The House Judiciary Committee reported Senate Bill 520 out of committee after debate over access and oversight of body‑worn camera footage. The measure amends multiple statutory titles to add agencies authorized to use body‑worn cameras and makes administrative changes to the Wiretap Act.

Committee counsel summarized the bill's scope: "Mister chairman, ... senate bill 5 20 by chairwoman Baker amends title 18, title 30, title 34, and title 42 to authorize the use of body worn cameras by agents of the office of attorney general, office officers of the Game Commission, the Fission Boat Commission, and DCNR. The bill also does some cleanup to the Wiretap Act without changing the substance of the act to make it more user friendly. The bill also provides for a transfer of unspent gaming revenue to local law for local law enforcement enforcement grants, the office of attorney general, and DCNR. For for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this act, the bill passed the senate 50 to 0." (transcript wording retained)

Representative Kinkade announced opposition and asked for guardrails on access to footage: "At at this point in time, I'm gonna be a no on this bill. I I have some concerns just generally with the wiretap act and the number of people who are authorized to have body cameras, and how, access to the footage of, those body cameras is is utilized. So, I would appreciate the ability to to kinda work with, folks on on putting some guardrails in, but at this point in time, I'm gonna I'm gonna be a no." The committee recorded the bill's committee vote as 22 to 4 in favor; counsel noted the bill takes effect in 60 days and that there were no amendments before the panel.

Why it matters: The bill expands which agency officers may use body‑worn cameras and reallocates unspent gaming revenue for law‑enforcement grants and agency needs; opponents raised concerns about oversight and access to footage under Wiretap Act provisions.

Next steps: The committee reported the bill out as committed. Counsel recorded that the Senate previously passed the bill 50‑0; implementation provisions begin 60 days after enactment.