House bill would create Escape Convict Alert Program to let local law enforcement push regional alerts for escapes

The committee heard sponsor testimony on Sub. H.B. 23, the "Escape Convict Alert Program" or ECAP, a house bill intended to authorize law enforcement to issue regional alerts when a person convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or charged with a felony escapes custody.

Representative Romer opened with a personal account: while campaigning he learned from a constituent that an escaped felon was on his street and said there was no consistent notification mechanism. "There was an escaped felon on your street," Romer told the committee, describing delayed public awareness and urging a structured alert system similar to Amber Alerts for child abductions.

Representative Williams, the bill’s co‑sponsor, walked members through the bill’s structure, saying ECAP would permit local and regional alerts at the discretion of law enforcement, allow adaptations for jurisdictions with existing programs, and grant liability protections to broadcasters and systems that participate in good faith. Williams also said the bill clarifies ECAP does not permit the use of the federal emergency alert system unless federal law expressly allows it.

Williams described the bill as balancing public safety communications with protections for media and local agencies; the sponsors told the committee the House passed the bill 97–0 and reported broad cosponsor support. The hearing record contains no agency or opponent testimony and the committee did not take a vote during this session.

Next steps: First hearing sponsor testimony closed with committee appreciation and no formal action recorded on ECAP during this meeting.