Video & Transcript Research : 'protected information'

Page 92 of 500
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • writing rules, managing programs and often dodging accountability are sheltered by a system that protects
  • But two, do so while preserving and protecting the long-term benefits of the American people.
  • In terms of the DDM specifically, make sure that what we're doing to protect our cybersecurity, the information
  • information for folks on Medicare, so health-sensitive health information.
  • We see them now pointing their sort of sights on military and veterans. information.
Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Jul 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • So consumers need better information.
  • This bill moves the birthplace information of the parents to that protected section, aligning with best
  • “Let me tell you my story and share this, all this information.”
  • exchange information for our CalAIM enhanced care management clients.
  • The motion is due pass to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills, with extensive testimony on maternal health, prenatal safety, privacy, valley fever, Medi-Cal contracting, anti-discrimination protections, and health data sharing. SB 32 would require time-and-distance standards for labor and delivery units in health plan networks; the author and supporters said it would address maternity care deserts and improve access, while health plans opposed. SB 646 would require testing and public disclosure for toxic elements in prenatal vitamins; supporters emphasized fetal and maternal safety and transparency, while industry opponents warned it could confuse consumers or lead to reduced nutrient content. Both bills drew broad support from medical and public health groups, and both were advanced on party-line or near-unanimous votes after committee discussion. The committee also approved SB 313, which moves a parent’s birthplace on birth certificates into the confidential section to protect privacy, and SB 297, which directs CDPH to identify high-incidence valley fever regions and publish them for screening and awareness; valley fever experts and supporters stressed rising cases and the need for earlier diagnosis, while local health jurisdictions raised concerns about mandates. SB 324, dealing with Medi-Cal enhanced care management and community supports, would prioritize local community-based organizations and clarify contracting and data practices; it received strong support from nonprofits and community health advocates, with children’s hospitals and health plans seeking amendments, and it was sent forward after amendments were discussed. The committee then considered SB 418, which would codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and allow up to a 12-month prescription supply for hormone therapy when medically necessary. Supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care for transgender patients and others using hormone therapy, including IVF and menopause patients, while opponents argued it would conflict with federal policy and promote harmful treatments. The bill passed to the next committee. Finally, SB 660 would strengthen the California Health and Human Services data exchange framework by creating governance and accountability for data sharing across health and social service entities; supporters said it would reduce duplication and improve care coordination, while some providers and hospital groups raised concerns. It was approved and sent to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. The consent calendar and the other measures were also voted out, with the committee recording the required roll-call votes and sending the bills onward.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 4, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's very important in these cases that we get this information, and without that information these children
  • child services uh a Child Protective child services uh a Child Protective Services<00:34:51.919>
  • we get this information and without that<00:35:09.960> information<00:35:10.520> these
  • Hawaii Coalition for child protective Hawaii Coalition for child protective reform<00:40:30.960>
  • <01:05:17.000> reform Coalition for child protective reform Coalition for child protective
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 02/20/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think constitutional protection.
  • I gave false information unknowingly? I gave false information unknowingly?
  • It protects people engaged in protected First Amendment activity.
  • It protects people engaged in protected First Amendment activity.
  • <03:12:16.319> That's information be transferred. That's information be transferred.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • Are we here to protect those who break the laws?
  • Are we here to protect those? Are we here to protect those who obey the laws?
  • Are we here to protect those who break the laws?
  • That's proprietary information.
  • And give us this information, and what we said,...
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The conference committee on House Bill 1229 met to try to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, which deals with reporting certain traffic offenses to driving records and, by extension, insurance companies. House members argued that the House position was driven by concern that reporting lower-level offenses would unfairly raise insurance costs, while Senate members said they opposed removing reporting because they wanted transparency and believed people who break the law should face consequences. The discussion focused heavily on whether the bill should continue to exclude offenses at two points and below from reporting, or whether a narrower compromise such as one point and below might be acceptable. Committee members and DOT Driver and Vehicle Director Brad Schaefer reviewed a color-coded list of offenses and how they are currently reported. Schaefer explained that salmon-shaded items automatically appear on driving records because they trigger suspension or revocation, green items are commercial-driver violations that also trigger suspension, and the remaining unshaded zero-, one-, and some two-point violations were the main subject of the conference discussion. Members debated whether some low-point items, such as equipment violations, no child restraint, distracted driving, and failure to use due care, should remain reportable, while acknowledging that serious offenses like fleeing and human trafficking would remain reportable regardless. No final compromise was reached. Several members expressed interest in a possible middle ground limited to one-point-and-below offenses, but others worried the Senate would not accept it. The committee agreed to adjourn and reschedule after members had more time to review the list and consider possible amendments.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

October 14, 2025 - 11:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • WE HAVE INFORMATION ON A WEBSITE ON HOW TO DO IT HUMANELY.
  • YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
  • FLORIDA MANATEE SANCTUARY ACT OUTLINES PROTECTION MEASURES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA TO PROTECT MANATEES FROM
  • SINCE THEN STAFF PERIODICALLY REVIEW MANATEE PROTECTIONS AND THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION
  • MANATEES ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WANT TO KEEP PROTECTING THEM.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Restricting who can access license plate reader data 3/17/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , number, their personal information, number, their personal information, those<00:02:12.840>
  • protecting Minnesotans' private data. protecting Minnesotans' private data.
  • and grabbing their information.
  • look at when they get that information? look at when they get that information?
  • information about this private information about individuals<00:19:57.520> are<00:19:57.640><
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: House File 4205, as amended, was heard and then re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. Representative Tabke said the bill is intended to protect Minnesotans’ private data tied to license plate reader systems by requiring warrants for out-of-state access, limiting dissemination of privately collected data, and adding reporting and oversight. He said the amendment was substantive and was adopted before the bill was discussed. Tabke also said he was open to changes, including revisiting the audit requirement, and noted the bill should still allow law enforcement to use license plate data for investigations. John Beeler of the ACLU of Minnesota testified in support, arguing that automatic license plate reader use has expanded far beyond what the 2015 statute contemplated and that third-party vendors have complicated data practices and accountability. He said the bill would modernize the law, require public disclosure of data-sharing relationships, and ensure private vendors are subject to data obligations. Jeff Potts of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association opposed the bill as written, saying LPR technology has been important in investigations, including a recent child abduction case, but that the annual audit requirement would be too costly for small agencies and could make the technology unaffordable. He said the association was open to further discussions on guardrails but opposed the bill in its current form. Members raised questions about what data is actually returned by a license plate query versus an LPR hit, with Representative Duran arguing the bill conflated limited registration information with broader private data. Representative Feist supported the bill, saying the public should not trust Flock and that the issue is the cumulative tracking of people’s movements, not just isolated data points. Representative Hudson said the bill raised valid questions but might unintentionally hinder investigations, and he requested a roll call. The committee ultimately adopted the A1 amendment and moved the bill forward on a roll call vote.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Water and Natural Resources Jul 1st, 2025

Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • They are protecting homes now, businesses.
  • I can get The information to you on that.
  • We can provide that information to you.
  • inform them of illegal water usage.
  • Information, and that's all the information that Ali was able to provide to you.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Legislative Commission on Data Practices 12/11/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • with the requesttor through informal with the requesttor through informal channels<00:02:26.319>
  • <00:17:39.520> from as myself to request information from as myself to request information
  • wanted to inspect the information. wanted to inspect the information. um<00:19:39.520> then
  • for information. for information.
  • protection from their asalants. protection from their asalants.
Keywords: 1183, house
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/29/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They did not verify that information.
  • They ask for information. If somebody comes and they, They ask for information.
  • She has protected the people of rural Arizona with action to protect their right to have water flow in
  • Now, she was protecting dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
  • That's who you all are protecting.
Keywords: 1182, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • walls in approving the storm protection plans.
  • Perjury are intentional withholding of key information.
  • So our storm protection plan is a year-round effort.
  • So storm protection plan. What is it was a mean for us?
  • Our storm protection plan.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • health information.
  • how do they file a protective order, what is needed to have a protective order.
  • We have a legal team that will help with protect.
  • How do they file a protective order? What is needed to have a protective order.
  • So send us your information that you request.
Summary: The first meeting of the Human Trafficking and Emergency Department Task Force focused on implementing Act 267, which created the body to develop a statewide human trafficking protocol to be incorporated into Louisiana’s sexual assault response plans. Chair Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson and Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Director Mary Kate Andropont emphasized that the goal is a practical, transferable, survivor-centered protocol that can be adapted across regions and health systems. The task force also noted its timeline: use today’s presentations and member feedback to draft a protocol before the next meeting, then refine it into a final version. Presenters from hospitals, SANE programs, and advocacy organizations described current practices and gaps. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Operation Rahab and FMOLHS’s human trafficking policies highlighted staff education, badge buddies, anonymous admissions, hotline and law enforcement reporting, and coordination with community partners. SANE and forensic nursing presenters described red-dot privacy alerts, trauma-informed interviewing, and the need to train all hospital staff, not just ED clinicians, because trafficking victims may present repeatedly or in non-ED settings. LaFASA described statewide advocacy and legal support, while Unbound Now and BCFS/Common Thread explained Louisiana’s juvenile trafficking response under Act 662, including 24/7 crisis response, relational advocacy, and care coordination for minors. Members repeatedly raised the lack of safe housing, transportation, and placement options after identification, especially for adults, male survivors, and adults with special needs. Several presenters said that identifying victims is only the first step and that Louisiana still lacks enough resources for discharge and long-term stabilization. The task force also discussed the need for broader training across emergency departments, residency programs, nursing, housekeeping, maintenance, student health, mental health, and law enforcement, with members stressing that protocols should be clear, trauma-informed, and usable statewide. No votes were taken; the main action was to gather testimony, identify gaps, and begin drafting the statewide protocol.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Elections - 04/03/25

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Page 20 uh page 56 section information.
  • <00:45:59.280> and dedicated to protecting and dedicated to protecting and strengthening<00
  • immediate and easy access to information immediate and easy access to information regarding<00:47
  • Um, next testifier is Mary information.
  • campaign practices to protect democracy. campaign practices to protect democracy.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-19 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They may not be a guardian if they are a respondent to an injunction for protection for which the protected
  • For protection for which the protected person was the petitioner and are added to the section of law
  • It doesn't weaken any consumer or patient protections.
  • This is a measured correction, protecting recovery, protecting infrastructure, and restoring balance.
  • Please, let's put this language in and protect it.
Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of gallery introductions recognizing visitors, local officials, students, and public safety personnel. The chamber first took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee on 42 executive appointments; after Senator Gaetz explained that the committee had reviewed the appointees’ qualifications and suitability, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a 36-0 vote. The Senate then moved through a long special-order calendar focused largely on open-government sunset reviews and other policy bills. It passed measures to continue or consolidate public records and meeting exemptions for aquaculture records, agency-held trade secrets, and cybersecurity information, with one technical amendment adopted on the cybersecurity bill. The chamber also approved bills extending the statute of limitations for failure to report child abuse, strengthening regulation of commercial driving schools, requiring human trafficking education for nursing graduates, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and making the related public-records exemption. Additional bills passed included a nature-based coastal resiliency measure with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a chiropractic trust-funds bill, specialty license plates, a one-time waiver of late financial disclosure fines, public school personnel compensation changes, the annual Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “Farm Bill,” homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders, disability-presumption clarifications for first responders, reinsurance intermediary manager changes, patriotic displays in public schools, ADS-B fee restrictions, autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope program, campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities, and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. The Senate also debated and passed a bill allowing licensed insurance agents to market health care sharing ministries, despite concerns raised by Senator Polsky about consumer confusion, commissions, and the sale of non-insurance products; supporters argued it restored free speech, religious liberty, and consumer choice. The chamber approved the bill 32-5 after debate. Most other measures passed with strong bipartisan support, often by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several companion House bills were substituted in place of Senate bills before final passage.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/10/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • ...information and allows law enforcement and potentially others to backtrack that information over a
  • and protecting immigrants?
  • But how do we have true guardrails that will protect women and protect immigrants?
  • The existing consumer protection law protects against this, and this bill simply gives resources to the
  • ... “...consumer product protection.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 19 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • An Act protecting motorists and emergency personnel, House No. 3729.
  • Closing this loophole protects the public health.
  • It protects working families from unnecessary costs and protects the integrity of our clean energy laws
  • The $1 to $2 a month information came out through this process too.
  • This amendment provides important consumer protection for budget-billed customers, protection not offered
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership. The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development. One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 106 Apr 30th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ,<02:03:53.360> which sale site location information, which sale site location information
  • triggers fourth amendment protections. triggers fourth amendment protections.
  • liberty, privacy, and information. liberty, privacy, and information.
  • fundamental way that needs protections. fundamental way that needs protections.
  • Customs and Border Protection Customs and Border Protection have<02:21:20.800> implemented
Keywords: 981, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 13th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • sure that they have as much information as possible.
  • You do have protections in this bill. I agree with my colleagues.
  • Good protections for our ratepayers.
  • What appears to be an informal opinion from the Attorney General.
  • And Florida is a beautiful place that deserves to be protected.
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest and staff introductions. The chamber then took up returning messages from the House and acted on multiple bills, with votes recorded on each. Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations was concurred in as amended and passed 31-4 after discussion about naming roads for deceased individuals and an exception for President Trump. The House amendment to the Live Local affordable housing package, CS/CS/HB 1389, was also concurred in and passed 35-0; Senator Claudio explained it as the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act, including new provisions allowing certain affordable housing on qualifying religious property, extending some timelines, and removing accessory dwelling unit language. CS/CS/HB 1451 on utility services was concurred in and passed 30-6 after questions about phasing out surcharges and reporting requirements. The chamber also substituted CS/CS/HB 1279 for SB 7038 and adopted an education amendment package before passing the bill 36-1, while several other measures were temporarily postponed. The Senate then considered CS/CS/SB 484 on data centers and concurred in the House amendment 383-957, passing the bill 31-6. Senator Avila said the amendment strengthened ratepayer protections, required a PSC tariff filing, and directed an OPAGA study on large-scale data centers. Several senators pressed concerns about the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure agreement prohibition, the possibility of delayed public awareness of data center projects, and whether costs could be shifted to other ratepayers; Avila responded that the amendment preserved local land-use authority and that ratepayer costs could not be borne by the general body of ratepayers. Debate reflected a split between senators who supported the bill as a needed regulatory framework and those who objected to the transparency changes and the loss of the Senate’s original NDA language. Later, the Senate took up land use and development regulations, substituting CS/CS/CS/HB 399 for SB 208. An amendment by Senator Jones to remove language affecting a Fontainebleau Hotel water park project in Miami Beach failed 17-20 after debate over local control and preemption. Senator McLean’s amendments then added a sunset date and other changes, and Senator Claudio’s amendment preserved Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary supermajority protections and related planning provisions. The chamber then began extended debate on Senator Martin’s amendment creating a process for property owners to challenge rural boundary designations and seek compensation or removal from the designation without going to court; supporters framed it as a property-rights and due-process measure, while opponents argued it would undermine local planning, impose costs on taxpayers, and weaken voter-approved rural boundaries in Orange and Seminole counties. The transcript ends amid that debate, with no final vote shown on the rural boundary amendment in the excerpt provided.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So we do post that information on our website.
  • of consumer protection regulations for CCRCs.
  • So there has to be some provisions to protect the...
  • Well, isn't that protective services? Are you talking about protective services?
  • This is not protective services.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities met for its third meeting, focused on regulations, oversight, and enforcement. Staff and agency presenters reviewed the current framework: the Executive Office of Aging and Independence explained that assisted living regulations generally do not apply to CCRCs unless an assisted living component markets itself separately, and that CCRCs must submit marketing materials, contracts, and disclosure statements for public posting. The Attorney General’s office described Chapter 93A consumer protection standards and noted it is working on draft assisted living-specific regulations. DPH outlined its oversight of licensed nursing facilities associated with some CCRCs, including routine surveys, complaint investigations, and enforcement tools such as admissions freezes, fines, receivership, and license actions, along with federal CMS sanctions for certified facilities. Commission members and presenters then discussed gaps and ambiguities in how CCRCs are defined and regulated, especially whether communities without on-site skilled nursing should still be treated as CCRCs, how assisted living-like services within CCRCs are classified, and whether residents have enough clarity about the services they are buying. A major theme was disclosure: members raised concerns about entrance fees, refund timing and conditions, whether skilled nursing is on-site or provided by contract, and how residents can compare communities. Several participants suggested more standardized disclosure and possibly broader consumer protection rules, while others cautioned that overly rigid requirements could affect community finances and development. The commission also explored enforcement and resident protections. Some members argued that independent living residents are already covered by landlord-tenant law and that existing complaint systems and community education may be sufficient, while others said residents in supported or assisted settings within CCRCs should have clearer access to ombudsman services and oversight. The discussion turned to closure and ownership transfer, with members citing recent national examples of sales and bankruptcies that changed resident terms. DPH explained its closure process for licensed nursing facilities, and members noted that Chapter 197 of 2024 adds oversight for facility transfers and financial disclosures. The meeting ended with logistics for the next session at Brookhaven at Lexington on June 2, a public hearing on June 16, and a request to circulate the hearing notice broadly to residents and stakeholder organizations.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary B May 5th, 2026

Judiciary B

Transcript Highlights:
  • the information. Okay.
  • They trusted us to protect their communities.
  • HB 525 will give researchers, the public, and policymakers the information needed to inform policy decisions
  • protections.
  • Here it's saying all such records produced and the information contained therein shall be protected from
Summary: The committee first approved the April 28 minutes and announced that Senate Bill 499 was voluntarily deferred. It then heard several House bills, beginning with HB 168, a reentry/transitional housing program for female parolees near release; supporters said it would improve public safety and reduce recidivism, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 322, a cleanup bill from the Maggie Grace Act clarifying that victims or families requesting transcripts would not be charged, was also reported favorably without objection. HB 622, which aligns Louisiana criminal history information practices with federal rules, was amended and then reported favorably. HB 821, moving the School for Safe Centers from GOSEP to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, was reported favorably as well. The committee then took up HB 364, which directs State Police to partner on public awareness efforts about the illegality of discharging firearms, especially around holidays. An amendment removed a proposed printing cost and shifted the bill toward PSAs; the bill was reported favorably with amendments. HB 568, which strengthens enforcement of drug-free school zone laws by creating a clearer offense for openly smoking or vaping illegal drugs in school zones and setting a specific penalty for marijuana, drew extensive debate. Supporters, including the author and governor’s office, said it was needed to protect children and families and to give law enforcement a workable deterrent. Opponents argued it would impose harsh, geography-based penalties, sweep in medical cannabis patients and veterans, and worsen racial and fiscal disparities. After roll-call, the committee reported HB 568 favorably by a 3-2 vote. The committee also approved HB 296, a cleanup bill removing long-defunct programs from statute, without objection. HB 823, creating an Orleans Parish DA pilot diversion program for unhoused people accused of nonviolent offenses, was supported by Covenant House and others as a way to avoid criminalizing homelessness and was reported favorably without objection. Finally, HB 1038, a major bill revising the authority and liability structure of city marshals and local governments, prompted extensive testimony. The bill and amendments would limit some marshal powers in smaller jurisdictions, require local approval for certain staffing/insurance matters, and allow local governments to restore powers by ordinance. Supporters said it would reduce liability, clarify authority, and address problems in some marshal offices; opponents, including multiple marshals and law enforcement supporters, said it would undermine elected marshals, hurt small offices, and was too broad and under-studied. The transcript ends amid that hearing, with no final committee action shown on HB 1038.