Transcript Highlights:

• strongly believe it does not rise to the level of a misdemeanor, which could include almost a year in jail
• almost</c><00:36:07.599><c> a</c><00:36:07.839><c> year</c><00:36:08.000><c> in</c><00:36:08.240><c> jail
• </c><00:36:08.480><c> and</c> could include almost a year in jail and could include almost a year in
• jail and a<00:36:08.880><c> $2,000</c><00:36:09.680><c> fine.

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone who's addicted to drugs or has a disease of alcoholism to throw them in jail.
• Someone who's addicted to drugs or has a disease of alcoholism to throw them in jail.
• the case: what the defendant has been convicted of, whether the defendant has been sentenced to DOC, jail
• It's still jail-eligible.

Bills: SB1067, SB1234, SB1285, SB1295, SB1392, SB1413, SB1436, SB1470, SB1476, SB1489, SB1512, SB1535, SB1540, SB1556, SB1568, SB1569, SB1570, SB1573, SB1585, SB1609, SB1627, SB1634, SB1635, SB1644, SB1647, SB1648, SB1650, SB1653, SB1654, SB1655, SB1656, SB1657, SB1658, SB1661, SB1662, SB1664, SB1666, SB1667, SB1669, SB1709, SB1720, SB1723, SB1725, SB1743, SB1746, SB1748, SB1755, SB1786, SB1820, SB1822, SB1829, SCR1027, SCR1040, SCR1048

Keywords: tax lien, property tax lien, real property tax lien, foreclosure, right of redemption, redeem, excess proceeds, county abatement lien, abatement lien, lien priority, assessment lien, easement, county treasurer, certificate of purchase, tax delinquency, delinquent property taxes, property owner equity, judgment foreclosure, title report, Arizona Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons with mental illness have for too long been housed in jails, cycling through emergency departments
• Having a system of care where people are treated will afford us the opportunity to keep people out of jail
• I submit that we'll probably save money by keeping people out of jail.
• I submit that we'll probably save money by keeping people out of jail.

Keywords: 00:00:06 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:23 - Review of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:00 - Discussion of 26RS HB 485 01:00:40 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 485 01:03:25 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And certainly if you're in a DUI in a truck, you're you need to be in jail or whatever.
• need</c><01:04:28.480><c> to</c><01:04:28.640><c> be</c><01:04:28.799><c> in</c><01:04:29.119><c> jail
• </c><01:04:29.440><c> or</c> you're you're you need to be in jail or you're you're you need to be in
• jail or whatever.<01:04:30.480><c> So</c><01:04:30.799><c> that's</c><01:04:31.359><c> that</c><01:04

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's time it's not spent on a jail. It's not spent at their computer doing legal research.
• And that's times it's not spent<00:59:57.119><c> on</c><00:59:57.280><c> a</c><00:59:57.520><c> jail.
• > not</c><00:59:58.319><c> spent</c><00:59:58.640><c> at</c><00:59:58.880><c> their</c> spent on a jail
• It's not spent at their spent on a jail.

Keywords: Opening and Roll Call 00:28 Public safety Cabinet 01:09 Juvenile justice MH Facility: 04:30 Department of Corrections Repair and Replacement: 10:29 Department of Criminal Justice Flat Track 19:05 KSP : 27:02 Department of Public Advocacy : 37:35, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard capital project requests from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for fiscal years 2026-28. The cabinet described its large statewide footprint and said its facilities face significant deferred maintenance, with the governor’s budget proposing full funding for maintenance pool requests, including an additional $60 million for the Department of Corrections’ maintenance pool and cash funding through investment income. Officials said the projects were based on facility assessments and were presented as necessary public safety investments rather than wish-list items. For the Department of Juvenile Justice, the main requests were $35 million for a high-acuity mental health treatment facility and $45 million each for two new female detention facilities. Officials said the mental health facility would fill a gap for youth needing psychiatric care, while the female facilities were needed to support a regional detention model and address overcrowding; they noted the current female population has grown by 50% since July 2024. Members asked about locations, and staff said they were considering western Kentucky abandoned mine land and available land in Fayette and Jefferson counties, with current female placements in Boyd County and Warren County. For the Department of Corrections, officials requested funding for critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roof, and structural repairs, including $15.78 million for Kentucky State Penitentiary utilities infrastructure and additional funding for North Point Training Center projects. They also highlighted two re-entry initiatives: a KCTCS partnership for a re-entry campus at North Point and the East Kentucky Applied Manufacturing Institute at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, both aimed at reducing recidivism through intensive training and job preparation. Members asked about the KCTCS re-entry model, and DOC explained it would be a more immersive, campus-style program than current prison-based vocational classes. The Department of Criminal Justice Training discussed projects at its Richmond campus and the planned Western Kentucky Training Center, including a replacement flat track and campus access road at Richmond and added training features in Madisonville. Officials said the Richmond changes were needed because EKU construction had removed the existing flat track and would affect access, while the Western Kentucky project would expand training capacity and reduce travel for law enforcement agencies. The Kentucky State Police then outlined the final phase of the statewide emergency radio system replacement, estimated at about $17.5 million, and said the system is being built in geographic phases; members asked how long completion would take, and staff estimated roughly four years after funding, assuming no major inflation spikes. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational with member questions and staff responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• also to help them serve the people they're serving in the classrooms, the probation officers, at the jails
• also to help them serve the people they're serving in the classrooms, the probation officers, at the jails
• also to help them serve the people they're serving in the classrooms, the probation officers, at the jails
• Classrooms, probation officers at the jails, all the different people that are being served.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• these materials that the attendant at the gas station can't share with the child without going to jail
• It is about whether or not we should subject people to jail time for handing people books, and whether
• Why would four walls of a government-funded school prevent someone from going to jail for showing something
• “Why would four walls of a government-funded school prevent someone from going to jail for showing a

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, led the pledges, and approved a series of routine motions, including excusing absent members and granting permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. Members also adopted several memorial and recognition resolutions, including H.R. 1023 honoring Christian Beerbill, H.R. 1033 recognizing International Bereaved Mother’s Day, and H.R. 877 recognizing Urban League Advocates Day. The House also recommitted SB 17 and HB 4211 to committee and postponed SCR 27 and HB 2145 for later consideration. The chamber then took up a long third-reading calendar of bills covering a wide range of topics, including Sunset review measures, health care workforce and pricing, child custody and family law, Medicaid, rural ambulance grants, energy reporting, public information requests, trail development, virtual meeting disruptions, occupational licensing, protective orders, county leave pools, animal cruelty, infrastructure, and higher education. Most bills were explained briefly by their authors and passed with broad support, though several drew notable opposition, including HB 5265, HB 2402, HB 3000, HB 3237, HB 3326, HB 1056, HB 281, HB 3308, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 294, HB 809, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 285, HB 1353, HB 3960, HB 4044, HB 4264, HB 2807, HB 3349, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 1201, and others. Several bills prompted extended debate or amendments. HB 3237, extending public energy-use reporting for state and higher-education buildings, passed after questions about its public-sector-only scope and energy savings. HB 3326, addressing public service loan forgiveness credit for adjunct professors, initially failed on a 69-70 vote but later passed after verification and machine corrections. HB 3211, concerning optometrists in managed care plans, adopted a Buckley amendment before passing. HB 2213 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association board composition adopted a Metcalf amendment requiring certain board members to be Texas residents. HB 412, dealing with harmful materials and sexual performance of a child, generated extensive questioning about its scope, existing legal standards, and effects on educators and medical professionals; the excerpt ends during that debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• under arrest or, you know, they'd been arrested, and they died somewhere between the arrest and the jail
• strengthens existing law by raising the penalty for destroying a flag from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail
• penalty for intentionally or knowingly damaging, defacing, mutilating, or burning the flag to a state jail
• And I certainly don't think he should be in jail. He certainly shouldn't get a felony.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• If, in fact, an exemption is an exemption, you get a get-out-of-jail-free card, get away with no taxes
• > a</c><01:21:29.120><c> get</c><01:21:29.280><c> out</c><01:21:29.440><c> of</c><01:21:29.600><c> jail
• </c> exemption, you you get a get out of jail exemption, you you get a get out of jail free<01:21:30.080

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 302, which would allow the state treasurer to invest public funds in precious metals and digital assets. The sponsor was not present, so Representative Urs introduced the bill briefly and said he did not know much about it. No one from the Treasury Department testified, and members repeatedly noted the treasurer’s absence. Susan Elme testified against the bill, arguing that these investments are highly volatile and contrary to the treasury’s duty to remain stable and liquid. She said the bill should be killed. In questioning, she estimated the 5% cap in the bill would amount to roughly $10 million, depending on available funds, and said such investing would be more appropriate for an individual day trader than for the state treasury. Members also discussed prior legislative experience with Bitcoin-related proposals and raised concerns about whether the treasury had the staff expertise to manage commodity or digital asset investing. The committee did not take a final vote; instead, it agreed to hold a work session and seek additional information from the treasurer, with a plan to revisit the bill on April 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's like putting people in jail before they have been convicted of anything and keep even if they're
• <00:14:55.680><c> putting</c><00:14:56.000><c> people</c><00:14:56.160><c> in</c><00:14:56.399><c> jail
• </c><00:14:56.639><c> before</c><00:14:56.959><c> they</c> like putting people in jail before they like
• putting people in jail before they have<00:14:57.760><c> been</c><00:14:58.000><c> convicted</c><00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 126, which would change civil asset forfeiture law. The Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, and county prosecutors opposed the bill’s proposed SD1, arguing that requiring a criminal conviction and changing how forfeiture proceeds are distributed would weaken or effectively end the tool, create fiscal and law enforcement problems, and make it harder to address organized crime or cases where an owner cannot be identified. The Public Defender’s Office, Community Alliance on Prisons, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters argued the measure would improve transparency and accountability, protect property rights, and reduce abuses that disproportionately affect low-income people. The chair questioned law enforcement about fairness, storage of seized property, and access to counsel, and the discussion focused heavily on whether forfeiture should depend on a conviction. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 280, which would make the Community Outreach Court permanent and appropriate funds for it as a division of the First Circuit district court. The Department of the Attorney General and Judiciary supported the concept and described the court’s success in helping people resolve cases, clear license stoppers, recall bench warrants, and access services, but suggested amendments to remove the Attorney General from the bill’s definition and funding mechanism. The Public Defender, Department of Human Services, mental health and substance use advocates, neighborhood and community groups, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its benefits for people facing housing instability, behavioral health issues, and transportation barriers. No opposition was voiced, and no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 370, which would increase partial public campaign financing for elective offices. The Campaign Spending Commission supported the original bill and asked the committee to restore the original percentage amounts, keep the proposed funding increases, and reinstate funding for two additional full-time staff positions. Supporters said the public financing system has not kept pace with inflation and needs modernization to be viable; a few testifiers opposed the measure. The committee reported 30 in support, two opposed, and one comment, and then moved on without a vote. Finally, HB 371 was heard, a campaign contribution bill that would bar state and county contractors, grantees, and certain related persons from contributing during the contract period. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is intended to address pay-to-play concerns and false-name contributions, while the State Procurement Office raised concerns about the burden of requiring agencies to provide contract information for all contracts regardless of dollar value. The testimony ended with the commission saying it was working with procurement and the Attorney General on implementation details; no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• arrested in charg with this somebody is arrested in charg with this doesn't mean they actually go to jail
• or doesn't mean they actually go to jail or doesn't mean they actually go to jail or prison a lot of
• have status of an individual that they have status of an individual that they have arrested in their jails

Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• it's incredibly rare that someone convicted of a misdemeanor would receive the maximum of 365 days in jail
• of</c><01:26:10.120><c> 365</c><01:26:11.160><c> days</c><01:26:11.560><c> in</c><01:26:11.720><c> jail
• </c> maximum of 365 days in jail. maximum of 365 days in jail.
• under this provision, the court would have no discretion to not impose the mandatory minimum of 1 year jail
• which does require, as a felony offense, for those individuals who serve a mandatory minimum of 1 year jail

Bills: SB2041

Keywords: land court, real property, legal documents, bureau of conveyances, judicial confirmation, property registration, working group, Hawaii Revised Statutes, reform, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 2041, which would repeal the Land Court, transfer its functions to the Bureau of Conveyances, and create a working group to recommend implementation. DLNR and Judiciary stood on their written testimony, while Realtors supported the bill and one testifier raised concerns about the loss of judicial authority, title disputes, adverse possession, and possible effects on Kuleana lands. Members questioned whether property could be deregistered and what the legal consequences would be, and the Bureau of Conveyances said deregistration is already available but burdensome. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted by both committees. The Judiciary Committee then heard SB 2247, which restricts certain governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed executive branch employees from participating in campaign fundraising. The State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill as a way to curb pay-to-play concerns and the appearance of undue influence, and several advocacy and civic groups also testified in support, with one person opposing. The committee agreed to amend the bill so the restrictions apply only after confirmation and continue until the person leaves the covered position. The committee voted to pass SB 2247 with amendments. Finally, the Judiciary Committee heard SB 2143, which would make the Attorney General the interim Chief Election Officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. Supporters argued the bill would provide continuity, prevent delays in certifying election results, and protect election integrity; opponents argued it would politicize the office, create a conflict of interest, and was unnecessary because current law already provides a process for filling vacancies. Testimony was extensive and sharply divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript provided does not include a final vote or action on SB 2143.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have legal assistants and some attorneys too that'll sit at a jail for hours, taking jail staff
• So when we're overloaded, are we looking at any types of delays in terms of cost in courts, jails, all
• cycling through multiple attorneys, which is going to save, I think, significant costs in terms of jail
• won't probably save my agency a ton of money, but I think you'll save money on the back end in, like, jails
• So now that you put an additional burden on someone else, which means longer wait times, longer jail

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They based that on looking at actual experience with firefighters and adjusting the wages for local jail
• support Senate Bill 5882 because the data regarding corrections officers and PTSD is stark. 53% of jail
• Without treatment, people predictably cycle through emergency rooms, jails, and homelessness, with these
• Since outpatient treatment is designed to keep people out of the hospital and ...and jails, and it's
• dangerous deterioration, and stabilizes people who would otherwise cycle through emergency rooms, jails

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They went into the jail to, uh, to see the client before initial appearance. And that's the goal.
• They went into the jail to, uh, to see the client before initial appearance. And that's the goal.
• They went into the jail to, uh, to see the client before initial appearance. And that's the goal.
• think everybody's going to agree that they're better results coming out of it, but cutting down on jail
• think everybody's going to agree that they're better results coming out of it, but cutting down on jail

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 13 January, 2026; 1:45 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jails and prisons in Florida struggle with how to manage our mentally ill population, which is where
• most of our mentally ill are now, in our jails and prisons.
• For the acutely mentally ill, the cycle is jail, a forensic hospital, living on the streets, and inevitably
• health in the criminal justice system to divert clinically appropriate defendants to treatment, not jail
• We're put in jail.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• created this fraud were organized, greedy, arrogant criminals who are being prosecuted and sent to jail
• created this fraud were organized, greedy, arrogant criminals who are being prosecuted and sent to jail
• created this fraud were organized, greedy, arrogant criminals who are being prosecuted and sent to jail
• </c><00:54:15.799><c> which</c><00:54:15.920><c> is</c> prosecuted and sent to jail which is prosecuted
• and sent to jail which is awesome<00:54:17.000><c> that</c><00:54:17.599><c> but</c><00:54:17.960><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and still is, only one immigration detention facility in New Hampshire, and that’s Strafford County Jail
• Strafford County Jail is used for nonviolent detainees whose only major alleged offense was being in
• brought in for minor crimes, but if you’re accused of something really serious, you don’t go to the jail
• A lot of those were just kept in an old part of the jail, with fairly minimal supervision.
• Anyway, my bill simply mandated best practices, which the jail was already honoring.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• are legal to purchase in neighboring states, can face a misdemeanor conviction and up to a year in jail
• The effects of a misdemeanor in jail.
• I talked to a end up going to jail I talked to a public<02:00:10.800><c> defender</c><02:00:11.199><
• Second offense, class B misdemeanor up to $500, no jail.
• Third offense, class B misdemeanor up to $1,000, no jail.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we were to do this with this particular statute, it's not like giving people a get-out-of-jail-free

Keywords: 1189, house, all