Conference committee tentatively agrees to three amendments to Senate Bill 9; date change remains unresolved

Members of the Judiciary and House Commerce conference committee tentatively agreed on three substantive amendments to Senate Bill 9 and left one issue unresolved at a conference meeting, saying they would reconvene at 1:00 p.m. to finish negotiations.

The committee tentatively agreed to: (1) add a narrower definition of “camera” that targets permanently affixed, Internet‑connected devices; (2) replace a stand‑alone “foreign entity” definition by inserting equivalent language directly where it is used; and (3) require gubernatorial review of certain expansion requests. Committee members did not reach agreement on changing the bill’s effective date.

Why it matters: The bill addresses national‑security and law‑enforcement concerns that committee members said could be affected by unmanned aerial systems, fixed cameras and certain foreign‑linked companies. Lawmakers and staff debated wording that could affect which devices and actors fall under the statute and how quickly local agencies must comply.

The chair read a distributed “balloon” amendment that defines camera as “a device that records still images or video that is affixed in a permanent manner to a building or structure…