Video & Transcript Research : 'felony speeding'
Page 81 of 300
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill adds felony convictions to disqualify applicants, and those are outlined on page 4, section
- may have heard in the news recently, there is a couple in Farmington charged with, uh, 14 counts of felony
- I'll tell you right off that it will, uh, violate the felony Extreme Animal cruelty to Animals Law, NMSA
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Families & Children (3-13-25) - Upon Recess
Transcript Highlights:
- the event<00:08:45.040>
of <00:08:45.519>a <00:08:46.519>um <00:08:47.040>felony - <00:08:47.519>
charge <00:08:48.360>um <00:08:49.320>would event of a um felony - charge um would event of a um felony charge um would those<00:08:49.880>
records <00:08:50.519
Keywords:
This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 1:00PM est.
Roll Call - 00:03
Discussion on HB 508 – 00:34
Vote on HB 508 – 03:52
Discussion on 805 – 05:00
Vote on HB 805 -09:38, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first adopted a Senate committee substitute covering House Bills 718 and 194, then heard testimony on House Bill 508, House Bill 805, and the committee substitute for Senate Bill 111. HB 508 would let applicants for the Kentucky Employee Child Care Assistance Program view and download the required agreement and submit it by mail, email, or online, codifying a change the Cabinet for Health and Family Services had already agreed to make. The child-protection portion of the committee substitute would require animal control officers to receive training to identify child abuse and neglect, with the sponsor saying the training materials would be provided at no cost to local governments.
For HB 805, the sponsor said the committee substitute mainly cleans up last year’s juvenile justice legislation, including changing “plaintiff” to “victim,” narrowing language on confidentiality of juvenile records when information is disclosed in a civil suit, and changing a status offender provision from mandatory to discretionary charging for escape when absent without leave from a DJJ facility. The bill also incorporates “Baby Maya’s Bill,” requiring the Cabinet to physically locate a child within a set time and, in certain cases involving prior removals, contact law enforcement if the child cannot be found. A committee member asked whether the changes would affect public access to records for juveniles transferred to circuit court on felony charges, and the sponsor said they would not.
The committee then voted on HB 805 as amended by the committee substitute and passed it 7-0 with favorable expression. A title amendment was also adopted. After brief thanks and comments from members, the committee adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Press Conference: Media Availability on Floor Session Motion to Expel Senator Nicole Mitchell Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- lockstep vote to keep Senator Mitchell here serving in the Senate, even though she's facing very serious felony
- lockstep vote to keep Senator Mitchell here serving in the Senate, even though she's facing very serious felony
- lockstep vote to keep Senator Mitchell here serving in the Senate, even though she's facing very serious felony
Summary:
The meeting centered on a motion to expel Senator Nicole Mitchell from the Minnesota Senate while her criminal case remains pending. Republican speakers argued that Mitchell’s trial delays and continued service were undermining the Senate’s integrity, distracting from legislative work, and denying her constituents full representation because she is not serving on committees or participating in caucus. They said the motion was intended to uphold accountability, justice for the alleged victim, and the institution’s standards of conduct.
DFL leaders and other defenders of Mitchell argued that she has not been convicted, is entitled to due process, and remains the duly elected representative of Senate District 47. They said Senate rules, Mason’s Rules, and custom require ethics proceedings to be completed before expulsion, and that the Senate should not act on her criminal case. They also emphasized that the Senate’s priority should be passing a budget and continuing to work under the chamber’s power-sharing agreement.
The expulsion effort did not succeed. After debate and a procedural vote, Senate Democrats voted to keep Mitchell in the Senate, and leaders said the matter would remain unresolved until her court and ethics proceedings move forward. Republicans indicated they may continue to raise the issue, while DFL leaders said they would focus on governing and expected the chamber to reorganize if control changes after the upcoming election.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-15 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:01:56.200>
While While felony animal cruelty is typically punishable by up to 5 years - I personally feel it should be a felony, but we may have to deal with that next year.
- we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.
- we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.
- Same offenses we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- And this bill, when you make it a felony, it's an arrestable offense.
- the penalties for assault and battery committed against health care workers from a misdemeanor to a felony
- It lists greater than 1,600 felonies, which include assault and battery on a pregnant person, assault
- and battery in order to collect a loan, and a felony to engage in cruelty to animals.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard testimony on several bills, beginning with a major workplace violence proposal for health care settings. Senator Lovely, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and SEIU 1199 all supported legislation requiring hospitals and other health care employers to conduct facility-specific risk assessments, develop violence prevention plans, train workers, and provide reporting and protections for assaulted employees. Witnesses described workplace assaults as frequent and escalating, and committee members discussed balancing worker safety with concerns about criminalizing mental illness; testimony emphasized that the bill targets intentional assaults while preserving treatment and discretion for behavioral health crises.
The committee also heard strong support for bills to strengthen traffic safety, including primary seat belt enforcement, rear-facing car seat requirements, and seat belts on school buses. AAA Northeast, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, law enforcement, legislators, and the Massachusetts Insurance Federation all backed the measures, citing crash data, injury prevention, and personal stories of traumatic brain injury. Senator O’Connor testified for school bus seat belts, saying Massachusetts should join other states requiring them, and later Sophia Furzada of the National Transportation Safety Board urged passage of school bus seat belt and child passenger safety bills, saying lap-shoulder belts would reduce injuries and save lives in crashes where compartmentalization is not enough.
Other testimony included support for a bill to make 9-1-1 disability indicator forms more accessible and inclusive, with the witness arguing the form should better reflect mental health, developmental disabilities, language access needs, and a fifth-grade reading level. The committee also heard opposition to a proposal to extend Christian’s Law to swimming pools, with a parks and recreation director warning of unintended consequences for municipal camps and underserved communities. Finally, the committee took testimony on a bill to expand the Forensic Science Oversight Board to include workforce representation, which MOSES said would restore technical expertise to the board. At the end of the hearing, the committee adjourned without taking votes on the bills discussed.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
PSM DEFER, PSM Public Hearings 03-20-2026
Public Safety and Military Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, this measure authorizes civil asset forfeiture related to fireworks offenses that constitute felonies
- Uh, this measure authorizes civil asset forfeiture related to fireworks offenses that constitute felonies
- If not, members, we will recess and take a brief... felonies. They amend it amends the felonies.
Summary:
The Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up several measures, beginning with House Bill 2413 on pre-trial reform, which had been deferred from a prior agenda. The chair said the committee would incorporate judiciary recommendations and other technical, non-substantive amendments to continue discussion, and the measure was adopted with amendments by a 2-1 vote, with one member excused.
The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2062, which appropriates funds for gun violence prevention efforts, including processing temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders and funding public awareness campaigns. Supporters, including county, advocacy, law enforcement, and student witnesses, said the bill would improve implementation of an existing law, save lives, and reduce suicides and violence. Opponents argued red flag laws can be abused, raise due process concerns, and may create dangerous enforcement situations. Written testimony was reported as 60 in support, 47 in opposition, and one comment. The committee later passed HB 2062 with amendments, including a corrected effective date, by a 3-1 vote with one member excused.
The committee also considered House Bill 1957 on safe entryways, which would establish enforcement procedures in larger cities to prevent blocking of private doorways and entrances. Written testimony included support and opposition, but no oral testimony was offered, and the bill was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. House Bill 253 on fireworks, which expands civil asset forfeiture for felony fireworks offenses and clarifies air-delivery provisions, was also passed with an amended effective date. House Bill 2581 on emergency management, which would narrow the definitions of disasters and emergencies, drew testimony both supporting the bill as a check on emergency powers and opposing it as incomplete or too broad in its current form; decision-making on that measure was deferred to the committee’s March 23 meeting. House Bill 2498 on a care home resilience pilot program was also deferred to March 23 after no testimony was offered.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Judiciary committee approves restorative justice confidentiality bill, HF104 3/18/25
Transcript Highlights:
- variety of case types in a variety of jurisdictions, ranging from petty offenses to serious violent felonies
- 00:05:01.880>
violent Petty offenses to Serious violent Petty offenses to Serious violent felonies of <00:05:03.680>the <00:05:03.840>fundamental <00:05:04.400>tenets felonies- one of the fundamental tenets felonies one of the fundamental tenets of<00:05:05.160>
restorative
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I also have the benefit of being a county court judge serving as a felony drug court judge.
- I hire others who have a felony charge. So there is a ripple effect of doing good.
- actually want treatment after one year being in the program, they will graduate successfully and the felony
- That's why we call it the court of second chances, because when you have a felony on your record, you
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and heard several Office of the State Courts Administrator presentations. Judge Mark Mahan discussed the impact of 2023’s HB 837 litigation reforms on court operations, explaining that the law’s changes to comparative negligence, filing deadlines, collateral source evidence, premises liability, bad faith claims, attorney’s fees, and offer-of-judgment rules triggered a major March 2023 civil filing surge. He described how filings tripled statewide, with especially large increases in auto negligence and premises liability cases, and outlined how circuits responded through active case management, added resources, and workflow changes. Members asked whether the bill’s immediate effective date contributed to the surge and whether clearance rates would normalize over time; Judge Mahan said the court system viewed its response as a success and expected rates to settle as the backlog is worked through.
The committee then received a presentation on problem-solving courts from Jennifer Grandal and Judge Nina Richardson. Grandal reviewed Florida’s drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, dependency and early childhood courts, noting statewide best-practice standards, annual reporting requirements, funding sources, and data collection systems. Judge Richardson gave a local perspective on treatment courts, emphasizing that they address underlying mental health and substance use issues, rely on judicial supervision and sanctions as well as incentives, and help participants achieve recovery and avoid reoffending. She said the programs are accountable, transparent, and effective, and thanked the Legislature for continued support.
Finally, Judge Rachel Nordby and Eric McClure outlined the judicial branch’s legislative agenda. Nordby summarized the Supreme Court workgroup’s recommendations to expand Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including broader coverage, fewer qualifying adverse cases, a longer lookback period, and a public records exemption for stricken defamatory or sham material. McClure then highlighted additional agenda items: modernizing the duty-judge statute, expanding senior management retirement eligibility, authorizing additional judgeships based on workload studies, removing the statutory cap on court-ordered nonbinding arbitration compensation, protecting appellate clerks’ personal information, allowing alternative authentication for certain judicial notarizations, and creating a hearsay exception for guardian ad litem reports and testimony. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after member introductions and staff introductions.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (01/20/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't like the idea of a felony as a penalty. I think the misdemeanor is harsh enough.
- I don't like the idea of a felony as a penalty. I think the misdemeanor is harsh enough.
- I don't like the idea of a felony as a penalty. I think the misdemeanor is harsh enough.
- I don't like the idea of a felony as a penalty. I think the misdemeanor is harsh enough.
- I don't like the idea of a felony as a penalty. I think the misdemeanor is harsh enough.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives May 20th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 1259, Representative Behan, provides relative to wearing masks while committing felonies,
- The Senate floor amendments insert the word felony twice, before crime of violence and before sex offense
- The Senate floor amendments insert the word felony twice, before crime of violence and before sex offense
- On page 1, line 12, insert the word felony before crime of violence.
- And amendment number 2, on page 1, line 13, insert the word felony before sex offense.
Bills:
HR308, HR309, HR310, HR311, HR312, HR313, HR314, HR315, HR316, HR317, HR318, HR319, HR295, HR296, HR297, HR298, HR299, HR300, HR301, HR302, HR303, HR304, HR305, HR306, HR307, HCR115, HCR116, HCR117, SCR71, SCR72, SCR73, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR273, HR276, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR113, HCR114, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, HB255, HB378, HB509, HB1090, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB295, SB433, HR179, HR223, HR225, HR274, HCR89, HR252, HR253, HCR96, HCR103, HCR108, HCR26, HB250, HB265, HB339, HB427, HB445, HB463, HB468, HB606, HB639, HB649, HB665, HB746, HB781, HB853, HB861, HB872, HB886, HB916, HB937, HB1054, HB1068, HB1117, HB1237, HB74, HB108, HB956, HB1085, HB1137, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB1199, SB268, SB283, HB782, SB149, HR84, HB646, HB998, SB56, SB163, SB197, SB97, SB326, SB341, SB518, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, HB901, HR20, HR74, HR168, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, HB134, HB258, HB359, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB379, SB382, SB441, SB449
Keywords:
HR 308, House Resolution 308, Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Church, Holy See, Vatican, commendation, resolution, Louisiana Catholic heritage, St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, South Louisiana parishes, religious recognition, ceremonial resolution, faith leadership, pontificate, spiritual solidarity, human dignity, peace, mercy
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- appreciate the effort to try to crack down on squatting, I do think that elevating a scam lease to a felony
- noted with those other instruments, they just don't comport and they don't rise to the level of a felony
- of<00:18:32.240>
a they don't rise to the level of a they don't rise to the level of a felony - <00:18:33.600>
President, <00:18:34.080>I felony. So, Mr. Mr. - President, I felony. So, Mr. Mr.
Summary:
The Maryland Senate convened with an invocation by Rabbi David Hland, followed by a series of introductions and recognitions for visiting groups and guests, including Delta Sigma Theta members for Delta Day in Annapolis, Towson High School students, the Maryland Pharmacy Coalition, interns, and other visitors. The Senate adopted a resolution honoring Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Maryland chapters for service, scholarship, sisterhood, and social action, and also journalized the rabbi’s invocation. Several committee and delegation announcements were made, including upcoming bill hearings and voting sessions.
On legislation, the chamber handled a number of special-order and third-reading bills. Senate Bill 56 and Senate Bill 99 were both delayed for further amendment work, with SB 99 ultimately amended and ordered printed for third reading. The Senate also received and referred a bond initiative and heard an executive nominations report, with the nominations set for consideration in open session at a later time. During third reading, the Senate passed numerous bills, including measures on mail and service animal program disqualifications, police promotion pay restrictions, counterfeit lease penalties, Motor Vehicle Administration identification card requirements, environmental health specialist board sunset extension, used vehicle bill of sale requirements, collective bargaining for ATC cannabis police officers, transfer-on-death designations for vehicles and vessels, heavy-weight port corridor permits, controllable electronic records, lead paint abatement bonding and insurance, civic excellence in public schools, child pornography penalties, cemetery sale/transfer requirements, tobacco licenses for electronic smoking devices, legal services board membership, Baltimore County Public Library supervisory bargaining, money transmitter definitions, scalp cooling insurance coverage, prosthesis and orthosis coverage, elevator inspection database access, tax increment financing in noncontiguous areas, professional liability disclosure for certain care facilities and midwives, immunity for donation of pet supplies, massage therapy board revisions, and others.
One bill drew floor debate: Senate Bill 82, which would increase penalties for counterfeit lease of real property, was opposed by a senator who argued it would disproportionately impact renters and conflict with justice reform goals. Despite that objection, the bill passed. The Senate also changed one recorded vote on Senate Bill 252 from red to green by unanimous consent. Overall, the session was marked by routine passage of a large slate of bills, a few postponements for amendment negotiation, and several ceremonial recognitions and announcements.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Those crimes include things like homicide, first- and second-degree assault, felony domestic violence
- c> homicide first first and secondary homicide first first and secondary assault<01:08:00.480>
felony - ><01:08:00.960>
domestic <01:08:01.480>violence <01:08:01.839>sexual assault felony - domestic violence sexual assault felony domestic violence sexual assault<01:08:02.480>
kidnapping - , felony stalking, human trafficking, armed robbery, and sexual child abuse image offenses.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Staff had outstanding felony warrants against them.
- Staff had outstanding felony warrants against them and were carrying guns in the vehicles that my son
- Staff had outstanding felony warrants against them.
- He's going to be released on Thursday after his felony was reduced to a misdemeanor because they didn't
- He's going to be released on Thursday after his felony was reduced to a misdemeanor because they didn't
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- But primarily what needs to be acknowledged is that trials, violent felonies, and specialty courts What
- needs to be acknowledged is that trials, violent felonies, and specialty courts actually take the most
- problem that's going to be with us forever, and I think it's important that we do get everyone up to speed
Bills:
HCR11, HB153, HB278, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB687, HB816, HB833, HB942, HB1053, HB1097, HB1147, HB1148, HB1190, SB75, SB85, SB197, SB200, SB217
Keywords:
Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service
Summary:
The committee first adopted a three-minute rule for the rest of the meeting by a 9-3 vote. It then took up SB 217, which would reorganize Orleans Parish courts by reducing judgeships in criminal, juvenile, traffic, and municipal courts and, through an adopted amendment, creating one civil district court with 13 judges and allowing hearing officers. Senator Morris argued the changes were based on caseload comparisons and population data; opponents from the Urban League and ACLU said the bill was driven by power rather than efficiency, relied on incomplete or inconsistent data, would strain the courts, and would reduce minority representation on the bench. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended by an 11-4 vote.
The committee next considered SB 197, which would reduce the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal by two. Senator Morris again cited filings and caseload comparisons, while opponents argued the bill ignored the intensity and complexity of appellate work, could increase backlog and costs, and would disproportionately affect Black women judges. The bill was reported favorably by an 11-4 vote. The committee also adopted HCR 11, expressing support for the Louisiana National Guard at Camp Beauregard and the Youth Challenge Program, and reported favorably SB 85, creating an insurance fund for retired St. Charles Parish sheriff’s employees.
Several other measures were advanced with little or no opposition. HB 833 created the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force and was amended to add representatives from the coroners’ association, a survivor appointed by STAR, and a licensed clinical social worker; it was reported favorably. HB 816, with a technical correction, prohibited foreign adversaries from acquiring property near military installations and was reported favorably. HB 1053, dealing with definitions for dealers and retail dealers and allowing certain businesses to serve complimentary alcoholic beverages under agreed-upon floor amendments, was reported favorably. HB 153, as amended, removed the Office of Debt Recovery from the bill and limited it to prohibiting reporting certain criminal fines and fees to credit bureaus; it was reported favorably. SB 75, on cybersecurity reimbursement and baseline standards for local governments after cyber incidents, was reported favorably after testimony from GOSEP and others. SB 200, allowing expropriation of land near military bases owned by foreign adversaries when a court finds a threat to public health and safety, was also reported favorably after extensive testimony and discussion. Finally, HB 454, the Gracie Claire Rushing Act on chain of custody for human remains and internal organs, was converted into a substitute bill, adopted, and then introduced for further discussion, with the sponsor describing it as a transparency and accountability measure for grieving families.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- want to make sure that we do have the person that was cited prior and is now being cited for this felony
- want to make sure that we do have the person that was cited prior and is now being cited for this felony
- matter they see that this person has prior property offenses and should have been charged with a felony
- Prior property offenses and should have been charged with a felony instead for habitual property crime
- for a defense to be treated as a felony. for a defense to be treated as a felony.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared.
On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered.
The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system.
Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
HSH Public Hearing - Tue Mar 11, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Human Services & Homelessness
Transcript Highlights:
- torture and makes it a class A felony. torture and makes it a class A felony.
- <00:09:38.240>
domestic the prosecutor's felony domestic the prosecutor's felony domestic - Indeterminate jail terms are those usually for felony offenses.
- Indeterminate jail terms are those usually for felony offenses.
- Indeterminate jail terms are those usually for felony offenses.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on SB 281 SD1, which would define and prohibit torture as a Class A felony. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, HPD investigators, and other supporters said the bill is needed because existing laws do not adequately capture torture, especially cases involving children and vulnerable persons. Several testifiers emphasized that starvation is a common method of torture that often leaves little visible evidence, and they urged the committee to restore the original starvation language removed from the measure. The Office of the Public Defender said it did not oppose the bill’s purpose but raised concerns that the language was too broad and could create trial issues, particularly around minors and vulnerable people, and suggested narrowing amendments. The chair indicated the testimony had made a strong impression and said the committee would try to move the bill forward.
The committee then heard SB 292 SD1, relating to sexual exploitation and safe harbor protections for survivors seeking medical or law enforcement help. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the measure, noting that a prior version raised equal protection concerns that were no longer present, and said survivors should be able to seek help without fear of prosecution. Written support was also noted from several advocacy and state groups. Testimony in support focused on retaliation fears, trafficking, and the need for manpower and resources to address exploitation and related crimes.
Finally, the committee took up SB 295 SD1, which would increase penalties for violating temporary restraining orders and orders for protection and treat a violation of one as a second offense for the other. The Public Defender’s Office objected to the mandatory jail component, arguing judges should retain discretion and that there was no clear evidence mandatory jail deters violations. The transcript cuts off before any final committee action or vote on SB 295 was recorded.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- theft, it's bifurcated by dollar amount in statute, separating misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony
- 21:16.720>
gross <00:21:17.080>misdemeanor <00:21:17.799>and <00:21:18.440>felony - misdemeanor gross misdemeanor and felony misdemeanor gross misdemeanor and felony by<00:21:19.679
- another committee that would recognize another committee that would recognize the<00:21:39.080>
felony - dollar amount some of these the felony dollar amount some of these dollar<00:21:42.240>
amounts
NH
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- already had individuals who've applied for licenses, for example, who have gun crime convictions and felony
- <00:13:35.639>
gun <00:13:35.920>crimes <00:13:36.440>like <00:13:36.600>felonies - <00:13:37.440>
like like gun crimes like felonies like like gun crimes like felonies like - 15:30.360>
different <00:15:30.639>classes <00:15:31.279>of <00:15:31.480>felony - and over 70 different classes of felony and over 70 different classes of felony convictions<00:15
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Suspend rules to take up HF16 3/16/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- brutally murdered and beheaded by a Cuban illegal immigrant with multiple convictions and awaiting felony
- with multiple convictions<00:20:05.520>
and <00:20:05.679>awaiting <00:20:06.559>felony - convictions and awaiting felony convictions and awaiting felony conviction<00:20:08.400>
in