Transcript Highlights:

• Interference with custody has been a crime in all 50 states.
• </c> need to know that uh these are crimes need to know that uh these are crimes and<00:29:13.120><c>
• These crimes on the books are meant mostly as deterrence to people committing crimes, and if DCYF can
• </c> that you know how Insidious these crimes that you know how Insidious these crimes are<02:25:15.359
• </c> there's a there are a lot of crimes there's a there are a lot of crimes which<04:54:44.600><c> are

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A violent felony, obviously,... ...processing a particular type of case.
• A violent felony, obviously, takes a lot more time to process and go through the process than does a
• We're making more crimes, right? And so that might account for why... Making more crimes, right?
• If you have a high violent crime rate in your jurisdiction, that filing is going to be weighed a lot

Summary: The committee met to review budget and fiscal items, beginning with a roll call and a reminder about severe weather and the need to keep the meeting brief. Members first received the January fiscal status statement and certified the prior-year surplus at $577,073,871, with no changes from the prior month. The fiscal status statement was approved without objection. Staff then reviewed the five-year baseline budget and continuation/standstill budgets, noting projected imbalances in later years driven by revenue declines, including the redirection of motor vehicle sales tax, and by rising costs such as inflation and Medicaid adjustments. Representative Amadee asked about Medicaid growth and SNAP administrative costs, and staff explained that the SNAP federal match change is separate from Medicaid. The governor’s executive budget presentation focused on a third year of standstill budgeting, efficiency savings, and the impact of one-time reductions and agency reorganizations. Officials said the budget avoids recurring spending from nonrecurring revenue and incorporates savings from prior efficiency efforts. Major items discussed included funding for LA Gator vouchers, the high-impact jobs program at Louisiana Economic Development, DCFS modernization, corrections overtime and offender costs, Angola population growth, nursing home and MCO adjustments at LDH, and additional support for the MJ Foster Scholarship and Board of Regents systems. Members also discussed the distinction between state general fund and federal funds, the effect of inflation on specific purchases, and the use of surplus dollars, including deposits to the Budget Stabilization Fund and UAL paydown. No formal action was taken on the budget presentation. Later items included the FY27 expenditure limit calculation of $20.1 billion, up $953 million from FY26, and the annual comprehensive financial report, which received an unmodified audit opinion. The committee approved a BA-7 increasing federal funds for the governor’s office by $2 million for U.S. DOT-related infrastructure and rural transit work. It also approved Facility Planning and Control requests to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects and to combine two Baton Rouge Community College projects. CPRA received approval to extend contracts with Coastal Estuary Services and Access Sciences for monitoring and records-management services. The committee also approved a legislative intent clarification for a $500,000 appropriation to the New Orleans Recreational Development Foundation. The final major discussion was a presentation on a weighted caseload study for appellate and district courts. Judicial officials explained that the study updates an outdated formula used to assess judgeship needs, incorporates specialty courts and commissioners, and is intended as one tool in a broader collaborative process with the legislature. Members raised concerns about the number of judges, court funding, and how Louisiana compares with other states. No vote was taken on the study, but the discussion emphasized future collaboration on judicial resource allocation and possible structural changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• individuals charged with drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal immigration, and other border-related crimes
• Illegal immigration and other border-related crimes, and grants to cities, towns, and counties for costs
• associated with prosecuting and detaining individuals charged with border-related crimes.
• . with drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal immigration, and other border-related crimes.
• And second of all, when we're talking about all of these crimes, these are all border-related crimes.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee heard several bills. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million for Department of Public Safety border support, including equipment, law enforcement positions, and grants to local governments for border-related enforcement and detention costs. Supporters, including the Arizona Sheriffs Association, said the funds are fully used each year and are largely spent on drug interdiction, especially against fentanyl and methamphetamine. Opponents argued the bill’s immigration-enforcement language was too broad and that the money should instead go to health care, education, food assistance, or prevention programs. The committee approved HB 2416 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard HB 2806, which would require county recorders, ADOT, and AHCCCS to use the federal SAVE system and report citizenship-verification results to JLBC and the Auditor General. The ACLU of Arizona opposed the bill, saying SAVE is not designed to determine voter eligibility, could wrongly flag eligible citizens, and would likely lead to litigation and confusion. Several members questioned the need for the bill, noting existing citizenship requirements and current use of SAVE in some agencies, while others supported it as a way to ensure only citizens access voting and benefits. HB 2806 passed 4-3. HB 2663, a technical cleanup bill updating military leave language for state and local employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves, drew little opposition and passed unanimously. HB 2759 would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans Services for a grant program with Yavapai County educational institutions to help veterans with emergency housing, equipment, professional development, and other shortfalls tied to delayed GI Bill payments. Testimony supported expanding help for veterans, but some members raised concerns that the bill was limited to Yavapai County and included private institutions; the sponsor and witnesses said it could serve as a pilot and potentially expand statewide. The committee approved HB 2759 on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1226 added two misdemeanors of sexual battery and domestic violence to the list of crimes
• Senate Bill 1226 added two misdemeanors of sexual battery and domestic violence to the list of crimes
• I think it's a really good public safety bill because we know that these two crimes actually are precursors
• to more violent crimes.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee considered several trailer appropriations and related language items. It approved $200,000 ongoing for the Idaho Department of Correction tied to House Bill 684, which allows sheriffs to seek reimbursement for costs of collecting absconders from out of state, and approved $63,000 ongoing for the Idaho State Police under Senate Bill 1226 to cover DNA sample and thumbprint collection for certain misdemeanor offenses. The committee also reconsidered the Secretary of State budget after House Bill 909 failed on the floor, and passed an amended FY 2027 budget with a $235,800 general fund increase, including a one-time $350,000 voter pamphlet appropriation, a $20,000 transfer from operating to personnel, and a 2% base reduction. A major portion of the meeting focused on restoring behavioral health programs in the Department of Health and Welfare using one-time Millennium Income Fund and opioid settlement dollars. Analysts outlined options to restore ACT, peer support, skills training, transportation, partial hospital, and early serious mental illness programs. The committee first rejected a broader restoration package, then approved a narrower FY 2027 package restoring only assertive community treatment and peer support services with $4.619 million from the Millennium Fund, $5.555 million from the opioid settlement fund, and $20.525 million in federal funds. It also approved $250,000 from the opioid settlement fund for peer support services in mental health courts and adopted language directing the department to identify savings for future funding needs, though a broader language motion failed. The committee then approved a FY 2026 supplemental of $200,000 for the Legislature to hire a consultant for the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel under HCR 30, despite objections that it duplicated work already being done by the Department of Health and Welfare’s consultant. Members also discussed that the one-time behavioral health funding would only carry programs through FY 2027 and may require general fund support later. The committee adjourned after announcing it would likely meet again Wednesday to handle year-end transfers, remaining trailer bills, and other pending budget items.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not a complete outright exclusion.
• That is providing communication to constituents, but it's not exclusive, number one, it's not exclusive
• It's not exclusive to one particular group of people.
• It's not exclusive.
• That crime is now considered under this bill a dangerous crime. That little girl's name is Missy.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one a month in Harris County Jail and these are people that have not actually been convicted of a crime
• Would you say the vast majority then have been incredibly accused of violent crime or violence in some
• You do have an inmate population that I think most people would say is more violent at this point.
• To themselves and the person who's sitting there because of the heinous nature of their crime. and their
• is they suffer from mental illness, not their... you know, violent or anything else.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since the pandemic, sixty-one percent of hospitals have noted an increased severity of violent incidents
• May 2023, a hospital in Houston, Texas, was cited for failing to protect employees from assaults by violent
• The proposed changes will lead to a safer healthcare environment for staff and patients, reduced crime

Bills: HB334 , HB583 , HB605 , HB1327 , HB1646 , HB2115 , HB2379

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties

Transcript Highlights:

• not only encouraged mass illegal entry into the country, it created a permissive environment for violent
• They are who they say they are, and we don't know until they commit a crime here.
• That territory, that's... ...the cartels are at war in that area, and it's so violent.

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Give them the tools they need to win the fight against crime and chaos and drugs.
• So that after these officers have risked their lives to take violent criminals off the streets, that
• our judges are empowered and even required to keep those violent criminals in custody as they await a
• I mentioned that the consequence. of whether we win the fight against crime and drugs falls most heavily

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, Texas's rate of gun crimes has decreased, not saying that their passage of...
• , gun crimes, and violence.
• towards people being able to conceal their crime.
• towards people being able to conceal their crime.
• The rate of them being used in crimes is infinitesimal.

Committee: House General Laws

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as a crime of violence.
• crimes and sex crimes from serving as jurors.
• House Bill by Representative Villio, crime of racketeering, additional crimes, House Bill 147.
• Crime of racketeering, additional crimes, 147. Criminal justice.
• crimes and sex offenses, 520.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's a city crime, that's not a state crime, if it's a city ordinance or something, because there's
• If there's a city crime, that's not a state crime, if it's a city ordinance or something, because there's
• once they've been sent off to the state or the state drops them off, some of them been relatively violent
• It helps us find evidence of a very heinous crime.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who's 18, if they commit a... ...took into consideration that somebody who's 18, if they commit a crime
• I am always open to conversations that increase penalties for violent crimes, regardless of the age,
• I think that our prosecutors in the state have discretion to make those charging decisions when crimes
• In fact, any sexualized depiction of a minor is a crime, and we must call it what it truly is.
• Using accurate terminology reinforces that this material is a serious crime against a child, and that

Summary: The committee first took up HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores the rights of adults 18 and older, emphasizing constitutional rights, military service, voting, jury duty, and parental responsibility. Opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates and several members, cited Parkland and the recent FSU shooting, argued that people under 21 are still developing and more impulsive, and said the current law helps protect public safety. After extensive debate and public testimony on both sides, the committee voted 11-5 to report HB 133 favorably. The committee then considered PCS for HB 35, which adds driving without a valid license to the offenses that can lead to habitual traffic offender designation and is named Isaiah’s Law in memory of a child killed by an unlicensed driver. Supporters said it addresses repeat dangerous conduct and should help prevent similar tragedies. One member questioned whether it was a knee-jerk response, while others said it was a reasonable accountability measure. The PCS passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 245, which updates Florida law to use more accurate terminology for child sexual abuse material rather than “child pornography,” and includes related technical corrections. The sponsor said the change better reflects the seriousness of the crime and asked whether the bill also covered AI-generated material; the sponsor said the statute already addresses such references. After a technical amendment was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. The chair also reminded members to maintain respect toward public witnesses and each other before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Right on Crime has been involved in this.
• And so instead of right now, they can just go to the bond schedule, okay, this is what his crime is,
• You know, there's soft on crime, Osborne again, trying to let hardened criminals out to roam the streets
• that I just gave, he said, what if we added some language that just basically said, no matter what, violent

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. Senate Bill 419, as amended to update the effective date to 2026, would allow the state treasurer and the Department of Wildlife Conservation/Wildlife Conservation Commission to employ or appoint attorneys. Supporters said the treasurer’s office handles highly specialized financial matters and needs in-house expertise and faster legal advice; questions focused on possible conflicts with the Attorney General, fiscal impact, and why Wildlife was included. After discussion, the bill was reported due pass by a 7-2 vote. Senate Bill 835, also amended to a 2026 effective date, would require qualifying licensing boards and commissions to submit proposed non-rulemaking actions with anti-competitive implications for review by the Secretary of State. The author said the bill responds to antitrust concerns raised by the North Carolina dental board case and is intended to provide state supervision before boards take potentially anti-competitive action. Members questioned whether existing court remedies and Attorney General oversight were sufficient, and whether a single official should have that authority. The bill passed due pass 8-2. Senate Bill 1618 would require courts to conduct pretrial risk assessments early in criminal cases, with the assessments used as one factor in bail decisions but not as the sole basis for granting or denying bail. The author said the bill is modeled on federal practice and is meant to help judges make fact-based decisions and reduce jail overcrowding, especially in Oklahoma County. Members asked about who validates the assessments, county implementation, and costs; the author said counties could choose their own approach and that the fiscal impact would not be significant. The bill was reported due pass 6-4. The committee also considered Senate Bill 262, which was heavily amended and had both the title and enacting clause struck while members continued working on it. The bill concerns moving certain inmates convicted of nonviolent financial crimes out of county jails and into appropriate intake/transport processes, with the author emphasizing the goal of reducing jail overcrowding and inviting further collaboration on the language. Members raised concerns about fairness and possible unequal application based on community ties, and the bill was reported due pass 8-1 despite being acknowledged as a work in progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Right on Crime has been involved in this, working with several of the district attorneys to get
• And so instead of right now, they can just go to the bond schedule, okay, this is what his crime is,
• You know, there's soft on crime, Osborne again, trying to let hardened criminals out to roam the streets
• He said, what if we added some language that just basically said, no matter what, violent criminals don't

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 419, as amended to update the effective date to 2026. The bill would allow the State Treasurer and the Department of Wildlife Conservation/Wildlife Conservation Commission to employ or appoint attorneys, joining other entities already authorized to do so. Supporters argued the treasurer’s office handles highly specialized financial matters and large state assets, and that in-house counsel could provide faster, more specialized advice. Members questioned possible conflicts with the Attorney General’s role, the fiscal impact, and why Wildlife was included; the sponsor said Wildlife’s inclusion was tied to similar specialized needs and indicated willingness to remove it if needed. The bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-2 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 835, also amended to update the effective date to 2026. This measure would require qualifying licensing boards and commissions to submit proposed non-rulemaking actions with anti-competitive implications for review, shifting oversight from the Attorney General to the Secretary of State. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address antitrust concerns raised by the North Carolina dental board case and to provide earlier executive-branch review of potentially anti-competitive board actions. Members raised concerns about whether the Secretary of State should be the arbiter of anti-competitive conduct and whether existing court remedies or current executive-order processes were sufficient. The bill passed on an 8-2 due pass vote. Senate Bill 1618 would require courts to conduct pretrial risk assessments early in criminal cases. The sponsor said the assessments would be one tool judges could use in setting bond and determining release conditions, and that the bill was intended to make the practice available statewide rather than only in some counties. Questions focused on who would validate the assessments, whether counties already could do this, whether it would delay release in smaller counties, and whether it would add costs; the sponsor said counties could tailor the process, that it was already being done in some places, and that the fiscal impact would be minimal. The committee voted 6-4 to report the bill due pass. Finally, the chair presented Senate Bill 262, which had been amended and had its title and enacting clause struck as part of ongoing work. The bill was described as an effort to reduce county jail overcrowding by allowing certain inmates awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections to be handled differently, with further amendments expected. Members discussed concerns about fairness and the use of factors such as community ties in release decisions, and the sponsor said the measure was still being refined and was intended to solve a practical jail-capacity problem. The committee voted 8-1 to pass the bill out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when those things occurred, it looked more like organized crime, the agency leadership, including
• And when those things occurred, it looked more like organized crime, the agency leadership, including
• ,</c><00:04:16.000><c> the</c><00:04:16.320><c> agency</c> more like organized crime, the agency more
• like organized crime, the agency leadership,<00:04:17.359><c> including</c><00:04:17.680><c> the</c>
• If he wants more of what he Today, we're exclusively dependent on the federal government to do that,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, the daily accountability allows us to address risks immediately before it turns into a new crime
• Statewide, 31% of mental health court participants are later charged with new crimes, compared to a 55%
• Every Saturday, I publish a church crime report that documents incidents that occurred the previous week
• According to their most recent report, over 400 churches were targeted and suffered violent attacks in
• points to one very simple fact: anti-religious zealots believe that churches are easy targets for violent

Summary: The Idaho Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee began with introductions of a new page and visiting family members, then unanimously approved the minutes from February 19, 2026. The committee heard presentations from court administrators on court assistance offices, family court services, and treatment courts. Testimony described services for self-represented litigants, family law support, mediation and fee assistance, and the structure and outcomes of treatment courts. Members asked questions about recidivism, sanctions, and court procedures, and one line of questioning about child interviews in family cases was cut short because of pending legislation in that area. The committee then took up House Bill 692, which would expand access to child protection hearings and create a rebuttable presumption for attendance by children, relatives, foster parents, fictive kin, service providers, and legislators unless the judge finds exclusion appropriate. The sponsor and advocates said the bill would improve transparency and allow children and caregivers to be heard; opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, confidentiality, and the inclusion of legislators and broad categories of service providers. After discussion, the committee rejected a motion to send the bill directly to the floor and instead approved a substitute motion to send it to general orders by a 15-1 vote. Next, House Bill 23, a House rule change for procedures during a call of the house, was explained as allowing members and staff access to offices and restrooms while still requiring attendance and voting. It passed unanimously. House Bill 683, concerning sex offender residency definitions and removing a care-facility exemption near schools or daycares, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor and a sheriff. House Bill 684, shifting transport costs for escaped state prisoners from counties to the state, passed unanimously as well. Finally, House Bill 615, which would add religious gatherings and houses of worship to the disturbing-the-peace statute, drew both support and constitutional concerns about vagueness and First Amendment issues; it passed the committee 9-2 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, the daily accountability allows us to address risks immediately before it turns into a new crime
• Statewide, 31% of mental health court participants are later charged with new crimes, compared to a 55%
• Every Saturday, I publish a church crime report that documents incidents that occurred the previous week
• Clark continued: "According to their most recent report, over 400 churches were targeted and suffered violent
• points to one very simple fact: anti-religious zealots believe that churches are easy targets for violent

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of you are proposing new crimes Many of you are proposing new crimes regularly.<00:45:31.080><c>
• It is shockingly violent. I offer the last member's speech as an example.
• We won't stop all crime, but the hope that you can be in the world with peace point. point.
• crimes.
• What is going to to commit these crimes.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Intelligence and gather intelligence together and work together to fight crime.
• These have had far too often escalated into violent behavior.
• , despite or in conjunction with federal crimes that are committed as well.
• despite or in conjunction with federal crimes that are committed as well and then some of our unsung
• We have a Crime Florida Crime Analysis Center.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee heard a series of domestic security and law enforcement presentations from the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Highway Patrol, and FDLE. Sheriff Rob Hardwick outlined the sheriffs’ legislative priorities, focusing on adding xylazine to Florida’s trafficking statute and increasing penalties for luring or enticing a child under 12 from a misdemeanor to a felony. He also discussed domestic security coordination, fusion center intelligence sharing, and jail-based reentry efforts. Members asked about xylazine prevalence in Broward County and whether canine units can detect it; Hardwick said he would follow up with data and noted that dogs are not specifically trained for xylazine, though fentanyl-certified dogs may alert on mixtures. Chief Charlie Vasquez of the Florida Police Chiefs Association presented three priorities: stronger protections for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and their families when threatened because of their jobs; faster and more consistent access to blood-borne pathogen testing results after exposure incidents; and mandatory life without release for anyone convicted of murdering a police or correctional officer, reviving a version of the Jason Raynor Act. Senators asked about delays in blood testing after exposure, and Vasquez said officers can be forced to take prophylactic medication while waiting for results and that the process should be streamlined. Florida Highway Patrol Director Dave Kerner described FHP’s domestic security role, including criminal interdiction, canine units, traffic homicide investigations, aviation, drones, border operations, and responses to threats such as human smuggling and the October 7-related security posture at synagogues and campuses. He said staffing remains constrained by vacancies and pay disparities, so he was not seeking more authorized troopers at this time. FDLE Deputy Commissioner David Binder then reviewed the state’s domestic security structure, fusion centers, critical infrastructure assessments, and grant funding, warning that federal homeland security dollars have declined sharply while threats remain high. He highlighted work on drone mitigation, radiological detection, vehicle barriers, and school security assessments, and emphasized the need for continued interagency coordination. The committee took no formal votes and adjourned after the presentations and questions.