Transcript Highlights:

• is actively directing pregnant women to these crisis pregnancy centers through a data collection system
• for and pointed out after this passed the House, the Deputy General Counsel for the New Hampshire Judicial
• for and pointed out after this passed the House, the Deputy General Counsel for the New Hampshire Judicial
• for and pointed out after this passed the House, the Deputy General Counsel for the New Hampshire Judicial
• I. this passed the House, the Deputy General Counsel for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch reached out

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota and Minnesota state systems. Minnesota and Minnesota state systems.
• applies in judicial foreclosures. applies in judicial foreclosures.
• that it's available in a judicial that it's available in a judicial foreclosure.<01:27:37.520>
• use the postponement tool in a judicial use the postponement tool in a judicial foreclosure.<01:
• <01:43:50.080> Um for uh maintaining that system. Um for uh maintaining that system.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So Aaliyah will input the information into the system based upon what they receive from the court.
• It will probably be with the court system or probation officer or whomever they direct to do that
• judicial discretion and preventing<01:05:18.400> unnecessary<01:05:19.440> mistrials.
• entity for the purpose of judicial educ. entity for the purpose of judicial educ. education.<01:
• Amendment number two makes this particular judicial college education fund a tax-exempt entity.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Arkansas System officials were present to answer questions from the...
• The University of Arkansas System officials were present to answer questions from the committee related
• system.
• As shown on the screen, using the 15th Judicial District as an example, each judicial district's report
• Of the report is a summary organized by judicial district.

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, like, what assurance do you have that our code will be more judicious and thoughtful?
• Do you have that our code will be more judicious and thoughtful? Mr.
• But how about expanding that to the legislative body as well as the judicial body?
• Why aren't we including the judicial and legislative branches in that?
• And I felt, as chair of that committee, that the system worked extremely well.

Summary: The committee heard and approved several measures. HB 735 expanded Florida’s boating improvement program to fund parking for boat trailers at public ramps and offered a 10% sovereign submerged land lease discount for manufacturers using environmental best management practices; it passed unanimously. HB 4021 expanded the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County by 640 acres and was reported favorably. CS for HB 371, which promotes nature-based methods and green/gray infrastructure for coastal resilience, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from resilience and environmental groups and committee members. The committee then took up HJR 1325, a proposed constitutional amendment to create an elected Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) with authority to audit, investigate, and report on waste, fraud, and abuse in state and local government. The proposal would eliminate the lieutenant governor position, the Government Efficiency Task Force, and the legislature’s current auditor appointment, with many implementation details deferred to a future bill. Members debated the scope of the new office, its relationship to the Auditor General and inspectors general, whether it should cover the legislative and judicial branches, staffing, and the comparison to federal DOGE efforts. An amendment making a minor wording change was adopted, and the resolution passed 23-? with a favorable report after a split vote. The committee also approved two Gulf of America bills. HB 575 redesignated the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and CS for HB 549 required Florida’s academic standards and newly adopted instructional materials to reflect the federal designation for materials acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Both measures drew criticism from members who argued the renaming was politically motivated, historically insensitive, and potentially confusing for students, while supporters said Florida should align with federal action. HB 575 passed and CS for HB 549 passed 18-7. Finally, HB 4071, a local bill adjusting the boundary between Coral Springs and Parkland in Broward County by about 8.7 acres, was amended and reported favorably with support from both cities and the Broward delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sean Burnfin, state court system, waiving in support.
• HB 947 seeks to bring greater consistency to our civil justice system, reduce litigation uncertainty
• I would like to see systems kind of talk to each other. So you bring up a good point.
• I think that's more of a judicial decision. I just offer that for everybody's consideration.
• process. ...assure the integrity of the judicial process.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered a large agenda of bills, mostly in the criminal justice, courts, civil procedure, and family/consumer protection areas. Early measures included CS/HB 1161 on removing altered sexual depictions posted without consent, HB 403 modernizing LLC law to allow protected series LLCs, CS/HB 97 on service of process in protection proceedings for vulnerable adults, and HB 813 as the state courts package addressing duty judges, arbitrator compensation, and notarization by judges. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 403 and HB 813 amended. The committee also heard and advanced CS/HB 947 on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, which drew substantial opposition from insurers, business groups, and defense-oriented witnesses, while the sponsor argued it would let juries hear all relevant evidence; it passed 19-3. Members also approved CS/CS/HB 615 allowing electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email, after an amendment requiring opt-in language and written notice to update an email address; tenant advocates still raised concerns about eviction-related notices and receipt verification. HB 663 increased penalties for using tracking devices or apps to commit dangerous crimes and passed unanimously. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and passed unanimously after a conforming amendment. CS/HB 255, known as Dexter’s Law, increased penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and was supported by law enforcement and animal welfare groups; it passed unanimously. Later in the meeting, the committee approved HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders after the sponsor withdrew an amendment that would have changed the deadline from six hours to six business hours, following concerns that the delay could be too long for urgent orders. CS/HB 1099 gave law enforcement discretion in arrests involving individuals with significant medical conditions in facilities and passed unanimously. HB 653 added aggravating factors for capital felonies involving assassinations or attempted assassinations of heads of state; it drew opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and passed 20-2. CS/HB 59 expanded wrongful incarceration compensation by extending the filing deadline, removing the clean-hands bar, and allowing exonerees to choose between civil suit and the state claims process; it passed unanimously. PCS/HB 777 increased penalties for in-person luring or enticing of children and barred certain age-based defenses, passing unanimously. Finally, CS/HB 437 increased penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; two amendments softened the bill by clarifying juvenile treatment and giving judges limited discretion to avoid automatic revocation of pretrial release, and the bill passed 21-1 before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The officers who wield the judicial power of the state. state of Texas.
• The Judicial Compensation Commission has recommended a 30% increase in the base pay. for judges this
• Do it because you have a... constitutional obligation to fund the judicial branch at a level that allows
• Back quickly to the topic of judicial pay, he had to leave the bench. bench many years ago to help send
• The court as a whole will keep up that effort, but my focus will be on the will be on systemic reforms

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bring that to court and seek judicial bring that to court and seek judicial enforcement<03:10:58.160
• > discretion significantly curbs judicial discretion significantly curbs judicial discretion and
• there is uh there's somewhat judicial there is uh there's somewhat judicial discretion<03:14:16.880
• means a specialized foster care system means a specialized foster care system that<04:38:01.279>
• ,<04:40:28.000> whether specialized foster care system, whether specialized foster care system

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This system is capable of connecting multiple first responder agencies.
• That's what Our whole state university system and our workforce system in higher education is all about
• This addresses an unfunded actuarial liability with the FRSA system.
• Members, SB 2512 is the judicial certification conforming bill.
• circuits, and eight additional judgeships in the 20th Judicial Court.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• community as well as through systems community as well as through systems such<00:02:42.480>
• We gather data for the biennial evaluation through a database system designed in partnership with our
• evaluation through a database system evaluation through a database system designed<00:07:01.080>
• disappointed with how the legal system disappointed with how the legal system handled<00:37:55.640
• <00:39:35.720> branch agencies and with the judicial branch agencies and with the judicial

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Shelters become the backstop for the systemic failure, and we absorb the consequences at the shelter.
• The system failed New Mexico.
• So allowing SB 57 to expire would undo progress and deepen instability in an already strained system.
• then it was removed to federal court, still pending in the First Judicial District.
• It's pending in the First Judicial District, as I understand it. Madam Chair, if Mr.

Bills: SB38, SB46, SB18

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, SB46, organic waste, solid waste, waste diversion, composting, compost feedstock, waste characterization study

Transcript Highlights:

• and the product does not use a... ...system and the product does not use a sealed prefilled or disposable
• I understand that some people who are trying to get off cigarettes use these kinds of delivery systems
• And that’s where the judicial discretion comes in. So that’s actually at the arrest stage. Okay.
• Same judicial discretion comes into play regarding whether or not to keep... comes into play whether
• I think judicial discretion is an important function, and I think this bill allows for that judicial

Bills: SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307, SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, education oversight, subpoena authority, investigation, State Superintendent, school misconduct, drug courts, accountability, veterans, mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation, criminal justice, court intervention, elder abuse, financial exploitation

Transcript Highlights:

• Known for our outstanding education system, thriving economy, and strong neighborhoods, Plano is a shining
• The officers who wield the judicial power of the state of Texas.
• To fund the judicial branch at a level that allows for fair and efficient justice to be done across our
• Back quickly to the topic of judicial pay, he had to leave the bench many years ago to help send his
• But my focus will be on systemic reforms that make legal services more affordable for everybody.

Transcript Highlights:

• , heard this morning from library systems, heard this morning from library systems, not<00:04:39.840
• and that was not a legal um judicial and that was not a legal um judicial warrant.<00:27:10.640>
• written statement of purpose, a judicial written statement of purpose, a judicial warrant,<00:48
• , support, navigate foster care systems, support, navigate foster care systems, and<00:53:38.880>
• to provide a general and uniform system to provide a general and uniform system of<01:02:10.720>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill, I would have put an alert system bill, I would have put an alert system out<00:55:27.359><
• great to have this kind of alert system great to have this kind of alert system so<00:56:17.280>
• um adding judicial um adding judicial official<01:34:38.480> to<01:34:38.719> the<
• the judicial doxing provision.
• system that required sustained funding. system that required sustained funding.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health and educational systems.
• The bill accomplishes this by making the trial court's emergency judicial response system available to
• I grew up in the Massachusetts foster care system, a system I like to call strange and dangerous.
• I am a survivor of the foster care system.
• That's system failure.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on a series of child welfare bills focused on DCF, foster care, mandated reporting, educational records, and family support. Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone opened with accessibility and testimony rules, then heard testimony on bills including S.127 on expanding mandated reporters, S.107/H.235 on a Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, S.106/H.228 on transferring foster care review from DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate, H.258/S.125 on an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records, H.205 on kinship foster care background checks, H.246/H.266 on minimizing trauma in care and protection cases, and S.159 on support for families after sudden unexpected infant death. Supporters of the mandated reporter bill, led by Sen. Feeney and Foxborough advocates, described a local model that trains all adults who work with children and argued the state should scale that approach statewide to improve recognition and reporting of abuse. Testimony on the foster care bills emphasized the need for clearer rights, better notice to children and attorneys, stronger remedies, and independent oversight. Advocates, youth with lived experience, and legal organizations described placement instability, delayed notifications, abuse in care, poor educational continuity, and the need for rights around safety, family contact, culture, language, and access to records. Several witnesses urged that the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights include enforceable court remedies, not just reporting requirements. On the oversight bill, supporters argued DCF should not review its own foster care system and pointed to poor outcomes, high placement instability, and recent investigative reporting as evidence for moving review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate. On the electronic backpack bill, testimony focused on the need for real-time data sharing and a centralized system so schools can receive foster students’ records quickly and support continuity. On the trauma-minimization bill, Rep. Miskin framed the proposal as a set of practical changes to reduce harm during removals and court involvement. On the SUID bill, Sen. Lovely said families should be given information about available grief and support resources after an infant death. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• joint order and the House Joint Resolution, nominations have been made by the Senate for certain judicial
• pursuant to House Joint Resolution 315, that nominations have been made by the Senate for certain judicial
• Nominations are now in order for judges of the judicial circuit.
• Block voting for judges and other judicial officers will now commence.
• duly elected as judges of the juvenile and domestic relations district courts of the appropriate judicial

Keywords: March 13, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the bill requires the same disclosure for candidates seeking nomination or election to judicial
• requires the same disclosure of dual citizenship for candidates seeking nomination or election to judicial
• So, if you could—yes, yes, appreciate it, yep—so to protect the integrity of Florida's judicial system
• They were victims of a justice system that had already decided their guilt.
• They were victims of a justice system that had already decided their guilt.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 620, which would require candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board offices to disclose any citizenship in countries other than the United States. The bill was presented as a transparency measure, with one opponent waiving time, and it was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 1396 on litigation financing consumer protection. Supporters from the Florida Justice Reform Institute, American Tort Reform Association, and U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform argued the bill would add transparency, limit funder control, and require disclosure of foreign entities involved in litigation funding. Opponents, including the Florida Justice Association, argued the bill would create strategic advantages for defendants and could affect discovery and settlement dynamics. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved SB 192, removing a $1,500 cap on patient funds chiropractors may hold in trust; SB 888, limiting indemnity and insurance requirements in design-professional contracts; CS/SB 332, creating a temporary closed-meeting exemption for pre-suit Burt Harris litigation strategy discussions; SB 820, requiring quarterly reporting on problem-solving courts; SB 1500, updating uncontested probate procedures; SB 1224, making fraudulent entry into rental dwellings a third-degree felony; and SB 1000, setting a floor and ceiling for interest rates on law firm trust accounts. Each of these bills was reported favorably, with broad support and little or no opposition. The committee also advanced CS/SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step in addressing the wrongful convictions, deaths, and long-term harm suffered by Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas. Family members and advocacy groups testified in support, urging the state to complete its acknowledgment of wrongdoing with monetary compensation. An amendment was adopted to divide any appropriation equally among the four families. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 144 creating a public records exemption for personal information of Judicial Qualifications Commission employees and their families was approved 9-1. Several members also requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Randall described it as a systemic effort that she said she'd never seen in nearly three decades with
• But in some instances, there are also reports that during some of the hearings, the judicial officer
• Randall described it as a, quote, systemic effort, unquote, that she said she'd never seen in nearly
• To me, that suggests this was not one bad apple; systemic efforts are not one bad apple.
• >> Our judicial officers are not so subjective and Lucy QC that they would take a hypothetical

Bills: HF3489, HF3990, HF3825, HF3826, HF3827, HF3822

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill may pass, but there's no guarantee the judicial branch will adhere to these laws.
• There's nothing on that back end other than maybe, you know, the State Bar or Judicial Conduct Review
• This system has worked well for 20 years, but it is seriously outdated and does not align with other
• Texas system.
• So S.J.R. 27 on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct will proceed on the original version.

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

Keywords: biological sex, gender identity, public facilities, civil penalties, local government, EBT, electronic benefits transfer, food stamps, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, temporary assistance for needy families, welfare benefits, benefit card fraud, fraud hotline, card replacement, photo ID, recipient photograph, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1183, by Senator Creighton, which would require Lone Star Cards used for SNAP and TANF benefits to display the recipient’s name and photo, add fraud-reporting information, and require HHSC to track replacement-card requests. Creighton argued the bill would reduce fraud and protect taxpayer dollars, citing Texas SNAP theft and overpayment data. HHSC testified that photo IDs on the card are technically possible and explained how authorized secondary users are added. Dr. Amber O’Connor of Every Texan testified against the bill, saying SNAP fraud is a small share of expenditures, that the proposal would be costly and ineffective, and that federal rules limit mandatory photo requirements. Public testimony closed and SB 1183 was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1184, also by Senator Creighton, which would lower from 20 years to 10 years the minimum age of collectible wine that Texas collectors may sell to permitted restaurants. Supporters said the change would help Texas restaurants access desirable vintages, keep collectible wine in-state, and align with market demand; invited witnesses from the wine industry testified in favor. No opposition was heard, public testimony closed, and SB 1184 was left pending. Next, Senator Birdwell laid out Senate Bill 2051 and Senate Joint Resolution 68, both aimed at revising Texas impeachment procedures in response to issues identified during the 2023 impeachment process. The measures would clarify constitutional and statutory impeachment authority, require sworn testimony, extend review periods for House members, address conflicts of interest and presiding officers, require cost reporting, and modify rules for impeaching the governor or lieutenant governor. A committee substitute added protections for the accused, longer review periods, and a fallback presiding-officer option. Witnesses generally supported stronger accountability but raised questions about whether the language should also cover retired or visiting judges. Both measures were left pending after testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1577, which would expand Texas Motor Speedway’s alcohol sales authority to include distilled spirits and remove certain event and concession limits; the Speedway’s representative supported the bill and it was left pending. Later, the committee heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 and Senate Bill 240, which would recognize only two sexes and restrict access to sex-designated private spaces in public facilities based on biological sex. Supporters argued the measures were needed to protect women’s privacy and safety, including in schools and shelters, while opponents warned about enforcement problems, privacy concerns, and impacts on transgender Texans and others who do not fit stereotypical sex traits. After extensive testimony, both measures were left pending. The committee then took up multiple pending bills and reported several favorably, including SB 511, SB 33, SB 510, SB 871, SB 2024, SB 2166, SJR 27, SJR 40, SB 1313, SB 1314, SB 1316, SB 1541, SB 2420, SB 1999, SB 2309, SB 1860, and SB 2429, with some also certified for the local and uncontested calendar.