Video & Transcript Research : 'earned release time'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Time flies.
  • </c> this the first time this the first time &gt;&gt; Mr.<00:34:02.799><c> Hawk?
  • Um, my first time this session.
  • </c> times more than the average lineman. times more than the average lineman. 108.3 108.3 108.3 times
  • </c><01:41:46.560><c> And</c> times more. That's an insane number. And times more.
Bills: HF4059, HF76
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Community Safety Feb 2nd, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • First, it modifies earned release time eligibility and allows earned release time of up to a third of
  • Second, it makes the changes to earned release time prospective only for offenses committed on or after
  • Second, it makes the changes to earned release time prospective only for offenses committed on or after
  • release time.
  • served, plus earned early release on the time served.
Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met in executive session on February 2, 2026, to consider several bills. Staff summarized House Bills 1239, 2310, 2490, 2508, 2510, 2532, and 2539, along with proposed substitutes and amendments. HB 1239 would expand earned release time and add a DOC pilot program for incarcerated survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence; HB 2310 would elevate certain fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation cases to a felony for repeat offenders; HB 2490 would revise extraordinary medical placement criteria; HB 2508 would expand Office of Independent Investigations reporting and access rules; HB 2510 would require DOC supervision for people convicted of stalking; HB 2532 would make nitrous oxide distribution a gross misdemeanor with exemptions; and HB 2539 would raise the inmate indigency threshold and, in the substitute, retain only that increase. The committee took action on amendments to HB 1239, rejecting amendments that would have extended supervision for earned early release, reduced the maximum earned release percentage for serious violent and Class A sex offenses, and barred earned release time from being used if parole is later established. It adopted amendments excluding sexual motivation enhancements from earned release calculations and adding a second pilot program at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton. The committee then reported out Substitute HB 1239 on a 5-4 vote, with members split over public safety, victim impact, and sentence length concerns. HB 2310, HB 2508, HB 2510, HB 2532, and HB 2539 were all reported out with do pass recommendations, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 2508 was amended to narrow and clarify reporting requirements for non-deadly force incidents and in-custody deaths. HB 2532 was amended to add a veterinary care exemption for nitrous oxide. HB 2539’s substitute, which removed the telephone-services provision and kept only the indigency-threshold increase from $25 to $100, passed 6-3. The committee deferred action on HB 2490 and announced it would return to the remaining bills the next day.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> had zero wind or negative wind at times had zero wind or negative wind at times I<00:41:38.680><
  • times and things like that for the units.
  • And we do have to consider the different um, um, start times and minimum run times and things like that
  • </c> marginal cost of the units at the time marginal cost of the units at the time and<01:24:55.199><
  • Thank you very much for your time.
Bills: HF75
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Community Safety Jan 29th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • I testified before your committee the other day for the very first time. This is your first time?
  • This is your first time. All right. Back at you. This is your first time? This is your first time.
  • Chair alluded to, maybe even changing the name slightly of that program from first-time offender to first-time
  • Over a 10-year period of time.
  • But in this moment and in this time, we are facing unprecedented times, and the people of Washington
Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and began with a decision to postpone all executive session action until the following Monday because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups. The committee first heard staff and sponsor remarks on House Bill 2558, which would narrow and restructure the mental health sentencing alternative. Staff explained that the bill would replace the current “serious mental illness” standard with a psychotic disorder standard, add eligibility restrictions for some domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, require more detailed DOC reports, lengthen community custody in some cases, require regular progress hearings, and shift HCA funding from reimbursement to contracting with providers. Sponsor Rep. Amy Wallen described the bill as a response to misuse of the current program in domestic violence and other violent cases, saying it should be refocused on people with profound mental illness tied to the offense. Public testimony on HB 2558 was held over for later in the meeting. The committee then took extensive testimony on House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with two new pathways: a pretrial deferral and a suspended sentence option. Staff said the bill would allow eligible first-time felony offenders to avoid a conviction if they complete conditions, with strong presumptions in favor of relief and eligibility expanded to some offenses such as second-degree assault and robbery, while excluding violent, sex, DUI, and certain drug offenses. The sponsor, Rep. Darya Farivar, said the bill is intended to improve rehabilitation and make the program more meaningful by allowing dismissal for successful completion, and she noted additional exclusions and technical changes were still being worked on. Supporters included public defense, immigration advocates, economists, judges, the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, and a youth advocate, who emphasized reduced recidivism, better employment outcomes, and immigration consequences of a conviction. Opponents from sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocacy groups raised concerns about including serious offenses, the lack of prosecutor consent, victim safety, and whether the bill would create uneven treatment across jurisdictions. Several witnesses and members also discussed whether the bill should be narrowed further, and the sponsor said she would remove the strong presumption language after a judge testified that it was a concern. The committee next heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from employing people hired as sworn ICE officers on or after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively to hiring after October 1, 2026. Sponsor Rep. Tarra Simmons said the bill responds to community fear about ICE tactics and is meant to prevent hiring people she views as having participated in rights violations. Members questioned whether the bill was discriminatory and whether background-check reforms would be a better approach. The committee then moved to House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE enforcement activity to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, attempt to identify the federal officer, and avoid escalation; it also would require state representation and indemnification for officers acting in compliance. Sponsor Rep. Mary Fosse said the bill is meant to protect both communities and local officers and is still being narrowed with stakeholders. Testimony was mixed: the State Patrol and Teamsters 117 said many of the requirements align with existing practices and could help document incidents, while the sheriffs’ and police chiefs’ association warned that the bill could discourage federal officers from seeking local assistance and asked for softer language and stronger indemnification. The committee ran out of time and ended further testimony without taking final action on the bills.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:11:02.079><c> preparing</c> spent hours of my time preparing spent hours of my time preparing
  • Thank you for your time and crimes.
  • </c><00:18:49.919><c> and</c> thank you for your time and thank you for your time and consideration<00
  • </c> thank you for, uh, taking the time thank you for, uh, taking the time today. today. today.
  • </c> released outcomes. It's very lengthy. released outcomes. It's very lengthy.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> in Minnesota who faces risk every time in Minnesota who faces risk every time they<00:09:14.760>
  • </c> full-time and volunteer firefighters. full-time and volunteer firefighters.
  • ,</c> firefighting positions: full-time, firefighting positions: full-time, part-time,<00:09:46.720><
  • </c> part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer. part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer.
  • </c> or part-time. or part-time.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I wasn't division um at the time.
  • At a time when tensions can run risk.
  • 20:01.920><c> cycling</c><01:20:02.400><c> back</c> release, no probation, no cycling back release, no
  • </c><01:29:23.280><c> doing</c> so, and this is their third time doing so, and this is their third time
  • , release, release, to<01:42:46.560><c> parole,</c><01:42:47.679><c> to</c><01:42:47.920><c> reduced<
Bills: HF1567, HF2809, HF3380
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • 1636 just requires law enforcement to review cases, filing cold cases in a timely manner, and if the
  • particular bill, what we're going to do is we're in a Couple of things, we are going to lengthen the time
  • This DOC request makes some modifications to time for inmates in the Department of Corrections, specifically
  • earn credits.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Early Learning & Human Services Jan 30th, 2026 at 08:30 am

Early Learning & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • It removes the underlying bill's provision that individuals 21 and over with a release date of 26 or
  • release date after the age of 25.
  • It also specifies that the authority to release someone in the custody of DCYF who has an earned release
  • date within six months of their 25th birthday allows release before, and not after, a person's earned
  • release date.
Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee met in executive session on four bills. House Bill 2230, which streamlines DHS monitoring and oversight of community residential service providers and limits duplicate routine reviews, was amended with Harrow 796 to clarify that Adult Protective Services investigations are not subject to the routine review limits. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the substitute bill out of committee unanimously, 11-0, with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Workforce Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force, was reported out with a do pass recommendation on an 8-3 vote. Supporters said the bill updates language, broadens membership, and aligns duties; some members voted no or without recommendation due to concerns about the title change and other provisions. House Bill 2389, dealing with juvenile offender sentencing and juvenile rehabilitation capacity procedures, had no amendments to the proposed substitute and was passed out of committee 7-4. Members described it as a complex, balanced effort to modernize juvenile justice policy, address facility capacity, and preserve rehabilitation and public safety. House Bill 2429, supporting implementation of the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan for Children and Youth Behavioral Health, was amended with Wickham 846 to adjust leadership council membership and add two representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes, nominated by the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council, while preserving tribal consultation requirements. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the substitute bill unanimously, 11-0, with a do pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, staff noted amendment requests for upcoming executive session bills were due by 10 a.m. Monday and to the EBB by 4 p.m. Monday, and the committee adjourned after announcing three bills would be up for possible executive session on Tuesday.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, at the appropriate time, I know you have an amendment to this bill, but if you allow me to do
  • if you will make a complaint against your husband, and we can document it for a certain period of time
  • or what the health insurance company would pay at that particular time.
  • It allows that, upon sentencing, inmates become level two and can only earn 22 credits per month.
  • How, when we look at coercive it unfolds over time and it's difficult to detect.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 24th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, at the appropriate time, I know you have an amendment at this bill, but if you allow me to maybe
  • And you can't earn any credits, and you can't do anything to improve yourself.
  • or what the health insurance company would pay at that particular time.
  • Upon sentencing, if they become level four, they can earn four.
  • However, when we look at coercive control, it unfolds over time.
Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard and advanced a series of bills covering criminal justice, family law, elections, insurance, and property issues. Among the measures approved were SB 2030, a clean-slate/automatic expungement bill; SB 1926, allowing victims seeking protective orders to file in another county; SB 2170, requiring supervised visits when sexual abuse allegations are substantiated by DHS; SB 2151, giving prosecutors discretion to seek a 65% sentence instead of an 85% sentence in some cases; SB 2166, setting evidentiary rules for calculating future medical damages; SB 1213, allowing certain inmates to start at a higher earned-credit level; SB 1381, creating a statewide pretrial hearing process with a pilot program approach; SB 1824, updating corporation and LLC statutes; SB 1876, modernizing service of process on foreign insurers; SB 1728, adding a domestic violence definition for coercive control; SB 1582, defining bona fide resident and lawful permanent resident for alien land ownership rules; SB 1286, requiring more political subdivisions to provide polling places at no cost; SB 1386, creating a courtroom transparency pilot program using audio-video recording; and SB 1708, creating a rebuttable presumption of joint custody and equal parenting time. Several bills were amended before passage, including title-striking motions on multiple measures and committee-substitute language changes. Debate centered on the policy tradeoffs in several of the more controversial bills. Senators raised concerns about forum shopping and judicial bias in the protective-order bill, the fairness and practical effects of the future-damages bill on injured plaintiffs and insurers, the impact of the custody presumption bill on domestic violence cases and guardian ad litem practice, and the risks of foreign land ownership. Supporters generally framed the bills as responses to constituent concerns, efforts to improve fairness or transparency, or ways to modernize outdated statutes and procedures. Opponents or skeptics focused on unintended consequences, possible burdens on victims, and whether existing law already addressed the problems being raised. The committee also heard that SB 1381 would likely return as a pilot program in one county because of fiscal concerns, and SB 1386 was discussed as a limited courtroom-recording pilot rather than a full statewide rollout. SB 1582 passed after discussion of the meaning of “bona fide resident” and whether certain noncitizens could buy land. SB 1708 drew especially detailed debate over whether the law should begin with a presumption of equal parenting time or leave custody decisions entirely to the judge’s best-interest analysis. Most measures advanced on bipartisan roll-call votes, with some dissent on SB 1926, SB 2166, SB 1386, and SB 1708.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 15th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our release time programs work with school administrators to find a time for students to attend that
  • I remember doing release time in the early 1960s.
  • Has Texas not had release time ever? Is this something new? No, it's not new.
  • To access release time programs for religious education for their children.
  • Release time programs have a long history in our nation.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Crisis of our time, but not now.
  • I would tell you they have 10 or 15 years of clinical experience, 20 times more training. 20 times.
  • So we have two full-time equivalents and two halves, but they won't commit to full-time.
  • Take your time. We're going to get started, and whenever you're ready, take your time.
  • A medical student would never be able to work full-time and attend school full-time. ...time.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • saving time... ...time would address health complications.
  • as Texas time.
  • daylight saving time.
  • time only.
  • More states are looking at permanent standard time now than at daylight saving time.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/18/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've seen it a couple times. Thank you, Madam Chair.
  • </c><00:31:40.919><c> of</c> government prohibits the release of government prohibits the release of
  • I know I have been in before many, many times.
  • </c> funding landscape at this point in time funding landscape at this point in time in<01:04:15.000>
  • </c> governance good government all the time governance good government all the time Mr<01:14:49.880>
Bills: HF2274, HF1932
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PBS Public Hearing - Fri Feb 13, 2026 @ 10:00 AM HST

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • We just want some time.
  • We just want some time.
  • Mahalo for your time. >> Thank you.
  • Mahalo for your time. >> Thank you.
  • Mahalo for<00:47:05.839><c> your</c><00:47:05.920><c> time.</c> for your time. for your time.
Summary: The committee opened by announcing that it would hear testimony but would not take decisions on the day’s bills, with action deferred to a later decision-making agenda. The first measure, HB 2264, would require notification to military security forces when a protective order is issued involving a military-affiliated person. Support came from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Hawaii National Guard, and DBEDT’s Military Affairs office, all emphasizing better coordination and faster notice to help protect victims and support command oversight. Family Court Judge Jesse Hall supported the intent but asked for deferral, explaining that a prior fax-and-email notification system had broken down and that the military had not re-engaged with the court. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the bill but recommended narrowing it so it applies only when the respondent is actually marked as military-connected and delaying the effective date to January 1, 2027 to allow implementation. In questions, members discussed the current breakdown in communication, the number of military-marked TROs statewide, and whether the bill would be necessary if the old system were restored; the military witness said she would try to reestablish contact with the court. The committee then took up HB 2336, which would authorize the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense for services at federal military installations and charge an administrative fee. DOT and the Military Affairs office supported the measure, describing it as a way to speed projects, combine state and federal resources, and strengthen infrastructure that also supports disaster response and the economy. Members questioned why the bill was needed if similar arrangements had existed before, and whether Title 23 federal highway funds could be used; DOT responded that the bill would help expedite projects and supplement, not supplant, federal funding, while each project would still require review of the appropriate funding source. The committee also heard HB 2298, which would allow the Department of Education to award high school diplomas to qualified people whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Hawaii Office of Veterans Affairs, and DOE supported the bill, and DOE said implementation would have only a minimal printing cost. Finally, the committee heard HB 1518, which would require DHS, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to create a pre-release SNAP application process for inmates nearing release by January 1, 2028. DHS said it was already working on a pilot and stood on its testimony; the County of Hawaii, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Public Health Institute supported the measure, arguing it would improve reentry outcomes and would not cost the state additional money. No votes or final committee actions were taken on any of the bills during this meeting.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:21:26.559><c> ask</c> I have is is is this a a one-time ask I have is is is this a a one-time
  • That gives me some time for my two.
  • So, um, because it's the timing.
  • There's a transition time.
  • At the same time, they've that.
Summary: The Government Contracts Committee met for its first 2026 meeting, approved the December 9 minutes, and reviewed 337 contracts totaling about $71.8 million. After a motion to consider the routine contract lists without objection passed, the committee pulled several items for discussion, including contracts from the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Department of Highways, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission, and Kentucky State University. Most items were ultimately approved by roll call votes. For the Council on Postsecondary Education item, members discussed why the contract was not handled through the usual Finance Cabinet bidding process. Staff explained it stemmed from House Bill 200 and the healthcare workforce incentive fund, which uses a separate competitive award process and steering committee under different statutory standards. The committee accepted that explanation and approved the contract. Department of Highways staff then explained the difference between scour assessments, which evaluate erosion and foundation risk around bridge piers, and load ratings, which assess the bridge structure itself. Members also questioned a larger engineering contract increase; staff said it reflected progression from preliminary engineering to final design on a phased project and estimated the funding split at roughly 80% federal and 20% state. Those highway contracts were approved. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission presented a legal services contract. Officials said the new corporation had identified legal needs, issued an RFP, and awarded four firms to create a pool of counsel to avoid conflicts as the agency now licenses racing, sports betting, and charitable gaming. They also said an emergency contract was needed after a temporary restraining order was issued in litigation involving charitable gaming machines and alleged losses to charities. The committee asked about the litigation and the affected organizations, and the contract was approved. Kentucky State University then defended a marketing/enrollment contract despite financial concerns, saying the work was intended to raise awareness of the university, improve enrollment, and support financial stability. University officials also said they were tightening student payment enforcement and collection practices, including payment plans and holding students accountable for balances. That contract was also approved.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 13th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll announce that at a time certain here shortly.
  • Chairman, in the interest of time and allowing as much time as possible for questions from the committee
  • Not all the time, but part of the time at the school.
  • People have been trying for a very long time.
  • I'm ashamed of that time in our life where I did that.