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Committee advances 'Missy's Law' to require remand after conviction for specified dangerous crimes
Summary
CS for SB 928 ("Missy's Law") would require courts to remand defendants to custody immediately upon conviction for listed dangerous crimes, narrowing judicial discretion; sponsor said the change prevents post‑conviction harm while family members urged passage.
Senator Martin presented CS for SB 928, a bill known as "Missy's Law," which requires courts to remand defendants to custody immediately upon conviction for certain listed dangerous crimes and prohibits release on bond pending sentencing in those cases. The sponsor said the measure addresses a perceived gap after a high‑profile killing that followed post‑conviction release.
An amendment expanded the definition of dangerous crimes to include violations related to computer offenses and child exploitation. Family members of victims asked senators to pass the bill; one family member said simply: "Please pass this law for my baby." Proponents including law‑enforcement groups waived in support. Questions from senators focused on whether the bill overly revoked judicial discretion in cases not related to the namesake tragedy; the sponsor argued most listed offenses carry prison ranges making remand appropriate.
The committee adopted the amendment and reported CS for SB 928 favorably; the bill will move on for further consideration and any additional floor amendments.
