Transcript Highlights:

• So first, it will ensure victims are notified of plea hearings and sentencing hearings, protect victims
• and sentencing hearings, uh, protect<00:28:59.240> victims'<00:28:59.680> identities<00
• The first is protection of victim identity and sentence adjustments.
• And the last piece is ensuring victim rights at plea and sentencing hearings.
• This proposal would establish a procedure during plea and sentencing hearings that places the requirement

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fleeing while exercising culpable negligence is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment
• The first sentence in that article reads: “At least eight drivers were hit as suspects weaved in and
• I also want to make it clear that there are consequences under the sentencing guidelines in the fiscal
• It says from 2019 to 2023 there were 3,336 sentenced, an annual average of 667 cases.
• It says from 2019 to 2023 there were 3,336 sentenced, an annual average of 667 cases.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 27,000 sentenced to state prison every year, and almost that many is going out.
• Post-COVID sentencing has changed our system. Post-COVID sentencing has changed our system.
• I urge you to sponsor and support the Long-Term Sentencing Act bill that is presently in drafting.
• Sponsor and support the Long-Term Sentencing Act. Thank you. Thank you, Ms.
• They are limited to 15 percent of their sentence.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard an update from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on staffing, overtime, capital needs, and inmate population growth. Dixon said the prison population has risen by about 8,000 since January 2021 while staffing has not kept pace, forcing the agency to open 53 housing units without funded positions and rely heavily on overtime and National Guard support. He cited a $189 million deficit tied to salaries and overtime, noted that most staff have less than three years of experience, and argued the solution is to fully fund posts for operational housing units. He also reviewed the department’s fixed capital outlay projects, including repairs, new housing construction, and medical modular units intended to reduce outside hospital transports, and gave an update on the VINE victim notification system and its expansion. The committee then heard from Florida clerks of court representatives Jason Welty and Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who described clerks’ court-related and county duties and said clerk budgets have not kept pace with the broader justice system. They requested reimbursements for injunctions for protection ($3.3 million), Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator cases ($2.5 million), and juror management ($4.8 million), and said future funding for new judges should include the full courtroom system, not judges alone. Fernandez-Barquin also raised concerns about unfunded mandates, rising retirement and health costs, low court-side pay, and the need to revisit filing fees and trust fund allocations. Members asked about collections, payment plans, license suspensions, and whether some fees or trust fund distributions could be redirected; the governor’s budget had already picked up the $2.5 million request for Baker/Marchman/SVP cases. During public testimony, speakers urged broader criminal justice reforms and additional funding priorities. A prosecutor emphasized that adding judges requires funding for prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks as well. Other speakers called for parole or long-term sentencing reform to reduce prison populations and costs, criticized staffing and conditions in prisons, and raised concerns about inexperienced correctional officers, visitation delays, and lack of air conditioning in some facilities. The committee took no substantive votes on the items discussed and adjourned after hearing the presentations and public comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE ABOUT 27,000 SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON EVERY YEAR AND ALMOST THAT MANY GOING OUT.
• POST COVID SENTENCING HAS CHANGED THIS SYSTEM.
• I URGE YOU TO SPONSOR AND SUPPORT THE LONG TERM SENTENCING BILL PRESENTLY AND DRAFTING.
• THEY ARE LIMITED TO 15 PERCENT OF THEIR SENTENCE. FIFTEEN.
• ROAD AND THERE IS ANOTHER PRONG TO THAT FORK AND THAT IS PAROLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED LONG SENTENCES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel that there should be an age gate to these products of 21 and up at the minimum, and whether that
• Chairman Hughes, I'm helping a constituent of yours who just caught a seven-year prison sentence for
• That includes setting a minimum age of 21 and older, requiring lab testing, and implementing packaging
• If you could maybe just wrap it up in one sentence. Okay. I'll write it to you. Thank you.
• Very simply, just starting with the second sentence, the case presents the following question: May the

Bills: SB 5, SB 11, SB 12

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, human trafficking, trafficking victim, compelling prostitution, affirmative defense, criminal defense, coercion, force fraud or coercion, sexual exploitation, victim protection, Penal Code, Texas criminal law, prosecution, party liability, affirmative defense statute, survivor rights

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs took up Senate Bill 5, which Senator Perry described as a ban on intoxicating THC consumer products while preserving legal CBD, CBG, hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil products. Perry argued that most retail THC products are already illegal under federal law, that the industry has used loopholes and misleading labeling to sell high-potency products, and that regulation would be ineffective because chemists can quickly alter formulations. He also said the bill would steer people with medical needs toward the Texas Compassionate Use Program (T-Cup), which he and other supporters described as the proper physician-guided alternative. Committee members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the distinction between legal hemp-derived products and intoxicating THC products, and Perry said the bill would not touch non-consumable hemp uses such as fiber and clothing. Invited testimony came from law enforcement and medical witnesses who supported the bill. Texas Police Chiefs Association representative Steve Dye, Kaufman County District Attorney Early Wiley, and Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne all said regulation would be too costly, too complex, and ultimately unenforceable, while a ban would be clearer and easier to enforce. They cited overloaded DPS labs, the need for expensive private testing, limited police and prosecutor resources, and the difficulty of keeping up with constantly changing cannabinoids and out-of-state products. Hawthorne and Wiley described raids and investigations involving warehouses, retail stores, cash seizures, and products they said were marketed to young people and often mislabeled or imported from other states. They also said the bill would help law enforcement by creating a clearer legal line and protecting legitimate CBD/CBG businesses. Dr. Lindy McGee, speaking for the Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society, testified that retail THC products pose serious risks to children and adolescents, including addiction, impaired brain development, psychosis, suicide attempts, self-harm, accidental toddler ingestions, and possible long-term cognitive effects. She said there is no effective medication treatment for THC addiction comparable to nicotine cessation tools, and she supported restrictions such as child-resistant packaging, no marketing to minors, and age limits, while opposing criminal penalties for possession by minors. Senators asked follow-up questions about brain development, memory, dementia risk, pregnancy, and cardiovascular effects. No vote was taken during the portion provided, and the committee continued with invited testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're run-on sentences. They're long.
• They're runon sentences. very confusing. They're runon sentences. They're<01:16:15.679> long.
• <02:08:44.800> or then putting it later in the sentence or then putting it later in the sentence
• of having to craft a single sentence of having to craft a single sentence question, I<03:44:07.520
• They're extremely difficult sentences.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what I'd like to do is change the maximum 50 million per fiscal year to a minimum of 60.
• Let me read the last sentence: 'And after the effective date of this chapter, no institution of higher
• c><02:31:02.880> read<02:31:03.080> the<02:31:03.240> last<02:31:04.040> sentence
• from an let me read the last sentence from an let me read the last sentence from<02:31:05.240>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a 10-year minimum evaluation period when comparing the cost of a proposed transmission project
• Other regions use a minimum of 15 years for their analysis, which is already the norm among other grid
• This bill extends the evaluation period to a minimum of 10 years, ensuring that transmission investments
• [This paragraph is the beginning of a new sentence or thought and may need context to integrate properly
• So, I think at minimum we ought to move forward on the things that we agree on.

Bills: HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1565 ensures accountability, transparency. and a return to academic excellence, which is the minimum
• That's our minimum.
• make sense. of the public school environment and exactly what our parents and families experience. minimum
• We've got statewide minimum standards, but we.
• And it's very valuable to the committee to understand. and when we're drafting the perfect sentence with

Bills: SB12, SB1565, SB13, SJR12, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB112, SB400, SB813, SB 12, SB 13

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, school district, grievance procedure, public education, diversity and inclusion, funding penalties, school libraries, library advisory councils, library materials, educational content, challenging materials, constitutional amendment, school choice

Transcript Highlights:

• > not one-sizefits-all sentence does not one-sizefits-all sentence does not reflect<00:52:58.559
• c> unintentionally sentence that can unintentionally sentence that can unintentionally mischaracterize
• ,<01:14:27.120> that testimony in one or two sentences, that testimony in one or two sentences
• Beller getting promoted every sentence.
• Chair, uh Chair Fryberg, sentence.

Bills: HF4077, HF3798, HF3886

Keywords: municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Whip and members, Senate Bill 1170 requires enhanced sentencing for selling a dangerous or narcotic
• Senate Bill 1170 requires enhanced sentencing for selling a dangerous or narcotic drug to a minor when
• members, Senate Bill 1751 expands Arizona's authorized methods of execution by allowing a person sentenced
• it already, what the law says, we need to keep that because people who do bad things and they are sentenced
• it already what the law says we need to keep that because people who do bad things and they are sentenced

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long agenda of Senate bills across elections, commerce, education, government, health and human services, judiciary, public safety, transportation, rural development, and ways and means. Many measures were described as consent or third-read consent items, including bills on campaign finance termination statements and late-report penalties, AI provenance data for media, adjuster/contractor conduct during emergencies, Industrial Commission changes, association meeting closures, banking and remittance rules, central bank digital currency, public safety parity funding, barbering and cosmetology board continuation, digital asset reserve management, contractor licensing, gaming and racing commission continuation, school AED instruction, classroom removal procedures, school safety reporting, special education complaint transparency, foreign influence and land ownership restrictions, DCS and DES process changes, health care licensing and reimbursement rules, EMS compact adoption, and multiple tax, housing, and transportation measures. Staff repeatedly summarized each bill and answered questions, with several bills noted as mirror or identical to House measures or as strike-everything amendments from committees. A few bills drew discussion. On SB 2874, staff explained that the Senate amendment would limit penalties for untimely campaign finance reports when a committee certifies it received no contributions and made no expenditures, but the sponsor did not concur. SB 1074 prompted questions about whether parental notification changed; staff said it did not and that the bill was aimed at improving communication between teachers and principals about discipline. SB 1175, requiring DCS caseworkers to photograph children at each interaction in abuse or neglect cases, drew concern about the scope of the photos, while supporters said it would improve continuity and documentation. SB 1180 also drew comment because the sponsor and committee chair disagreed over an amendment, though the bill was advanced for further work. The most extended debate came on SB 1751, which would allow death-row inmates to choose firing squad, lethal injection, or lethal gas if voters approve the related constitutional measure. One member strongly opposed the bill on moral and personal grounds, another argued it could be a more humane option if the state is going to carry out executions, and a third raised concern that it could be used against Second Amendment rights. The bill remained on the third-read consent calendar despite the objections. The caucus concluded after moving through the remaining agenda items, with no formal votes recorded in the transcript beyond committee status and consent-calendar placement.

Transcript Highlights:

• does not impede the ability of a prosecutor or a court to consider a prior sealed conviction for sentencing
• 1263 to lower the bar for individuals who have been convicted, completed all the terms of their sentence
• , and demonstrated reformation to move on. terms of their sentence and demonstrated reformation to move
• In 2022, five years after I was sentenced for the felony of distributing ecstasy, I petitioned the Grand
• These charges can still These charges can still be used to enhance future sentencing if a person reoffends

Bills: HB1455

Keywords: tribal consultation, Indian Affairs Commission, tribal governments, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations, Native American, tribal nations, consultation requirement, legislative process, jurisdiction, sovereignty, North Dakota tribes, government-to-government consultation, tribal chairpersons, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first heard House Bill 1455, which would require the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications and conduct consultation with affected tribes. Rep. Collette Brown said the bill was intended to formalize and strengthen tribal consultation, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe representative Ross Bell testified in support. Brad Hawk, executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission, testified neutrally, saying the office already does much of this work but that the bill would add structure; several senators raised concerns about duplication, possible future staffing costs, and whether the bill was necessary. The committee amended the bill to replace “each measure” with “all legislation,” then passed a do-not-pass recommendation on HB 1455 by recorded vote, with Sen. Luick designated as carrier. The committee then took up House Bill 1032, dealing with municipal courts, appeals, and judge qualifications. Legislative Council and court staff walked through proposed amendments, including making municipal courts courts of record on a delayed effective date, clarifying appeal procedures, and adding standards for municipal judges. Members discussed whether to use the term “ethical standards” or “judicial conduct”; after questions about definitions and enforcement, the committee settled on replacing the language with “judicial conduct” in the amended bill. The committee adopted the amendments and then passed HB 1032 as amended on a do-pass vote, with Sen. Cory to carry. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1263, which would make it easier for people with criminal records to seek sealing after a denial by allowing an appeal and reducing the waiting period for a new petition from three years to one year. Rep. Nels Christensen, Christopher Davis, Travis Fink, and Brad Peterson all supported the bill’s goal of giving people a better path to rehabilitation and employment. The main point of disagreement was whether to keep the statutory presumption that the benefit to the petitioner must outweigh the presumption of openness of criminal records; several witnesses urged removing that language, while others said it was part of the compromise that created the current law. The committee closed the hearing without taking final action and said it would review the House discussion before deciding later.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:47.520> So,<00:06:47.680> I past their time of sentencing.
• So, I past their time of sentencing.
• Uh, and it does so again without detaining a person past their time of sentencing.
• ><00:09:30.640> their<00:09:30.959> time<00:09:31.120> of<00:09:31.360> sentencing
• person past their time of sentencing. person past their time of sentencing.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, February 2, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House took up House Bill 444, Public Safety, Immigration Enforcement Agreements Prohibition, which would end 287(g) agreements and related formal understandings with federal immigration authorities. The main debate centered on whether the bill would interfere with the transfer of detainees to ICE and whether counties should be required to give advance notice before release. The sponsor argued the bill should be amended to require 48-hour notice and transfer of convicted detainees, saying it would protect public safety while respecting detainee rights. Opponents said the amendment was unnecessary because notice is already given in practice and that the bill would not allow holding anyone beyond a court-ordered release time. Members discussed a recent news story about a Prince George’s County detainee who was released after serving time and later picked up by ICE, using it as an example of why clearer procedures were needed. The floor leader and other opponents responded that the person had been released by court order and that the proposed amendment would not have changed that outcome. A delegate from Prince George’s County said the county followed standard correctional procedures, checked for detainers, notified ICE, and could not lawfully hold the person once the judge ordered release. A delegate from Baltimore County argued that formal agreements and MOUs with ICE are necessary because informal arrangements are inconsistent and detainers are often ignored; another member cited Baltimore County detainer statistics to support that point. The first amendment to HB 444 was put to a roll call vote and failed, with 36 votes in the negative. After that, a second amendment was offered that would ban arrest quotas, drone use in law enforcement, warrantless unmanned aerial surveillance, and no-knock warrants. The sponsor described it as a civil-liberties measure aimed at preventing quota-driven policing and intrusive surveillance. The transcript ends while that second amendment is being introduced and explained, before any final action on it is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• law has limitations on sealing juvenile records, particularly for youth who receive a determinate sentence
• an exception to this by allowing the sealing of records for individuals who received determinate sentence
• To be eligible for record sealing under HB 1822, the person must have been placed on determinate sentence
• This change recognizes that young people on determinate sentence probation can still be rehabilitated
• It provides a limited pathway for individuals who received determinate sentence probation to their juvenile

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so sorry, can you finish your sentence? I just want to end with this.
• Sentencing someone to death, maybe. You and me were the government.
• That's a government, one taking away liberty, and one sentencing someone to die.
• If be sentenced to first degree murder.
• structures, and you're right: the sentencing structure doesn't even match.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a lifelong sentence of high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, vision loss, heart failure.
• So how much, when you see these low sentences.
• I just don't think the sentencing is as strong as it should be, truly. Thank you.
• Well, you know, and that's important because the sentence itself is so short.
• So I really believe that the increased sentencing will be a deterrent. And thank you for having me.

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the alternative sentencing worker for the Bell County Public Defenders Office.
• 00:02:24.560> uh<00:02:24.720> we Uh, and then we will turn to the our alternative sentencing
• my alternative sentencing plan. my alternative sentencing plan.
• So the alternative sentencing plan does still involve the prosecutors.
• <01:17:44.480> And<01:17:44.719> I >> do give my client up to a potential sentence

Keywords: 0:00:04 Call to Order 0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy 0:51:31 Life Learning Center 1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• so beginning on page five, amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence
• so beginning on page five, amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence
• so beginning on page five, amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence
• so beginning on page five, amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence
• so beginning on page five, amendment, and so beginning on page five, uh, you could see the last sentence

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A Williamsburg woman was also sentenced in 2022 for creating fake IDs in the Covington area.
• A Williamsburg woman was also sentenced in 2022 for creating fake IDs in the Covington area.
• Um, we're talking about individuals who have sentence and probation for most felony sentence and probation
• And I believe that once individuals complete their sentence and they're off probation and parole, we
• And I believe that once individuals complete their sentence and they're off probation and parole, we

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call establishing a quorum of 35 members, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The chamber also received messages from the House that it had passed House Bills 43, 139, 297, 414, and 485 and requested concurrence. Second reading reports placed several bills in the Rules Committee, including measures on property disposition, children, school district sick leave, unemployment insurance, and status offenses, and a new resolution was introduced honoring the 10th anniversary of the 2016 session and its bullying-prevention legislation. The main floor action was on Senate Bill 39, relating to fishing in privately owned lakes and ponds. Senators debated multiple floor amendments, with several withdrawn and floor amendment 6 adopted. Supporters said the bill clarified private property rights and allowed stocking of F1 Florida bass without changing existing license requirements, while opponents and some supporters emphasized protecting the public trust, conservation funding, and the North American wildlife management model. After extended debate, the Senate passed SB 39 as amended by a vote of 29-8. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 154, relating to elections. The sponsor said it would strengthen election integrity by removing non-photo identification options, specifically Social Security cards and EBT SNAP cards, from the list of acceptable voter verification methods. Opponents argued the bill would make voting harder without evidence of fraud, citing that many Kentuckians used those IDs in the last election and that transportation and access barriers already exist. The transcript cuts off during debate on SB 154 before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• No sentence, no hearing, no press conference.
• > press sentence, no hearing, no press sentence, no hearing, no press conference. conference.
• I would like to ask the state of Minnesota for a swift and just sentencing in this case.
• Minnesota for a swift and just Minnesota for a swift and just sentencing<00:20:24.920> in<00:20
• sentencing in this case. sentencing in this case.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Judy Seeberger and traffic safety officials held a press conference focused on a deadly Minnesota motorcycle season and urged both drivers and riders to take greater care. Seeberger described several near-misses and a preventable crash at an intersection near her home, and asked motorists to put phones down, avoid impaired driving, and look twice or three times at stop signs, lane changes, and intersections. Mike Hanson, director of the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety, said 37 motorcyclists had been killed so far this year, compared with 24 at the same time last year, and warned the state could approach 90 motorcycle fatalities if current trends continue. He said about half of motorcycle deaths are single-vehicle run-off-the-road crashes, often tied to speed, inattention, or skill level, while the other half involve a motorcycle and another vehicle; he also noted passenger fatalities are higher than usual and that riders over 60 are now being killed more often than younger riders. Hanson and others emphasized education, training, visibility, helmets, high-visibility gear, and sober driving. He said the state’s motorcycle safety training program is expanding with 11 additional basic rider courses, which should train about 121 more riders, and that safety materials are available to clubs and community groups. He also highlighted the new lane filtering and splitting law, saying it is limited to 25 mph or less and must be done within a rider’s skill level; he said he has seen it done both safely and unsafely and urged riders to follow the law and not be “knuckleheads.” Representatives from the Saint Croix Valley Riders and the Litas St. Croix Valley also spoke. Don Morley said his group promotes safety and awareness, reimburses members for rider training, and supports the new lane filtering/splitting law while stressing that riders and motorists must share the road. Heather Sevlin and other speakers tied the safety message to the death of Dana Milan, saying her crash was preventable and calling for justice and accountability in the impaired-driving case involving Robert Rodriguez, who they said was on a second DUI offense. In response to questions, Seeberger said she would support stricter penalties for repeat impaired or reckless drivers but would not support mandatory helmet legislation. Hanson said the legislature should continue to rely on rider experts and training advocates when considering motorcycle safety policy.