Transcript Highlights:

• I sit on finance, health and welfare, local and municipal, and executive committee in the Senate and
• So in terms of child protection, you know, if something happens to a child, we have to say we are a licensed
• And it just troubles my heart because just a few weeks ago, and it wasn't an African American child,

Summary: The task force met to review the prior minutes, hear introductions from members and stakeholders, and receive an update on the HCR 86 study on African American suicide in Louisiana. Dr. Williams summarized survey findings from 94 university respondents and said the work focused on college students as a key risk group, with financial stress and other early triggers identified. He said universities had resisted participation because of stigma and concerns about enrollment and reputation, and he recommended stronger statewide reporting requirements, better data collection, and more targeted prevention efforts. Members discussed possible policy responses, including mandatory suicide prevention training, gatekeeper training for faculty and staff, student awareness materials, and adding 988 information to student IDs and campus outreach. Dr. Thomas described existing LDH efforts, including 988 partnerships, a university toolkit, and training through the Louisiana Center for Prevention Resources. Senator Boudreaux and others said the issue should be addressed through legislation rather than voluntary action alone, while Dr. McKee noted that occupational licensing rules and statutes could support required training and reporting. The task force agreed to revise the report language to say reporting would be confidential unless otherwise required by law, and to circulate additional state examples and recommendations before February 1 for use as a legislative template. Members also asked that the Office of Public Health be included in discussions about a centralized suicide data hub, since it already tracks real-time suicide data. The chair thanked the participants, said the final recommendations would guide possible legislation, and adjourned the meeting without setting another date unless further action is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 497 requires written parental consent before an employee of a school district may provide a child
• The situation that really comes to mind that I actually have dealt with has to do with child abuse by
• But again, I want to ask you, are there situations in which a child is not protected?
• It may be after I've talked with the child. Um, that makes sense.
• has presented, which unfortunately and horribly results in harm to that child.

Bills: HB367 , HB497 , HB549 , HB983 , HB 1188 , HB 1290 , HB1368 , HB2243 , HB2310 , HB2849 , HB3099 , HB3546 , HB3629 , HB3627

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• believe that the same thing could be true, that the neighbors won't even know that this is a homeless child
• residents and property owners and to preserve the city's ability to protect public health, safety, and welfare
• Emergency housing facilities vary widely and shape how cities ensure the health, safety, and welfare

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• thinking nor worrying about that the time might come when they need to take care of a parent or a child
• thinking nor worrying about that the time might come when they need to take care of a parent or a child
• </c><01:17:11.280><c> of</c><01:17:11.440><c> the</c> safety or the general welfare of the safety or
• </c><01:17:17.920><c> argument</c> safety or general welfare argument safety or general welfare argument
• care providers retail uh teachers child care providers retail workers<04:49:02.480><c> and</c><04:49

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• of that child.
• of the child or children.
• the child.
• And the payments a month for one child, the younger child was 400, I'm sorry, 500, and the older child
• older child.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 3144 and House Bill 3160, both dealing with appeals of preliminary injunctions. The sponsors said the bills would allow a party to appeal a preliminary injunction more broadly, rather than limiting that right to the Attorney General, and they described the measure as a response to prior litigation and equal protection concerns. Supporters, including a Campaign Life Missouri lobbyist and Attorney General’s office counsel, argued the change would align Missouri practice with federal interlocutory appeal rules and protect both sides from harm while litigation is pending. Some members questioned whether the bills were aimed at pending Amendment 3 litigation and raised concerns about fairness and whether the language should apply evenly to all parties; the sponsors said one bill would be amended to match the other. No vote was taken on these bills during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 1910, “Bentley and Mason’s Law,” which would require a person convicted of driving while intoxicated or drug-impaired driving that causes the death of a parent or guardian to pay child maintenance to the surviving children, with support continuing until age 18 or longer if the child is in college, and with arrearages addressed after release from incarceration. Representative Williams and several family members and victims testified in strong support, describing the bill as a deterrent and a way to hold impaired drivers financially accountable for the children left behind. Supporters said similar laws have passed in other states and cited a Tennessee case as an example of the law working in practice. Committee members asked about how maintenance would be calculated, whether the offender’s income would be considered, how civil judgments would interact with the maintenance order, and whether arrearages should accrue during incarceration; the sponsor said the bill could be refined and that those issues could be worked out. Opposition to HB 1910 was limited, but one law enforcement witness said he supported the concept despite being listed as opposition, and another witness from MADD strongly endorsed the bill. The hearing ended with no action on HB 1910. In executive session, the committee voted HJR 130 do pass by a vote of 13-0. It then considered HB 2086, a bill relating to the practice of law, which drew constitutional and separation-of-powers concerns from several members; the final vote was 7-7, and the bill was reported as due pass despite the tie.

Transcript Highlights:

• It depends on the age of a child.
• But when we have a child who's left, most often it results in the death of that child.
• But when we have a child who's left, most often it results in the death of that child.
• a child requiring assistance.
• welfare and justice systems.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1690, Arreguín, young child tax credit, held in committee.
• AB 1688, Creo, child abuse or neglect reporting, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2083, Jackson, child care special districts, held in committee.
• AB 1643, Nguyen, child support, held in committee.
• AB 1668, Pellerin, welfare exemption extension, do pass. That's out on an A roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• EMERGENCY WHEN THE CHILD HAS ASD.
• ONE IS THE DEATH OF THE UNBORN CHILD.
• MOTHER SURVIVES THE CHILD DIES.
• WHAT IF THEIR 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS WITH CHILD?
• THIS IS VERY CLEARLY STATE THE MOTHER AND UNBORN CHILD FOR THE DEATH OF AN UNBORN CHILD CANNOT BE A WRONGFUL

Transcript Highlights:

• bill we passed a year or two ago, around if there's a change in condition to the student's health or welfare
• bill we passed a year or two ago, around if there's a change in condition to the student's health or welfare
• bill we passed a year or two ago, around if there's a change in condition to the student's health or welfare
• c><00:26:08.400><c> um</c><00:26:09.039><c> or</c><00:26:09.600><c> any</c> students health or or welfare
• um or any students health or or welfare um or any sort<00:26:10.080><c> of</c><00:26:10.240><c> issue

Bills: HB0159

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh unusual circumstance where a child uh unusual circumstance where a child comes<00:09:39.520><
• </c><00:24:19.680><c> care</c> is from Senator Wicklund's child care is from Senator Wicklund's child
• but for child care providers.
• Article 8 are changes to the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality
• The Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It also included six weeks of paid leave for the same employees should they choose to adopt a child under
• The state patrolman wants to open their home to a child.
• that the elected leaders in this chamber did believe that if a father wants to open his home to a child
• unified support for the hardworking men of this state that want to open their home to a deserving child
• I need to get my child to daycare. It is so critically important. Counties know that.

Bills: LR509 , LR510 , LR511

Transcript Highlights:

• Father, we ask a special blessing for the children and youth of our state, especially those within the child
• welfare system.
• And again, I want to applaud Senator Yarbrough for his leadership on expanding the state child swim lesson

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence honoring former Senator Charlie Dean. Senators also introduced guests, including family members, church leaders, and visiting students. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar, where several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on Citizens Property Insurance, artificial intelligence, public records, and data centers. The Senate passed a series of bills focused on consumer protection, transportation safety, health, and financial regulation. CS/HB 505 on virtual currency kiosks passed 37-0 after being substituted for SB 198 and amended to adopt Senate language aimed at limiting fraud and setting transaction controls. SB 382 on electric bicycles passed 37-0 after amendment to broaden the task force to micro-mobility devices. SB 844 on sickle cell disease continuing education passed 37-0, requiring certain health professionals to complete training on care management. SB 1014 on municipal utility service outside city limits passed 37-0, and SB 428 on the swimming lesson voucher program passed 36-0 after amendments expanding the program to ages 1 through 7 and adding drowning-prevention education for new parents. The Senate also passed CS/CS/CS/SB 540 on the Office of Financial Regulation, which creates cybersecurity program requirements for certain licensees, expands oversight of some investment advisers, and updates credit union and anti-money-laundering provisions; it passed 36-0. CS/CS/SB 1440 on public records passed 35-1 after technical amendments tied to related cybersecurity exemptions and reporting requirements. SB 1594 on veteran benefit payments to minor clients passed 36-0, directing certain benefits for foster youth toward post-secondary education or aftercare rather than agency reimbursement. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair moved to certify all passed bills to the House and retain postponed bills on the special order calendar, and the Senate adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, horse racing faced a critical animal welfare issue.
• Indeed, we passed approximately 50, actually more, regulations designed to protect and promote animal welfare
• Make no mistake, while we have done superlative work in animal welfare, we still have a lot of work to
• I grew up in it as a young child, and our family was involved, and I wanted to continue to serve.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, all of a sudden, what do you do if you're in a situation where, as was explained here, a child
• And then, you know, what's coming out of it, it's going to have a bad effect on the health and welfare
• what coming out of it, it's going to, you know, it's going to have a bad effect on the health and welfare
• We had people testify, fighting for the health and welfare of the community.

Bills: SB251 , SB150 , SB154 , SB73 , SB111 , SB172 , SB76 , SB181 , SB235

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• And this of a segregated bus as a child.
• While we month of the military child.
• But I also know the pride that child.
• </c><03:06:18.680><c> laborers</c> empowering Chinese labor child laborers empowering Chinese labor child
• </c> trafficked child slaves. trafficked child slaves.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative DeGraaf, proceed. ...a notch and says the risk to welfare means a reasonable likelihood
• And when I had a well as a child, it would sometimes smell like rotten eggs because that's just sulfur
• And when I had a well as a child, it would sometimes smell like rotten eggs because that's just sulfur
• And when I had a well as a child, it would sometimes smell like rotten eggs because that's just sulfur
• And when I had a well as a child, it would sometimes smell like rotten eggs because that's just sulfur

Transcript Highlights:

• They can keep the youth out of child welfare and juvenile justice for up to 24 hours.

Bills: HB1821 , HB1822 , HB1943 , HB3882 , HB4263 , HB4476 , HB4628 , HB4631 , HB4885 , HB4923 , HB5461 , HB5483 , HB5525

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• FLORIDA HAS ALSO LED ON SOME OF THE MOST INTRACTABLE ISSUES RANGING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE A CHILD WELFARE

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida has also led on some of the most intractable issues ranging from substance abuse to child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the youth that we served were survivors of other crimes, with child sexual abuse, child sexual
• sexual assault, and child physical abuse and neglect.
• victims and child protection laws.
• conduct against children, child sexual assault, child physical abuse and neglect, and human trafficking
• pornography or, more recently, by child sexually and replaced by the term child pornography, or more

Bills: HCR3028

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and acted on several measures related to human trafficking, criminal procedure, and child protection. It first took up House Concurrent Resolution 3028, which would direct a legislative study of human trafficking victim services and re-entry programs. The sponsor and supporters emphasized helping victims rebuild basic life and workforce skills and better understanding existing services; YouthWorks and the North Dakota Catholic Conference described current programs and the trauma victims face. The committee discussed overlap with other interim studies, then voted unanimously to give the resolution a due pass, with Senator Braunberger designated to carry it. The committee then considered House Bill 1263, concerning sealing criminal records, and moved it forward without changing the House version after members noted the House had removed presumption language and reduced the waiting period. That bill also received a due pass recommendation. Next, House Bill 1226, which revises the state’s mask law for public places, drew testimony from the sponsor and an expert witness who argued that masking to conceal identity during group criminal conduct undermines public safety and law enforcement. Members debated the House-added requirement that law enforcement request unmasking; the committee adopted an amendment to remove that language, then passed the bill as amended, with Senator Luick to carry it. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1410, a study resolution on criminal conduct against children, including child sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and the use of artificial intelligence in exploitation crimes. Supporters from the Child Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, YouthWorks, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Dakota said the study would help update outdated terminology, review AI-related issues, and improve investigation and prosecution tools. The committee approved the resolution with a due pass recommendation, and Senator Cory was assigned to carry it. The committee also received a brief report that, in a quick review, there were 82 active studies introduced, including 10 shall studies and 35 shall-consider studies, with limited overlap identified beyond the trafficking-related measures.