Transcript Highlights:

• But when the state attorney tried to prosecute, there was a loophole in the law.
• The state attorney tried to prosecute, there was a loophole in the law.
• And finally, Kate McFall from the Humane Society of the United States, also waving in support.
• It increases the prosecution of those that are trafficking individuals.
• Waving in support, we have United abolitionist Thomas Lairz.

Summary: The committee took up a full agenda of criminal justice and related bills, beginning with SB 1180 on AI-generated sexual images. Senator Gates explained the bill was prompted by an Escambia County case involving deepfake pornography created from images of teenage girls, and a student victim testified in support. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Members then approved SB 500, creating a Spectrum Alert system and related training for missing children with autism; SB 726, making swatting offenders liable for prosecution, investigation, and restitution costs; and SB 494, which would create a statewide animal abuse database, after extensive support testimony from shelters, law enforcement, and animal welfare advocates. SB 964, revising objective parole guidelines to account for rehabilitation and program participation, also passed after testimony from supporters of parole reform and compassionate release. The committee next approved SB 1344, a juvenile justice cleanup bill with a delete-all amendment that updated truancy, CINS, detention risk assessment, and other juvenile justice provisions. SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding and allowing impoundment of involved vehicles, was reported favorably after limited opposition and support from law enforcement-related groups. SB 1136, increasing penalties for offenses involving minors and clarifying that ignorance of a victim’s age is not a defense, also passed after testimony from law enforcement supporters and two speakers opposed. SB 1660, on prostitution, drew the most extensive public comment: the sponsor said it was intended to distinguish trafficking victims from willing participants and shift penalties toward buyers and facilitators, while survivors, prosecutors, and advocates debated whether the substitute amendment would improperly criminalize prostituted persons; the committee ultimately adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 1828, making trespass at large ticketed events and certain secured locations a felony, with discussion focused on crowd control and public safety at major events. SB 1386, increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers and adding propane workers through an amendment, passed with broad support. SB 612, closing a loophole so minors who distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl can be charged with murder in certain cases, was reported favorably after testimony from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and opposition from civil liberties groups. SB 814, which would allow firearms on college campuses and at school-sponsored events, drew strong opposition from students and faculty and was reported unfavorably. Finally, the committee began SB 1604 on corrections with a delete-all amendment that addressed filing deadlines for DOC-related claims, execution-method language, tracking devices, involuntary treatment, and parole-related statutory cleanup; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives us a very unique trail system throughout the United States. always a great trip for people live
• unique trail system throughout the<00:25:38.440> in<00:25:38.559> the<00:25:38.679> United
• No, I... to look at the border? That's right. Okay. Thank you, Mark.
• the how to prosecute that and we<01:40:33.880> need<01:40:34.040> to<01:40:34.199>
• Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, is in full support

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• >> Whereas every February, the United >> Whereas every February, the United States<00
• that chill trust in our prosecutions that chill trust in our judicial<00:50:17.680> system.
• And then we have the increase of potential ERPO violations and criminal prosecutions.
• There's like 1.6 firearms per person in the United States. They did that.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Vermont and the broader United in Vermont and the broader United States.<00:14:13.279> They
• Dresser as the prosecuting attorney, I was underwhelmed.
• Dresser as the prosecuting attorney, I was underwhelmed.
• Dresser as the prosecuting attorney, I was underwhelmed.
• Dresser as the prosecuting attorney, I was underwhelmed.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• these essential service closures: first our cardiac and pulmonary rehab, then our inpatient pediatric unit
• We just heard from Andrea Feely, whose daughter, Yuna, died last January when no EMS units were available
• Boston has one of the highest ratios of 20- to 34-year-olds among large cities in the United States.
• One in 26 people have epilepsy. 3,000 people will die in the United States of SUDEP.
• It won't cost the state anything and will simply avoid the state wasting time and energy prosecuting

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we have a fraud unit at the Department of Insurance, and I think they do a good job, but I think
• I think we have a fraud unit at the Department of Insurance, and I think they do a good job, but I think
• ask which issues in particular, but mentioning Financial Affairs Division, wildfire, and the fraud unit
• on top of some of the federal laws, as far as banking, as part of being X amount of miles from the border
• is something I'll never forget, because I've dealt with a lot of regulators, not just here in the United

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to put them not only on the border, Mr.
• Our goal is to work... from the border of the United States further south so that we can, again, identify
• cattle from bringing the fly across the border.
• move across the border.
• In the United States, you know, they had 200 million flies produced in our southern border back in the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 109 current reports reviewed, 15 were referred to prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General
• District contained a finding that was certified to the Governmental Bonding Board and referred to the prosecuting
• Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
• This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.
• Program expenditures included one international trip and several trips within the United States, as well

Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes and then adopted reports from its executive and standing committees. The Executive Committee reported on scheduled audits, denied a special report request concerning the I-owned fire department, approved questions to the Arkansas Department of Health about Title V sexual risk avoidance education funds, authorized the Office of Property Risk to hire a CPA for its annual audit, and asked staff to gather information on circuit judge caseload assignments in Benton County. The Counties and Municipalities Committee reported progress on delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of 19 entities after required reports were filed and 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities submitting reports. It also noted that Adona was now in substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, while officials from Denning and Gum Springs appeared regarding noncompliance. Of 109 current reports reviewed, 15 were referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General, two were certified to the Governmental Bonding Board, 94 were filed, and 15 were deferred. The Education Institutions Committee filed 31 audit reports, including one for Cedarville School District that was referred to the prosecuting attorney, Attorney General, and Governmental Bonding Board, and the State Agencies Committee filed 10 reports involving issues at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs. The committee also heard a Medicaid Subcommittee report that included presentations from DHS, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Office on their Medicaid-related roles. In special reports, Legislative Audit presented a review of Cleburne County’s library expenses, finding more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases lacking a documented business purpose, undocumented disbursements, and possible improper fuel expenses; the matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General. The committee also reviewed the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UALR, where auditors found scholarship awards to ineligible students, numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, and that the program had ceased in 2024 with remaining funds returned to the school districts. After discussion, the committee filed both special reports and adjourned, with the next meeting set for March 12-13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 109 current reports reviewed, 15 were referred to prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General
• District contained a finding that was certified to the Governmental Bonding Board and referred to the prosecuting
• Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
• This matter was referred to the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and the Attorney General.
• Program expenditures included one international trip and several trips within the United States, as well

Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes. It then received and adopted reports from the Executive Committee, the Standing Committee on Counties and Municipalities, the Standing Committee on Education Institutions, the Standing Committee on State Agencies, and the Medicaid Subcommittee. Those reports covered audit follow-up items, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, state agency audit findings, and a Medicaid oversight presentation. Several reports were filed after discussion, and in multiple cases agencies or local officials were present to answer questions about repeat findings or compliance concerns. Among the notable audit matters, the committee reviewed a Cleburne County library audit that found more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases that appeared personal in nature and improper fuel expenses. The library director had been placed on leave, later charged with felony theft of property and abuse of office, and the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General. The committee also heard a special report on the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which found scholarship ineligibility issues and numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, while noting that the program had ended in 2024 and remaining funds were returned to the school districts. During the state agency report, Legislative Audit described findings at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs, including improper benefit payments, a cashed warrant by someone other than the intended payee, missing receipts, unauthorized fuel card purchases, and payroll and overtime issues. The committee filed that report after agency representatives responded to questions. The meeting ended with the filing of the Cleburne County and Donaldson Scholars Academy reports, and the next committee meeting was announced for March 12-13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• They added definitions to a new user and a previous unit user.
• a new user uh and a previous unit user. a new user uh and a previous unit user.
• <00:33:46.480> the being done to criminally prosecute the being done to criminally prosecute
• That's the Monell unit >> Yeah.
• They picked up the unit Patrick draw.

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many government agencies, public defenders, prosecution offices, and courts typically offer summer or
• But again, prosecution was at the top of the heap. And then you'll see Who stayed in Washington.
• But again, prosecution was at the top of the heap.
• Nobody goes into prosecution to get rich.
• Nobody goes into prosecution to get rich. However, it can't be ignored.

Summary: The work session began with a discussion of expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to shortages of lawyers in rural Washington and in public service roles. Washington State Bar Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a slowly growing but aging attorney population, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts such as supervised practice pathways to bar admission, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expanded law clerk capacity, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program allowing innovative legal service delivery models. Members asked about bar passage score changes, loan repayment assistance, and the former Limited License Legal Technician program; Nevitt said the bar is monitoring other states and remains in dialogue with the court about paraprofessional licensing. Law school representatives from UW, Seattle University, and Gonzaga emphasized public service pipelines, financial barriers, and rural legal deserts, citing LRAPs, scholarships, stipends, clinics, and hybrid or regional programs designed to recruit and retain students in Washington. Seattle U highlighted its FlexJD and hybrid hub partnerships in underserved areas, while Gonzaga and UW reported substantial shares of graduates entering public service, though most still cluster in urban regions. The committee also heard from the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense, both of which described severe recruitment and retention problems in rural counties, with vacancies, low applicant pools, and the need for higher salaries, housing help, internships, and loan support. The Office of Public Defense said its internship and fellowship program, created by SB 5780, has already placed interns in rural counties and produced some commitments to return after graduation. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also presented as a pathway that helps people train locally and remain in their communities, including by supporting succession for aging solo practitioners. The committee then shifted to family law and guardianship issues. On Title 26 guardian ad litem practice, presenters from Northwest Justice Project and private family law practice said GALs can play an important role but that training, oversight, and consistency remain major concerns, especially in domestic violence cases. They described problems such as inadequate training, bias, inconsistent recommendations, high fees, and lack of accountability, and suggested stronger, standardized training, more use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations, and better oversight mechanisms. Members asked about county practices, including rotation systems for GAL appointments and whether King County’s family court assessors provide a useful model. The discussion then moved to minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act. A Superior Court judge said the 2021 changes increased the need for court visitors and appointed counsel, but courts are struggling to find qualified attorneys and visitors, especially in rural areas. A former commissioner said most of the bill under discussion was technical cleanup to align prior amendments, though it would add some fiscal burdens. Administrative Office of the Courts staff reported that the statewide reimbursement program for UGA implementation has repeatedly run out of money earlier each year, with minor guardianship costs making up most of the expense. The Office of Public Guardianship then described rapid growth in demand for adult guardianship and less restrictive alternatives, noting that referrals and caseloads have risen sharply, but that the office is constrained by a shortage of certified professional guardians and low compensation levels. Finally, the committee began an update on Blake implementation from the Office of Civil Legal Aid, which funds civil legal services related to the decision, before the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to put them not only on the border, Mr.
• Um, the, the border has been closed.
• They developed strike teams, uh, one for the Southeast United States, one for the Southwest United States
• And our goal is to work, you know, from, from the, from the border of the United States further south
• The boxes and it's close enough to the border, uh, both north and northern and southern, uh, border here

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorneys Association, which includes all of the prosecuting attorneys around the state, plus the two
• Prosecuting Attorneys Association, which Prosecuting Attorneys Association, which includes<00:15:07.440
• includes all of the uh prosecuting includes all of the uh prosecuting attorneys<00:15:11.199>
• <01:04:28.400> States in the United States in the United States as<01:04:31.039> a<
• The Wyoming Association of County and Prosecuting Attorneys does support this bill.

Bills: SF0071, SF0088, SF0056

Keywords: homeland security, search and rescue, grants, emergency response, Wyoming, sex offender, child care facility, residency restrictions, public safety, criminal law, sex offenders, child care facilities, legislation, kratom, regulation, healthcare, age restrictions, manufacturing standards, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Border Authority.
• The border highway connector will be your version of that border.
• States, both south border and north border.
• the United States.
• It may sound funny, but we've stopped seeing borders. We don't see the border of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the law enforcement unit referenced in the bill.
• And we to fund the law enforcement unit.
• Um, there is a fraud unit within the BCA.
• Um, there is a fraud unit within the BCA.
• > local<00:35:44.560> government unit of state or local government unit of state or local

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First thing would be to build law enforcement and prosecution capacity.
• We've listed there the housing units that they've been done in.
• In some of the units, the assaults have risen a little bit, and in some of the units they've gone down
• In the Bear unit, we are actively using direct supervision. We have altered.
• It does have the most, and so between there's four Bear units.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a major in the United States—well, he's a colonel now.
• They are prosecuted primarily by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
• They are also prosecuted by local law enforcement.
• However, FFLs have typically avoided prosecution.
• And I think we can unite in that.

Bills: SB4, SB7, SB9, SB17

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, medical education, salaries, graduate education, clinician pay, health sciences, education funding, faculty salary, University of New Mexico, healthcare funding, general fund, state budget, New Mexico legislation, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, 996

Transcript Highlights:

• The one unit that we have trouble with in recruiting and retention is the F-16 unit down in Tucson.
• We've had missions on the border.
• They go down to the border.
• ’re one of the folks in that unit.
• , honestly, across our northern border as well, quite a few CCP folks come through the northern border

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who were had a passion for prosecution who were had a passion for prosecution and<00:10:36.160><
• That is an air the Libert units.
• This is not a typical air conditioning unit.
• So this unit is critical to the operation and the function of the treasury.
• So this unit is critical to the operation and the function of the treasury.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth’s Attorneys, County Attorneys, Prosecutor’s Advisory Council 00:00:18 Approval of Minutes 00:20:09 State Treasurer 00:20:33, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from representatives of the Prosecutor’s Advisory Council, including county and commonwealth attorneys, on their proposed budget. They described the scope of their work in district and circuit court, juvenile and dependency cases, specialty courts, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, and the Rocket Docket program. The witnesses emphasized that their budgets are overwhelmingly personnel costs and warned that proposed cuts could lead to layoffs, reduced retention, and loss of recently added positions. They also said the General Assembly’s recent salary classification plan had improved recruitment and retention, and that underfunding could reverse those gains. A major topic was the Rocket Docket program, which they said speeds lower-level cases through the system, reduces jail costs, and saves money for both counties and the state. They reported that in one circuit, average jail time for certain cases dropped from about 50 days to about 6 days. They also raised concerns that the Rocket Docket line item may not be clearly included in the committee substitute and asked for clarification on how the budget would treat it. In response, the chair said the intent was to move some of those items into the base budget, though the exact structure was still uncertain. The presenters also discussed a 2022 subsidy for county attorney employees tied to retirement contributions, saying it totals about $1.3 million and should not be reduced because the obligation remains. They said the budget would need to support the salary classification plan extensions, House Bill 8 subsidies, and a new case management system that they described as essential to modernizing operations and improving communication with victims and law enforcement. The chair thanked them for the testimony and indicated the committee would continue reviewing the budget. The committee then heard from Deputy State Treasurer Russell Weber, who reported that the treasury has now returned more than $90 million in unclaimed property to Kentuckians. He said the office faces ongoing fraud issues and requested funding for a dedicated legal counsel and a fraud investigator, along with outreach money to educate the public about unclaimed property. He also outlined several capital requests, including the final year of a printer-system lease and replacement of HVAC equipment in the treasury building. Members briefly joked with him about a mineral-rights bill and coal, but no votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, an air conditioning unit: we can enter the air conditioning unit, the serial number, the
• for prosecution for aggravated theft<00:38:48.720> by<00:38:48.960> deception.
• prosecution possible. prosecution possible.
• So they should be prosecuted.
• So they should be prosecuted. prosecuted. prosecuted.

Keywords: 924, joint, all