Video & Transcript : 'capital felonies' :
Page 87 of 500
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses and prior domestic violence convictions, makes it a felony
- This bill allows chief judges to assign capital cases to regional counsel offices outside of a regional
- This bill allows chief judges to assign capital cases to regional counsel offices outside of a regional
- Child sexual abuse material offenses are reclassified to higher felony levels to ensure offenders face
- Child sexual abuse material offenses are reclassified to higher felony levels to ensure offenders face
Summary:
The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognitions, including the doctor of the day and a lighthearted “Cannoli Day” introduction. The chamber then held an extended farewell celebration for Senator Joe Gruters, with numerous senators, colleagues, and family members praising his loyalty, political skill, family focus, and service in the Legislature and Republican Party. Gruters was presented with a commemorative gift recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety and immigration bill that prohibited sanctuary cities and required local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Senate adopted a motion to spread Gruters’s remarks upon the journal and then recessed briefly.
After recess, the Senate returned to regular business and took up third-reading bills. Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 354, relating to blue ribbon projects, was temporarily postponed. The chamber then considered Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1758, relating to public assistance, with Senator Gates explaining that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system discussed earlier in session.
During debate on SB 1758, Senator Berman opposed the bill, saying he could not support it in its current form because he believed the Medicaid-related provisions would create a coverage cliff after the one-year transition period and could leave people without care while increasing costs to hospitals and taxpayers. He also said SNAP error reduction should be a priority, but argued the state should focus on fixing administrative errors and fraud rather than imposing a work requirement whose costs and effects were uncertain.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses and prior domestic violence convictions, makes it a felony
- This bill allows chief judges to assign capital cases... Thank you, Mr. President.
- This bill allows chief judges to assign capital cases to regional counsel offices that are outside of
- Child sexual abuse material offenses are reclassified to higher felony levels to ensure offenders face
- Child sexual abuse material offenses are reclassified to higher felony levels to ensure offenders face
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 31 (2-20-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- offenses, with the exception of election fraud, violent felony offenses, felony sexual offenses, and
- offenses, with the exception of election fraud, violent felony offenses, felony sexual offenses, and
- offenses, with the exception of election fraud, violent felony offenses, felony sexual offenses, and
- offenses, with the exception of election fraud, violent felony offenses, felony sexual offenses, and
- </c><01:14:47.679><c> offenses,</c><01:14:49.040><c> felony</c> fraud, violent felony offenses, felony
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Management Aug 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- don't want to get a 16- or 17-year-old or an 18-year-old, 19-year-old specifically charged with a felony
- second offense would be a Class A misdemeanor, and then the third or subsequent would be Class C felony
- Oversight for the construction management is with the North Dakota Capital Grounds Planning Commission
- And the North Dakota Capital Grounds Planning Commission includes four legislators, two in the Senate
- Some communities are eager to realize potential job creation, capital investment, and tax benefits.
Summary:
The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings and then filled a vacancy on Legislative Management by appointing Senator Braunberger after a caucus recommendation. Members then took up an unusual appeal from the North Dakota Gaming Commission after the Administrative Rules Committee voided a rule that would have raised the poker tournament entry fee from $300 to $1,500. Legislative Council explained the administrative rules process and the grounds for voiding a rule, while Gaming Commission representatives argued the commission had statutory authority and that the issue should be left to the full Legislature. Several members raised concerns about legislative intent, precedent, and whether the matter should wait for the regular session. On a motion to disapprove the Administrative Rules Committee’s finding and restore the rule, the committee voted no, so the voiding of the rule remained in place.
The committee then reviewed the fiscal impact statement for Constitutional Measure No. 1 on congressional age limits. Staff reported no current fiscal impact because no litigation had been filed, though members noted the possibility of future legal challenges if the measure were enforced. After that, the committee began hearing proposed bills for the upcoming special session, starting with several kratom-related measures. Representative Wolff withdrew her bill, saying it was redundant, while Representative Heinert presented a bill to legalize and regulate natural kratom for adults 21 and over under the Attorney General, with licensing, labeling, penalties, and a public health campaign. Senator Axtman presented a companion bill targeting synthetic kratom derivatives, placing them on the controlled substances list with penalties similar to marijuana. Legislative Council later outlined Representative Johnston’s separate kratom bill, which would regulate kratom under the Department of Agriculture with product registration, licensing, and enforcement provisions.
The committee also heard Senator Hogue’s bill to address funding for the State Historical Society’s military museum project. He argued the state was in breach of contract and that delaying action would increase costs, so his bill would authorize a $35 million line of credit to keep construction moving while fundraising continued. Members questioned the relationship between the proposed line of credit, existing SIF funding, and the private fundraising requirement, but no vote was taken before the meeting moved on. Finally, Representative Sue Ann Olson began presenting a bill requiring the Class D driver’s license test to be administered in English, arguing it was a safety measure because road signs are in English and law enforcement encounters can be complicated by language barriers. The transcript cuts off before her testimony concluded or any action was taken on that bill.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- There's, thank you, there's a question with regard to a felony.
- There's a question with regard to a felony as far as some pieces of this legislation.
- Well, I do see a felony offense, so I apologize.
- Is there a reason why we have a felony defined there and in the latter part of the bill?
- So that's why that new felony is in there, right at another place in the bill.
Committee:
Senate Local and County Government
Summary:
The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard and advanced several House bills focused on local government bidding, audits, ordinance publication, and county fair boards. House Bill 3418, which updates the Public Competitive Bidding Act for public construction projects and school district contracts, was amended to clarify that public agencies may still conduct preliminary procurement activities such as market research and vendor outreach; it then passed 9-0. House Bill 3463, requested by the state auditor, changes audit requirements for small municipalities under 2,500 people by moving from a biannual to an annual financial statement audit or agreed-upon procedures engagement and shortening the filing deadline; it passed 9-0. House Bill 3002 extends the sunset on the Commission on County Government, Personnel, Education, and Training to 2031 and passed 8-0. House Bill 4303 extends the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 to 30 days and passed 8-0. House Bill 3919 would allow counties to replace the current nine-member Free Fair Association board with a five-member board elected from commissioner districts and at-large seats; it passed 8-0. House Bill 3416, also developed with the state auditor and other stakeholders, would let counties use quotes for certain smaller purchases instead of a full bidding process while keeping documentation and safeguards; it passed 7-1. House Bill 3417 would require cities and towns to follow the state competitive bidding laws and not bypass those standards through local rules; it passed 7-1.
House Bill 3985, the Safe Neighborhoods Act, drew the most debate. The bill would give property owners in municipalities over 130,000 population a narrow path to seek compensation if a city adopts a policy or practice of not enforcing certain public safety laws, including laws against illegal camping, loitering, panhandling, public intoxication, drug use, and shoplifting, and that inaction reduces property values or forces mitigation costs. Supporters said it is meant to encourage enforcement of existing laws and protect business and property owners, while opponents argued it could burden under-resourced cities, criminalize vulnerable people, and rely on a questionable population threshold. The bill passed 7-2 after debate. Throughout the meeting, members also raised questions about felony and misdemeanor provisions in HB 3418, the cost and practicality of live video bid openings, and the use of a repealed statute reference in HB 3417, with the author saying he would provide follow-up clarification before floor consideration.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Question 780 was to move some felonies to misdemeanors. 781 was to be a companion to 780 to take the
- And when you go to a felony, that's a whole another category, right?
- But is there any reason why you went to a felony because you say if there was a response from emergency
- So, I'm not exactly sure why they chose felony for that.
- I guess you're comfortable carrying it with the felony being attached.
Bills:
HB1002 , HB1250 , HB2710 , HB3008 , HB3045 , HB3086 , HB3595 , HB3678 , HB3695 , HB3831 , HB4107 , HB4408
Committee:
Senate Public Safety
Keywords:
stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1238 makes the crime of domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor a felony
- Is it a felony?
- We would be adding it to a Class B felony. With that, I would yield for questions and moved.
- Right now, it is existing as a misdemeanor, so it would elevate it to a felony.
- I think that needs to be elevated to felony. Senator Brooks, recognized for a follow-up.
Bills:
SB1450 , SB1458 , SB1232 , SB1238 , SB1325 , SB1209 , SB1362 , SB2072 , SB1451 , SB1540 , SB1581 , SB1535 , SB1266 , SB1927 , SB1460 , SB2084 , SB2182
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Keywords:
criminal court costs, court fees, fines, assessments, waiver, ability to pay, indigent defendants, post-release relief, probation compliance, parole, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, restitution, child support, municipal court, district court, criminal justice reform, court debt, legal financial obligations, fee waiver
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- husbandry of the majority of fanciers in the state because you haven't increased the penalty to a felony
- Many people who are involved in cockfighting should face felony charges instead of a misdemeanor.
- I think it should be a felony. I think that's the way to address, making sure that it's.
- It's hard to prove intent in court, especially to meet the threshold for a felony, for folks to be able
- I hear folks when they say they'd like a felony, because they think that that'll solve the problem.
Committee:
House Agriculture
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- of DJJ, violent felony arrests have gone up by over 69%.
- of DJJ, violent felony arrests have gone up by over 69%.
- Julie Mello with the Felony Murder Elimination Project in opposition.
- Julie Mello, Felony Murder Elimination Project, in support.
- Julie Mello with the Felony Murder Elimination Project in support.
Committee:
House Public Safety
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Community Safety Feb 3rd, 2026 at 04:00 pm
Community Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- First, it increases the CVPA from $500 to $1,000 in the case of a felony or gross misdemeanor, and from
- First, it increases the CVPA from $500 to $1,000 in the case of a felony or gross misdemeanor, and from
- $250 to $500, dollars. of a felony or gross misdemeanor.
- It specifies that assault of a person engaged in prostitution is a Class C felony, and it prohibits law
- It specifies that assault of a person engaged in prostitution is a Class C felony, and it prohibits law
Committee:
House Community Safety
Keywords:
domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, survivor protections, legal remedies, defendants, sexual exploitation, minors, child safety, law enforcement, victim support, criminal justice training commission, CJTC, law enforcement training, peace officer certification, decertification, corrections officer certification, tribal police certification, police accountability, police oversight
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And we have them come to the state capital and serve as interns, where they do an excellent job, a great
- House also added an amendment requiring that individuals a judge guilty of a first or second degree felony
- but they are the most serious and most heinous offenses that can happen to an individual: murder, capital
- but they are the most serious and most heinous offenses that can happen to an individual: murder, capital
Bills:
SJR5 , SJR27 , SB4 , SB6 , SB7 , SB9 , SB13 , SB15 , SB23 , SB27 , SB30 , SB40 , SB57 , SB66 , SB140 , SB268 , SB293 , SB331 , SB413 , SB437 , SB447 , SB457 , SB467 , SB506 , SB510 , SB512 , SB568 , SB571 , SB650 , SB710 , SB763 , SB785 , SB800 , SB850 , SB863 , SB865 , SB904 , SB905 , SB973 , SB974 , SB1191 , SB1281 , SB1300 , SB1362 , SB1494 , SB1504 , SB1522 , SB1540 , SB1567 , SB1579 , SB1580 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB1723 , SB1760 , SB1838 , SB1923 , SB1946 , SB1957 , SB1964 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2217 , SB2221 , SB2321 , SB2337 , SB2368 , SB2373 , SB2407 , SB2431 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2615 , SB2753 , SB2807 , SB2900 , SB2965 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB3039 , SB3047 , SB3059 , SB3070 , SB1 , SB8 , SB12 , SB13 , SB15 , SB17 , SB21 , SB30 , SB37 , SB260 , SB268 , SB331 , SB379 , SB441 , SB447 , SB457 , SB509 , SB650 , SB763 , SB1198 , SB1405 , SB1506 , SB1566 , SB1610 , SB1637 , SB1660 , SB1833 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2155 , SB2217 , SB2308 , SB2337 , SB2601 , SB2753 , SB2778 , SB2878 , SB2900 , SB3059 , HB4 , HB145 , HB300 , HB493 , HB2011 , HB2067 , HB2516 , HB2525 , HB2885 , HB2974 , HB3071 , HB3372 , HB3595 , HB5138 , HB5246 , HB796 , HB1523 , HB5294 , HB748 , HB3395 , HB180 , HB3171 , HB4690 , HB146 , HB5596 , HB5694 , HB 1135 , HB3225 , HB186 , HB1449 , HB3793 , HB 112 , HB 104 , HB4233 , HB 1094 , HB3336 , HB3520 , HB3320 , HB5663 , HB2731 , HB2399 , HB 111 , HB3483 , HB4580 , HB3748 , HB632 , HB4730 , HB 127 , HB5690 , HB5689 , HB3385 , HB4359 , HB5381 , HB20 , HB 123 , HB549 , HB5606 , HB2594 , HB 1057 , HB3664 , HCR141 , HCR40 , HCR59 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2683 , SB1319 , SB3045 , SB3071 , HB20 , HB 127 , HB549 , HB 1094 , HB2594 , HB2731 , HB4233 , HB4690 , SR625 , HCR167 , SJR5 , SB4 , SB6 , SB9 , SB23 , SB40 , SB13 , SB15 , SB30 , SB268 , SB331 , SB447 , SB457 , SB568 , SB650 , SB763 , SB1540 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2217 , SB2337 , SB2753 , SB2900 , SB2972 , SB3059 , HB4 , HB145 , HB493 , HB2067 , HB2516 , HB2885 , HB2974 , HB3071 , HB3372 , HB3556 , HB3595 , HB5138
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation by Senator West, approved the previous day’s journal, and then adopted several recognitions, including Senate Resolution 625 honoring the McLennan Community College Dance Team for winning two 2025 National Dance Alliance national titles. The chamber also recognized University of Texas Rio Grande Valley interns, the doctor of the day, and the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families. The governor’s withdrawal of a Texas Lottery Commission nomination was received and the nomination was returned, and the Senate appointed numerous conference committees on pending bills.
The body then took up and passed several measures, often by suspending the rules and the constitutional three-day rule. Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23 were concurred in House amendments as part of property tax relief, with supporters emphasizing homeowner savings. House Bill 20 creating the Applied Sciences Pathway Program passed after a floor amendment and was described as a way to expand career and technical education and help students earn industry certificates in high-demand trades. House Bill 2594 passed to expand venue options for prosecuting certain theft and cybercrime cases, and House Concurrent Resolution 167 was adopted to correct a typo in House Bill 1314.
The Senate also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, Senate Joint Resolution 5, and Senate Bill 6. SB 9 and SJR 5 were presented as major bail-reform measures, with supporters saying they would strengthen public safety, clarify appeal procedures, and give judges and prosecutors more tools in serious cases; the debate included questions about records, counsel, and the standards for denying bail. SB 40 dealt with nonprofit bail-bond funding, and SB 6 addressed electricity and data-center growth. The chamber also passed House Bill 423 on digital asset service provider reporting and auditing, with amendments adding protections for cryptocurrency kiosks and a technical correction.
Additional bills passed included House Bill 4690 on motor fuel standards, House Bill 1094 on transportation protection agreements, Committee Substitute for House Bill 2731 on roadside vendors and solicitors in certain border counties, Committee Substitute for House Bill 127 on protecting higher education from foreign adversaries and trade secret theft, and House Bill 549 on airway clearance devices at public school campuses. The Senate granted or requested conference committees on a long list of other measures, including HB 4, HB 145, HB 493, HB 2974, HB 3071, HB 3372, HB 3556, and multiple Senate bills. The session ended with adjournment until the following Friday morning.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 2 - 42nd Legislative Day- REASSEMBLE Part 1 Jun 30th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Delaware House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So what it does is it changes the blanket disqualifier from any felony to a violent felony.
- A bond and capital improvements act of the State of Delaware, and certain of its authorities for the
- The fiscal year 2027 capital budget highlights are...
- The fiscal year 2027 capital budget highlights are that it provides $1.25 billion in capital investments
- in capital investments throughout Delaware.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives May 31st, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Unique felony defendants charged. 1,900 unique felony charges in Orleans?
- In other words, that is not, it is not going to impact the unique felony arrests.
- Witness: There is no data that you can extrapolate where the actual felony arrests come from. Rep.
- Felony murders? What percentage of murders, murder charges? Rep.
- The comparative levels of the populations and the number of unique felonies that were prosecuted.
Bills:
HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HCR112 , HR307 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR79 , HCR104 , HB75 , HB410 , HB719 , HB750 , HB944 , HB1098 , HB1220 , HB1252 , HB359 , HB210 , HB468 , HB1117 , SB382 , HB368 , HB552 , HB732 , HB870 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB208 , SB274 , SB300 , SB312 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB258 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469
Keywords:
oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding, taxpayer liability, public liability, offshore wells, onshore wells, coastal erosion, Department of Conservation and Energy, natural resources
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- The offense is a Class E felony.
- I think the Class E felony is a little excessive, but we can work on it, I'm sure. Okay.
- Do you believe three complaints is enough to justify a felony charge?
- I don't necessarily think three is sufficient for a felony charge, maybe a misdemeanor or something of
- I think that you can work that out to ensure that the felony within itself is justifiable, because I
Committee:
House Crime and Public Safety
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 982. Members adopted a House committee substitute that updated the bill to reflect recently enacted sex offense classifications and added language related to sexual violent predator civil commitment, including permission for the Department of Mental Health to contract with the Department of Corrections for housing. After questions about the civil commitment process and registry-related provisions, the committee adopted two House committee amendments, rolled them into the substitute, and voted the bill do pass by a vote of 14 aye, 1 no, and 1 present.
The committee then approved House Bill 3414 by a vote of 12 yes, 1 no, and 3 present. Next, it considered a combined substitute for House Bills 3434, 3460, and 2628, which dealt with emergency contraception and related health care facility language. Members discussed whether the substitute should include religious objection protections and whether the facility definition was broad enough for rural clinics. After adopting an amendment clarifying that emergency contraception does not include medication approved to terminate a pregnancy, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the combined bills do pass by 11 aye, 4 no, and 1 present.
In public hearing, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 87, which would place the election of sheriffs in the Missouri Constitution and preserve local election of sheriffs, with carve-outs for St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jackson County, and the City of St. Louis. The sponsor and supporting witnesses argued it would protect local control and accountability, while members asked about removal procedures and the role of the Attorney General versus local prosecutors. Supporters, including the Osage County sheriff and the interim sheriff of the City of St. Louis, testified in favor; no opposition testified.
The committee also heard House Bills 1868 and 3257, identical bills creating an offense for impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders after an oral warning to stay back. Sponsors said the measure was intended to protect officers, EMS, firefighters, and others from interference at scenes, and supporters from ambulance, physician, and fire service groups backed the bill, with a suggested cleanup to remove the outdated term “ambulance driver.” Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3017, which would create the offense of permitting a public nuisance on property after repeated documented complaints and allow authorities to secure or board up nuisance properties. The sponsor and Kansas City police supported it as a tool for public safety, while members raised concerns about landlord liability, due process, and whether the felony penalty and boarding costs were too burdensome; Kansas City police testified in support and no opposition was heard.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- We appreciate that young people are wanting to stay there longer, and we're going to capitalize on that
- We have a bed capacity there of 32, and that will be for our special-finding violent felony residents
- And so we also have three other units that we do have capital funding for.
- Debt service is another big one, and that is largely dependent on the size of the capital budget and
- And that would cover topics including K-12 basic education, debt service on capital projects, some basic
Committee:
House Appropriations
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee held a work session covering juvenile rehabilitation system capacity, behavioral health capacity, federal funding changes, and a 2026 budget overview. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth and post-25 residents, and is projected to keep growing, creating crowding at Green Hill School and placement limits across the system. They described safe operating capacity concerns, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for additional medium-security and specialized mental health beds, including a proposed Parkland facility and continued development of Harbor Heights. Committee members were told to follow up separately with questions, and the presentation moved on due to time.
Behavioral health officials from DSHS and HCA then reviewed forensic and civil capacity. DSHS described expanding state hospital and civil treatment capacity through Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, Brockman Campus, and a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State, while noting ongoing construction, staffing, and funding issues. HCA outlined its strategy to move long-term civil commitment care into community settings through contracted long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams. Members asked about out-of-state placements, Medicaid funding, and the differences among facility types; officials said the goal is to right-size inpatient capacity while expanding community-based supports.
OFM then presented an update on federal funding and the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371. Agency staff said H.R. 1 would tighten SNAP work requirements, reduce exemptions, shift some lawful immigrants to state-funded food assistance, increase state administrative and benefit costs, and affect Medicaid eligibility, redeterminations, cost sharing, and state-directed payments. HCA estimated major Medicaid caseload reductions and significant future fiscal impacts, while OFM also noted marketplace subsidy changes and higher education and K-12 downstream effects. H.R. 5371 was described as a short-term federal funding extension through January 30, 2026, with some full-year appropriations and a change affecting hemp producers. Finally, Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview, citing declining NGFO revenue forecasts, reversions, vetoes, and the added uncertainty from H.R. 1, with the projected ending fund balance moving from positive amounts to a negative outlook over the four-year period.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Aug 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The slave trade. and that built this capital, maybe not this annex, but this capital.
- comprehension that you would forsake the constant and your constituents for a righteously convicted felony
- Christi and sent it my. north all the way to a district that ends just a couple of miles south of this capital
- to see a big. fragmentation because the reality is that a district a couple of miles south of this capital
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation Apr 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And just for reference before I continue, in California capital trials happen in Superior Court, but
- Starting in late 2023, the California Supreme Court began ordering full RJA briefing on capital cases
- As for hundreds of millions for the build-out of capital outlay projects. Okay.
- It was felony resentencing when the law regarding murder changed.
- In capital cases before the Supreme Court, the situation is especially urgent.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill amends certain sections to create a level 6, third-degree felony offense for a person 18 years
- Third, the bill amends Section 893.13 to provide that it is a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum
- And fourth and finally, the bill amends Section 893.135 to create a first-degree felony for trafficking
- And fourth and finally, the bill amends Section 893.135 to create a first-degree felony for trafficking
- And fourth and finally, the bill amends 893-135 to create a first-degree felony for trafficking in xylaseen
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard and approved several bills. SB 504 and its related public records bill SB 506, both by Sen. Burgess, would allow local governments to authorize code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies and create a public records exemption for certain recordings; members raised questions about disclosure and when cameras may be used, and both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 32 and SB 210 by Sen. Sharif, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and extending public records protections to petitions under that injunction category. Supporters included law enforcement, women’s advocacy groups, and justice organizations.
The committee then favorably reported SB 676 by Sen. Arrington, which creates a graduated penalty structure for adults who involve minors in certain animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties related to fighting or baiting animals. SB 432 by Sen. Yarbrough was also approved; it adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates penalties for candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Sen. Osgood spoke in support of the bill, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder.
Finally, the committee approved SB 524 by Sen. Simon, which makes a series of technical and administrative changes affecting the Medical Examiners Commission, district medical examiner appointments, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and notice procedures for administrative complaints. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement appeared in support. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Criminal Judiciary REVISED: Links added Feb 3rd, 2026 at 03:00 pm
Criminal Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- bill is part of a package Of bills that promote government accountability, and it is currently a felony
- It makes the crime of reckless driving that causes a collision a D2 felony, and it also makes a reckless
- Now, if you break into a house and it's occupied, that is a felony in itself. It wasn't.
- So now, knowingly displaying or making a false or fictitious tag would be a D3 felony with a penalty
Committee:
House Criminal Judiciary
Keywords:
firearms, carry on vessels, self-defense, Oklahoma law, gun rights, hunting, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, criminal justice, minimum sentences, parole eligibility, violent crimes, Oklahoma statutes, reckless driving, D2 felony, penalties, traffic offenses
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Those are all felonies. And so, every metro court only has jurisdiction over you.
- So, the reason that goes to district court is because they are inherently a felony, because if it's non-competent
- Those are felonies, and Metro Court wouldn't have jurisdiction over those matters anyway.
- The prelim felony ones that get caught—gotcha. That makes sense.
Committee:
House House Judiciary