Judiciary Committee advances subpoenas, recording and reporting bills; several measures retained or tabled

The House Judiciary Committee considered a wide slate of bills and amendments in a marathon session, voting on subpoenas for Department of Education investigations, reporting requirements for civil asset forfeitures, one-party recordings in safety-related cases, and several other measures.

The panel advanced some measures and moved others to be retained or to study (ITL). Votes were often close on bills that drew sustained debate, while a set of measures with brief discussion moved by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call.

Key results

- HB 520 (education subpoenas): Committee voted 10–8 to recommend ought to pass as amended (motion recorded as "OTPA"). The committee rejected an amendment that would have shifted subpoena authority to the attorney general, then voted on the underlying bill; after amendment debate the motion to adopt the amendment failed and the bill as written ultimately passed on a 10–8 roll call. The vote was 10 yeas, 8 nays.

- HB 587 (allowing some one-party recordings into evidence): The committee adopted amendment 0843h and voted 13–5 in favor of OTPA (ought to pass with amendment). The adopted language narrows the measure to recordings made by a party (or their designee), adds language about recordings intended for law enforcement, and restricts public release of such recordings.

- HB 509 (forfeiture reporting): The committee voted 11–7 in favor of OTP (ought to pass). Debate centered on…