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Committee clears clemency notice exemption for verified trafficking and domestic‑abuse survivors
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 1,300B to allow verified survivors of human trafficking or domestic abuse to request an exemption from public newspaper notice in clemency proceedings when publication would endanger them; the bill preserves existing notice to governmental stakeholders and requires verification.
Representative Yuri Bach (prime) told the committee HB 1,300B creates a narrow exception to the statutory newspaper publication requirement for clemency applicants who can show they are victims of human trafficking or domestic abuse and that publication would create a safety risk.
Survivor advocates and people who have escaped trafficking — including representatives from Freedom's Journey and other victim‑service groups — described how public notice can expose survivors to danger, retraumatize them and impede reintegration. Witnesses stressed that the bill does not eliminate governmental notifications to state actors and prosecuting offices and that the exemption requires an affidavit from the applicant plus corroboration from two qualified professionals (law enforcement, health providers, victim advocates, prosecutors or others listed in the bill).
Committee members heard from survivor AJ (who participated remotely but experienced technical problems) and other advocates who described safety concerns tied to searchable digital publication. Supporters reassured members that the bill preserves due process and notification for governmental stakeholders while reducing the collateral risk posed by public notices.
The committee voted to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation and to place it on consent for floor consideration; sponsors said the measure is a narrow safety‑focused change, not a reduction in accountability.
