When you're arrested and you're going through the pretrial hearings, right now your legal status is not
How many times do we have to hear it?
Senator Gruters, again, I just got to ask, because I did bond hearings, I did bail hearings.
now is that never before has immigration status even been considered in pretrial hearings.
to make sure that They remember. been considered in pretrial hearings now we're going to make sure that

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Special Session B Jan 28th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:

When you're arrested and you're going through the pretrial hearings, right now your legal status is not
How many times do we have to hear it?
Senator Cruz, again, I just got to ask, because I did bond hearings, I did bail hearings.
now is never before has immigration status even been considered in pretrial hearings.
to make sure that They remember. ...been considered in pretrial hearings.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Judiciary Committee Jun 17th, 2026 at 10:00 am

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

You'll hear a resource hub. You'll hear a service array, a navigator.
Now, if I'm wrong on the pretrial detention, I stand corrected.
I mean, even the pretrial case, that was a mistake.
We're not a trial, we're a hearing.
I have yet to hear one person say, yes, that's a good idea.

Keywords: 908, all

FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session C Feb 11th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:

STRENGTHEN BAIL AND PRETRIAL DETENTION LAWS. FOR UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS. G.

Bills: SJR36, SJR2, SB4, SR45, SR47, SR63, SR66, SR70, SR85, SCR14, SB10, SB11, SB10, SB11

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Feb 20th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:

The chair hears none. The resolution is adopted.
The chair hears none. The rules are suspended.
The chair hears none. The rules are suspended.
The chair hears none. The rules are suspended.
Chair hears none. The House stands adjourned.

MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/26/26

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

</c> hearings that something has to be done. hearings that something has to be done.
You're hearing that here today.
>> hear<00:47:28.960><c> me</c><00:47:29.120><c> okay?</c> >> hear me okay?
>> hear me okay?
<01:35:47.400><c> um</c> hear um hear um uh<01:35:48.520><c> unified.

Bills: SF1750, HF2700, HF1606, HF3356, HF3946, HF3970, HF3658, HF3875, HF2627, SF856, HF1268, HF1338

Keywords: common interest community, CIC, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, planned community, cooperative, unit owner, association board, declarant, declarant control, special declarant rights, assessment lien, foreclosure, late fees, fines, attorney fees, resale disclosure, annual report, maintenance plan

OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations 2ND REVISED Mar 4th, 2026 at 02:30 pm

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

Senator Burns is looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm sorry, I didn't hear your answer.
I'm sorry, my hearing aids are getting worse. Senator Hicks, rephrase please. Thank you, Mr.
Thank you, committee, for hearing this.
We did hear this full last year in health and human services, but altered it significantly.

Bills: SB1290, SB1332, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1386, SB1390, SB1428, SB1584, SB1696, SB175, SB1778, SB1794, SB1806, SB1836, SB201

Keywords: 2-1-1 services, revolving fund, Department of Human Services, crisis pregnancy, abortion, legal funding, housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, mental health, crisis services, 988 Lifeline, suicide prevention, behavioral health, human trafficking

OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations 2ND REVISED Mar 4th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

Senator Burns, looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
But I hear your question, and it's something that the Office of the Courts is definitely mindful of.
So could footage of an eviction hearing end up being circulated? Follow-up.
Thank you, committee, for hearing this.
We did hear this bill last year in Health and Human Services, but altered it significantly.

Bills: SB1290, SB1332, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1386, SB1390, SB1428, SB1584, SB1696, SB175, SB1778, SB1794, SB1806, SB1836, SB201

Keywords: 2-1-1 services, revolving fund, Department of Human Services, crisis pregnancy, abortion, legal funding, housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, mental health, crisis services, 988 Lifeline, suicide prevention, behavioral health, human trafficking

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a long series of Senate bills covering criminal justice, courts, education, health, water infrastructure, economic development, and social services. Early measures included SB 1584, which shortens the timeline for submitting sexual assault evidence kits for forensic testing, and SB 1386, a courtroom transparency bill creating a pilot program for audio/video recording in certain courtrooms; SB 1386 drew the most extended debate, with concerns raised about privacy, selective editing, political use of footage, and impacts on victims, witnesses, jurors, and attorneys. The author said the bill was intended to improve the accuracy and context of the record, not to add live streaming or AI transcripts, and both bills advanced. Several education and justice-related bills also moved forward. SB 1381 would require arrested persons to be brought before a judge within 48 to 72 hours and establishes a pilot in Oklahoma County; SB 201 raises each step of the minimum teacher salary schedule by $2,500; and SB 1778 revises the Strong Readers Act by directing a single state-paid screening instrument, adding early intervention and transitional/pull-out reading support, and phasing in changes beginning in 2027. SB 1836, requiring a board-approved mental health screener in routine primary care visits, passed after debate over its costs and implementation. SB 1806, allowing some young adults to remain in or re-enter DHS care until age 21, and SB 1428, creating an Alzheimer’s and dementia coordination office at the Health Department with private funding, also advanced. The committee approved multiple public health and human services funding and coordination measures, including SB 1369 creating a revolving fund for the 988 crisis line, SB 1290 creating a 2-1-1 hotline revolving fund, SB 1794 establishing a statewide real-time behavioral health bed/capacity registry, and SB 1379 creating a two-year private grant program for certified human trafficking service providers. Members questioned fiscal impacts, administrative overhead, and service continuity, but the bills moved on. Other bills passed included SB 1696 to fund local recruitment incentives for new residents in rural and mid-sized communities, SB 1332 creating zero-interest water infrastructure loans for housing-related projects, SB 175 creating a reimbursement fund for abandoned uninsured commercial vehicles, and SB 1390 extending the gross production tax sunset to July 1, 2032.

AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Feb 11th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

So, you hear me.
So, you hear me. I certainly agreeable. So, you hear me.
</c> discussion on the bill hearing? None. discussion on the bill hearing? None.
Hearing none. Any opposition amended. Hearing none.
Hearing none. Any opposition using previous rule? Hearing none.

Bills: HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328, HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328

Keywords: bail reform, illegal aliens, violent offenses, pretrial detention, flight risk, court hearings, doxing, personal identifying information, harassment, online safety, law enforcement, public servants, penalties, consumer protection, illicit material, private rights, digital privacy, nonconsensual distribution, incarceration, pregnancy

TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Criminal Justice May 20th, 2025

Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

Hearing none, so ordered.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Hearing none, so ordered.

Bills: HB47, HB171, HB285, HB305, HB449, HB908, HB1024, HB1306, HB1443, HB1445, HB1741, HB1866, HB1902, HB2001, HB2282, HB2355, HB2492, HB2637, HB2697, HB3464, HB4263, HB4996, HB5667, HB47, HB171, HB285, HB305

Keywords: sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination, medical care, trauma-informed care, crime victims compensation, evidence retention, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, pretrial hearings

WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Law & Justice Jan 26th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:

Law and Justice hearing.
And we are hearing a proposed substitute today.
So, I mean, what I'm hearing is more of a resource concern that we hear often from the prosecutor's office
And we'll hear from...
We're going to hear from Mona next.

Summary: The committee heard several public hearings on criminal justice and victim-related bills. SB 6087 would expand existing liability protections for donations of children’s items to include religious organizations and add strollers and car seats to the definition of children’s items; the sponsor said it would make it easier to donate usable baby equipment, and the Washington State Board of Health said it supported the goal but noted rulemaking and funding concerns under the original version. SB 5934 would change the standard for post-conviction DNA testing so courts must grant testing unless the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that the results could not demonstrate a likelihood of innocence; the Innocence Project and a DNA exoneree supported it as a way to reduce years of litigation, while prosecutors and sheriffs/police chiefs opposed it as a burden shift that could increase frivolous motions and strain lab and attorney resources. SB 5520 would revise Washington’s wrongful-conviction compensation law by broadening definitions, extending filing deadlines, removing the waiver requirement, and making other process changes; the sponsor and Innocence Project said it would reduce barriers and better fulfill the state’s promise to exonerees, and a DNA exoneree described years of litigation just to access compensation. The committee also heard SB 6017, which would expand victim-centered and trauma-informed protections. The bill would allow a court to appoint a representative to ask questions of victims when a defendant represents themself, extend forensic exam consent to minors 13 and older in non-fatal strangulation cases, add female genital mutilation survivors to protections similar to the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, and reauthorize and broaden the Safe Advisory Group’s mandate. Survivors, advocates, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy strongly supported the bill, describing courtroom questioning by self-represented defendants as retraumatizing and urging broader access to services for FGM survivors; defense advocates raised constitutional concerns about limiting a pro se defendant’s right to personally question witnesses and said the bill could be vulnerable to challenge without narrower guardrails. The hearing drew extensive survivor testimony, and the chair noted 108 people signed in support and one opposed. Finally, the committee heard SB 5890, which would create an alternative reckless-driving offense for driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The sponsor, a former firefighter, framed the bill as an accountability measure aimed at preventing severe crashes caused by extreme speeding. A committee member asked about officer discretion in emergencies, and the sponsor said the bill targets excessive speed while acknowledging that some situations may still be problematic. A preliminary fiscal note had been received.

MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 01/27/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:

the result of the they want to hear the result of the Criminal<00:15:53.680><c> Case</c><00:15:54.199
with the right to and a public hearing with the right to cross-examine<00:16:36.279><c> Witnesses</c
First, Senator Mitchell was afforded a hearing by the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct on May 7th, 2024
First, Senator Mitchell was afforded a hearing by the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct on May 7th, 2024
Senator Mitchell had adequate notice of the hearing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - House Judiciary

House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

Chair, members, for hearing the bill. Pretty simple bill.
I want to hear. Sure. Yeah, 30 seconds.
Chair, for hearing this bill. This came to me by the Arizona Association of Counties.
Yes, I think it's, I think you guys need to hear it in that. And then this is my family.
He was arrested, charged with child molestation, and pretrial activity began.

Summary: The committee heard several bills on criminal justice, public safety, and family law. HB 2047 would elevate trespass after service of a writ of restitution from third-degree to first-degree criminal trespass; the sponsor and a constables association representative said the current misdemeanor penalty is too low and discourages law enforcement response when former tenants refuse to leave. The bill passed with a do pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. HB 2136, which creates offenses for civil terrorism and subversion, expands racketeering predicates, and increases penalties for certain coordinated disorderly conduct and highway obstruction, drew extensive debate. Supporters said it targets coordinated intimidation and violent disruption, while opponents from the ACLU, immigrant advocacy groups, and others argued it would criminalize protest and speech. The committee approved it 6-3 after a long exchange over whether it would apply to events like January 6th and Arizona protest incidents. HB 2970, a jurisdictional clarification for fraudulent schemes and artifices, would allow Arizona to prosecute even if not every act occurred in the state. The sponsor said it would help local law enforcement pursue mortgage fraud and similar cases that are currently referred elsewhere, while an opposition witness said existing law already covers the conduct and warned of forum shopping. The bill received a do pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote. HB 2411 would make it a class 2 felony to knowingly administer abortion-inducing drugs to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent and with intent to cause an abortion. Supporters framed it as a protection against coercion and reproductive abuse; opponents said the conduct is already criminalized and warned of unintended effects on access to care. It also passed 6-3. The committee also approved HB 2198, which would allow immediate sealing of petty offense records after sentence completion, with supporters calling it a cleanup measure to extend record-sealing relief to minor offenses. HB 2966, which would bar early termination of probation for dangerous crimes against children, prompted emotional testimony from a parent of an autistic son convicted in a child pornography case, along with opposition from attorneys and advocates who raised ex post facto, juvenile justice, and probation-resource concerns. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said the bill could raise constitutional and workload issues but might be amendable; the committee ultimately passed it 6-3. The final bill discussed, HB 2662, would tighten expert-evidence standards in parenting-time cases involving alleged domestic violence or abuse, requiring recognized expertise and empirically validated methods while excluding polygraphs and similar techniques; the sponsor described it as a narrow evidentiary safeguard for child-related custody disputes.

MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Budget Mar 11th, 2026

Budget

Transcript Highlights:

This is pretrial monitoring, pre- and post-trial, primarily pretrial monitoring, and offers a new, innovative
But I hope you're hearing my reason. I hope you're hearing my reason. And I hear your reason.
But I hope you're hearing my reason. I hope you're hearing my reason. And I hear your reason.
Your hearing aids are up. I can hear you. Okay, okay.
But I thought everyone would like to hear that.

Summary: The House Budget Committee met with a quorum and began by taking up a series of budget bills and committee substitutes, including House Bills 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, which were laid over. The chair then walked members through a committee amendment package, explaining a mix of technical corrections, fund swaps, and adjustments involving highway patrol fringe costs, summary budget timing, rural health care, the CCBHO FMAP correction, and marijuana-fund reallocations. Members adopted the chair’s decrease amendments and later adopted the corresponding increase amendments, including partial restoration for Care to Learn, a Title I grant language change, an Overpass and Seymour road project, technical corrections for DPS and health-related items, and restorations for Jordan Valley and FQHC substance abuse funding. After a brief recess for session and lunch, the committee returned to House Bill 2 and began considering member amendments. On House Bill 2, the committee adopted Representative Lewis’s amendment making the curriculum transparency and parent portal item a pilot program, and Representative Davidson’s amendment adding $2 million in federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds for One-Time Wonder School. Representative Steinhoff’s attempt to shift funding from Missouri Star Solutions and WorkKeys to the Success Ready Student Assessment failed, as did Representative Taylor’s proposal to move $1.2 million from career ladder to community college nursing programs. The committee then rejected Representative Steinhoff’s attempt to redirect Title I Innovation and Improvement Grant funds back to the governor’s recommendation, and later adopted Representative Steinhoff’s vocational rehabilitation amendment, which restored the department’s request and drew down additional federal matching funds. The committee also adopted Representative Hyne’s language amendment to allow flexibility between the MOQPK pre-K grant program and the Child Care Works tri-share program, though members discussed concerns about cross-bill flexibility and whether funds would actually be available. Representative Fogle’s amendment to require budget communications sent to committee chairs to also go to the full Budget Committee was defeated after members expressed concern about information overload and the difference between required distribution and requested information. The committee then took up a lengthy debate over Representative Fogle’s amendment to remove language barring Parents as Teachers participation for children already enrolled in public pre-K. Supporters argued the programs serve different purposes and that families should not be forced to choose between them, while opponents said the language was intended to prevent duplication of services and preserve resources for children without other options. After extensive discussion, the amendment failed. The committee continued with additional House Bill 2 amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on the remaining items.

MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Budget Mar 11th, 2026 at 09:15 am

Budget

Transcript Highlights:

This is pretrial monitoring, pre- and post-trial, primarily pretrial monitoring, and offers a new, innovative
But I hope you're hearing my reason. I hear your reason. I had two kids went to the zoo.
Public hearing officers.
Public hearing officers.
Your hearing aids are up. I can hear you. Okay, okay.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Video & Transcript : 'pretrial hearing' :

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Judiciary

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Texas House Floor Meeting

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Justice

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Budget

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Budget