Transcript Highlights:

• yeah, endangerment we added where if it's multiple people involved, it went to a class B, class C felony
• If they was using the weapon, it went to a class C felony. >> Okay.
• <02:54:04.160> If<02:54:04.399> they<02:54:04.560> was a class B class C felony
• If they was a class B class C felony.
• . felony. felony.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aiding federal authorities even in cases where firearms are involved if the underlying incident was a felony
• narcotics case or a felony person's crime.
• narcotics case or a felony person's crime.
• in criminal otherwise not engaged in criminal activity<00:15:22.800> or<00:15:23.040> felonious
• or felonious activities and then<00:15:24.880> continue<00:15:25.199> that<00:15:25.440

Bills: HB0130, HB0095, HB0096, HB0097, SF0101, SF0106, SF0067, SF0123

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, concealed carry, public colleges, university facilities, weapons legislation, self-defense, campus safety, weapons, age requirement, permits, HB0097, Wyoming firearms privacy, merchant category code, MCC

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our trailing dog team, so our felony man trailing, that's in the event there's an escape or
• works with local law enforcement, will call upon our canine program to help effect apprehensions on felony
• There's typically a pattern of felonious behavior that leads up to the physical abduction of a child,
• either arrested, convicted, placed on a sex offender registry, have an active warrant against you, a felony

Bills: HB2134, HB2253, HB2270, HB2402, HB2404, HB2673, HB2941

Keywords: critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, law enforcement, disciplinary action, administrative appeals, investigative files, due process, retaliation, county seal, law enforcement authority, sheriff's posse, public safety, county governance, ambulance services, certificate of necessity, emergency medical services, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates three separate offenses, each having misdemeanor and felony provisions.
• Misdemeanor offenses would involve amounts less than $1,000, while felony offenses would involve sums
• increases the penalty for smuggling a telecommunications device into a correctional facility to a felony
• increases the penalty for smuggling a telecommunications device into a correctional facility to a felony

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill expands the Virginia law, making it a Class 6 felony for an adult to display obscene items,
• Speaker, the bill expands the Virginia law, making it a class six felony for an adult to display obscene
• explained that his amendment would reinstate language requiring the Commonwealth's Attorney to agree in felony
• take out the changes and reinsert the language requiring the Commonwealth's Attorney to agree in felony

Keywords: March 09, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, that criteria is already basically you're going to look at does a person have a felony?
• /c><00:12:28.639> person<00:12:28.880> have<00:12:28.959> a<00:12:29.120> felony
• <00:12:29.519> Do<00:12:29.680> they at does a person have a felony?
• Do they at does a person have a felony?

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:02 Bills for Consideration: 26RS HB 383: 1:03 26RS HB 469: 6:32 26RS HB 586: 14:46 26RS HB 621: 19:58 Adjournment: 28:32, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education met and first considered House Bill 383, which concerns military-connected students with IEPs and 504 plans. The sponsor explained that the bill, as amended by a committee substitute and then a committee amendment, is intended to emphasize Kentucky’s priority for military children and to have their existing or new plans adopted within 30 days of arrival to the greatest extent possible, while documenting cases where that is not possible. Members spoke in support, including references to military families who would benefit. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and then passed HB 383 favorably to the House floor with the committee substitute attached. The committee next heard House Bill 469, which would require school board candidates to undergo a background check and can test before appearing on the ballot. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about school board access to children and school buildings, and that the cost would be paid by the candidate. Members asked about the criteria for disqualification and the open records exemption; the sponsor said the background check would use existing pass-fail criteria and the records exemption would protect candidates from embarrassment if they failed. The committee passed HB 469 favorably with the committee substitute attached. House Bill 586 was then considered, clarifying that sunscreen is not a medication in schools. The sponsor and a student advocate testified that some districts treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication, limiting student use without a provider order, and argued the bill would help prevent sunburn and skin cancer by allowing students to use sunscreen more freely. Members praised the advocacy and asked about the medication issue; the sponsor said the concern came from dermatology stakeholders. The committee passed HB 586 favorably to the House floor. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 621, which would move special education caseload and class-size limits from regulation into statute. The sponsor said the bill responds to proposed Department of Education changes that worried special education teachers, would slightly increase class-size maximums when a paraprofessional is present, and would not affect waiver procedures, preschool caseloads, or speech-language pathologist caseloads. Members asked about the rationale and supporting data for the limits; the sponsor said there are no federal guidelines and the bill was meant to preserve current regulatory numbers. The committee passed HB 621 favorably to the House floor, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• would be if you were to burgle the extension of a dwelling, you would be subject to a fourth degree felony
• using the term "extension of a dwelling," and we're adding it to subpart C, which is a fourth degree felony
• So the dwelling gets a third degree felony, and the extension of a dwelling gets a fourth degree felony

Bills: HB294, SB40, SB43, SB35

Keywords: cannabis, cannabis packaging, cannabis labeling, cannabis regulation, Cannabis Control Division, adulterated cannabis, artificial color additive, food dye, youth appeal, minor appeal, child-resistant packaging, black-and-white packaging, edibles, product labeling, consumer protection, marijuana, hemp, dispensary, licensed cannabis business, cannabis manufacturer

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, look, all I'm saying is if we have more felonies, we're going to need more spaces to keep them
• /c><00:12:28.480> have<00:12:29.120> more<00:12:30.240> uh<00:12:30.399> felonies
• ,<00:12:31.120> we're<00:12:31.440> going if we have more uh felonies, we're going
• if we have more uh felonies, we're going to<00:12:31.680> need<00:12:32.800> we're<00:12

Bills: SB24, SB83, SB142, SB140, SB94, SB24, SB83, SB142, SB140, SB94, HB132, HB37, HB51, HB105, HB54, HB7, HB158, HB188, HB189, HB111, HB13, HB192, HB149

Keywords: body-worn camera, public records, law enforcement transparency, recording disclosure, civil rights, adult-size changing table, changing station, accessible restroom, public bathroom, public building, public entity, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility, restroom renovation, new construction, grant program, state grant, local government facilities, historic property

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas Miss Colvin was arrested for a felony at the age of 15 after refusing to give up her seat to
• Whereas Miss Colvin was arrested for a felony at the age of 15 after refusing to give up her seat to
• 26:58.480> a Whereas Miss Kovven was arrested for a Whereas Miss Kovven was arrested for a felony
• ><00:27:00.080> after<00:27:00.320> refusing Whereas Miss Colvin was arrested for a felony

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber then received several House Joint Resolutions: HJR 2 and HJR 3 to notify the governor that the legislature is in session and to escort the governor to the joint session, HJR 4 mourning the death of Howard Sanderford, and HJR 5 mourning the death of Samuel Allen Harper. Each was taken up by suspension of the rules and adopted without objection. Committee reports followed, with multiple Senate bills receiving favorable reports and being advanced to the calendar for the next legislative day. Reported bills included SB 20, 30, 31, and 41 from Judiciary; SB 19 from Banking and Insurance; SB 12, 28, 35, 42, 93, and 134 from County and Municipal Government; a large group of fiscal and economic development bills including SB 54, 77, 78, 89, 100-103, 113, 122, 126, 127, 128, and 136; and SB 32, 33, 55, 70, 108, 114, and 118 from Veterans and Military Affairs. Several of these reports included amendments, and all were placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate adopted SJR 6 honoring former Representative Brian Melton Jr., SJR 7 supporting federal voting rights legislation including the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, SJR 8 naming the Lamar Harrison Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 98 in Wilmer, and SJR 9 honoring Samuel Allen Harper. The chamber then adopted SJR 10, a lengthy resolution celebrating the life of Claudette Colvin, with remarks from Senators Figures and Coleman emphasizing her civil rights legacy and the impact of her refusal to give up her bus seat at age 15. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn until 8:30 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, December 11th of, uh, 2018, um, I was uh serving a felony warrant in Houston and uh We were ambushed
• This is evidence of a felony offense, a second degree felony offense, leading to engaging in organized
• So actually a 1st degree felony offense being disposed of.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2759 by Burdell relating to the unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain felony
• HB 2771 by Hayes relating to the possession of a firearm by persons convicted of certain felony. offenses
• force or deadly force in response to the commission of attempted commission of violence. violent felony
• review certain laws into the state to restrict those rights or activities of the person convicted of a felony

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• offense to knowingly possess, access with intent to view, or 502 503 can be elevated to a third degree felony
• a prior conviction under this section or related. and it can further escalate to a second degree felony
• The offense is a felony of the third degree if the depictions are of a real child in a state jail.
• The offense is a felony if the depictions are of a computer-generated child. conviction if a depicted

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• Julie, when they die or they're an eligible to become a felon felony conviction.
• There were 5 felony convictions for circulators who fraudulently. We're filling out forms.
• If you get removed is your activists because we got notified, you got a felony conviction.
• Department of State that fee, their notification process is in their analysis or through their actions, felony

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just spoke to one of the felony supervisors, and basically he tells me that when he's around, they
• So I'm one of the retired court-appointed attorneys who used to take felonies and appeals.
• <00:53:52.280> supervisors<00:53:53.280> and of the uh felony supervisors and of the
• uh felony supervisors and basically<00:53:53.960> he<00:53:54.160> tells<00:53:54.480>
• attorneys who do used to take felonies attorneys who do used to take felonies and<00:54:56.000><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We eliminated the pandemic backlog of felony and gross misdemeanor cases, while many other states are
• eliminated the pandemic back back<00:07:59.720> log<00:08:00.000> of<00:08:00.159> felony
• <00:08:00.599> and<00:08:00.759> gross<00:08:01.039> misdemeanor back log of felony
• and gross misdemeanor back log of felony and gross misdemeanor cases<00:08:02.960> while<00:08
• So if the captain here wanted to file a complaint against me as a felony complaint, he could do that

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee met to approve the January 16 minutes and then heard a budget presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on behalf of the Minnesota judicial branch. Shorba described the courts’ structure, mission, and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court filings annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. He emphasized the branch’s constitutional obligation to provide fair and timely access to justice and said the courts are funded almost entirely through legislative appropriations. He also highlighted recent accomplishments made possible by prior legislative funding, including eliminating the pandemic felony and gross misdemeanor backlog, expanding remote and hybrid hearings, improving courtroom technology, sustaining treatment courts, and increasing pay for interpreters and psychological examiners. Shorba outlined the judicial branch’s 2026–27 budget request, which he said totals a 12% increase over the starting biennial base. Major requests included $77.3 million in 2026–27 and $104 million in 2028–29 for a 6% judicial salary increase and related compensation costs; $5.1 million in 2026–27 and $1.76 million in 2028–29 for digital accessibility compliance with new federal ADA rules; $4 million in 2026–27 and $800,000 in 2028–29 to modernize justice partner access to court records; $7.2 million in 2026–27 to raise pay for contract psychological examiners; and $18 million in 2026–27 to increase juror pay from $20 to $100 per day and align mileage rates with federal rates. He also discussed ongoing funding needs for interpreter services, jury costs, cybersecurity, and other statutorily required court services, saying temporary funding provided in the prior session will expire and that permanent support is needed. Members asked questions about treatment courts, employee bargaining, and mental health competency issues. Representative Eric requested more detail on funding for newly launched and existing treatment courts, and Shorba said many treatment courts begin with federal grants before transitioning to state support after about three years. He confirmed the judicial branch negotiates its own employee contracts rather than the executive branch doing so, and said the branch has three unions plus many unrepresented employees. On mental health and competency, Shorba said the branch is focused on obtaining timely psychological evaluations and is not responsible for treatment services themselves, but acknowledged a shortage of examiners and treatment beds and said a related competency board would be testifying the following week. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Assessors makes clear that broad property tax classifications without a constitutional amendment
• subclass of shopping malls and serves as a legitimate municipal purpose, unlike the broad arbitrary classifications
• Next bill: House Bill 3161, An Act Relative to the Classification and Taxation of Urban Public Access

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• These classifications come from the Tax and Revenue Department for the most part, so we borrowed their
• classifications and put them in there.
• The amounts don't match our classifications because of differing criteria; we can put them in different

Transcript Highlights:

• But we're going to have to figure out what's the limits and what's the classifications.
• whether it's construction and, and, and utilities and then see what other falls in the other classification
• If you can begin to look at that and get some classification breakouts, but I think. Um, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, HB4028 disrupts the existing waste classification framework by requiring a... ...specific product
• Waste classification is a complex process that focuses on a material's properties like flammability,
• An entity, say the City of Fort Worth or another city, decides to treat biosolids to a certain classification

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:06:47.199> level encounters resulting in a felony level encounters resulting in a felony
• And this is just on a normal routine felony arrest that's already subject to 91A.
• And this is just on a normal routine felony arrest that's already subject to 91A.
• And because we made the felony state.
• sexual assault, aggravated felonious sexual assault.

Keywords: 1189, house, all