West Judicial
  • Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
  • This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.
  • It was creating relationships and creating cultural experiences for those prospective college students
Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes. It then received and adopted reports from the Executive Committee, the Standing Committee on Counties and Municipalities, the Standing Committee on Education Institutions, the Standing Committee on State Agencies, and the Medicaid Subcommittee. Those reports covered audit follow-up items, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, state agency audit findings, and a Medicaid oversight presentation. Several reports were filed after discussion, and in multiple cases agencies or local officials were present to answer questions about repeat findings or compliance concerns. Among the notable audit matters, the committee reviewed a Cleburne County library audit that found more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases that appeared personal in nature and improper fuel expenses. The library director had been placed on leave, later charged with felony theft of property and abuse of office, and the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General. The committee also heard a special report on the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which found scholarship ineligibility issues and numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, while noting that the program had ended in 2024 and remaining funds were returned to the school districts. During the state agency report, Legislative Audit described findings at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs, including improper benefit payments, a cashed warrant by someone other than the intended payee, missing receipts, unauthorized fuel card purchases, and payroll and overtime issues. The committee filed that report after agency representatives responded to questions. The meeting ended with the filing of the Cleburne County and Donaldson Scholars Academy reports, and the next committee meeting was announced for March 12-13, 2026.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • actually stayed through the entire day; I just want that noted in the record, that has firsthand experience
  • this section that the conduct was for a bona fide educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, judicial
  • Judicial or law enforcement purpose. Okay, we will make that note. So, tell me...
  • I mean, there are bona fide judicial or law enforcement...
Keywords: 1184, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Indian Affairs Sep 26th, 2025

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our experience in revenue sharing began in 1995 with the first compacts approved by the Department of
  • In 2000, as all of the attempts to negotiate were unsuccessful and as the Administrative and Judicial
  • Overall, my experience as a person with disabilities who works for the state has been disheartening,
  • I don't know what her experience was before that.
  • So you could have a different experience at one agency versus the other.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Border Security Mar 20th, 2025

Border Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • based upon a resource witness, there may be others, but based upon a resource witness, OCA is a judicial
  • Is there, with OCA being a judicial branch entity, would the bill need to contemplate giving direction
  • to OCA, or is the governor's relationship with the judicial branch...”
  • "Or is the governor's relationship with the judicial branch sufficient to ask for the information and
  • So we do think it would be helpful if in the bill it said it directed the Judicial Council to collect
Bills: SB825
Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security heard testimony on Senate Bill 825 by Senator Middleton, as substituted, which would require an annual or biennial study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration in Texas. Middleton said the bill is intended to provide lawmakers with comprehensive data on costs to law enforcement, health care, education, infrastructure, and taxpayers, and to support possible federal reimbursement claims. Several senators, including Hinojosa and Eckhardt, agreed that a study is needed but raised concerns about bias, the scope of the study, and whether the Comptroller’s Office rather than the governor’s office should conduct it. Middleton argued the governor’s office was the best coordinating entity because it could direct multiple agencies to provide data, while Hinojosa and others emphasized the Comptroller’s expertise and prior 2006 study. Public testimony was generally supportive of the idea of a study but critical of the bill’s framing. Sarah Cruz of the ACLU of Texas said the study should be a full cost-benefit analysis and warned that focusing only on costs could create an anti-immigrant narrative. Danny Woodward of the Texas Civil Rights Project also supported the concept but recommended moving the study to the Comptroller or, alternatively, creating a neutral commission. Jaime Pointe of Every Texan likewise supported updating the 2006 analysis and said state agencies should be able to cooperate with a governor-led study. Resource witnesses from the governor’s office, HHSC, TEA, OCA, TDCJ, and DPS explained that data collection would be uneven across agencies. HHSC and TEA said they often do not collect immigration status and, in TEA’s case, federal law limits schools from requesting such information; OCA and TDCJ said they could provide only partial or indirect data unless new reporting requirements were added. DPS said it already has Operation Lone Star data but would need to collect additional information if tasked with the broader study. The chair asked the governor’s office to provide a follow-up answer on separation-of-powers and related authority questions by the following Tuesday, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair without taking a vote on the bill.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Partnership, I can speak from experience with eviction sealing.
  • You would want to quit right there, and from my experience many have.
  • She shared an experience that she had.
  • She shared an experience that she had.
  • She shared an experience that she had.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a wide range of criminal justice, victim services, and records-sealing bills. Early testimony focused on H.1811, the Clean Slate automated record-sealing bill, with supporters arguing that automatic sealing after existing waiting periods would remove barriers to jobs, housing, and education without changing eligibility rules. Advocates from legal aid, business, and housing organizations said the current petition-based system is underused, burdensome, and costly, while opponents of expanding surveillance-related laws urged the committee to preserve privacy protections. The committee also heard testimony on H.1693, which would immediately seal records in cases ending without conviction and clarify the presumption of innocence, with speakers describing how dismissed cases still create lasting collateral consequences and prevent people from moving forward. No votes were taken during the hearing. Several bills centered on victim safety and domestic violence. Senator Michael Moore testified for S.1201, which would keep child-protective orders in effect even if the parent or guardian who filed them dies, and for S.1204, which would update the wiretap statute. Multiple survivors and advocates supported S.1215 and S.1222, arguing for a narrow wiretap defense for recordings made to document threats or abuse and for making GPS tampering a separate felony offense. Testifiers described situations in which GPS devices were cut off or disabled and said current law leaves victims at risk and gives abusers too much leeway. The committee also heard emotional testimony on H.1685/S.1238, a bill prompted by the suicide of Stavri Yanka in custody, with the sponsor, his mother, and the sheriff describing the need for better information-sharing so suicide-risk information follows a person into custody. Law enforcement and prosecutors supported several due-process and dangerousness-related bills. MassCOP, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the State Police Association backed H.1828/S.1039/S.1235, which would require de novo Superior Court review for POST Commission suspensions over two weeks or decertifications, arguing officers need a meaningful appeal beyond administrative review. The committee also heard support for H.1691, expanding the dangerousness statute to additional offenses; Bristol County District Attorney Quinn said the changes would let prosecutors seek detention in serious cases such as child rape and manslaughter when facts warrant it. In contrast, the Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed expanding dangerousness detention, warning that pretrial detention causes serious harms and disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic defendants. The hearing also included testimony on H.1654/S.1063 to enhance victims’ rights and H.1525, which would rename and expand community corrections into community justice programs, with supporters emphasizing reentry, reduced stigma, and broader service access.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so, at this point, this is the summary: the First Judicial District Court has received one plaintiff's
  • So I know this will be up to the judicial system.
  • I don't think the judicial system is very good, frankly, at solving problems like this I don't think
  • And that's my own experience.
  • Scheer, that's my experience. Sometimes we try to accommodate everything to fit the same pattern.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/13/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • experience here in ours does not. experience here in ours does not.
  • experience sticks with me. experience sticks with me.
  • experience gun violence in many ways. experience gun violence in many ways.
  • Uh, you have your experience.
  • Uh, you have your experience.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (01/20/2026)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • In my experience, is often true.
  • who already make their quasi judicial who already make their quasi judicial responsibilities<02:
  • have you in your experience have you in your experience seen<03:04:25.600> a<03:04:26.000
  • The importance, the reason is that these boards act in quasi-judicial capacity like a court.
  • that these boards act in quasi judicial that these boards act in quasi judicial capacity<06:03:00.958
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (04/09/2025)

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, it's not my experience.
  • You know, I know that if experience.
  • only based on your personal experience only based on your personal experience but<00:45:46.640><
  • Hampshire uh so many of them experience Hampshire uh so many of them experience substance<00:54:
  • Is that your experience? That's not my experience.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environmental Quality Committee Jun 24th, 2026

Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, that's an added stress to college that we hope a lot of students don't experience.
  • You know, that's an added stress to college that we hope a lot of students don't experience.
  • CJAC supports this judicial streamlining bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
  • He hasn't had much sleep in the last 30 days, but I think he also can provide some valuable experience
  • So in all these experiences, and Wayne had mentioned, a lot of the key gap that this bill is filling
Keywords: 987, senate, all
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • They both bring impressive legal backgrounds and USDA experience that will serve Secretary Rollins and
  • I am looking forward to hearing more about how your experiences would influence your approach to serving
  • The last three checks he ever signed hang on my judicial chamber's wall.
  • How are your previous experience in the private sector?
  • Well Senator, when it comes to my private sector experience, we have to remember that people engage.
Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Mr. Tyler Clarkson for General Counsel at the USDA. Members expressed concerns regarding the challenges farmers and ranchers face, especially in navigating the impacts of recent tariffs imposed by the President. Significant attention was given to how these nominations could influence agriculture policy and support rural communities amidst economic uncertainty. The committee emphasized the necessity for strong leadership in the USDA to advocate for farmer needs and ensure the proper implementation of assistance programs.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Floor Session 3/6/25 - Part 2

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This was a judicially created element of self-defense.
  • This was judicially created element of self-defense.
  • lesson about common law and how judicial lesson about common law and how judicial common<00:26:22.360
  • Yes, the old standard, not written but judicially imposed, says you have a duty to retreat.
  • Yes, the old standard, not written but judicially imposed, says you have a duty to retreat.
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Rules Apr 8th, 2025

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • They provide consumers with a predictable and high-quality repair experience.
  • charter school to acquire and maintain undesignated glucagon to treat students with diabetes who experience
  • clarification on the administrative process for Live Local developments; may not require any quasi-judicial
  • of 25 or so other states that have already adopted and based on experience of 25 or so other states
  • Tab 8, SB 308 on public records, Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Summary: The Rules Committee took up a large agenda of bills, with many measures reported favorably after brief explanations, amendments, and testimony. Early bills included CS/SB 658 on lien waivers and releases, which was amended to preserve enforceability despite form differences and then passed; CS/CS/SB 736 on brownfields redevelopment, which drew support from business and redevelopment interests and passed; and CS/SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, which was amended to bar certain building or fire code provisions affecting fuel-source choices and then passed despite opposition from environmental advocates. The committee also advanced CS/CS/SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, where manufacturers, dealer representatives, and industry groups warned the bill could undermine dealer networks and existing repair programs, while supporters argued it would improve consumer access and help farmers and equipment owners. The bill still passed. Other measures reported favorably included CS/SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of property-damage crashes, CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign-country controlling interests in health care licensing, CS/SB 772 on school access to glucagon for diabetes emergencies, CS/SB 1400 on removal of nonconsensual altered sexual depictions, and CS/SB 1696 on transportation network company impersonation and transit funding. A major portion of the meeting focused on affordable housing. CS/SB 1730, a follow-up to the Live Local Act, made several changes to zoning, height, density, parking, moratorium, and enforcement provisions, with members raising concerns about parking reductions, attorney’s fees, local control, and impacts in the Keys and other sensitive areas. Supporters said the bill closes loopholes and improves workforce housing implementation, while some witnesses urged additional exemptions for areas of critical state concern. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. Later, the committee considered several bills from Senator Leak, including CS/SB 576 on service of process, CS/SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments, and CS/SB 1164 on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices. CS/SB 606 drew substantial debate over whether hotels and extended-stay properties should be able to remove nonpaying guests without treating them like residential tenants; the sponsor said the bill clarifies transient occupancy and removes mandatory arrest provisions, and it passed. CS/SB 1164, which allows email notice delivery by agreement, passed despite concerns from tenant advocates that the bill should include clearer consent and safeguards. The committee also approved CS/SB 1374 on school district reporting of educator arrests and misconduct, CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation sales, and began hearing CS/SB 1690 on surrendered infants, which would authorize infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, with supportive testimony from proponents describing crisis situations and the need for anonymous surrender options.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Committee Jun 17th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • In my experience as a child welfare worker, oftentimes we see kids who have sexualized behavior, and
  • So you're new in this position, so you're looking at this, but you're obviously the experience in the
  • In your experience, do they work the way they're set up?
  • We carry out what the legislative branch and the judicial branch tell us that we need to do.
  • Sentencing is a judicial function. And so it's not my opinion.
Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Wed Feb 19, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • This was a good educational experience.
  • This was a good educational experience.
  • In the judicial approval process, it provides no real safeguard.
  • In the judicial approval process, it provides no real safeguard.
  • an efficient use of judicial an efficient use of judicial resources<01:42:28.239> thank<01
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on February 19, 2025, and first heard House Bill 150, which would prohibit lending a firearm to someone who does not have a firearm permit or a registered firearm. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, though HPD said enforcing any time limit on a loaned firearm would be difficult. Several members of the public opposed the measure, arguing it would interfere with lawful lending for hunting, competitions, training, military-related use, and family situations, and could create unintended criminal liability. One supporter said the bill would strengthen gun safety and encourage more responsible ownership. No vote was taken during the testimony portion described. The committee then heard House Bill 186, which would make harassment by stalking a class C felony. The Office of the Public Defender requested deferral, arguing the bill would remove a misdemeanor option that can help deter escalation and could be unnecessarily severe and burdensome. Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying stalking can be a precursor to more serious violence. The Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney raised concerns about how the new felony would fit within the existing grading scheme, noting that aggravated harassment by stalking and first-degree terroristic threatening are already class C felonies. April Bautista testified in strong support, describing her own experience with domestic violence and stalking and urging passage of the bill. Committee members discussed whether other penalty structures might be possible, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard House Bill 991, which would delete the term “agent of the contractor” from criminal history record check provisions to comply with FBI requirements. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center supported the bill with comments, explaining that the FBI had found the term too broad for fingerprint-based background checks tied to access to federal tax information. In addition, House Bill 995 was introduced, changing deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting; the Department of the Attorney General supported it, saying the revised deadlines would allow a more complete report, and HPD was also heard on the measure. The transcript ends before any votes or final committee actions on these bills.