Video & Transcript : 'offense' :
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WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Mar 4th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Washington Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- that are likely to commit other egregious offenses as well.
- So now we would be able to have somebody... ...offenses.
- This one says, 'I was convicted of a sex offense when I was 18 and served time in prison.
- History of stalking, violent behavior, and sexual offenses.
- And so we are talking about sexual offenses and mixing the two together.
Bills:
SB6061, SB6234, SB6176, SB6335, SB6047, HB2235, HB2340, HB2464, HB2619, HB1376, HB1796, HB2091, HB2249, HB2254, HB2353, HB2431, HB2441, SB5808, SB5949, HB2124, HB1069, HB2104, HB2624
Keywords:
tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects
Summary:
The Senate received messages from the House transmitting several signed bills, then moved through a series of second- and third-reading actions on multiple measures. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508, clarifying the scope and authority of the Office of Independent Investigations, was advanced to final passage without objection and passed 44-4. Senators supporting it described it as a technical housekeeping bill aligning statute with current practice, while noting it had broad support from law enforcement groups and the ACLU; opponents raised concerns about overlapping investigations and authority.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408, which dedicates a share of sales tax revenue from the stadium area to the South Downtown/Pioneer Square community preservation and development authority, was amended by a Ways and Means striking amendment declaring an emergency and then passed 47-1. Supporters said it would fund earthquake reinforcement, preservation, and community development in a historic district, with reporting and sunset provisions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500, dealing with resale certificates for common interest communities and homeowners associations, was amended to clarify disclosure and litigation provisions and passed 39-9. Substitute House Bill 1570, allowing collective bargaining for certain employees enrolled in academic programs at public institutions, failed an amendment to remove the emergency clause and then passed 29-19; supporters framed it as recognition of student workers’ organizing rights, while opponents warned it blurred student and employee roles.
The Senate also passed Substitute House Bill 1390, repealing the Community Protection Program and directing participants into other developmental disability services, after rejecting a series of amendments that sought to preserve sex-offender-related restrictions, add assessments, damages, or prosecutorial review. The bill passed 29-20 amid sharp debate over whether the program was coercive and outdated or necessary to protect vulnerable people and communities. Other bills passed included Substitute House Bill 2114 on defective license plates, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2471 on collective bargaining if the NLRB is unavailable, House Bill 1069 on bargaining over supplemental retirement contributions for Department of Corrections employees, House Bill 2441 expanding medical premium reimbursements for surviving spouses of line-of-duty deaths, and Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1710 adding preclearance requirements under the Washington Voting Rights Act; the voting rights bill drew opposition over local control and litigation concerns. The transcript ends during the roll call on final passage of Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1710.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill adds resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense.
- felony battery of a law enforcement officer resulting in bodily injury to the list of qualifying offenses
- This bill adds resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense.
- felony battery of a law enforcement officer resulting in bodily injury to the list of qualifying offenses
- This bill adds resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 2554 by West, relating to the collection of certain fines assessed for traffic offenses,
- Senate Bill 2723 by Cook, relating to repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct, to Criminal Justice
- Senate Bill 2789 by Menendez, relating to the prosecution of impugning or visual recording offenses,
- Senate Bill 2798 by Creighton, relating to certain statutes of limitations for criminal offenses, to
- Senate Bill 2799 by Creighton relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of reckless
Bills:
SJR12, SCR39, SB27, SB29, SB241, SB406, SB414, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB609, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB785, SB857, SB879, SB921, SB922, SB955, SB985, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1098, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1537, SB1596, SB1610, SB1664, SB1741, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SB2406, SB2407
Keywords:
parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with senators highlighting the university’s growth, medical school, research expansion, and role in serving South Texas. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 368 honoring outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, with numerous senators praising his long public career, leadership in higher education, and statewide impact. Senate Resolution 361 recognizing Texas HBCU Day and Senate Resolution 362 recognizing Denton County Days at the Capitol were also adopted, along with other routine recognitions and gubernatorial appointments being read into the record.
The Senate then took up several bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to shorten vacancy posting requirements, allow bilingual certification candidates to retake only failed test sections, give teachers more flexibility with paid leave, clarify classroom removal procedures, and ensure parents are informed of appeal rights. The bill passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, was also brought up and passed to engrossment after a contested suspension vote.
The Senate next passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, which would require reporting of foreign funding at public universities, bar gifts from adversarial governments, and require training and reporting systems to prevent foreign influence and intellectual property theft in higher education. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the so-called “Dexit” bill, was debated at length for its corporate governance changes, including codifying the business judgment rule and altering internal corporate litigation and records rules; it passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed by a 30-1 vote. Senate Bill 857, allowing law enforcement discretion to tow vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed after discussion of towing abuses during flooding and disaster conditions. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536, requiring dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, passed with broad support, and Senate Bill 922, addressing delayed electronic disclosure of sensitive medical test results so physicians can discuss them first, was taken up and passed to engrossment as the chamber continued through its calendar.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These are immigration-related offenses. These are civil offenses. That's it.
- These are immigration-related offenses. These are civil offenses.
- offenses... ...says so, if they have less than three offenses, if they are nonviolent offenses, and
- And so what better service than to provide people who've had a first offense, a nonviolent offense, an
- A nonviolent offense, an offense that does not include any other crimes, an opportunity to get job training
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- degree if a person destroys or damages any building through the use of fire or explosives, if the offense
- :02:32.400><c> organization</c><00:02:33.239><c> or</c><00:02:33.400><c> the</c><00:02:33.519><c> offense
- </c> political organization or the offense political organization or the offense was<00:02:34.000><c>
- was committed in whole or if the offense was committed in whole or<00:02:42.280><c> substantial</c><
- </c><01:31:48.840><c> you</c> Justice administered for the offense you Justice administered for the offense
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> offense of assault in the first degree. offense of assault in the first degree. clarifies<01:14:
- Um, additionally, misdemeanor offense.
- So that would be different from offense.
- So this bill would an assault offense.
- </c> only charged with a misdemeanor offense. only charged with a misdemeanor offense. it<01:24:20.080
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.
The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Terms like offensive and inappropriate mean different things to different people.
- Terms like offensive and inappropriate mean different things to different people.
- <c> inappropriate</c> Terms like offensive and inappropriate Terms like offensive and inappropriate mean
- As you mentioned, some of the materials that we saw were extremely offensive.
- As you mentioned, some of the materials that we saw were extremely offensive.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- of a thousand with the first offense of a thousand fine<00:24:15.560><c> thousand</c><00:24:15.920><
- </c> impoundment and the second offense impoundment and the second offense penalty<00:24:20.320><c> added
- If you use your minor in a crime, you're going to get convicted of that particular offense, which was
- The final item on our agenda today is Senate Bill 170, an act relating to status offenses.
- </c><00:52:38.240><c> We</c> to truancy and status offenses. We to truancy and status offenses.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/12/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- And then with that author's amendment, it will do the following: capture some cannabis offenses that
- were unintentionally offenses that were unintentionally missed<01:08:20.359><c> in</c><01:08:20.560>
- A couple of the changes just ensure that all types of cannabis offenses are included.
- A couple of the changes just ensure that all types of cannabis offenses are included.
- </c><01:11:19.760><c> a</c> at the lowest types of um offenses a at the lowest types of um offenses a
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 2/23/26
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:26:39.120><c> to</c><00:26:39.360><c> which</c> um it it expands the offenses to which um it
- </c> with the number of offenses they commit. with the number of offenses they commit.
- Um section six the number of offenses.
- First offenses<01:22:56.800><c> are</c><01:22:56.960><c> warnings.
- They don't go on offenses are warnings.
Keywords:
intelligent speed assistance, transportation, speeding offenses, public safety, license restrictions, speed control, pedestrian safety, traffic safety, roadway improvements, nonmotorized transportation, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, complete streets, Vision Zero, Toward Zero Deaths, MnDOT, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, local road authority
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/03/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Within CVO and CVH so by offenses Within CVO and CVH so by striking<01:11:58.239><c> those</c><01:11
- They get credit for the time that it was suspended, and that is being stricken for the CVO offenses.
- Okay, and the conviction was for what offense? Yeah, it was for a misdemeanor.
- Of course, what you're suggesting here is changing the level of the offense, correct?
- </c><01:56:04.960><c> and</c> the seriousness of these offenses and the seriousness of these offenses
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Consumer and Public Affairs Feb 5th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But what this bill would do, it's just adding some additional crimes to the list of offenses for which
- HB 206 is a common sense expansion, and it adds critical offenses, including armed robbery, criminal
- expands access to crime victim reparations by including adult criminal sexual contact among the offenses
- And I believe that's under the different serious violent offenses, things of that nature.
- While Section 30-20-12 does protect citizens from terrifying or offensive telephone calls, it leaves
Summary:
The committee first heard HB 206, which would expand eligibility under the Crime Victims Reparation Act to cover additional offenses: simple assault, simple battery, criminal sexual contact, and robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. The sponsor, the Crime Victims Reparation Commission, and multiple supporters said the change would help victims access compensation for medical care, counseling, lost income, and related costs, with no added state administrative burden. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0.
The committee then took up HB 20, which would allow Native American designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people who provide proof of membership in a federally recognized tribe. Sponsors and tribal supporters said the designation could help with identification, Turquoise Alert notifications, and jurisdictional issues, while also serving as a voluntary option for tribal members. Some members raised concerns about possible profiling, lack of consultation with every tribe, and the absence of data from other states; supporters responded that the designation is optional and intended to assist, not harm. The bill passed 4-2.
HB 52, a technical cleanup bill correcting statutory cross-references after prior competency-law amendments, passed unanimously 6-0. HB 58, which updates the telephone harassment statute to include electronic communications such as texts and social media, also passed 6-0 after supporters said the current law is outdated and too limited for modern harassment cases; committee members discussed possible definitional refinements. HB 57, allowing certain lab analysts and toxicologists to testify by interactive video in misdemeanor and DWI cases, drew support for efficiency and reducing travel burdens, but also concerns about confrontation rights and technical drafting issues; it passed 6-0 with a no recommendation. Finally, HB 79, which would lower the burden of proof for juvenile probation violation hearings to a preponderance standard, drew strong opposition from defense advocates and a law student who argued it would reduce due process protections for youth; after debate, the committee tabled the bill on a 4-2 vote.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Aug 27th, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Is he likely to regain competency within a year's period of time if it is a felony offense?
- So, you know, you've got those concerning offenses, but there's nothing by statute we can do because
- back then, so it's changed a lot, but I had a lot of contact with juveniles charged with serious offenses
- When a child is convicted or pleads to one of the enumerated offenses, we go from there to an amenability
- The number of offenses that constitute a serious violent offense needs to be increased, and the ages
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Danica Roder, on behalf of a lot of offense on opposition. All right. Final call. Anyone else?
- The amended version of AB 47 would exclude serious and violent sex offense.
- Janice Balucci, Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, in opposition.
- But there are certain offenses that are so egregious. I think we heard one today by the witness.
- I did not have, I did have several violations for minor offenses such as the GPS dying.
Summary:
The committee heard AB 82, which would expand privacy and safety protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care. The author and supporters said the bill is needed because of rising harassment, doxing, and threats, and because sensitive health data could be used by hostile actors; opponents argued it would create constitutional problems, enable abuse of safe-at-home protections, and improperly shield providers and records from scrutiny. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many advocates in support and many privacy, civil liberties, and anti-trafficking or sex-based policy groups in opposition. The bill was moved on a due pass recommendation and remained on call.
The committee then heard AB 331, which would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and several good-government groups supported the measure, the Secretary of State had no position after amendments, and a committee member noted ongoing concerns but supported it after the changes. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations and was placed on call.
AB 1178 followed, proposing to protect undercover peace officers’ names, images, and likenesses in public records while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement and public safety groups supported the bill as a needed safety measure, while journalists, transparency advocates, and civil liberties groups opposed it, saying existing law already protects officers and the new language could lead to overbroad withholding. After discussion about the scope of undercover status and the need for judicial discretion, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar.
Later, AB 981 was heard, creating a five-county pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for certain reckless driving convictions. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash victims, said the bill could reduce repeat speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, installer oversight, liability for automakers, and the breadth of the pilot. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 22, which would repeal Proposition 57 and restrict release of sexually violent predators and certain sex offenders, drew strong opposition from youth justice, public defender, and civil liberties groups who said it would be unconstitutional and harmful; the chair recommended no, no motion was made, and the bill was held. Finally, AB 897, a squatter-removal bill, was presented with the author arguing it would protect property owners through a faster due-process process; the transcript cuts off during early support testimony and does not show a final action on that measure.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- persons previously convicted of sexual offenses.
- persons previously convicted of sexual offenses.
- by persons previously convicted of sexual offenses. in act relating to sexual offenses by persons previously
- convicted of sexual offenses.
- Again, it's offensive.
Summary:
The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, and a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. After routine business, the Senate took up several special-order bills.
The first major bill, transportation offenses involving death, increased penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenses. An amendment added penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing and required law enforcement to notify suspects of those penalties. The bill passed 37-0. The Senate then passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours and holiday access to care and setting network standards for Medicaid managed care plans, also by a 37-0 vote.
The chamber next considered a major condominium and cooperative associations bill responding to post-Surfside safety and financial concerns. Senators described the measure as balancing building safety with financial relief, extending reserve-study deadlines, allowing temporary reserve relief after inspections, tightening oversight of managers and inspectors, and adjusting voting, resale, and reserve rules. After extensive debate and praise from members for the bill’s sponsors and staff, the bill passed 37-0.
The longest discussion centered on a constitutional amendments/petition process bill aimed at curbing fraud in citizen initiative petitions. Sponsors argued that the 2024 petition process was plagued by fraud and identity theft and proposed tighter rules for circulators, faster submission deadlines, voter notification, penalties, and limits on petition handling. Senators offered and adopted multiple amendments, including changes to petition-circulator definitions, invalid-signature thresholds, and voter notification procedures. After a substitute amendment was withdrawn, the Senate continued debating the underlying amended bill, with members split between concerns about election integrity and worries that the bill would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizen initiatives to qualify.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> wouldn't be four different offenses wouldn't be four different offenses because<00:56:12.079><c>
- </c><01:06:01.440><c> and</c> convicted of that first offense and convicted of that first offense and
- It says a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for a second offense.
- and a misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor for a second<02:19:35.639><c> offense.
- </c> and each take a violation level offense. and each take a violation level offense.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Jan 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 849 clarifies that a physician or surgeon who has committed specified sexual offenses against their
- on a finding by the medical board that the person committed a specified sexual misconduct act or offense
- The person was convicted of a court or offensive sexual misconduct with the patient or the person was
- required to register as a sex offender based on an offense with a patient.
- To register as a sex offender based on an offense with a patient, and their license was subsequently
Summary:
The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard three bills. SB 849 by Senator Weber Pearson would tighten restrictions on physicians and surgeons who committed specified sexual misconduct against patients by barring license renewal petitions, requiring automatic revocation in certain reinstatement cases, and making the changes retroactive to 2020. Support came from the California Medical Association and the American College of OBGYN; there was no opposition in the room. Members praised the bill as closing a loophole and protecting patients, and it passed 8-0 to the Appropriations Committee, placed on call for absent members.
SB 96 by Senator Umberg would extend California’s ad volume rules to streaming services, podcasts, and similar content so advertisements cannot be louder than surrounding programming. The author said the bill was prompted by a child being awakened by loud streaming ads and was intended to mirror the federal CALM Act’s approach for television. There was no support or opposition testimony in the room. The committee discussed how the rule might work across platforms and states, then passed the bill 9-0 to Appropriations, also on call.
SB 342 by Senator Umberg, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, would allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed even if their license lapsed during part of a project, while still denying payment for unlicensed days and preserving penalties for starting work without a license. Supporters included the California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades, and several contractor associations. Committee members raised concerns about consumer protections, burden of proof, and whether the bill could create loopholes, but the author and staff said existing enforcement would remain and the bill would only limit forfeiture to the period of unlicensure. The bill passed 9-0 to Judiciary. At the end of the hearing, the chair announced all three bills were out of committee and thanked staff for their work.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Jan 12th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 849 clarifies that a physician or surgeon who has committed specified sexual offenses against their
- on a finding by the Medical Board that the person committed a specified sexual misconduct act or offense
- The person was convicted of a court or offensive sexual misconduct with the patient, or the person was
- required to register as a sex offender based on an offense with a patient.
- The person was required to register as a sex offender based on an offense with a patient, and their license
Summary:
The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard three bills. SB 849 by Senator Weber Pearson would address physician sexual misconduct by clarifying that physicians or surgeons who committed specified sexual offenses against patients cannot petition for license renewal, and by requiring automatic revocation in certain misconduct-related cases, including where a license was surrendered, revoked, or the person was convicted or required to register as a sex offender. Support came from the California Medical Association and the American College of OBGYN; there was no opposition in the room. The bill was moved do pass to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, then later confirmed out on call.
SB 96 by Senator Umberg would extend California’s advertising-volume rules to streaming services, podcasts, and similar content by requiring ads to be kept at the ambient level of the surrounding content. The author said the bill was inspired by a child awakened by loud streaming ads and argued it would update the earlier CALM Act for modern media. There was no support or opposition testimony in the room. The committee discussed how the rule might affect platforms operating statewide or nationally, and the bill passed do pass on a 9-0 vote, then was confirmed out on call.
SB 342 by Senator Umberg, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, would allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed even if they were unlicensed for part of a project, while still barring payment for unlicensed days and preserving existing prohibitions on starting work without a license. Supporters, including representatives of the California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades, and contractor associations, argued the current law can be overly punitive and can create windfalls for owners when a technical lapse is discovered later. Committee members raised concerns about consumer protection, burden of proof, and whether the bill could create loopholes, but the author and supporters said existing protections remain and the bill is intended to be proportional. The bill passed do pass to Judiciary on a 9-0 vote and was later confirmed out on call to Appropriations.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits Jan 7th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Washington law and court rules presume that a person charged with a criminal offense will be released
- So the more serious the offense, the less likely that the defendant was to receive pretrial services.
- which indicates that a larger share of Black and Hispanic defendants are charged with more serious offenses
- such as Class A felonies, making Defendants are charged with more serious offenses such as Class A felonies
- Black men being more frequently associated with violent crimes and Hispanic men with drug-related offenses
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a hearing on a State Auditor’s Office performance audit about expanding pretrial services in Washington. Audit staff said most of the 14 courts reviewed wanted to expand or implement pretrial services but faced barriers such as funding, limited community resources, and public safety concerns. They also reported that only three courts could provide usable data, that pretrial service use varied across courts, and that some demographic disparities appeared in the data, including lower rates of pretrial services for Hispanic defendants at two Spokane courts and for Black defendants at Spokane Superior Court. The audit also found that many courts do not collect pretrial data in an accessible format and recommended clearer guidance, better data systems, stakeholder outreach, and evaluation of program effectiveness. The State Auditor’s Office also noted that the Administrative Office of the Courts’ pretrial pilot program had received legislative funding and was being expanded.
Representatives from Spokane Municipal Court, Grays Harbor County District Court, and Yakima County discussed their local programs and data. Spokane officials described a robust integrated system and said their pretrial services unit, launched in 2021, had reduced bail use, jail time, failure-to-appear rates, and recidivism, while helping judges make quicker release decisions. Grays Harbor staff echoed the audit’s findings on cost savings and said data collection is labor-intensive for limited-jurisdiction courts, especially without dedicated staff. They also described using risk assessment tools and pilot funding to support alternatives to jail. Yakima and Spokane participants emphasized that stable funding and standalone pretrial services units would improve program consistency and outcomes.
Committee members asked about how pretrial services reduce detention time, how courts can better communicate cost savings and public safety benefits, and why statewide data collection is difficult. Audit staff and court representatives said early assessments, better information at first appearance, and integrated case-management systems help reduce jail stays and improve release decisions. The hearing ended without formal committee action, and the chair adjourned the meeting after inviting written public testimony on the audit topics.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- 36 on page two with the following by the juvenile court for committing certain capital and other offenses
- 50 on page two with the following: Through 50 on page two with the following: Court of a capital offense
- And so that has been changed and shall be notified even on those other offenses outside of the certain
- Well, is this a different offense, or is this changing the possession?
- This is a different offense where you're actually presenting that forged instrument.
Keywords:
vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, out-of-state warrants, law enforcement, extradition, Alabama Code, arrest authority, interstate cooperation, tax exemption, seafood, retail sales