Conference committee reaches multiple tentative agreements on criminal-justice bills, rejects Titus warrant amendment

Madam Chair of the Committee on Judiciary convened the March 26 Senate–House conference meeting to review pending conference positions on a package of criminal‑justice and related bills.

The committee reached several tentative agreements to move bill contents into other bill “shells,” approved two conference offers, and declined an amendment from Senator Titus that would have required search warrants for certain public‑right‑of‑way and private‑property surveillance. Committee staff prepared balloon amendments and conference committee reports for signatures before members dispersed for caucus.

The meeting began with a staff recap of items on the conference chart and the status of several bills. Staff reported that Senate Bill 30 would be removed from the chart because conferees changed and the bill was being used for technical purposes. Staff also said the contents of Senate Bill 84 and Senate Bill 156 were to be moved into House Bill 2347, leaving the Senate bills as shells.

A central point of debate involved Senate Bill 157 and an amendment offered by…