Transcript Highlights:

• the court that sentenced the offender under this section for limited driving privileges as provided
• The reason that I added that is because if an offender was eligible for a hardship license, let's say
• the offender under this section for limited driving privileges as provided under Section 302.309.
• The reason that I added that is because if an offender was eligible for a hardship license, let's say
• Usually, like, if you're a first-time offender, you don't.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it voted House Bill 1711 do pass with no opposition. HB 1711 concerns the Uniform Interstate Deposition and Discovery Act. The committee then took up HB 1713 on limited liability companies, adopted a House Committee amendment and then a House Committee substitute that incorporated Secretary of State language on series LLCs and certificates of good standing, and voted the substitute do pass 10-0. The committee next considered a combined judgeships measure. It adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute that merged language from several bills, including provisions for additional judges or associate judges in Jefferson, St. Charles, Franklin, Miller, and Clay counties, and voted the substitute for HB 2968, 2427, and 3086 do pass 10-0. It also adopted an amendment and substitute for HB 3072, a workers’ compensation bill, and voted that substitute do pass 9-0. In public hearing, Representatives Smith and Dolan presented HB 2574 and HB 2163 together, both aimed at expanding limited driving privileges for people in treatment programs. They explained the bills would allow limited driving privileges through adult drug/treatment courts and, in one version, let offenders petition the sentencing court after completing a 120-day treatment program. Members discussed public safety concerns, ignition interlock devices, and insurance requirements, and one member noted personal experience with a drunk-driving fatality while supporting the goal of helping people maintain employment. Eric Jennings testified in support for the Judicial Conference of Missouri, saying the change would extend an existing tool from DWI courts to adult treatment courts with the same safeguards. No opposition or informational witnesses appeared, and the hearing was closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• been a lot of trouble in legal cases here where they've had trouble charging that, or you've been offended
• ><00:16:03.279><c> or</c><00:16:03.600><c> you've</c><00:16:03.920><c> been</c><00:16:04.000><c> offended
• He's a violent person. You know, I'm a very successful businessman now.
• He's a<01:46:19.760><c> violent</c><01:46:20.239><c> person.
• You know, I'm a very a violent person.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, less restrictive alternatives for sexually violent predators—these are the people who have
• have three little girls—to have that fee waived, and for folks within one mile of these sexually violent
• We have this pervasive problem where we are emptying out McNeil Island with sexually violent predators
• , the worst of the worst in our entire society. ...with sexually violent predators, the worst of the

Bills: HB2159 , HB2251 , HB2521

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: preK, education funding, childcare, youth development, state budget, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, less restrictive alternatives are for sexually violent predators, and these are people who
• with three little girls, to have that fee waived, and for folks within one mile of these sexually violent
• We have this pervasive problem where we are emptying out McNeil Island with sexually violent predators
• , the worst of the worst in our entire society. ...with sexually violent predators, the worst of the

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For House Bill 2159, which creates the pre-K Promise account for ECEAP, the committee adopted Amendment Clark 333 to clarify that account funds may support any children enrolled in ECEAP, not just the entitlement population. Members spoke in support of the bill as expanding early learning access, and the substitute bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 29-0 vote, with two members excused. For House Bill 2251, dealing with Climate Commitment Act account structure and revenue distribution, staff briefed the proposed substitute and two offered amendments from Representative Dye. Both Dye amendments were rejected: one would have expanded allowable uses to include items such as buoys, trails, small forest landowner grants, drought and water quality projects, outdoor recreation, and marina support; the other would have restored annual rather than biennial reporting on CCA spending. Supporters said the bill would simplify and clarify CCA budgeting and better align spending with declining revenues, while opponents argued it did not sufficiently prioritize climate resiliency and accountability. The substitute bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by an 18-12 vote, with one excused. For House Bill 2521, which would let the Washington State Patrol set firearm background check fees to cover program costs, the committee considered seven amendments. All seven were rejected: proposals to cap the fee increase at $20, exempt low-income residents, people near least restrictive alternative placements, veterans and active military, domestic violence victims, and residents of counties with fewer officers per capita, and to delay the effective date until Washington no longer has the fewest officers per capita nationwide. Supporters of the bill said the fee should be cost-based to avoid subsidizing the program with general funds and to prevent delays in background checks; opponents argued the bill created an open-ended fee increase and financial barrier to a constitutional right. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by an 18-12 vote, with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• intelligence desk, a team of four analysts whose main goal is to detect, investigate, and disrupt violent
• We've thwarted violent neo-Nazis, ISIS-inspired individuals, and other variants of anti-Semites with
• but rather on credible threats that meet a higher threshold, including an explicit expression of violent
• synagogues, schools, and community centers, and they are increasingly targets of harassment, vandalism, violent

Committee: Senate Aging (Special) Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It recognizes that catching violent offenders is key to disrupting the cycle of violence, and it strengthens
• Minnesota Clearance Grant Program will award grants to law enforcement to investigate and examine violent
• It recognizes that catching violent offenders is key to disrupting the cycle of violence, and it strengthens
• Minnesota Clearance Grant Program will award grants to law enforcement to investigate and examine violent
• enforcement to investigate<03:39:02.080><c> and</c><03:39:02.399><c> examine</c><03:39:02.880><c> violent

Transcript Highlights:

• we're considering a one-off situation, which you know what happens, but we're presuming that all offenders
• has, let's say, either a youthful offender opportunity, or in my county, where you have the opportunity
• who have been convicted of dangerous crimes, who would then have the opportunity to go out and re-offend
• The harm that happens in these cases with repeat offenders...
• The offender eluded... Law enforcement, they got him. They caught him, at one point arrested him.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> covered offender registration. covered offender registration.
• This is not only Hawaii sex offenders, but it also would be for mainland offenders.
• but it also would be for offenders, but it also would be for mainland<00:47:16.640><c> offenders.
• So, if they come mainland offenders.
• ><c> age</c><00:58:11.200><c> of</c> only if the offender is over the age of only if the offender is

Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the struggle, including in one case clippings from underneath the victim's fingernails, where a violent
• I moved in with a man who we learned to be a serial rapist and a sexually violent predator when we found
• The uncovering of this horrific sexually violent harm caused to myself and multiple other women cost
• Being assaulted, montages set to music of his violent rapes, have been deeply traumatic.
• working with so many survivors that were not only sexual assault, but general mutilation in other violent

Bills: SB6087 , SB5934 , SB5520 , SB6017 , SB5890

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: children's items, donations, charitable donations, nonprofit, religious organization, public health agency, liability shield, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, car seats, child safety seats, baby formula, diapers, strollers, cribs, playpens, high chairs, used goods, donation centers, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• These include increased rates of depression, anxiety, acting out in violent behavior, younger increased
• rates of depression, anxiety, acting out in violent behavior, younger age of sexual debut, sexual promiscuity
• She added that, from her perspective, a lot of violent material also leads to the dark places they heard
• It was violent. It was abusive.
• And what I saw was abusive and violent.

Bills: HB2112

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: age restrictions, online content, digital media, youth protection, cyber safety

Transcript Highlights:

• These include increased rates of depression, anxiety, acting out in violent behavior, younger These include
• increased rates of depression, anxiety, acting out in violent behavior, younger age of sexual debut,
• I mean, in my own sort of I mean, in my own sort of perspective, I see a lot of violent material that
• It was violent. It was abusive.
• And what I saw was abusive and violent.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2112, which would require commercial entities, including some social media companies, to use age verification before allowing access to websites where more than one-third of the material is sexual content harmful to minors. Staff explained that the bill would require reasonable age verification methods, prohibit retention of identifying information, exempt bona fide news and public-interest sites, and authorize the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil penalties. The bill would also require warning notices on landing pages and advertisements, with content to be developed by the Department of Health. Prime sponsor Representative Mari Leavitt said the bill is intended to protect children from harmful online sexual content and argued that parental controls are not sufficient. She cited pediatric and public-health concerns, said the bill is modeled on laws upheld elsewhere, and emphasized that the measure is aimed at commercial entities rather than school-based sharing or general adult access. Supportive testimony from parents, clinicians, and advocates described early exposure to pornography, mental health harms, and the need to place responsibility on platforms rather than families alone. Opposition testimony focused on privacy, free speech, enforcement, and scope. Several witnesses argued that age verification systems create data-security risks even if data is not retained, that the bill’s definitions and one-third threshold are vague and could sweep in LGBTQ, health, educational, or artistic content, and that enforcement would be difficult against out-of-state websites. Some opponents said the law would push users to less-compliant sites and would not effectively protect children. A technology industry witness said the bill is narrow and comparable to carding for alcohol or tobacco, while a Free Speech Coalition representative said the law is ineffective in practice and offered to discuss amendments. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Attorney General's office is reporting violent crime is down 5.9% from 2023 to 2024.
• technology targets only the highest-risk drivers, and the program can be designed so costs are borne by offenders

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, generally it's to promote public safety and successful reintegration of offenders back into the
• On August 2, 2024, officers violently attacked a housing unit of women with physical violence, tear gas

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, generally it's to promote public safety and successful reintegration of offenders back into the
• On August 2, 2024, officers violently attacked a housing unit of women with physical violence, tear gas

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• needs, along with an additional $48.5 million in the back of the bill to continue development of the offender-based
• includes $10.3 million for clerks of the court fees related to Baker Act, Marchman Act, sexually violent

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, SPB 2500, with chairs outlining major spending in K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Highlights included a $115 billion overall budget, pay raises for state employees and public safety workers, major K-12 funding increases and enrollment supplements, higher education workforce and nursing investments, expanded Medicaid/KidCare and behavioral health funding, corrections and law enforcement operational funding, transportation and housing investments, and significant environmental and water quality spending. Members asked about civic education funding, declining enrollment, professor retention, APD waiver waitlists, cultural grant allocations, and other line items. Public testimony also addressed HIV/AIDS drug assistance funding and prison air conditioning. SPB 2500 was adopted as a committee bill after amendment consideration and a roll call vote. The committee then took up implementing and related budget bills, including SPB 2502 (implementing the General Appropriations Act), SPB 2504 (state employee bargaining placeholder), SB 7028 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and related retirement changes), SPB 2506 (fuel tax distributions), SPB 2508 (state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge), SPB 2510 (termination of an unused court trust fund), SPB 2512 (new judgeships), SPB 2514 (K-12 conforming changes), SPB 2516 (higher education conforming changes), and SPB 2518 (health conforming changes). Most were explained as technical or conforming measures tied to the budget, and all were reported favorably as committee bills, with SB 7028 amended to direct a portion of increased contributions to disability and line-of-duty death benefits in the FRS investment plan. The committee also heard and passed several member bills, including CS for SB 1074 on rounding rules for cash transactions in a world without pennies, CS for SB 678 restoring the alcohol loss deduction framework for distributors, and SB 964 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention. SB 964 drew the most discussion, with questions about the one-year death-benefit window, the separate $25,000 cancer diagnosis payment, and whether the bill could create gaps in coverage for firefighters diagnosed or dying just outside the new time limits. Firefighter representatives testified in support, saying the bill would provide clearer protections for members and families. All of these measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...along with an additional $48.5 million in the back of the bill to continue development of the offender-based
• includes $10.3 million for clerks of the court fees related to Baker Act, Marchman Act, sexually violent

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: budget, appropriation, education funding, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, local government, Appropriations Act, funding, education, rural development, economic assistance, collective bargaining, state employees, labor relations, impasse resolution, negotiations, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program

Transcript Highlights:

• that the primary purpose of an impeachment is to protect the Supreme Court. state, not punish the offender
• Finally, trans people are not a violent community.

Bills: SB240 , SB1183 , SB1184 , SB1577 , SB2043 , SB2051 , SCR42 , SJR68

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Court held that the primary purpose of an impeachment is to protect the state. state, not punish the offender
• Finally, trans people are not a violent community.

Bills: SB240 , SB1183 , SB1184 , SB1577 , SB2043 , SB2051 , SCR42 , SJR68

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• KRS 202C, which was created just a few years ago, deals with people who have very violent crimes that
• </c><00:04:55.680><c> crimes</c><00:04:55.919><c> that</c><00:04:56.080><c> they've</c> have very violent
• So 202C people who've been alleged to have committed very violent crimes. 202A, it can be anybody in
• So 202C people who've been alleged to have committed very violent crimes. 202A, it can be anybody in
• </c> have been charged with very violent have been charged with very violent crimes.<00:19:35.280><c>

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> not not in for any sort of violent not not in for any sort of violent crime,<01:18:06.159><c> recently
• non-violent non-violent individual,<01:19:27.600><c> gold</c><01:19:28.000><c> star</c><01:19:28.320
• &gt;&gt; Representative<01:19:44.880><c> violent</c><01:19:45.199><c> crime.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Representative violent crime. &gt;&gt; Representative violent crime.
• criminals onto the street, a of violent criminals onto the street, a lot<01:21:15.679><c> of</c><01: