Hello everyone,
Saturday marked the halfway point in the 2026 legislative session. Even though we are halfway through, most of the work is still ahead.
Last Tuesday, the CSPA held its annual legislative meet and greet at the Capitol. At least 25 legislators stopped by to talk to CSPA Board members. The Board focused on compensation, benefits, and retirement security for CSPA members, but also just talked to legislators to build relationships. Later that morning, the Board held its March Board meeting. The Board voted to oppose two bills – HB 1275 Law Enforcement Identification & Immigration Training Requirements and HB 1276 Protect Safety of Individuals Who Are Immigrants. HB 1275 requires law enforcement officers to visibly identify themselves, clarifies state jurisdiction over federal officers who violate state criminal law, requires peace officers to intervene to prevent or stop federal officers from using more than commensurate force, prohibits POST certification of current or former ICE and Custom & Border Protection employees, requires training on immigration law and use of force policies, and expands impersonating a peace officer to include knowingly concealing the person’s identity except under certain circumstances.
HB 1276 establishes reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies participating in multijurisdictional task forces, restricts governmental entities from transporting individuals detained by federal immigration authorities, and expands inspection authority over immigration detention facilities. Both bills are scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.
The one bill the legislature is constitutionally required to pass each year is a balanced budget and this coming week will have a big impact on that budget. Since last November, the JBC has been working to develop the FY 2026-27 state budget that begins July 1st. The JBC has been making preliminary decisions allocating the available monies; however, this week they will finally find out how much money will be available to spend in next year’s budget. On Thursday afternoon the economists from Legislative Council and OSPB will each present their most-recent quarterly revenue forecasts. After hearing the two forecasts, the JBC will vote to use one of the forecasts to finalize next year’s budget. While the forecasts are historically similar, even minor differences can result in differences of millions of dollars available for the budget. Once the JBC picks a forecast it will start making final decisions on the budget, hopefully in time for the budget to be introduced by the end of March.
So far, there have been 472 bills introduced – 333 in the House and 139 in the Senate. Only 57 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist