Transcript Highlights:

• So how about we just lift the penalty, not make any reference to 358-A, but just lift the penalty of
• So how about we just lift the penalty, not make any reference to 358-A, but just lift the penalty of
• So how about we just lift the penalty, not make any reference to 358-A, but just lift the penalty of
• So how about we just lift the penalty, not make any reference to 358-A, but just lift the penalty of
• So how about we just lift the penalty, not make any reference to 358-A, but just lift the penalty of

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later. Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not. Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:20.640> of that designation under the penalty of that designation under the penalty
• <00:50:15.599> of the designation under penalty of the designation under penalty of perjury
• <00:56:52.880> of<00:56:53.119> perjury penalty of perjury penalty of perjury >>
• by the parent under penalty of perjury. by the parent under penalty of perjury.
• something in writing um under a penalty something in writing um under a penalty of<01:01:53.280>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum and quickly moved through committee reports and second-reader bills, adopting committee amendments and sending several measures to third reading without objection. Bills advanced included SB 10 on State Highway Administration approval timelines for speed monitoring systems; SB 487 on speed monitoring systems in safety corridors; SB 689 creating a task force on post-release services and re-entry; SB 811 requiring reporting of new home sale prices in multiple listing services; SB 877 authorizing a Baltimore City stop sign monitoring pilot in the 41st district; SB 937, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, limiting use of criminal history in tenant screening; SB 984 barring private immigration detention facilities; SB 465 on out-of-court statements and second-degree assault; SB 187 on pre-release services for incarcerated women; SB 388, the Decade Act, revising multiple economic development and tax credit programs; and SB 844, the annual corrective bill. Most of the floor discussion focused on explaining amendments and the policy effects of the bills. Supporters described the housing bill as expanding second-chance opportunities while adding safeguards, and a senator asked detailed questions about how landlords could screen for serious offenses and sex offender registry status. SB 984 was described as an emergency measure preventing state and local approval of private detention facilities and authorizing enforcement by the Attorney General. SB 465 was presented as closing a gap in Maryland law on witness intimidation and aligning the state with broader practice. SB 187 would rename and expand the women’s pre-release facility into a re-entry facility and require progress reports. The most extended debate came on SB 165, the on-site wastewater systems bill. One amendment to exempt redevelopment properties from inspection was offered and failed by roll call with 27 votes in the negative. A second amendment to require consultation with Maryland Realtors in developing regulations was then offered; supporters argued it would help avoid delays in property settlements and bring real estate professionals into the regulatory process, while opponents said the bill concerned broader wastewater regulations, not just property transfers. The transcript cuts off during that amendment’s discussion, before the final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I review the penalty language on lines 2.4 to 2.12, the parameters of the penalties are unclear.
• As I review the penalty language on lines 2.4 to 2.12, the parameters of the penalties are unclear.
• As I review the penalty language on lines 2.4 to 2.12, the parameters of the penalties are unclear.
• As I review the penalty language on lines 2.4 to 2.12, the parameters of the penalties are unclear.
• Some do believe the current amounts for<00:40:39.760> penalties for penalties for penalties do

Bills: HF1531, HF4017, HF3399, HF4146, HF4019, HF3677

Keywords: crossbow, crossbow hunting, archery season, deer hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, fishing, common carp, rough fish, game and fish, wildlife management, hunting license, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, sunset clause, expiration removal, archery equipment, outdoor recreation, infectious waste, pathological waste

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a criminal penalties bill. Right now, our gaming penalties are very light.
• They're misdemeanor penalties: a $500 fine, 90 days in jail, which was fine when we're just running up
• We have these companies that are basically running online gaming platforms, and misdemeanor penalties
• charged um the penalty for promoting. charged um the penalty for promoting.
• And then second or this um penalty.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 21104, a Gaming Commission criminal penalties bill presented by Commissioner Jay McDaniel. He said the measure is essentially the same as a bill passed by the Senate last year and would keep penalties low for people merely playing gaming, but make it a felony for operators of illegal online gaming platforms, with a $100,000 fine per conviction and forfeiture authority for funds tied to the crime. The committee substitute was described as clarifying that the penalties target the operator rather than the platform being used. After no questions, the committee moved and adopted the bill. The committee then heard three Department of Public Safety bills from Commissioner Tindle. Senate Bill 2232 would raise seat belt fines from $25 to $100 and direct the additional revenue into existing driver education-related funds, with the stated goal of supporting driver education programs and improving teen road safety. Members asked about the revenue impact and whether the money would be appropriated back to the department and schools; Tindle said the funds would still be subject to legislative appropriation. The bill was moved and adopted, though some members raised concerns about redirecting local fine revenue. Senate Bill 2314 was described as a cleanup bill for driver’s license statutes, updating outdated references, removing obsolete paperwork requirements, allowing first-class mail and optional digital notice through mobile ID, and reflecting the department’s move from Jackson to Pearl. Members questioned whether first-class mail could shorten response time for suspension notices and how mobile ID notices would work; Tindle said the change was intended to save money and allow electronic notice if users opt in. The committee also adopted this bill. Senate Bill 2817 would reorganize DPS by consolidating several divisions into a new Mississippi State Bureau of Investigations, combine equipment and software purchases, raise autopsy fees from $1,000 to $1,200, increase salvage title inspection fees from $75 to $125, and open a broader discussion about the Highway Patrol’s future role. It was also moved and adopted. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2230 from Senator Hill, which would extend electronic warrants to misdemeanors; members discussed efficiency, warrant databases, and Fourth Amendment concerns, but no final action on that bill was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• A death penalty law is incompatible with Jewish and ethical principles. Thank you.
• We know that automatic death penalty is unconstitutional.
• Right now, this state leads the country in exonerations of people on the death penalty.
• Now, tying that to the death penalty, the people who happen to be on death penalty, who are being exonerated
• We talked about the death penalty.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27. The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair needs to refer the following bills to the subcommittee on. ...new offenses and change penalties
• House Bill 1422 by Chair Hall from the Subcommittee on New Offenses and Changed Penalties.
• It creates a criminal offense and increases criminal penalties.
• On new offenses and changed penalties, the chair recognizes Representative Louderback to explain the
• Yeah, the financial penalties were lowered, I think from $350,000 to... I'm looking for.

Bills: HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• > included<00:15:24.079> in there are civil penalties included in there are civil penalties
• c> a<01:02:49.640> larger<01:02:50.600> um<01:02:50.680> penalty, penalties.
• One had a larger um penalty, penalties.
• But to just align the penalty study.
• <01:17:25.480> to<01:17:25.600> be, new new penalties to be, new new penalties to be

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Creating administrative penalty for the Committee on Insurance HB 4458 by Garcia Berlings, the pilot
• An unemancipated minor for an abortion, providing a civil penalty, creating a civil criminal offense
• HB 4644 by Morales of Maverick ruling to reducing the criminal penalty for the offense of cockfighting
• HB 4672 by low ruling and increasing criminal penalty for.
• taxpayer payments to the taxes, penalties, and interest are for the Committee on Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• statute the penalty statute the penalty for<01:47:47.080> not<01:47:47.400> paying
• It changes this one-time $1,000 penalty to, after a grace period of 90 days, a daily penalty of ...
• The penalty is a daily penalty of $1,000 until the restitution is paid, and the total penalty can't exceed
• followup and the because of the penalty followup and the because of the penalty and<01:51:33.119
• is a indication that there is a penalty is a indication that there is a penalty of<01:51:56.119>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They increase the penalties for prostitution.
• And the the penalties for prostitution.
• > it<01:33:17.280> seems the increased penalty, it seems the increased penalty, it seems
• Since Massachusetts changed its penalty, it sounds like they enhanced the penalty.
• Thank you for your time. results in perhaps the penalty being results in perhaps the penalty being reduced

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Provide financial penalties for government officials. K.
• And I actually was a yes vote on the death penalty last year.
• What penalty would be bad enough?
• What penalty would be tough enough for them?
• Couldn't get that if the death penalty is mandatory.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• to $6 million a year, in the last five years alone they have recovered over $53 million in civil penalties
• It also brings the penalties for medical assistance fraud in line with other theft penalties, including
• a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 if you steal $35,000 or more
• <00:02:00.360> for<00:02:00.600> medical also brings the penalties for medical also
• including a maximum theft penalties including a maximum penalty<00:02:06.000> of<00:02:06.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of the penalties in 91A.
• of the penalties in 91A.
• of the penalties in 91A.
• of the penalties in 91A.
• Chairman, you agreed about the penalty being that's like an extremely excessive penalty.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of the elections in the state, authorizing a penalty
• , increasing a penalty referred to the committee on elections.
• Refer to the Committee on providing administrative penalty.
• Relating to the regulation of infertile vitalization procedures authorizing administrative penalty, refer
• HB 1160 by Hull relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of assault committed against

Transcript Highlights:

• security including by preventing fraud in the conduct of the elections in the state, authorizing penalty
• Or changing a facility in a public school, authorizing a civil penalty, authorizing a private civil right
• curry relating to the regulation of infertile fetalization procedures authorizing administrative penalty
• semiautomatic rifles to certain recipients, creating a criminal offense, increasing the criminal penalty
• HB 1160 by Hull relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of assault committed against

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh this will put penalties to it.
• And uh this will put penalties to it.
• And uh this will put penalties to it.
• And uh this will put penalties to it.
• five so is there a criminal penalty five so is there a criminal penalty already<00:09:26.760>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That if any penalty is to be levied against a member...
• They must be informed of what the penalties are prior to the conduct taking place.
• Then there is a catch-all provision that says any other penalty.
• If you have penalties and punishments. Lay them out here.
• We need to know what the penalties are. And that's not what this does.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also changed some of the language to lessen the penalty on each.
• <00:36:27.800> on<00:36:28.040> each the penalty on each the penalty on each so<00:
• Right now in statute, you could charge them with assault and then seek an enhanced penalty.
• Notifying the defendant prior to, in writing, that you seek enhanced penalties.
• But now they get killed regularly because there is no death penalty and they know it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 7089 detailed the financial penalties for these noncompliance issues, which the department
• Key penalties include a $20,000 penalty for the first instance of noncompliance and $30,000 for subsequent
• A $5,000 penalty per occurrence for any known or potential conflict of interest that was not disclosed
• A $20,000 penalty for the first noncompliance and $30,000 for each subsequent violation if a contract
• To date, the department has not levied financial penalties on lead agencies.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The history of this country is rooted in understanding what the penalties are.
• And then there is a catch-all provision that says any other penalty.
• To create new penalties going forward without some notice provision of some kind.
• If you have penalties and punishments, lay them out here.
• We need to know what the penalties are, and that's not what this does.