Hello everyone,
We are almost to the halfway point of the 2025 legislative session and while the session is in full swing it was kind of a slow week for CSPA priority bills.
On Wednesday evening, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 1136 Peace Officer Conduct Database and then laid the bill over for action at a future date. HB 1136 updates what is reported to the peace officer conduct database maintained by the P.O.S.T. Board, requires the P.O.S.T. Board to create a process to correct or appeal reports in the database, and makes changes to the P.O.S.T. certification revocation process. The CSPA is monitoring HB 1136. HB 1136 is one of the bills that was produced through the HB 24-1460 stakeholder process last fall. We, together with other members of the law enforcement community, met weekly with the sponsors of HB 24-1460 from September through December to work through issues related to law enforcement whistleblower protections, peace officer conduct database due process, uniform and consistent release of body camara footage, and peace officer due process rights. This stakeholder process in which everyone was able to voice their concerns and suggestions was a welcome change from HB 24-1460 which was introduced without any notice to law enforcement. As a result, unlike last session when all law enforcement agencies opposed HB 24-1460, no law enforcement agencies are opposing HB 1136.
The JBC is scheduled to consider the State Patrol’s budget for next year on Friday so I should have more information for you next week. So far, there have been 477 bills introduced – 291 in the House and 186 in the Senate. Only 65 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist