Senate adopts conference report replacing proposed two‑hour TRO notice with one‑hour compromise

The Senate adopted the conference committee report for Senate Bill 509, replacing a House amendment that removed a two‑hour notice requirement the Senate had proposed and settling on a one‑hour notice for the attorney general’s office to have the opportunity to participate in temporary restraining order (TRO) hearings.

Senator Paul Bettencourt presented the conference committee report and described the change. He said the House removed a requirement that the attorney general have two hours’ notice before a TRO hearing and substituted “a reasonable opportunity to participate,” which varies by judge. The conference committee’s compromise sets a one‑hour notice as the requirement.

“The conference committee report signed by both the House and the Senate changes the requirement to a compromise 1 hour notice before a TRO hearing can occur,” Senator Bettencourt said when moving adoption of the report.

The Senate adopted the conference committee report by a roll call vote, 25 ayes and 6 nays, and the report was accepted for enrollment. The final language replaces the two‑hour notice sought in earlier Senate amendments with a one‑hour notice standard agreed in conference.