Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee advances five bills, adopts amendment to 3‑D printing firearms bill

The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee on Feb. 4 moved five House bills out of committee with due‑pass recommendations after a morning executive session and debate.

The panel advanced measures on litigation finance, common‑interest communities, post‑conviction collateral attacks, 3‑D and CNC firearm manufacturing, and remedies for alleged constitutional violations during civil immigration enforcement. All five were reported out with recommendations to the full House; one amendment to the 3‑D/CNC firearms substitute was adopted in committee.

Matt Sterling, staff to the committee, summarized House Bill 2,255 as a transparency and consumer‑protection measure that would impose disclosure requirements on third‑party litigation funders and make certain violations actionable under the Consumer Protection Act. "This bill is about transparency," Representative Wallen said during debate, noting the measure aims to increase disclosure to courts and parties about outside financing arrangements. The committee voted to report HB 2,255 out of committee (staff announced 12 ayes, 1 nay).

Helena Baker, committee staff, walked members through the proposed substitute for House Bill 23‑54, which would exempt certain small and middle‑housing common‑interest communities from some Wukaiwa provisions, adjust reserve‑study requirements, standardize governing‑document provisions on electric‑vehicle charging and heat‑pump financial responsibilities, and raise the audit trigger. Supporters said the substitute eases burdens on smaller communities; the committee voice‑voted the substitute out (staff announced 13 ayes, 0 nays).

On post‑conviction law, the committee considered House Bill 25‑95, which would extend the period for timely collateral attacks from one year to three years and authorize the Office of Public Defense to offer direct representation in qualifying cases. "This is really about access to justice," Representative Peterson said, urging support for extending the statutory window to allow incarcerated people more time to identify potential legal errors. Others expressed concerns about judicial workload; the roll call yielded 8 ayes and 5 nays, and the measure was reported out with a due‑pass recommendation.

The committee spent significant time on the proposed substitute to House Bill 23‑20, which would prohibit manufacturing certain firearms and components using 3‑D printers or CNC milling machines, ban possession or distribution of digital firearm‑manufacturing code in specified circumstances, and make certain violations per se Consumer Protection Act violations. An amendment (STIR 120), moved by Representative Walsh and adopted by the committee, removed language that imposed a rebuttable presumption that mere possession of digital files signaled intent to distribute or manufacture. Representative Saladin, one of the sponsors, told the committee the substitute reflects stakeholder feedback and narrowed definitions to exclude generic pins or springs and to avoid sweeping in hobbyist activity. "This isn't a theoretical issue, and this bill is a direct response to these unserialized ghost guns that are increasingly appearing in our streets and in our communities," Saladin said. After debate and the adopted amendment, the substitute was reported out by roll call (staff announced 8 ayes, 5 nays).

Finally, the committee advanced the proposed substitute to House Bill 25‑97, which would create a civil cause of action for violations of the U.S. Constitution occurring during civil immigration enforcement, limit immunity to the maximum extent permitted by federal and state constitutions, and authorize discretionary awards of attorney fees. Representative Tai, the prime sponsor of the substitute, urged support as a way to protect constitutional rights; Representative Veil said he remained concerned about operational clarity and requested a no vote. The committee reported the substitute out with a due‑pass recommendation (staff announced 8 ayes, 5 nays).

What passed: all five items were reported out of the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee with due‑pass recommendations to the full House. Several members said they plan to continue refining bills during floor debate and in negotiations with stakeholders. The committee adjourned and said it will take up Senate bills on a future date.

Votes at a glance (as recorded by committee staff): - House Bill 2,255 (litigation finance): reported out — 12 ayes, 1 nay. - Proposed substitute House Bill 23‑54 (common‑interest communities): reported out — 13 ayes, 0 nays. - House Bill 25‑95 (post‑conviction collateral attacks): reported out — 8 ayes, 5 nays. - Proposed substitute House Bill 23‑20 (3‑D/CNC firearm manufacturing; amendment STIR 120 adopted): reported out — 8 ayes, 5 nays. - Proposed substitute House Bill 25‑97 (remedies for constitutional violations during civil immigration enforcement): reported out — 8 ayes, 5 nays.

The committee record shows questions from members and several requests to tighten statutory language; sponsors and staff said they will continue stakeholder engagement before floor action.