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Senate pauses bill giving judges limited power to reduce mandatory prison minimums after heated debate
Summary
Senate debate over first substitute SB231 focused on giving judges discretion to reduce mandatory prison minimums by up to 50%. Sponsor amendment narrowed applicability to prison sentences with a minimum term of at least one year; senators raised concerns about applying the change to the most serious child‑abuse offenses. The bill was amended and circled for more work.
Senator Collamore introduced first substitute SB231, a bill to give judges limited discretion to reduce mandatory minimum prison terms in narrow circumstances. Collamore said the bill "gives the judges some discretion to reduce that sentencing up to 50% where there's served," and emphasized safeguards requiring judges to make findings on the record explaining the decision.
Opponents warned the proposal could undermine legislatively established mandatory minimums for the state’s most serious…
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