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Senate Judiciary reports several bills: SB 318, SB 348 and SB 398 advance; SB 389 and SB 421 tabled
Summary
At its Dec. 5 Senate Judiciary meeting, the committee approved SB 318 (child-representation amendments), SB 348 (revised penalties), and SB 398 (higher municipal-court jurisdiction) and tabled SB 389 (self-storage mitigation) and SB 421 (rental application fees) after divided votes. Several amendments were considered.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 5 took executive action on multiple bills after a morning of hearings.
SB 318 (child representation/guardian ad litem amendments) was amended on the floor of the committee and passed out of Senate Judiciary on a 5–3 roll-call vote after debate about who should serve as guardian ad litem and how to balance legal expertise with program capacity. Sponsor-supported technical amendments were adopted; opponents and some members warned about staffing constraints for attorney-only requirements.
SB 348, which revises penalties for a specified sexual-assault-related offense, passed out of committee 6–2. Proponents argued the bill better aligns punishment with harm and helps prosecutors;…
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