Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:09:01.600><c> both</c><00:09:01.839><c> before</c> a number of criminal trials, both before
• So you clearly have a lot of trial experience with criminals, on the criminal count, on the criminal
• So you clearly have a lot of trial experience with criminals, on the criminal count, on the criminal
• and I guess that ask for a jury trial and I guess that would<00:17:08.959><c> come</c><00:17:09.039>
• </c> going to be doing jury trials. going to be doing jury trials.

Bills: SB2418 , SB2568 , SB2661

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first took up three previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2418, which repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, was amended to keep prohibitions on manufacturing-related paraphernalia and then passed. SB 2568, which elevates harassment against certain public officials to a misdemeanor, was amended to place it in the harassment statute, narrow the nexus language, and extend coverage to all public employees; it passed with amendments. SB 2661, dealing with nepotism rules in the code of ethics, was amended so the ethics restrictions would apply more broadly to legislators and judges as well, and it also passed with amendments. In each case, the committee reported no no-votes or reservations and adopted the measures. The committee then heard Governor’s Message 684, the nomination of Judge Stephanie Char to the Fifth Circuit Court on Kauai. The governor’s office testified in strong support, and the Hawaii State Bar Association representative said the usual review process found her qualified. Judge Char described her Kauai roots, 17 years as a public defender, and service as a district family court judge since December 2020, saying she would bring hard work and continued commitment to access to justice. Members questioned her about recusals on a small island, her experience handling criminal and civil matters, sentencing repeat offenders, administrative appeals, and how she would approach competency and fitness issues under HRS 704. Char said she had recused only a few times, emphasized case-by-case sentencing and probation conditions tailored to underlying problems, and said she would rely on preparation and education for unfamiliar administrative matters. On 704 cases, she said defendants awaiting evaluation should generally remain in custody, with possible diversion or strict release conditions in appropriate cases, and that those found unfit would need to be sent to Hawaii State Hospital. No vote was taken on the nomination; the committee announced it would decide on Monday, February 23, at 10:45 a.m. in Room 016.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last six years, we have successfully been doing preliminary hearings, bench trials, and other
• As DWI cases are dismissed due to the 182-day time limits to commence trials.
• Yeah, if you were in the middle of a trial, let's say, and this happened, I mean, obviously, it is a
• trial and ordered that the witness be in person.
• And requiring a trial-level burden of proof just to adjust a supervision plan creates delays that can

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then finally looking very closely at those clinical experiences.
• I know you have a bill today thinking about those clinical experiences as well. year-over-year going
• I know you have a clinical experiences.
• </c> bill today thinking about those clinical bill today thinking about those clinical experiences<00
• </c> last domain of that rubric in clinical last domain of that rubric in clinical experiences,<00:36

Bills: HF3421

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• or immediately appeal to the superior court for a jury trial.
• The bill streamlines the process and avoids a child having to go through two trials.
• should a finding second criminal trial should a finding of<00:13:39.279><c> guilt</c><00:13:39.519><
• or immediately appeal to the bench trial or immediately appeal to the superior<00:13:51.120><c> court
• the bill recognizes through two trials the bill recognizes how<00:13:59.720><c> incredibly</c><00:14

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• time for judges, and Orleans has the highest number of civil jury trials, 22, and criminal jury trials
• So 3.46% of all Orleans criminal cases go to trial, and we have one jury trial per every 537 civil cases
• Jefferson's civil case trial is one per 1,097.
• So there are so many things that happen before you actually get to the trial, right?
• So you said there's certain things that happen before a trial, like, can you describe a ruling day?

Bills: HCR11 , HB153 , HB278 , HB424 , HB454 , HB455 , HB687 , HB816 , HB833 , HB942 , HB1053 , HB1097 , HB1147 , HB1148 , HB1190 , SB75 , SB85 , SB197 , SB200 , SB217

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• But once again, trial courts are given great discretion when it comes to these issues.
• That's my point, is that courts are, courts, trial courts are given great.
• And that's, once again, based upon trial court determinations and evidence presented.
• No, I can understand why the trial attorneys would not want that.
• Why the trial attorneys would not want that.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee first met in executive session and considered a substitute for Senate Bill 973. Members adopted an amendment that revised the bill’s title and removed language tied to “certain written disclosures” and a two-year unused-facilities requirement from related school property language. After adopting the amendment and rolling it into the House Committee substitute, the committee voted the bill do pass by a 6-3 roll call vote. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 907 and related bills, dealing with abusive website access litigation. Senator Brad Hudson said the measure targets a single plaintiff’s pattern of threatening businesses with ADA-related website lawsuits and settlements, and explained changes made to refine definitions and extend coverage to political subdivisions. Witnesses from the Missouri Chamber, NFIB, Associated Industries of Missouri, the Columbia Chamber, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and the Missouri Broadband Providers Association testified in support, describing the suits as costly and coercive for small businesses and nonprofits. Members questioned the scope of the bill, including whether it should also cover churches and nonprofits, and whether the “good faith” standard in the Senate version was too vague or burdensome. A committee attorney explained that good faith would likely be a fact-based issue decided by a court under a preponderance standard. Several members expressed support for narrowing the bill to avoid broader tort reform, while others raised concerns about litigation costs and the lack of an early mechanism to stop abusive suits. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> know, if they can't meet a speedy trial know, if they can't meet a speedy trial demand,<01:41:47.920
• </c> Constitution requires a speedy trial Constitution requires a speedy trial demand<01:41:51.600><c
• </c><01:42:02.480><c> uh</c> person was not granted their trial uh person was not granted their trial
• </c> same information in their trial same information in their trial appraisal<01:59:39.840><c> which
• . trial. trial.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first, the trial court held that the Public Contract Code did apply to the 22nd District Agricultural
• However, as a result of this alarming testimony and an injunction issued by the trial court, the case
• However, this time the trial court ruled that the Food and Agricultural Code was written in such a way
• And as a result, the trial court dismissed the lawsuit.
• Now, the appellate court, in a published opinion, upheld the trial court's dismissal, but stated in a

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and heard one bill, SB 1223 by Senator Padilla, after SB 1410 was pulled from the agenda. SB 1223 would require state and county fairs to use competitive bidding standards for contracts and prohibit sole-source contracting. The author and witness argued the bill was needed to close loopholes in the Public Contract Code after media reports and lawsuits alleged corruption and manipulated contract awards at certain fairs, including allegations that RFPs were written to favor a single bidder. No witnesses testified in opposition. Committee members expressed support, describing the issue as a matter of transparency and proper state contracting. A motion was made to pass the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The committee voted 4-0 in favor, with the bill placed on call for the absent member before the meeting concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first, the trial court held that the Public Contract Code did apply to the 22nd District Agricultural
• However, as a result of this alarming testimony and an injunction issued by the trial court, the case
• However, this time the trial court ruled that the Food and Agricultural Code was written in such a way
• And as a result, the trial court dismissed the lawsuit.
• Now, the appellate court, in a published opinion, upheld the trial court's dismissal, but stated in a

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and heard one bill, SB 1223 by Senator Padilla, after SB 1410 was pulled from the agenda. SB 1223 would require state and county fairs to use competitive bidding standards for contracts and prohibit sole-source contracting. The author and witness argued the bill was needed to close loopholes in the Public Contract Code, citing reported corruption and litigation involving fair contracts, including allegations that bid scores were altered and RFPs were written to favor a single bidder. The committee heard support testimony from the bill’s witness, who described the lawsuits and said some fair contracts had avoided competitive bidding for years. There was no opposition testimony. Committee members expressed support, noting that agricultural districts are state entities that should follow state contracting rules. The committee voted to do pass SB 1223 to the Appropriations Committee. The roll call was recorded as four votes in favor, with the bill placed on call for the absent member and then reported out 4-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first, the trial court held that the Public Contract Code did apply to the 22nd District Agricultural
• However, as a result of this alarming testimony and an injunction issued by the trial court, the case
• However, this time the trial court ruled that the Food and Agricultural Code was written in such a way
• And as a result, the trial court dismissed the lawsuit.
• Now, the appellate court, in a published opinion, upheld the trial court's dismissal, but stated in a

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, an individual has a right to a jury trial, a criminal jury trial, correct?
• or elect to have a jury trial.
• or elect to have a jury trial.
• It doesn't say you have a right to a non-jury trial. You are guaranteed the right to a jury trial.
• Speaker: You don't invoke your right to a jury trial; you have a right to a jury trial. Rep.

Bills: HR295 , HR296 , HR297 , HR298 , HR299 , HR300 , HR301 , HR302 , HR303 , HR304 , HR305 , HR306 , HR307 , HCR115 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HR286 , HR287 , HR288 , HR290 , HR291 , HR292 , HR293 , HR294 , SCR61 , SCR68 , SB121 , SB250 , SB348 , SB444 , SB485 , HR252 , HR253 , HCR96 , HCR103 , HCR108 , SB268 , SB283 , SB414 , HCR98 , HR179 , HR223 , HR225 , HR274 , HCR89 , HCR26 , HB250 , HB265 , HB339 , HB427 , HB445 , HB463 , HB468 , HB606 , HB639 , HB649 , HB665 , HB746 , HB781 , HB853 , HB861 , HB872 , HB886 , HB916 , HB937 , HB1054 , HB1068 , HB1117 , HB1237 , HB74 , HB108 , HB956 , HB1085 , HB1137 , HB75 , SB39 , SB99 , SB111 , SB112 , SB124 , SB134 , SB174 , SB189 , SB190 , SB201 , SB233 , SB236 , SB258 , SB270 , SB273 , SB288 , SB307 , SB313 , SB320 , SB321 , SB325 , SB326 , SB331 , SB339 , SB341 , SB345 , SB346 , SB347 , SB353 , SB357 , SB359 , SB387 , SB393 , SB401 , SB415 , SB419 , SB422 , SB426 , SB435 , SB437 , SB440 , SB451 , SB464 , SB470 , SB487 , SB488 , SB495 , SB504 , SB505 , SB518 , SB523 , HR84 , HB646 , HB998 , HB1191 , SB78 , SB81 , SB97 , SB100 , SB109 , SB123 , SB125 , SB208 , SB385 , SB479 , SB56 , SB163 , SB197 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HR168 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HB284 , HB302 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441

Summary: The House met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present, and began with prayer, the pledge, leave requests, and several personal privileges recognizing visitors and groups at the Capitol, including early education advocates, a poster contest winner, Entergy’s River Bend Nuclear Station on its 40th anniversary, a Children’s Miracle Network champion, Community Action leaders, and Leadership Tangipahoa participants. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrollment reports, a conference committee report on Senate Bill 149 that was allowed to lie over, and a long list of House resolutions and Senate bills that were either introduced, referred, or set aside for later consideration. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including measures recognizing Early Education Day, World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, Dora’s Voyager, Tourism Day, and National Mississippi River Day, while House Concurrent Resolution 98 on SNAP grocery delivery fees failed on reconsideration by a vote of 46 yeas to 39 nays. The House then took up a series of Senate bills. Among the measures passed were SB 39 on provisional massage therapist licenses; SB 111 on freshwater recreational fish limits in the Atchafalaya Basin; SB 124 on peer review confidentiality for health systems; SB 134 on child sexual abuse material and sexting involving minors under 17; SB 99 on electronic DEQ notifications; SB 190 on special-focus nursing facilities; SB 201 on juvenile life-without-parole sentencing procedures; SB 233 on a statewide data exchange compact; SB 236 on annual kidney disease reporting; SB 258 on juvenile traffic offenses; SB 270 on medical marijuana use by terminally ill patients in health care facilities; SB 273 on hospice care requirements; SB 307 on educational displays and a Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds; SB 320 on CODIS hit tracking; SB 321 on electronic bonds; SB 325 on excluding threatening persons from sports wagering; SB 331 on temporary exceptions to the Scenic Rivers Act for lower Pearl River Basin work; SB 339 on gaming-related background checks; SB 345 on annual OJJ reporting; SB 346 and SB 347 on deepfake misuse in schools and on campuses; SB 357 on judiciary cleanup provisions; SB 359 on hospital district commissioner terms; SB 387 on pharmacy benefit managers; SB 393 on explosives regulation; SB 401 creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board; SB 415 creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program; SB 419 on pre-charged pneumatic devices for deer hunting; SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain repeat DWI offenders; SB 426 on the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority and peer support credentials; SB 435 creating a Commission on Fatherhood Engagement; SB 437 on licensed treatment services in facilities housing judicially referred residents; SB 440 creating a Renaissance District in Rapides Parish; SB 451 on newborn hearing screening and intervention; SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage; SB 470 on pregnancy-related rules in correctional facilities; SB 487 on gaming premises rental agreements; and SB 488 creating a school safety drone response pilot program. Several bills were returned to the calendar for later action, including SB 189 on atmospheric releases affecting weather and climate, SB 326, SB 341, SB 353, and SB 495. A number of bills drew debate over policy and fiscal effects. SB 112 on school release time for religious instruction prompted questions about public-school participation, sponsoring entities, and parental consent; SB 189 on prohibiting intentional atmospheric release of substances for climate or weather modification passed 75-21 after questions about aircraft fuel dumping and agricultural exceptions; SB 201 on juvenile sentencing led to discussion of Supreme Court precedent and appellate review; SB 233 raised privacy concerns about interagency data sharing; SB 313 on electronic filing fees in criminal matters was criticized as a possible unfunded mandate and failed 25-68; and SB 451 on newborn hearing screening drew questions about board expansion, Medicaid coverage, and added administrative costs before passing 94-1. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, and the House repeatedly adopted motions to table reconsideration after final passage votes. The chamber also announced it would stop debate at 5:00 p.m. and continued working through Senate bills as the Natural Resources Committee finished its meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they can be awaiting trial, which can be up to a year, over two years.
• house arrest, or what we know as 24-hour electronic monitoring, does MD manage that program or pre-trial
• That's amazing to me because you're holding everybody in that facility up to the point of a trial and
• And you know we know people are not getting to trial in a month; we know they're not going to trial in
• Almost 60% of people are asking for legal assistance on how to get to pre-trial, when's my court date

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next page is clearance rates by trial court case type.
• On the next page is felony trials driven by a record number of bench trials fiscal year 22 through 24
• And trial rates exceeded the average of 2.9 percent.
• And last, civil trials. There were over 40,000 civil trials at the district.
• And county level in fiscal year 24 with a civil trial rate of just over 10%.

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• but it's my understanding that this bill is now representative of a compromise between some of the trial
• The important part here is the trial lawyers made the suggestion.
• The important part here is that the trial lawyers made the suggestion that what they would agree to is
• This gets us through a year ...till next session, and the parties, both the AG, trial lawyers, and the
• We also continue to believe that trial courts will serve as effective gatekeepers to winnow and shape

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• but it's my understanding that this bill is now representative of a compromise between some of the trial
• The important part here is the trial lawyers made the suggestion.
• The important part here is that the trial lawyers made the suggestion that what they would agree to is
• This gets us through a year till next session and the parties, both the AG, trial lawyers, and the Retail
• We also continue to believe that trial courts will serve as effective gatekeepers to winnow and shape

Summary: The Washington State Senate Committee on Business, Trade, and Economic Development waived the five-day notice rule to consider Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274 and Engrossed House Bill 2294. The committee first heard HB 2274, which would modify the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by requiring false or misleading subject lines to be knowingly false or misleading, and reducing statutory damages from $500 to $100 or actual damages, whichever is greater. Representative Springer and retail witnesses described the bill as a compromise reached with consumer lawyers, retailers, and the Attorney General’s office, intended to address a surge in lawsuits after a recent Supreme Court ruling while preserving consumer protections. Consumer advocates testified that they supported the compromise as a temporary step, while one consumer-side attorney objected to the bill’s text-message damages change, arguing it was unrelated to the email issue and could weaken existing protections. The committee held the public hearing open and did not take final action on the bill during the meeting. The committee then heard HB 2294, which prohibits private agreements that restrict real property from being used as a grocery store or pharmacy, declaring such negative use restrictions against public policy and unenforceable after the bill’s effective date, with exceptions for preexisting agreements and limited relocation scenarios. Representative Farivar said the bill was prompted by grocery and pharmacy closures and aimed to prevent property covenants from blocking replacement stores in underserved communities. Supporters from the Washington Food Industry Association and Northwest Grocery Retail Association said the bill would help independent grocers and communities, though the retail association asked for further language refinement for retail-center situations and noted the bill preserves some limited protections for existing investments. The committee took public testimony but did not vote on HB 2294 during the hearing. In executive session, staff briefed Substitute House Bill 2428, which requires insurers issuing individual life insurance policies to send lapse notices to policyholders and designated third parties. The committee then adopted a due pass recommendation and sent the bill to the Rules Committee. The motion passed by voice vote, with the bill passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• The particular thing that was determined in that trial is that the Failure to count 20 ballots did not
• You can review the trial transcript. You can review Judge Prezell's order.
• And again, this is a public trial.
• The trial court's findings cannot be deemed clearly erroneous.
• You need only review the trial transcript and the court's order and the evidence for yourself to see

Committee: House Ethics

Transcript Highlights:

• For trial, because many felony cases take not just weeks, but months to get to trial.
• So between the time of a preliminary hearing and the actual jury trial.
• Is when a lot of the work is done in terms of not just investigation, but preparation for trial.
• attorney also has, now with that new evidence, the ability to present more evidence in preparation for trial
• will save taxpayers a whole ton of money because the actual evidence that is going to be presented at trial

Transcript Highlights:

• who are released pre-trial.
• detained pre-trial are more likely to detained pre-trial are more likely to plead<01:34:39.760><c> guilty
• </c><01:34:43.840><c> How</c> pre-trial. But how much more likely? How pre-trial.
• ><c> also</c><01:35:03.840><c> essential</c> pre-trial data system is also essential pre-trial data system
• </c> the benefits of a statewide pre-trial the benefits of a statewide pre-trial data<01:35:14.159><c

Bills: HF3901 , HF962 , HF4428 , HF4478 , HF1775

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• To say what happens to the animals while waiting trial for that crime?
• If there's no trial for the crime, they get their animal back.
• be a trial in your opening comments.
• Because you mentioned trial. It's a disposition hearing, gentlemen.
• The court could name a party to take those animals waiting trial. Okay.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 127-2. Members then used points of personal privilege and guest introductions to recognize a new grandchild, President Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, Artemis II and Missouri’s role in space manufacturing, Line Worker Appreciation Day, a visiting mayor, and a former representative. The chamber then moved into third reading and perfection business. Several bills were passed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2740, creating a pediatric disease task force in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, passed 139-1 after supporters described it as a limited, accountable way to coordinate research and report on outcomes. House Bill 2422, which raises a county filing fee to support the Department of Agriculture’s Land Survey Program, passed 131-6 after members said the program could not continue on the current fee. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 311, moving bail bond oversight under the Board of Private Investigators and Fire Investigators, passed 112-22. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3009, allowing nonprofit pharmacies to provide medications during emergencies, passed 133-6. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2474, authorizing progressive design-build project delivery for public construction, and House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3076, clarifying that common agricultural practices are exempt from non-point source permitting under clean water law, were both ordered perfected and printed. House Joint Resolution 159, which would modernize the state treasurer’s constitutional investment authority, drew the most debate. The sponsor argued it would update outdated restrictions, allow safer investment options, and generate an estimated $15.1 million without raising taxes. An amendment adding legislative, governor, and auditor approval for changes to the investment policy was adopted. Supporters called the proposal conservative and bipartisan, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could reopen questions about risky investments or conflict-of-interest issues. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the resolution perfected and printed. The chamber also took up House Bill 2436, dealing with animal impoundment, return of animals when no charges are filed or a defendant is found innocent, and related animal neglect provisions. Members adopted a title amendment, then adopted an amendment creating penalties for malicious false reports of animal abuse and another amendment modernizing neglect and abandonment offenses, including provisions on adequate care and control and higher penalties for repeat or harmful conduct. Debate centered on whether the bill was necessary, how to define malicious reporting, and concerns from animal welfare groups versus law enforcement and agricultural interests. The bill remained under consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not to be the jury trial itself.
• Let's let's take the trial lawyers Yes.
• ><c> Lawyers</c> Beth Lance, Wyoming Trial Lawyers Beth Lance, Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association.<02:
• That's just normal trial practice.
• </c> the again this is designed for pre-trial the again this is designed for pre-trial dispositive<02

Bills: HB0070 , HB0043 , HB0103 , HB0157 , HB0092 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary