Video & Transcript Research : 'wrongful death'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Jan 28th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're not changing the Wrongful Death Act at all.
  • We're not changing the Wrongful Death Act at all.
  • It does not change the statutory requirements for a wrongful death action pursuant to the wrongful death
  • We have a wrongful death act.
  • This is the wrongful death act.
Bills: S0164, S0656, S0892
Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from Miami-Dade State Attorney Catherine Fernandez-Rundle on human trafficking, describing Florida’s high victim counts, the role of online recruitment, common victim and trafficker profiles, and several case examples involving sexual exploitation, labor trafficking, and interstate trafficking. She highlighted Miami-Dade’s task force model, partnerships with law enforcement, schools, businesses, and shelters such as Camillus House’s Project Phoenix and the Thrive Clinic, and said the office relies heavily on technology, training, and victim-centered prosecution. Members asked about school-based trafficking, warning signs, social media platforms, and information-sharing about offenders across states; Fernandez-Rundle said more training and better interstate communication are still needed. The committee then took up CS for SB 656, which would codify FDLE’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program and rename/expand the online sting operations grant program to better support investigations, training, technology, and personnel. The bill was supported as a timely tool to combat online child exploitation and was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call. The committee also passed SB 892, which streamlines sentencing procedures for habitual felony offenders and related violent offender designations by clarifying notice and clemency-related paperwork requirements; it too was reported favorably unanimously. The remainder of the meeting focused on SB 164, which expands Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow parents to recover civil damages for the death of an unborn child. The sponsor said the bill is intended to recognize unborn children in civil law and allow recovery when a pregnancy is lost due to another’s negligence. Opponents from the ACLU, reproductive rights groups, medical insurers, and domestic violence advocates argued the bill is overly broad, could function as fetal personhood legislation, and could expose doctors, friends, family members, businesses, and abusive partners to lawsuits while chilling medical care, IVF, and pregnancy-related treatment. Supporters from pro-life organizations urged broader language and stronger protections for unborn children. No vote on SB 164 was taken in the portion provided.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Apr 16th, 2025

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • bill would establish an affirmative defense against a civil action for damages for personal injury, wrongful
  • death, or property damage sustained while obstructing traffic on a... sustained while obstructing traffic
  • We've had situations like that that's caused death or injury from not being able to get through.
Bills: HB411, HB559
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

GVO DEFER, WLA-PSM-GVO, WLA-GVO Public Hearings 02-19-2026

Government Operations

Bills: SB3294
Summary: The committees first took up SB 3294, a controversial measure concerning post-release assistance for people pursuing reversals of prior court decisions where innocence is in question. Members discussed keeping the bill moving on the “human side” while a House companion addressed the legal issues. The adopted amendments removed advanced compensation language and instead required DCR, with DHS, to help petitioners prepare applications for financial and medical assistance, notify DHS upon release, assign a case manager to assist with a cell phone for one year, housing, employment, mental health counseling, and expedited benefits, and provide a state ID upon release. The measure also included technical amendments and a defective date, and it passed unanimously. The joint committees then heard SB 2237 on fire prevention, which would require state agencies to create and update hazard maps and direct DNR to adopt rules and clear brush. DLNR testified that a single lead agency should develop the maps with input from other agencies, that a five-year timeline would be more reasonable, and that assigning DNR all fuels management on state lands would create an unfunded mandate. Members discussed using the newly created fire marshal’s office as the lead, and the committees ultimately deferred the bill in favor of a broader wildfire mitigation measure already moving in another committee. The final agenda included SB 2596 on government leases, SB 30002 on the Hawaii State Planning Act and green infrastructure, and SB 3067 on records and filing requirements. SB 2596 was advanced unamended to Ways and Means. On SB 30002, OPSD explained that a 2025-2027 comprehensive review of chapter 226 is underway, with a report and draft legislation due in 2027, and members debated whether to move piecemeal changes now or wait for the broader review; the bill nevertheless passed unamended. SB 3067, which updates outdated filing formats and drawing scales, also passed unamended with DAGS supporting the measure in writing.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Feb 4th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • For decades, their family carried the weight of wrongful convictions, wrongful incarcerations, and wrongful
  • death.
  • The following year, the Legislature acknowledged the wrongful actions perpetrated against the Groveland
Bills: S0214, S0694, S1266
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. First, SB 214 by Senator McLean, a rural access bill for special districts, was amended to allow independent special districts in rural areas to receive certain state and federal financial assistance payments directly for verified work rather than relying on reimbursement. Testimony in support came from representatives of water and sewer entities and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 214 favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1266 by Senator Collada on cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was amended to create a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, working with Cyber Florida at USF. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn by Senator Bernard. With no opposition noted, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 1266 favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 694 by Senator Bracey Davis, which provides compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for wrongful convictions and related harms. The bill was presented as a justice and redress measure, with supportive testimony from Delatry Hollinger and comments from Senator Smith and the chair praising the effort. The committee reported CS/SB 694 favorably, and then adjourned without further business.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Mar 19th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • death.
  • Explaining how what was done was murder. $50 million civil lawsuit against me for wrongful death. inside
  • It does make complete sense. since if you didn't do anything criminally wrong, why are we then rewarding
  • those individuals that were in the wrong. We hear all too often in self-defense cases, the family.
  • Evidence was wrong as far as the people that there were. they were filing a claim against.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Mar 19th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • And on top of that, as you know, we have exclusive death penalty. appellate jurisdiction.
  • Dyson, HHS reported that MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley saw a 14% decrease in deaths. in suicide deaths
  • Reducing firearm theft, injuries, and deaths. Thank you.
  • And with each of you, the state of Texas is going to know what we've done wrong. wrong, and what you
  • It's no exaggeration for me to claim this as a matter of life and death.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/26/2026 - House Judiciary

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • I represented people on death row since 1988.
  • We shouldn't allow the person facing the death sentence to make that choice. the person facing the death
  • I currently work as a chaplain serving with death row inmates on Rincon 2.
  • There are also veterans on death row. That is very personal to me.
  • The other thing is I— The death penalty here in Arizona.
Summary: The committee first took up SB 1655, which would have allowed qualified jurors to serve as temporary election workers instead of jury service if summoned 90 to 120 days before an election. The Arizona Association of Counties opposed the bill, saying the timing would create major planning and tracking problems for county jury commissioners and courts, and noting that jury service can already be excused in some circumstances. Members also raised concerns that jury duty and poll work are fundamentally different responsibilities. The motion for a due pass recommendation failed, 4-5, and the bill did not advance. The committee then heard SB 1751 and the related SCR 1049, both dealing with Arizona execution methods. The bills would expand the available methods of execution to include firing squad and lethal gas, alongside lethal injection, with the SCR going to voters. Senator Payne argued the change was needed because Arizona has had problems with past execution methods and that the inmate would choose among the options. Opponents, including a death penalty attorney and a corrections chaplain, argued the methods raise constitutional, operational, staffing, and trauma concerns, and that Arizona should not revive methods with a history of botched or prolonged executions. SB 1751 received a due pass recommendation, 6-2 with one absent and one present, and SCR 1049 also received a due pass recommendation, 6-2 with one absent and one present. The committee next considered SB 1317 as a strike-everything amendment appropriating $20 million in opioid settlement/remediation funds for county coordinated reentry planning services and a statewide database. Supporters from the Arizona Sheriffs Association and county sheriffs said the program has shown strong recidivism reductions, helps people transition from county jails back into the community, and should expand to more counties. Members asked about data, funding timing, and whether all counties should participate; supporters said the amount would likely be negotiated in the budget process and that the database funding was needed to track outcomes. The strike-everything amendment was adopted, and SB 1317 as amended passed 9-0 with one absent. Finally, the committee heard SB 1656, which would change how courts appoint professional personnel in family court cases and set guidelines for those appointees. Court representatives submitted written concerns, saying the bill would duplicate existing practice, require unnecessary and costly depositions of experts before appointment, mandate recordings of all interactions, and extend the statute of limitations for lawsuits. With no sponsor present and no outside speakers, members expressed concern that the bill was unnecessary and potentially costly. SB 1656 failed to receive a due pass recommendation, with three nays, six votes not in favor, and one absent.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • It brought threats against my family, death threats against my family.
  • This is wrong. This is a far overreach that needs to be reined back in. Or a Bible study.
  • This is wrong. This is a far overreach that needs to be reined back in.
  • This is wrong. And Texas has a big voice. Texas has a huge voice. And America is listening.
  • I did nothing wrong.
Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several bills, mostly on alcohol regulation, ethics procedures, the Alamo, and free speech in professional associations. SB 2633 would let the City of Garland hold local option elections on alcohol sales within designated zones and use zoning/land-use rules for alcohol-selling businesses; Senator Johnson and Garland officials said it would reduce the burden of the petition process and support economic development. SB 2637 would require social media platforms to disclose when posts are made by bot accounts and allow Attorney General enforcement; supporters framed it as consumer protection against misleading automated content, while members raised questions about how platforms would identify bots and how enforcement would work. SB 2334 would allow airlines with passenger transportation permits to store sealed alcoholic beverages within five miles of an airport in the same county, which the sponsor and an American Airlines witness said would improve logistics without changing permits, taxes, or alcohol sourcing. The committee also heard SB 2781 and SB 2782, both related to Texas Ethics Commission procedures. SB 2781 would cap civil penalties tied to certain campaign contribution violations by former legislators who later lobby, and SB 2782 would require TEC to adopt discovery control plans and align discovery rules more closely with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to limit costly, open-ended discovery. Both bills were left pending after no public testimony. SB 3059 would transfer oversight of the Alamo from the General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission beginning in 2027; Senator Campbell said it would provide long-term stewardship and transparency, while Senator Birdwell questioned the need for a change and the commission’s structure, and GLO witnesses said they were not aware of any problem prompting the shift. HB 1130, a House companion to a previously passed Senate bill, would provide liability protections for cavern entities that post warning signs, and it was also left pending. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2713, which would bar professional or trade associations from denying membership or access based on protected characteristics or lawful speech and assembly. Senator Middleton and invited witnesses described disciplinary actions by realtor associations against members for social media posts, sermons, or political speech, arguing that the National Association of Realtors’ ethics rules were being used to punish private expression and threaten livelihoods through loss of MLS access. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the bill should be narrowed to avoid affecting religious organizations, how association discipline works, and whether the measure should address existing penalties or only future conduct. The bill was left pending after extensive invited testimony and committee discussion.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • standard and national charter, do you have the ability to say no to the national folks when they're wrong
  • And I’m going to look to David to correct me if I’m wrong.
  • I had an amendment on the one that we sent out the other day, but it wasn't favorable at the wrong level
  • From this... ...who had raped children in the Polish death camps.
  • those who are not concerned about sexually explicit materials to children, or to decide to right a wrong
Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services 2ND REVISED Feb 16th, 2026 at 02:00 pm

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our leading cause of death in childhood is injuries.
  • Senate Bill 1484 requires investigation by a medical examiner of deaths involving sudden infant death
  • syndrome, sudden unexpected infant death.
  • We are not trying to tie immunizations to the death of children. That's not the goal.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 28th, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • occurred, the inmate's name, and date of death.
  • So In custody and death, upon the death of a prisoner in a county jail, one of the issues that has been
  • deaths have occurred. ...custody deaths in Harris County, 69 in Tarrant, and I've got each one of your
  • In 2023, we had 169 reported deaths.
  • row, to keep people off death row.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - House Commerce

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • A death certificate—some doctors...
  • the death certificate.
  • A death certificate, some doctors, also responsible for doctors to sign a death certificate.
  • the death certificate.
  • I can't force a doctor to sign a death certificate, and the doctor has to sign the death certificate.
Summary: The House Commerce Committee heard and advanced several bills. HB 2181, as amended, would extend the deadline for funeral establishments to submit death certificates from 7 days to a maximum of 14 days and clarify that a provider’s medical certification period excludes weekends and holidays. The sponsor and a mortuary owner testified that the current timeline is often difficult to meet because of weekends, holidays, doctor availability, county delays, and family circumstances. Several members said the bill did not fully address the underlying compliance problems, but the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-4-1. HB 2682 would create a DES rental assistance program offering up to two months or $5,000 in aid, with a $5 million general fund appropriation for administration. The sponsor and a tenant advocate described the bill as a short-term bridge to prevent eviction and homelessness, while an industry representative said rental assistance is an effective early intervention tool. Some members raised concerns about limiting eligibility to households with children and about program administration, but the bill passed 7-4. HB 2698 would create a rental assistance study committee to evaluate program effectiveness and repeal in 2028; it passed on a 7-4 vote. HB 2476 would revise CPA certification and reciprocity requirements, creating multiple pathways to licensure and updating related rules and fees. Supporters said it would help address a CPA shortage and align Arizona with other states; after clarification from the sponsor and the State Board of Accountancy, the committee passed it unanimously, 11-0. The committee then heard HB 2308, which would bar dental insurers and certain holding companies from owning dental practices; the Arizona Dental Association supported it as a safeguard against vertical integration, while Delta Dental opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. The bill passed 8-0-3. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 2118 on mobile food vendors and local permitting, with the sponsor and food truck operators arguing for streamlined county/state licensing and reduced local duplication, while a vendor representative warned the proposal could affect existing local ordinances and private-property vendors.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 9th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, Senate Bill 1484 expands and strengthens the sudden unexplained infant death investigations
  • by requiring the medical examiner's office to investigate different types of sudden deaths in infants
  • These include sudden infant death syndrome, sudden unexpected infant death syndrome, sudden death in
  • the young, and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • being counted as line of duty death being counted as line of duty death benefit<00:03:50.480>
  • Minnesota's acknowledgement of line-of-duty deaths is vital.
  • The state's acknowledgement of cancer as a line-of-duty death can't be on a case-by-case basis.
  • Minnesota's acknowledgement of line-of-duty deaths is vital.
  • The state's acknowledgement of cancer as a line-of-duty death can't be on a case-by-case basis.
Bills: HF4446, HF4066, HF1082
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Health Apr 8th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • me, Senate Bill 1380, is simply requires the healthcare authority to verify Eligibility by checking death
  • Members, this bill is Just codifying what the medical examiner's office is already doing when there's a death
  • information is Being received from the primary care providers to be used in that investigation and the death