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…