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Committee reports a string of technical and industry bills favorably, including electronic bonds, gaming changes and background-check cleanups
Summary
The Criminal Justice Committee reported multiple bills favorably, including measures on electronic bonds (SB 321), gaming promotional-play rules (HB 75 as amended), explosives and charitable-gaming licensing, crime-lab DNA reporting, and several statutory cleanups to preserve FBI background-check access in gaming operations.
The Criminal Justice Committee used Tuesday’s session to advance a group of largely technical and industry-related measures alongside the more contested items on the agenda.
Notable votes and actions:
- SB 321 (Kleinpeter): Modernizes electronic-bond processes (local agent protections, sheriff approval, authentication and ACH payments). Support from bail agents and underwriters; reported favorably.
- SB 258 (Lambert): Moves 17‑year‑olds in traffic matters back to adult traffic/misdemeanor court to ease juvenile‑court caseloads; reported favorably.
- HB 75 (Rep. Jackson): An amendment narrowed the bill to racetracks (not casinos/riverboats) to help racetracks compete regionally; adopted and the bill was reported favorably as amended.
- SB 393 / SB 487 / SB 339 / SB 325 / SB 288: A set of gaming and explosives‑related bills were presented with state‑police and industry support; sponsors said the language cleans up statutory phrasing so authorities can retain FBI/CJIS background‑check access and modernize licensing; all were reported favorably after technical amendments.
- SB 320 (Mazzell): Creates a central repository for crime‑lab DNA and sexual‑assault kit tracking to improve statewide oversight; state police supported the measure and it was reported favorably.
- SB 3 13 (Barrow/Jackson Andrews): Prohibits clerks from charging additional e‑filing fees in criminal and traffic matters; the vice chair noted clerks support the bill; one vendor representative (Scott Carrington) urged narrower language to avoid unintended contract impacts.
Committee members generally moved quickly through the routine items; some technical questions about fiscal notes and contract effects were raised during discussion. The committee adjourned after the final votes.
