Transcript Highlights:

• And the process to get all of that...
• new one, there's a process for that.
• It's about due process.
• It's about due process.
• Because we have due process rights in our property, and we have due process rights to our liberty.

Bills: SB1216, SB1391, SB1493, SB1520

Keywords: trauma, public safety, counseling, mental health, employee benefits, law enforcement, stress management, suicide prevention, workforce readiness, disciplinary action, appeals, termination, superior court, investigative process, reinstatement, immigration, data sharing, federal government, undocumented immigrants, visa overstays

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement heard several bills related to public safety personnel. SB 1520, which would have required state agencies to share certain immigration-related data with the federal government and sunset in 2029, was set aside after a proposed strike-everything amendment was defeated. The committee then voted 7-5 to give the underlying bill a do pass recommendation. SB 1216, which removes the sunset from traumatic event counseling programs for peace officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers and expands eligibility to crime scene and digital forensics technicians, drew support from police and fire representatives and passed 12-1 with a do pass recommendation. SB 1391 would create an AZ POST-administered law enforcement stress management pilot program, funded with a $950,000 general fund appropriation and operated through one Arizona nonprofit. The sponsor described it as a preventive, peer-support-focused program, but several members objected that the bill was overly prescriptive and looked like a vendor-specific measure. The committee voted 5-7 against giving SB 1391 a do pass recommendation. SB 1493, as amended, would require employers to pay taxable costs, attorney fees, and expert fees when a law enforcement officer who was terminated without just cause prevails through the administrative appeal process and then in Superior Court after the employer refuses reinstatement. Supporters argued it was a fairness and due process measure for rare cases where officers must litigate twice to be reinstated. After adopting a chairman’s amendment, the committee approved SB 1493 as amended with a due pass recommendation by an 8-3 vote, with one member changing from yes to no before the final tally.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:49.040> as to be as efficient in this process as to be as efficient in this process
• So, we've those funds in that process.
• <00:05:23.759> So part in our formal audit process. So part in our formal audit process.
• Uh I think I saw ongoing process there.
• So, if that's they have in this process.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:13 Approval of Minutes: 02:28 2025 RS SB 9: TRS Leave Audit Requirements & Process: 03:05 2025 RS SB 10: Overview of Enacted Legislation & Discussion: 28:38 Adjournment: 42:13, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, a quorum was confirmed, and the minutes were approved. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 9, which concerns TRS sick leave audit requirements and process. Auditor Allison Ball’s staff said the audit is an information-gathering review of how teacher sick leave is accumulated, current balances, how many employers use the sick leave function, and the policies and procedures governing sick leave. Members discussed how unused sick leave affects retirement calculations, the distinction between the state’s financial responsibility and school districts’ responsibility, and whether the audit would also examine related leave categories such as personal leave, annual leave, and leave of absence. Committee members emphasized that Senate Bill 9 was intended to add accountability and standardize reporting, including preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave. Several members asked for clarification on how sick leave is factored into retirement benefits. Witnesses and members explained that, under the system described, accumulated sick leave can be converted into retirement credit based on a teacher’s daily rate and then multiplied by a percentage, with the school district often bearing the cost. Members also noted nuances in the law, including different accumulation limits by hire date and tier, and that the audit may help the public better understand why some educators retire relatively young. The auditor’s office said it is still early in the process, has met with TRS leadership, and will report back once the audit progresses. The committee also asked whether maternity leave would be included; the auditor’s office said it was not specifically mandated but could be examined if the body requests it. The committee then received an overview of Senate Bill 10 from KPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Rebecca Atkins. They explained that the bill enhances retiree health insurance benefits for certain CRS members who are non-Medicare participants and meet specified career thresholds, with different rules for hazardous and non-hazardous service. They described the benefit as $40 per month per year of service for non-hazardous service and $50 per month per year for hazardous service, both inflated annually, and clarified that these amounts are not cumulative with prior benefit formulas. Members asked about the interaction between the new amounts and existing benefits, and the presenters explained that the bill also changes current employee health insurance contribution rates effective July 1, 2026, with different impacts by tier and hazardous status. The committee discussed the need for clear communication to affected employees and reviewed example calculations showing how the new contribution structure would work.

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Bills: HB85, HB94, HB276, HB323, HB374, HB586, HB656, HB998, HB1204, SB42, SB46, SB51, SB87, SB110, SB154

Keywords: animal abuse, registry, law enforcement, felony offenses, public notification, firearms, due process, confiscation, law-abiding citizen, government funding, self-defense, bail, contradictory bail hearing, Gwen's Law, pretrial detention, criminal procedure, child sexual abuse, child rape, sexual battery, oral sexual battery

Bills: HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, HB578, HB668, HB1198, SCR19, SB66, SB68, SB76, SB139, SB336, SB475

Keywords: privacy rights, surveillance, USA Patriot Act, FISA, Fourth Amendment, civil liberties, government oversight, civil bench warrants, judgment debtors, notification process, judgment debtor examination, Louisiana State Law Institute, property transfer, public records doctrine, bad faith, real estate law, HCR 31, House Concurrent Resolution 31, foreign entities, foreign corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the district attorney for the hundred and six judicial district in West Texas.
• I think a good interim process would be to look at Schedule C and who all is in there and who all wants
• Within 10 days of my release, the process is tedious.
• Members, a magistrate in Texas is a judicial officer who presides over certain criminal cases and some
• Under their own qualification standards, hiring and firing processes, jurisdictional powers and other

Bills: SB 476, SB 664, SB 745, SB 826, SB 989, SB 1080, SB 1171, SB 1320, SB 1437, SB 1727, SB 1809, SB 2289, SB 2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice convened to address pressing issues surrounding oil field crime and safety on Texas highways. The meeting was initiated by Chair Flores, who emphasized the need for improved tools to combat repeat offenders having committed intoxicated driving, alongside tackling oil field theft that has escalated due to organized criminal activities. The committee heard public testimonies and engaged with various stakeholders, including law enforcement and industry representatives, who highlighted the complexities and dangers associated with these crimes. Notably, a significant focus was placed on Senate Bill 1320, which aims to establish a dedicated unit within the Department of Public Safety to investigate and address thefts specific to the oil and gas industry. This initiative seeks to strengthen coordination among various law enforcement agencies and improve training for local officers to combat these sophisticated theft operations more effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the district attorney for the 106th Judicial District in West Texas.
• I think a good interim process would be to look at Schedule C and who all is in there and who all wants
• But this bill adds them to it until we get to that interim process. Thank you.
• Even though I submitted my application to TDLR within 10 days of my release, the process is tedious.
• that they would set up and require. ...to hold someone for them, and that would be part of the process

Bills: SB476, SB664, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1080, SB1171, SB1320, SB1437, SB1727, SB1809, SB2289, SB2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:15:03.679> with mean it is an interactive process with mean it is an interactive process
• and the person goes no and the process and the person goes no and the process sort<01:15:10.640>
• request was and where in the process. request was and where in the process.
• , clarify and codify that that process, clarify and codify that that process, that<01:15:19.600><
• This is a torturous process just do.

Bills: HF3661, HF2380, HF3468, HF3483

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 24 and February 26. It then took up House File 3661, a bill originally authored by Representative Gomez and presented by Representative Feist, which would ban government use of facial recognition technology and be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical amendment based on House Research recommendations, before hearing testimony on the bill. Representative Feist said the bill is aimed at preventing serious privacy and civil-liberties harms, including secretive surveillance, racial and gender bias, and the lack of statewide rules governing government use of facial recognition. Supportive testimony came from Chad Marlo of the ACLU, who argued the issue is bipartisan, the technology has accuracy problems, and government use is expanding against vulnerable groups. Chris Wayland of Restore the Fourth Minnesota also supported a ban, emphasizing the inability to opt out of facial recognition and the lack of standards, disclosure, and community input. Rich Newmeister urged stronger transparency measures, including agency policies and public notice in buildings using the technology. Major Spencer Baky of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office opposed an outright ban, saying facial recognition is used only as an investigative lead, not for positive identification or real-time surveillance, and that results are corroborated before use. He said the office has used the tool in hundreds of investigations and supports a statutory framework with safeguards instead of a ban. In member discussion, Representative Hudson argued a blanket ban was too broad and suggested a more targeted evidentiary approach, while Representative Moller and Representative Kurr expressed concern about misuse and the federal government's use of the technology. Representative Durant asked whether there was a current Minnesota problem and whether stakeholders and law enforcement had been involved in drafting the bill. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the amendment and the committee’s continued consideration of HF 3661.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now if I recall correctly, and I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly, judicial candidates are subject
• I believe that's true that judicial candidates are subject to the same canons, the same rules that, that
• , that judges are when they run for election, for reelection, and the judicial, my understanding is,
• uh, Dean, that the judicial campaign finance rules are much more stringent than the ones we are under
• The judicial branch really is a is a is not involved in our actions here to make legislation.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Transcript Highlights:

• Ladies and gentlemen, the Administrative Office of Courts deals with judicial education, not only for
• And so it just kind of puts some guardrails in place so that we don't get into the process of making
• And again, we're not taking away judicial discretion in any of these changes.

Bills: HB227, HB454, SB323, HB266, SB52, SB53, SB296, HB37, HB429, HB93, HB249, HB328, HB111, HB132, HB26, SB261, HB227, HB454, SB323, HB266, SB52, SB53, SB296, HB37, HB429, HB93, HB249, HB328, HB111, HB132, HB26, SB261

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

Transcript Highlights:

• physical harm, to assure the presence of the defendant at trial, and to protect the integrity of the judicial

Bills: SB1288, SB1705, SB1878, SB2019, SB2118

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Bills: HB4, HB206, HB244, HB270, HB361, HB459, HB486, HB540, HB615, HB627, HB648, HB813, HB996

Keywords: constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, legislative attendance, task force, executive meetings, public meetings, confirmation process, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, absentee voting, incarcerated voters, voter registration, mail-in voting, election rights, felony conviction

Transcript Highlights:

• This was quite an interesting process for our town clerk to go through.
• The statute only names county boards of supervisors in the drafting process.
• Dana, you didn't want to come on down and explain why you should be involved in this process?
• Right now, 16-4-52 means that the EPM has the role of law, so this body should be involved in that process
• and Senate committees with jurisdiction over elections to make sure that we have more of a public process

Bills: SB1006, SB1029, SB1037, SB1038, SB1040, SB1057, SB1060, SB1237

Keywords: campaign finance, contribution limits, reporting requirements, political action committees, elections, campaign contributions, candidate committees, posthumous provisions, termination process, Arizona Revised Statutes, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system

Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections met and took up several election- and campaign-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for itemizing in-state individual campaign contributions in committee reports from $100 to $200 and increase the aggregate reporting threshold accordingly; staff described it as a straightforward campaign finance update, and it passed 4-3. SB 1029 would treat a candidate committee as intending to terminate upon the candidate’s death and allow certain designated individuals to serve as treasurer; testimony from the Town of Queen Creek described practical problems encountered after the deaths of officeholders, and the bill passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1038 would require county election officials to transmit the cast vote record to the Secretary of State and prohibit alteration except as otherwise allowed; members debated whether CVRs are already public records and whether the bill was needed, and it passed 4-3. SB 1237 would add county recorders and the House and Senate election committee leaders to the list of officials consulted by the Secretary of State when prescribing the Elections Procedures Manual; county officials testified this would better reflect their role in early voting and other election functions, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1057, which would require vendors providing ballot paper fraud countermeasures to meet specified ISO certifications and include at least three of ten listed security features. Staff explained the ISO standards, and members discussed whether the bill needed additional safeguards and whether it differed from a vetoed bill from the prior session. The bill passed 4-3, with some members noting they wanted amendments or had concerns about the standards and the bill’s structure. After discussing several additional measures, the chair indicated he was not comfortable moving the remaining bills without the sponsor present. Without objection, the committee held the remaining bills and adjourned.

Bills: HB545, HB545

Keywords: Escambia County, probate court, court fees, legal services, judicial legislation, HB545, legal tender, cash rounding, nearest five cents, nickel rounding, in-person cash transaction, cash transactions, change making, sales tax, Department of Revenue, merchant payments, consumer payments, currency rounding, cash payment, retail transactions

Transcript Highlights:

• And I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly, judicial candidates are subject to the same canon that
• I believe that's true, that judicial candidates are subject to the same canons, the same...
• My understanding is that the judicial campaign finance rules are much more stringent than the ones we
• going to come back next session, whether it's a constitutional amendment or what we do with the judicial
• Normally, there are some minor non-controversial matters of judicial administration also.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Transcript Highlights:

• process cannot stop it. Not in a board. process cannot stop it. Not in a board.
• An authority that starts an RFP process An authority that starts an RFP process cannot<00:09:53.440
• starts an RFP process cannot stop it. it. it.
• So, you can stop an RFP<00:10:14.680> process. RFP process. RFP process.
• So, that process, to withdraw the RFP.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 KCNA Request for Proposal Process 00:00:01 Overview of KWIC Board and Funding of Kentucky Wired Network Refresh 00:18:10 Zayo Network Services 00:34:40 Discussion of Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Funding 00:57:32, 958, all

Summary: The committee first focused on a disputed KCNA procurement for a statewide network-related RFP. Members questioned why the RFP had been labeled non-technical, whether COT should have reviewed it, and whether the KCNA board could direct that it be withdrawn. Finance and Administration Cabinet counsel Barbie Dickens said the RFP was authorized by KCNA working with procurement services after termination of the prior contract and breach notices, was issued in November 2025, paused during a protest, later resumed, and remained an open procurement. She said the agency—not the board—directs the procurement process, though she acknowledged an agency and OPS could cancel or reissue an RFP if needed. Legislators pushed back, citing KRS 154 and House Bill 314 as evidence that the KCNA board controls contracts and operations, and one member said the board had requested the RFP be withdrawn. Dickens said she could not predict the outcome and was not KCNA’s counsel. The discussion also touched on whether the current director had asked to stop the RFP and whether that request had been denied, with no final action taken during the exchange. The committee then turned to Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Corporation and the Kentucky Wired refresh project. Jim Barnhart described the structure of the nonprofit corporation, the role of Quick and Quack in the financing and operations arrangement, and the board membership, noting that the refresh funding had been approved in the 2024-26 capital budget. He said the equipment upgrade is necessary because of end-of-life hardware and software support issues, and that the refresh would expand capacity, lower risk, and reduce operating costs. Barnhart said some equipment had already been received, the rest would be purchased later, and the project should begin before September and take about a year to complete. When asked about contract disputes involving Ledcor and whether the vendor had an ongoing contract, Barnhart and the authority representative said they had not been notified of any issues and were not directly involved in that contract dispute. Committee members also raised concerns about a prior market test and whether a lower-cost bidder had been blocked from a previous RFP process. Barnhart said he understood Quack could make that decision and that the Commonwealth did not have input so long as the network was maintained, but he was not involved at the time. A legislator then read from the KCNA statute and argued that the board, not agency staff, is supposed to direct KCNA contracts and operations, saying House Bill 314 did not change those duties. The chair agreed the committee’s intent was for the board to control KCNA and direct contracts, and the discussion ended with a transition away from the KCNA dispute toward future testimony, including a presentation from Zayo Networks on open access networks and broadband infrastructure.

Bills: HB 34, HB 128, HB 621, HB 748, HB 2259, HB 2960, HB 3113, HB 4749, SB 835

Keywords: property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, elections, scannable ballots, voting technology, paper ballots, electoral process, jury service, juror qualifications, grand jury, petit jury, legal implications

Bills: HB 34, HB 128, HB 621, HB 748, HB 2259, HB 2960, HB 3113, HB 4749, SB 835

Keywords: property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, elections, scannable ballots, voting technology, paper ballots, electoral process, jury service, juror qualifications, grand jury, petit jury, legal implications

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB 9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB 17, SB 4

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, impact fees, water conservation, reuse projects, builders, developers, local government, real property theft, real property fraud, criminal offenses, restitution