Video & Transcript Research : 'mandatory minimum sentence'
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ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 3rd, 2025 at 01:00 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm not a fan of mandatory minimum sentences.
- Massive legislative mandatory minimum sentences.
- Well, who are those mandatory minimum sentences addressed to?
- I'm not a fan of mandatory minimum sentences.
- I'm not a fan of mandatory minimum sentences.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Representative Hoverson offered remarks recognizing World Autism Day, and the House then handled conference committee motions on several bills, including House Bills 1460 and 1248 and Senate Bills 2262, 2070, 2294, and 2297, with the Speaker appointing members to each conference committee. The chamber also set aside Senate Bill 2200 for re-referral to Appropriations and moved to amendments on Senate Bill 2128, which was the main subject of the day.
Senate Bill 2128, a major criminal justice and corrections bill, drew extensive debate over truth-in-sentencing, mandatory minimums, parole, transitional facilities, work release, electronic monitoring, and the fiscal impact of longer incarceration. Division A of the amendments removed mandatory minimums for resisting arrest and felony simple assault while keeping consecutive-sentence language; supporters said this preserved judicial discretion and reduced costs, while opponents argued it weakened public safety. Division A was adopted 70-23.
Division B proposed broader changes to preserve transitional programming, add penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring and escape, limit some work-release restrictions, create a parole board study, and fund electronic monitoring with a $600,000 appropriation. Supporters framed it as a compromise that balanced rehabilitation and public safety; opponents said it undercut the bill’s intent and left dangerous offenders with too much access to transitional release. Division B failed on a 46-46 tie. The House then took up the bill itself, with the Judiciary Committee reporting a do-not-pass recommendation as amended, and debate continued over whether the amended bill should advance, with members split between concerns about victims and public safety versus rehabilitation, prison capacity, and recidivism.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HSH-HLT Joint Public Hearing - Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Human Services & Homelessness
Transcript Highlights:
- of incarceration despite any sentence of incarceration despite any mandatory<01:28:32.920>
sentencing - <01:28:33.360>
framework <01:28:33.800>that mandatory sentencing framework that mandatory - of incarceration despite any mandatory sentencing framework that currently exists in statutes.
- :03.320>
sentencing Hawaii's indeterminate sentencing Hawaii's indeterminate sentencing structure - guidelines or mandatory sentencing structures.
Keywords:
mental health, crisis intervention, assisted community treatment, treatment orders, law enforcement training, public safety, court-ordered treatment, Medicaid, healthcare access, unlicensed professionals, supervised services, workforce development, mental health equity, child custody, evaluations, licensed counselors, family court, juvenile justice, waiver of jurisdiction, transfer to adult court
Summary:
The committee heard SB 709 SD2, which would require the Department of Health to respond to reports involving persons with severe mental illness, assess eligibility for assisted community treatment, and coordinate treatment when appropriate. Testimony from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health supported the measure, with DOH saying it generally supported the bill but had comments on one section it viewed as unnecessary. The Department of Law Enforcement later explained that the bill would shift certification and standards for crisis intervention officer training from DOH to DLE, while still involving DOH in the training process.
Opposition came from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and an individual testifier, both of whom argued the bill expands state authority over people with mental illness and could worsen forced treatment practices. The Disability Rights Center also raised procedural concerns, saying the bill was effectively moved from a prior administration measure that had not been heard this session, and questioned whether the bill’s changes to assisted community treatment, blood tests, urinalysis, and living arrangements went beyond current law. The individual testifier argued the bill would further entrench harmful psychiatric drugging and urged the committee to defer it.
Committee members questioned the administration about the bill’s process, the role of the Attorney General in treatment-over-objection proceedings, and the practical effects of moving CIT certification to DLE. The Attorney General’s office said the bill was intended to fill a gap by allowing it to assist with treatment proceedings, while public defenders would continue to represent respondents and due process protections would remain in place. DLE and DOH said the change would better align certification with law enforcement training needs, improve speed in crisis response, and still keep DOH involved; members also discussed whether WAM counted as a hearing and whether the bill should more explicitly preserve DOH’s role. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- in Arizona to develop, implement, and regularly update outlined training criteria regarding the mandatory
- The three-page amendment in your name dated February 17th at 3:51 p.m. adds runaway back into the mandatory
- turquoise alerts and requires investigating agencies to use all available resources, including following mandatory
Bills:
SB1071, SB1315, SB1317, SB1416, SB1493, SB1537, SB1542, SB1584, SB1626, SB1740, SB1751, SB1804, SCR1047, SCR1049
Keywords:
Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, school safety, interoperable communications, law enforcement, emergency response, funding, reentry programs, criminal justice, grants, recidivism, attorney general, missing children, kidnapping, reporting requirements, child safety, training
Summary:
The committee first took up SB 1071, which would repeal the statutory framework for the Arizona Rangers. The sponsor argued the bill was about accountability and transparency, citing concerns about missing training and firearms qualification records; Arizona Rangers representatives and several sheriffs opposed the bill, saying the Rangers provide valuable volunteer support and that the real issue was adding oversight rather than eliminating protections. After discussion, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1071 a do pass recommendation, with members noting they expected amendments later.
The committee then heard SB 1315, requiring school districts and charter schools to maintain interoperable emergency communications with law enforcement and to submit annual affidavits confirming testing and compliance. Testimony from school safety officials and sheriffs emphasized the value of real-time communication during emergencies and the need for secure sharing of campus maps and floor plans; concerns about cost and information security were addressed by supporters. The bill passed unanimously, 7-0. The committee also advanced SB 1317, which appropriates opioid settlement funds for county reentry planning programs; sheriffs and association representatives supported it, citing reduced recidivism and jail populations, and it passed 7-0.
Several public safety and missing-children measures were considered next. SB 1416, as amended, revises missing child reporting requirements, adds runaway children back into reporting, requires faster photo and information sharing, and expands training requirements; advocates for missing children and law enforcement supported the compromise language, and the bill passed 7-0. SB 1740, which updates Turquoise Alert training and procedures, was also advanced 7-0 after discussion about statewide versus geographically targeted alerts and the need to keep alerts effective. Later, SB 1493, a strike-everything amendment affecting police officer termination appeals and fee shifting when an employer rejects a favorable administrative ruling, passed 5-2 despite opposition from chiefs’ representatives. SB 1537, renaming the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund and repealing its advisory commission, passed 5-2.
The committee also approved SB 1751 and SCR 1049, which expand execution methods to include lethal gas and firing squad and make firing squad mandatory in certain cases involving the murder of a law enforcement officer; opponents raised constitutional, ethical, and practical concerns, while supporters framed the measures as aligning Arizona with other states and providing additional options. Both measures passed 4-3. Finally, SB 1542, which would create a framework and funding for MDMA research and treatment for PTSD in first responders and peace officers contingent on FDA approval, was heard with testimony describing promising clinical trial results and the need for Arizona research; the bill was then moved forward, though the transcript cuts off before the final roll call result is fully shown.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- education that follows all of New Mexico educational guidelines and curriculum, with what they learn, mandatory
Keywords:
general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Is that pretty much at the discretion of the RRC, or are there some mandatory guidelines?
Keywords:
surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So here are some of the major issues: there are no minimum construction standards when waste is buried
Keywords:
surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (04/09/2025)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so this bill in summary imposes mandatory minimum sentences: 3 years, 6 months for anyone caught
- minimum sentence?
- I think it's mandatory minimum sentence?
- Those persons then still are subject to the mandatory minimum sentences.
- <01:30:43.679>
Is <01:30:43.840>that The mandatory minimum sentences.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (03/20/2026)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- So, it isn't necessarily mandatory minimum. It's mandatory minimum with a plus.
- the existence of the mandatory minimum. the existence of the mandatory minimum.
- But simply put, mandatory minimum sentences like these proposed in this bill do little to address the
- And mandatory minimums do not just set a sentencing floor.
- Mandatory minimum strips judges of the ability to tailor sentences and often interrupts treatment and
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- How is that a more of a mandatory minimum sentence than the existing regime?
- that a more of a mandatory minimum that a more of a mandatory minimum sentence<00:48:33.119>
than< - <01:16:51.760>
sentences mandatory sentences mandatory sentences and<01:16:54.159>whether< - I guess have um a a mandatory minimum. I did have um a a mandatory minimum.
- statutes also have mandatory minimums. statutes also have mandatory minimums. in<02:05:22.159>
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services May 14th, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- You may finish that last sentence.
- At a minimum, direct TDI to fix the problem through their regulations.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, key protections like limits on mandatory overtime were suspended, even
- this body ...passed a bill to establish our existing nursing staffing statute and prohibition on mandatory
- There are also issues related to mandatory overtime and lifestyle needs.
Bills:
HB107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655, HB107
Keywords:
sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You may finish that last sentence.
- At a minimum, direct TDI to fix the problem through their regulations.
- At a minimum, direct TDI to fix the problem through their regulations.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, key protections like limits on mandatory overtime were suspended, even
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, key protections like limits on mandatory overtime were suspended, even
Bills:
HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655
Keywords:
sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 1097 proposes an amendment to section 261.101. of the Texas Family Code focusing on the mandatory
- So all adults in the state of Texas are considered mandatory reporters, right?
- The criminal penalty is for failing to act as a mandatory porter.
- I think some of your information is a little off because um I I teachers are mandatory reporters to cps
- The judge is not a mandatory. you're not to report to the judge. The judge is only a trier of fact.
Bills:
HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153
Keywords:
child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And he said, "Well, it's not mandatory in these kinds of situations." He said, "It isn't a lot."
Bills:
HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153
Keywords:
child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 14th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- First, mandatory and optional. Thank you so much.
- They could participate in the bare minimum warrant service officer model and be within compliance.
- They could do the bare minimum if they want to.
- Without mandatory participation by all...
- You know, those are long prison sentences. So we're going to hold that individual.
Keywords:
transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors
TX
Bills:
HB1821, HB1822, HB1943, HB3882, HB4263, HB4476, HB4628, HB4631, HB4885, HB4923, HB5461, HB5483, HB5525
Keywords:
juvenile records, sealing, privacy, criminal justice, youth rehabilitation, legal procedures, juvenile court, record sealing, nondisclosure, age jurisdiction, criminal justice reform, juvenile board, compensation, Winkler County, juvenile justice, county funding, grants, career education, technical programs, workforce development
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County and Regional Government Apr 14th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- One of you did mention that one of the minimum training times could be one day.
- Therefore, increasing ICE presence and mandatory enforcement agreements is a response in search of a
- promise that she would not enforce immigration detainers, a promise already eroded when it became mandatory
- Mandatory evacuations from FAA-designated hazard zones, establishing appropriate consequences for individuals
Keywords:
transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This resolution is to help review how we can improve the mandatory reporter training.
- This resolution is to help review how can we improve the mandatory reporter training.
- How can we improve the mandatory reporter training? How can we make it shorter?
- This provides the first-ever cross-reference for a mandatory reporter into Title 17.
- reporter by teachers. ...particularly with submitting compliance of mandatory reporter by teachers and
Bills:
SR119, SCR65, HCR47, HB196, HB218, HB256, HB325, HB352, HB434, HB448, HB476, HB608, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB749, HB818, HB1059, HB1112, HB1242, HB1249
Keywords:
SR119, Senate Resolution 119, D-D Breaux, Sara Breaux, LSU gymnastics, LSU Gymnastics Training Center, LSU Board of Supervisors, facility naming, honorary resolution, public buildings and grounds, women's athletics, Title IX, college gymnastics, SEC gymnastics, Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation, women in sports, coach recognition, sports legend, campus naming
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor.
Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably.
Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.
LA
Bills:
HB414, HB786, HB1041, HB1052, HB1118, HB1139, HB1182, HB1185, HB1214, HB1217, HB1231, SR63, SCR27, SB5, SB194, SB415, SB433, SB451, SB462, SB516
Keywords:
healthcare, criminal convictions, employment, background checks, prohibited offenses, Medicaid, claim payments, extrapolation, provider audits, medical freedom, discrimination, access, medical intervention, child protection, confidentiality, multidisciplinary teams, child advocacy centers, public records, investigations, hospital
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/12/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- addition to the sentence, not in lieu of the mandatory minimums, maximum sentences, and fines.
- minimum sentences increased mandatory minimum sentences increased maximum<00:46:03.880>
sentences - sentence not in lie of the mandatory sentence not in lie of the mandatory minimums<00:46:13.440>
- There are many mandatory minimum sentences.
- minimum sentence for 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for first-degree<01:26:41.239>
sex <01
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Prioritizing Public Safety / Proposed Civil Commitment Changes / Supporting Education Pension Reform Apr 13th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, it would create a task force on mandatory minimum sentences.
- Well, we haven't had a really comprehensive look at mandatory minimum sentences in Minnesota that I'm
- Um, and mandatory minimum sentences are one-size-fits-all sentences that judges are supposed to follow
- Um, and mandatory minimum<00:20:17.039>
sentences <00:20:17.520>are minimum sentences are - <00:21:17.520>
mandatory <00:21:18.080>minimums across the state. mandatory minimums