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Committee approves amendment to HB 203 to give judges discretion in vehicular homicide penalties
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee accepted Amendment 1646 to HB 203, changing certain enhanced penalties and remedial-driving requirements from mandatory to permissive and increasing potential license-suspension exposure; the motion to amend passed by voice with no objection.
The House Judiciary Committee approved an amendment to House Bill 203 that makes several enhanced penalties in vehicular homicide cases permissive rather than mandatory and expands the potential license-suspension period.
Representative Matthews moved to adopt Amendment 1646; the sponsor explained the change "allow[s] more court discretion in vehicular homicide cases for the punishment that fits the offense," including making enhanced fines and remedial driving instruction optional for judges. The testimony noted the amendment increases suspension exposure for a driver's license from a class 2 to a class 3, an adjustment the sponsor described as moving suspension from "3 months to 2 years." The motion to amend was agreed to without objection, concluding the bill's fourth hearing.
The committee took no further testimony on the bill at this session. No roll-call vote was recorded; the chair announced the motion was accepted by unanimous voice. The bill will return to the committee schedule for any next steps determined by sponsors or committee leadership.
