Bills: SF3446, HF3247

Keywords: claims against the state, settlement, appropriations, exoneration, corrections claims, claims, state appropriation, corrections, community service, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no corrections.
• Chair, members, House Bill 2207 appropriates $300,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027
• to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry for the Braille transcription
• program and requires the department to submit a report on the program that includes the number of in-state
• and out-of-state students served by the program in the prior fiscal year by October 15, 2026, 2027,

Bills: HB2207

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, 1182, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety approved the February 18, 2026 minutes and then heard House Bill 2207, which would appropriate $300,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry for the Braille transcription program. The bill also requires annual reporting on the number of in-state and out-of-state students served and states the funding is intended to be ongoing. Members asked whether the program generates revenue for the department and requested follow-up information on that point. A representative from the Foundation for Blind Children testified in support, explaining that the prison Braille program partners with the department to train incarcerated people to transcribe Braille and has become the largest prison Braille program in the nation. She said the sale of transcribed materials does not go back to the department, and that the program serves mostly K-12 students with visual impairments or blindness, including textbooks and library materials. She also said the program has expanded beyond expectations and that the additional appropriation is needed to keep up with growth, while still providing materials at a lower cost than the open market. After discussion, the committee moved HB 2207 for a do pass recommendation. The motion passed 7-0, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's basically consolidating state statute and state rules into one act that can be overseen by the legislature
• Am I correct? That is correct. Okay. Are there any objections?
• A gentleman moved here from out of state. His former state allowed applicants to self-certify.
• This is voluntary, correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• , and 60-day for a... ...and out of state, and 60-day for in-state.

Bills: HB4284, HB1250, HB4190, HB3086

Keywords: animal abuse, offender registry, public safety, animal welfare, criminal justice, Oklahoma legislation, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, cyber crime, fraud prevention, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, insurance fee, digital forensics, investigative support, revolving fund, prisons, corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the amendment passes, both private and state prisons would get the 5%, correct? Mr.
• , thereby that would create a different pay inequity, which would cause state correctional officers to
• So the state has historically been very strategic about its pay structure as it relates to correctional
• And that just doesn't fit the needs of the state. Correct.
• in the state prisons.

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met to introduce staff and pages, then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway and require signage; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it could affect existing freeway names, including the Ed Pastor Freeway. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for using an interactive computer service to facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and to require age verification for harmful sexual material; it passed 5-2 after a brief clarification about the law-enforcement defense. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include acts or threats causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; one public commenter opposed it as overbroad and anti-protest, but the bill still passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1058, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, which would bar government firearm registries and restrict merchant category codes tied to firearm purchases. A firearms industry representative said the bill protects financial privacy, and it passed 4-3. SB 1035 would appropriate funds for a 5% salary increase for correctional officers and department civilians; the sponsor and correctional employee representatives said raises are needed for retention, while others argued the increase should also cover private prison employees to preserve parity. The committee adopted a Payne amendment extending the raise to private prison workers under contract with the department, and the amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, Senate Bill 1032 appropriates $1,500,000 from the State General Fund to the Corrections
• That makes us look like a joke in the state. We need to get this thing right.
• Those are the challenges families across the state expect you to address.
• I know that the Department of Corrections is doing that because of safety.
• But yet the law in the state of Arizona was passed, SB 1070.

Bills: SB1032, SB1055, SB1107

Keywords: corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, immigration enforcement, law enforcement, illegal aliens, state legislation, civil penalties, peace officer certification, police certification, law enforcement licensing, Arizona POST, peace officer standards and training, military police, veterans, honorably discharged, veteran hiring, abbreviated academy

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement first heard SB 1032, which appropriates $1.5 million from the State General Fund to the Corrections Oversight Fund in fiscal year 2027 to help administer the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Supporters, including Justice Action Network and a family member who described the death of her son after severe mental health and jail-care failures, argued the office is needed to provide accountability, transparency, and a check on systemic problems in the Department of Corrections. Representative Blackman strongly backed the measure, saying the oversight office would help address lawsuits, staffing shortages, mental health issues, and the state’s federal receivership. The committee approved SB 1032 on a 14-0 vote with one absent, giving it a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered SB 1107, which creates an alternative certification pathway for honorably discharged U.S. veterans who served as military police to become Arizona peace officers through an abbreviated training process that credits military training and experience. There was no sponsor present and no opposition testimony. Members discussed whether the bill would include equivalent military law enforcement roles from all branches, and staff indicated the bill is intended to track Department of Defense training standards. The bill received broad support as a way to help fill public safety staffing shortages, though one member voted no over concerns about applicants with prior misconduct elsewhere. SB 1107 passed 11-1, with two present and one absent, and received a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SB 1055, which requires law enforcement to immediately notify ICE or CBP when an arrested person is unlawfully present in the United States. Supporters said the bill would strengthen cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and help ensure people are not released before federal authorities can act. Opponents, including the ACLU of Arizona and several community speakers, argued it would undermine trust in law enforcement, chill crime reporting, create due process and constitutional concerns, and impose unfunded compliance burdens on local agencies; one speaker also raised concerns about impacts on Indigenous people and families dealing with mental illness crises. A strike-everything amendment offered by Representative Cruz would have replaced the bill with a restriction on DOC inmate telephone contracts so the department could not profit beyond operating costs, but the committee rejected that amendment 6-8. The committee then approved the underlying SB 1055 on an 8-6 vote with one absent, giving it a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that correct? So we're making great progress in that way, but...
• Number two, though, from the Department of Corrections, how much cost savings do they project?
• We've increased correctional salaries substantially, and now we're having a turnover issue, where people
• There have been at least two or three other states that have gone in for new prisons, and all of them
• Keep in mind also that one thing we've done in the states is pay off loans that we've already had.

Bills: SB60, SB103, SB60, SB103

Keywords: prison modernization, corrections finance, bonding authority, state debt, capital improvement, Department of Corrections, Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority, prison construction, prison renovation, prison replacement, bed space, overcrowding, women's prison, men's prison, Escambia prison, Tutwiler, Kilby, Elmore, Staton, St. Clair Correctional Facility

Transcript Highlights:

• What we did is take the federal statute, what is in federal law, and transpose it to state legislation
• for veterans benefits as an agent or attorney unless he or she has been accredited by the United States
• but just remember the last couple of days I've been on phone calls with veterans all throughout the state
• They've adopted the federal language to put into the state bill.

Bills: SB206, HB554, SB206

Keywords: codification, laws, Alabama Code, Secretary of State, technical corrections, legislative acts, license plate, military, combat veterans, criminal penalty, distinctive tags, veterans benefits, advising, deceptive trade practices, accreditation, compensation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to state.
• to state.
• to state.
• to state.
• to state.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:09 State of the Judiciary: 00:02:33 The Corrections - KCTCS Reentry Program: 00:49:44 Update on 2022 RS SB 90: 01:27:49, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met with a quorum, approved the October 8, 2025 minutes, and welcomed guests including Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall. The main topic was juvenile interrogation, with a presentation from Kentucky Youth Advocates by Courtney Downs and Shannon Moody. They said their organization is supporting a 2026 Blueprint priority requiring children to consult with an attorney before waiving Miranda rights, and they emphasized research on adolescent brain development, susceptibility to peer pressure and impulsive decision-making, and the risk of false confessions. They cited National Registry of Exonerations data showing high rates of false confessions among exonerated youth, especially younger children, and described approaches in other states such as Maryland’s Child Interrogation Protection Act, Indiana’s statute allowing certain adults to waive rights in some circumstances, and laws in other states requiring recording of interrogations or limiting deceptive tactics. Members asked about trauma and adverse childhood experiences, whether the proposal would require attorney consultation in every juvenile interview, whether parents could instead be the ones consulted, and how such a rule would affect law enforcement investigations and juvenile accountability. Senator Carroll and others raised concerns about feasibility, delays, and whether juveniles might avoid accountability if attorneys are required before questioning. The presenters responded that they were focused on ensuring children understand their legal rights, that some states use age- or offense-based limits, and that parent consultation is another model used elsewhere, though they said a lawyer is best suited to explain legal rights and process. Members also discussed the role of the Department of Public Advocacy and whether legislative action or court decisions should address the issue. The council did not take final action on the policy, but requested additional materials, including the text of laws from Maryland, Indiana, and North Carolina, for further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• , state-run correctional facilities, plus one federal prison.
• <01:05:15.359> facilities,<01:05:15.920> state-run 14 correctional facilities, state-run
• 14 correctional facilities, state-run connectional<01:05:16.960> facilities,<01:05:17.440>
• state.
• Correct? >> Yes, that's correct.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:09 State of the Judiciary: 00:02:33 The Corrections - KCTCS Reentry Program: 00:49:44 Update on 2022 RS SB 90: 01:27:49, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on the Judiciary met on November 6, 2025, approved the minutes, and welcomed guests including Kentucky Specialty Courts manager Elizabeth Nichols and Boyle/Mercer Family Court Judge Bruce Petri. The committee then heard the Chief Justice of Kentucky, Deborah Lambert, deliver her state of the judiciary address, focused largely on judicial branch funding, facilities, technology, and specialty court programs. Chief Justice Lambert said the branch is facing a projected $14.3 million shortfall for fiscal year 2026 and asked lawmakers for supplemental support, access to reserve funds, and higher base appropriations to cover inflation and nondiscretionary costs. She also requested a 15% across-the-board pay increase for judicial branch employees, citing salary gaps with other state workers and declining judicial compensation relative to national averages. She emphasized that the branch has received a clean FY 2025 audit and said the requests were intended to sustain current operations rather than expand them. A major portion of her remarks covered court technology and facilities. She described the move to Chamberlain during Capitol renovations, the purchase of that building as a cost-saving measure, and the need to fund courtroom audio/video systems and a new statewide case management system. She also discussed courthouse maintenance, flood damage, mold issues, security system upgrades, and the $47 million asset preservation fund created last session, while asking for additional local facilities funding and one-time disaster-related support. Lambert highlighted specialty court and statewide program results, including foster care review boards, family recovery courts, court designated worker programs, drug and mental health courts, and the Judicial Commission on Mental Health. She thanked legislators for prior bills and support, including House Bill 1, Senate Bill 26, and the CES law, and said 2026 recommendations will focus on civil commitment reforms under KRS 202C. During questions, Senator Wheeler asked whether some courthouses are being overbuilt; Lambert said most facilities are inadequate, though some may be larger than needed, and that future needs and population changes must be considered. She also noted that virtual hearings and technology have improved efficiency. No votes or formal committee actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Correct.
• I don't believe the Department of Corrections corrects anybody.
• I don't believe the Department of Corrections corrects anybody.
• I'm also... ...the Department of Corrections corrects anybody.
• Correct.

Bills: SB1048, SB1071, SB1092, SB1314, SB1391, SB1400, SB1401, SB1452

Keywords: juvenile services, Coconino county, rehabilitation, detox center, financial appropriation, Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, appropriations, salary increase, corrections, public safety

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and appropriations-related bills. SB 1452 would create a cargo theft task force in the Attorney General’s Office to coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement on cargo and freight theft; the sponsor and trucking industry supporters described cargo theft as a rapidly growing, organized crime problem, and the bill received a 7-0 do pass recommendation. SB 1048 would appropriate $36 million to Coconino County for a new juvenile court services facility and conversion of the existing detention center into a detox/sobriety/crisis recovery center; some members objected to directing a large sum to one county, but it passed 4-3. SB 1092 would prohibit early termination of probation or earned-time/work-time credit for people convicted of dangerous crimes against children, including retroactive application to current lifetime probationers; the sponsor argued it would prevent offenders from being released from supervision, while opponents raised concerns about judicial discretion and overbreadth, and it passed 4-3. The committee also approved SB 1391, which directs AZ POST to create a pilot law enforcement stress management and mental wellness training program with a $950,000 appropriation and a sunset date in 2029. Supporters, including law enforcement trainers and family members, said the program would address cumulative stress, suicide prevention, and resiliency before crises occur; it passed 7-0. SB 1401, a special license plate bill creating a golf tournament charity plate and fund to support youth athletic programs in Tucson, also passed unanimously after testimony from the Tucson Conquistadors. SB 1314 sought unspecified appropriations for salary increases for probation officers, corrections staff, juvenile corrections officers, and DPS employees. Supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police and agency representatives argued that pay raises were needed to address vacancies, turnover, and retention, while some members expressed concern about the open-ended cost and broader budget pressures; it passed 5-1 with one not voting. The committee then took up SB 1071, which would repeal the Arizona Rangers’ statutory framework; testimony sharply divided over accountability, transparency, training, and the organization’s public service role. Rather than vote, the chair held the bill for further discussion and possible amendment. Finally, the committee heard SB 1400, which would allow law enforcement agencies to establish confidential wellness and peer support counseling programs for employees exposed to trauma; supporters said confidentiality is needed to encourage officers to seek help, and the bill was presented for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• She confirmed that was correct.
• Presley stated.
• Is that correct? That's correct. Yes. Good morning. Thank you so much. My name is Alicia.
• Is that correct? That's correct. Yes. Thank you so much.
• Is that correct? That's correct. Yes. Thank you so much. I'll be brief.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Summary: The Corrections Committee first took up pending business and reported several previously heard bills favorably to the full House, including HB 1515 and SB 2405, the TDCJ Sunset bill and its Senate companion, HB 5639 on the veteran housing program, HB 2854 on hospital visits as a parole or mandatory supervision condition and related hospital liability, and SB 1080 on occupational licenses for people with criminal convictions. The committee also heard and advanced SB 1080 without amendment, then moved into new business. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3618, which would limit invasive group strip searches of female inmates in TDCJ facilities. Formerly incarcerated women and advocates testified in support, describing humiliation, trauma, barriers to programming, and arguing that searches were often ineffective and that contraband more often comes from staff. TDCJ’s resource witness said the agency has looked at technology such as millimeter scanners and is in the process of placing them in facilities, while the bill sponsor said the measure would preserve searches in emergencies and require female officers when women are unclothed. HB 3618 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4515 on expanding orders of nondisclosure, with the author saying the committee substitute would narrow the bill to marijuana possession only; supporters from Alliance for Safety and Justice and Right on Crime argued it would improve reentry and public safety, while members asked about eligibility and related offenses. HB 1826, requiring depression screenings for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, drew support from women’s health advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses; the bill was left pending. HB 1969, to help people leaving prison renew or obtain driver’s licenses, and HB 2708, expanding nondisclosure eligibility for certain misdemeanor convictions, were also laid out and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 2729, which would bar hearsay evidence in hearings on violations of release conditions, and SB 1021, which would make stalking convictions ineligible for community supervision and add related victim-protection provisions; both were left pending. SB 1610, addressing civil commitment facility safety, sex offender registration, and penalties for assaults on staff, drew strong opposition from civil commitment residents, family members, and civil rights advocates who argued it was punitive and raised due process concerns; the resource witness said assaults had increased and explained the civil commitment process and existing legal safeguards. Finally, HB 4764 would require TDCJ to report detailed annual data on restrictive housing; supporters said the bill would improve transparency around solitary confinement, and the committee left it pending before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that correct? Mr. Chair, Representative, that's correct.
• Is that correct? Mr.
• Corrections has a math problem. We have 6,000 correctional officers.
• It is going to help our state, and it's going to help our correctional system. I vote yes.
• Department of Corrections and fiscal 1884 appropriates one million dollars from the state general fund

Bills: SB1161, SB1215, SB1270, SB1400, SB1537, SB1538, SB1580, SB1584, SB1627

Keywords: appropriation, public safety, Yuma County, funding exemption, family advocacy center, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1161, which would prevent lapse of a $750,000 FY2026 appropriation to DPS for the Yuma County Family Advocacy Center (Amberly’s Place). Testimony described the center’s 24/7 crisis response, forensic interview and medical services, and satellite offices in nearby communities. The bill was moved and received a do pass recommendation on an 11-0 roll call, with three members absent. The committee then considered SB 1215, a clarifying bill on the list of cancers covered by the occupational disease presumption for firefighters and peace officers, with a retroactivity amendment to June 30, 2021. Firefighters’ representatives said the measure corrects a drafting issue involving adenocarcinoma and would prevent denials of claims; members asked about peace officer coverage, independent medical exams, and workers’ compensation impacts. The amendment was adopted and the bill received a do pass recommendation, with 11 ayes, one present, and two absent. SB 1270, dealing with supplemental employer contributions to defined contribution accounts for corrections employees, drew testimony focused on severe retention problems in corrections and county detention. Supporters said the bill would allow optional incentive payments at service intervals to help keep trained officers on the job; members discussed vesting, recruitment versus retention, and whether the program could be funded without a new appropriation. The committee adopted the amendment and gave the bill a do pass recommendation, with ten ayes, one nay, two present, and one absent. The committee also heard SB 1400, authorizing law enforcement wellness and crisis response programs and setting confidentiality rules. Police association testimony supported the concept but noted concerns about the breadth of the privilege carve-outs, especially if licensed therapists are involved; several members said they would support the bill after an amendment clarifying privilege protections. The bill was reported do pass with ten ayes, one nay, and two present. SB 1538, as a strike-everything amendment, would require workers’ compensation coverage for PTSD treatment for firefighters and peace officers and allow one MDMA treatment course if federal approval and rescheduling occur by January 1, 2029. Supporters described promising clinical trial results and argued it could help severe PTSD cases, while county representatives opposed the mandate and raised cost and approval concerns. The amendment was adopted and the bill received a do pass recommendation, with seven ayes, three nays, and one present. Finally, the committee considered SB 1537, renaming the peace officer training equipment fund as the public safety de-escalation and life safety fund and repealing its advisory commission. Testimony explained the change was meant to reduce confusion between similar funds and reflect the fund’s use for de-escalation and safety equipment; some members noted opposition from the Arizona Police Association and concerns about whether the money might be better used for raises. The bill passed on a 7-4 vote with three absent. The committee then began SB 1580, which would appropriate Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund money for fire incident management support and other public safety equipment, including pepperball equipment, simulators, records management software, and retention/recruitment efforts. Testimony supported the equipment and data-sharing investments, but members also questioned accountability, ongoing costs, and whether the listed uses were the best use of the fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's optional, is that correct? Thank you for the question.
• the state of Oklahoma.
• This team travels throughout the state.
• Is that correct? Thank you for the question.
• House Bill 3086 requires the Department of Corrections director to keep the state board of corrections

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, alcohol testing, drug influence, public safety, Board of Tests, accident response, motor vehicle, fire department, fee prohibition

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Senate Bill 1032 appropriates $1.5 million from the State General Fund in FY 27 to the corrections
• corrections oversight.
• Appropriates $1.5 million from the State General Fund, FY 27, to the Corrections Oversight Fund that
• that does not correct people.
• And what the state giveth, the state could take it away by the vote of the people.

Bills: SB1024, SB1032, SB1059, SB1062, SB1064, SB1097, SCM1001, SCR1004

Keywords: roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation

Summary: The committee began with a JLBC presentation comparing the baseline budget to the governor’s proposal. JLBC said the baseline shows a positive cash balance in each year, with about $577–$578 million available above statutory formulas, but that major items such as tax conformity, state employee health subsidies, school repairs, SNAP administrative changes, and possible SNAP error-rate costs are not fully funded. JLBC also reviewed executive revenue and spending proposals, including border-security funding, sports betting tax changes, data-center tax changes, short-term rental and water surcharges, and several one-time items that JLBC said appear to be ongoing in practice. Members questioned SNAP error rates, Medicaid/Access enrollment and costs, possible fraud involving Access-to-Marketplace shifting, prison receivership risk, and the need for more oversight of waste and fraud. The committee then heard and passed SB 1032, which appropriates $1.5 million to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office created last year. The sponsor and several advocates said the office is needed to provide independent oversight, improve transparency, help whistleblowers, and reduce the risk of federal receivership over the prison system. Testimony from advocacy groups and former incarcerated individuals strongly supported the bill, and the committee approved it 10-0. Next, the committee considered several transportation appropriations. SB 1064 would provide $3 million to Flagstaff for improvements along U.S. Route 66; the mayor and local planning officials described safety problems, congestion, and housing growth along the corridor, while some members objected to using general fund dollars for roads instead of HURF and to bypassing the normal transportation board process. The bill passed 7-3. SB 1059 would appropriate $9.2 million for a right-turn lane at SR 87 and SR 260 in Payson, and SB 1062 would appropriate $1 million for a left-turn lane at US 60 and Superstition Mountain Drive in Gold Canyon; both were supported by local witnesses citing congestion and safety concerns and both received do-pass recommendations, 7-3 and 6-4 respectively. The committee also began hearing SCR 1004, a voter-referral measure to prohibit photo enforcement systems, with the sponsor and public commenters arguing that photo radar is unconstitutional, abusive, and tied to ticket revenue, but the transcript cuts off before any committee action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a big state. We're a big boy state.
• You are working with DPS, so it is state-related. Am I correct? That's absolutely correct.
• And also, we have obligations to the Department of Corrections, from talking about the state funding
• Let me correct that. Let me correct that. It was—we had six ayes, five nays.
• Department of Corrections in fiscal year 2027 for the Braille transcription program and states the legislature

Bills: HB2207, HB2225, HB2602, HB2641

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, HB 2225, Yavapai County, northern Arizona regional training academy, training academy, public safety training, law enforcement training, police academy, first responder training, capital appropriation, state general fund, state treasurer, lapsing appropriation, section 35-190, capital costs, regional training facility

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2641, which would ban firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. The sponsor said the bill was intended to protect firefighters and the public from carcinogenic and persistent chemicals that can contaminate groundwater, and noted Arizona had already banned the foam for training. A University of Arizona public health researcher testified that firefighters have higher PFAS levels than the general public and that AFFF use is associated with elevated exposure, while a firefighters’ association representative said alternatives exist and that the bill would remove uncertainty for departments. The committee passed HB 2641 unanimously, 15-0. The committee then heard HB 2602, a $24,000 appropriation for a 10% pay increase for Department of Public Safety employees in fiscal year 2027. The sponsor and supporters from the Arizona Troopers Association argued the raise was needed for recruitment and retention, citing vacancies, departures, and the cost of training new troopers. Several members supported the idea but raised concerns about the budget impact and the broader issue of pay disparities across agencies and state employees. The bill received a do pass recommendation on a 10-0-3 vote, with two members voting no and three voting present. Finally, the committee considered HB 2225, which would appropriate $10 million for capital costs at the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy in Yavapai County and keep the funds from lapsing until 2029. The sponsor and Yavapai County law enforcement witnesses said the academy is overcrowded, serves multiple agencies across northern Arizona, reduces travel and lodging costs, and provides both basic and in-service training. Some members questioned whether the state should fund a county-based facility and raised concerns about the size and structure of the appropriation, while others supported the training mission but wanted the issue handled in the budget process. The committee voted to give HB 2225 a do pass recommendation, with several members voting no or present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many states already permit hybrid learning, including our closest state, Pennsylvania.
• We have a campus in Newport, Delaware, as well as several other states.
• It stated that 82% of all currently licensed... back. Thank you. And any? That would say it.
• We have a campus in Newport, Delaware, as well as several other states.
• It stated that 82% of all currently licensed.

Bills: SB295, HB378

Keywords: SB295, Delaware, Title 24, aesthetician, aesthetics, cosmetology, barbering, electrology, nail technology, scope of practice, license display, apprentice permit, Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, microdermabrasion, microneedling, dermaplaning, chemical peel, exfoliation, lash extensions, brow tinting

Summary: The Senate Legislative Oversight Committee met in hybrid format, approved the minutes from its April 22 and May 13 meetings, and then heard two bills. HB 420 would modernize massage therapy licensure by allowing the Board of Massage and Bodywork to decide which coursework may be completed in a hybrid format and which must remain in person, while also removing outdated references to a license type the board no longer issues. The sponsor said the change would improve access for students who cannot easily travel or stop working, while preserving public protection through board rules. Public testimony on HB 420 was entirely supportive. Robert Overmiller spoke in favor, and Mackenzie Francis of Alpha School of Massage also supported the bill, citing workforce growth in massage therapy and arguing that hybrid education would expand access, especially for students entering the field later in life. No committee questions or objections were raised. The committee then discussed HB 378, which would continue the Council of Corrections’ partnership with the Criminal Justice Council and avoid the sunset of that arrangement in 2026. Members noted the bill stemmed from a prior Joint Legislative Oversight effort to provide the council with staff support and training. Robert Overmiller again testified in support, and there was no opposition or further public comment. The meeting concluded after discussion of the two bills, with no votes recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• last session, incorporating those into those black books that some of us have in our offices and correcting
• The following corrections are made on page three on line 66. Line 66.

Bills: SB200, SB206, SB200, SB206

Keywords: accountability courts, drug offenders, mental health, substance abuse, veterans, court reform, recidivism reduction, treatment programs, veterans benefits, advising, deceptive trade practices, accreditation, compensation, minority affairs, civic engagement, Alabama office, community outreach, government affairs, codification, laws

Transcript Highlights:

• One last thing: we're the last state in the United States to not conduct post-election audits.
• to mental illness. corrections to mental illness.
• time would have been $785 million, that's correct.
• It also states that the tobacco industry... ...also states that the tobacco industry has designed, engineered
• But this also has huge financial implications for the state.

Bills: HB30, HB263, HB357, HB359, SB60, SB102, HB30

Keywords: elections, post-election audit, election audit, risk-limiting audit, ballot audit, election integrity, voter confidence, Secretary of State, judge of probate, canvassing board, poll watchers, ballot containers, manual tally, recount, county election, statewide election, general election, absentee ballots, provisional ballots, election transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• State your name for the record.
• We’d love to see our state corrections officers making $28.20 an hour.
• , the department and private prisons lose employees, correctional officers, to federal, state, and local
• Historically, since the state moved into privatization, it has been a lot of the state...
• So it becomes even cheaper for the state. Win, win, win. It becomes even cheaper for the state.

Bills: SB1001, SB1035, SB1056, SB1065, SB1138, SB1161, SB1204, SB1207, SB1248, SB1274, SB1284, SCM1002, SCM1006, SCR1020

Keywords: appropriation, economic security, blind individuals, older adults, state funding, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, state budget, private prisons

Summary: The committee approved the January 27, 2026 minutes and held SB 1138 for further changes. It then heard SB 1035, which appropriates about $34 million from the General Fund for a 5% pay increase for Arizona Department of Corrections sworn officers and civilian employees, with an amendment extending the raise to private prison employees under contract. Supporters said DOC pay is not competitive and vacancies are high; opponents questioned paying private prison staff and raised concerns about private prison incentives. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1035 a do pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote. The committee also approved two memorials to rename highways: SCM 1002 for L.F. Quinn Memorial Highway and SCM 1006 for PFC Michael Nolan Memorial Highway. Both measures drew emotional testimony about the honorees’ public service and military sacrifice, and both received do pass recommendations, with SCM 1002 passing 9-1 and SCM 1006 passing 9-1 after members discussed tribal jurisdiction and agreed to follow up with a letter to the tribe. SB 1065, which would appropriate $3.64 million for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund, was supported by the sponsor and researchers who said the treatment can help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, pain, and related conditions. Some members objected that the FDA has not approved HBOT for many of the claimed uses and questioned prior unspent funding, but the bill still received a do pass recommendation on a 6-4 vote. SB 1248, which clarifies funding and attendance-count rules for county jail and juvenile detention education programs, also passed unanimously. Later, the committee approved SB 1204, a $5.5 million General Fund appropriation to design and analyze improvements to the U.S. 60/Loop 303 interchange, after testimony from local officials and residents about severe congestion, crashes, and public safety delays; it passed 8-1. SB 1207, a $150,000 study on financing mechanisms for development-related infrastructure along the same corridor, also passed 7-1. Finally, SB 1001, which restores $1 million for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, passed 9-0 after testimony from blind seniors and advocates about long waitlists and the program’s role in preserving independence. The committee then began SB 1274, a police foundation specialty license plate bill, with sponsor and foundation testimony describing wellness, remembrance, and youth programs funded by plate revenues, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our program is offered to correctional officers.
• Correct? Okay, you don't sound neutral.
• Department of Corrections is in tough straits.
• This goes to every department in the state, Mr. Chair.
• of the state.

Bills: SB1112, SB1517, SB1537, SB1584, SB1673, SB1776

Keywords: mental health, hearings, acquaintance witnesses, patient rights, treatment evaluation, barbering, cosmetology, appropriation, funding, licensing, board operations, peace officer, training, public safety, traffic offenses, judicial system, corrections, recruitment, state budget, crime victims

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met on March 25 for what was described as its last regular meeting, with a possible special meeting tentatively planned for the following Tuesday. The committee first took up Senate Bill 1112, as amended by a strike-everything amendment that would appropriate $1 million from the Special Services Fund in FY2027 to the Arizona Department of Corrections for holistic, studio-based rehabilitative programming, with a required report due by June 30, 2028 on spending and outcomes such as self-harm, discipline, and recidivism. Testimony from the founder of Art of Our Soul and a formerly incarcerated peer facilitator emphasized trauma-informed art and music therapy, reductions in disciplinary violations and self-harm, and benefits for both incarcerated people and staff. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 1112 a do-pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1776, which would allow urban Indian organizations to provide traditional healing services reimbursable through AHCCCS or the Arizona Long-Term Care System. The sponsor said the bill was intended to align Arizona with federal approval and other states’ models. AHCCCS testified neutral but said the bill would require a waiver change, likely at standard FMAP rather than 100%, and estimated a $1.3 million general fund impact; the chair said a COW amendment and fiscal note were needed. Members raised concerns about cost and access, and the sponsor clarified the bill was meant for American Indians and family members served through IHS-related facilities. The committee ultimately passed the bill out with a do-pass recommendation, though several members voted no or present over funding concerns. Senate Bill 1537, which would rename the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund and repeal an inactive advisory commission, failed after testimony from a legislative liaison explaining the fund’s history and use for equipment and de-escalation tools. Some members supported the cleanup, but others objected after the Arizona Police Association opposed the change and argued the commission should be reformed rather than repealed. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1584, as amended, which would provide $1 million for Department of Corrections recruitment and training, funded instead from the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. Testimony supported the need to address DOC staffing shortages, but some members objected that the fund was restricted to peace officer equipment; the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill out. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1673, which would fund the law enforcement crime victim notification system. A chair amendment shifted the source from the general fund to the victim compensation fund and reduced the amount to about $2.5 million. Testimony from the Arizona Sheriffs Association, a vendor, and the City of Phoenix described the notification system as constitutionally required, widely used, and important for victim safety and communication, but several members argued the amendment would take money from victim compensation and “rob Peter to pay Paul.” The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 1673, as amended, a do-pass recommendation. The chair closed by noting the committee was adjourned and that a special meeting might be posted for the following week.