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Senate passes HB1740 to increase DWI penalties and expand interlock affordability assistance
Summary
The Senate adopted and passed House Bill 1740 (with a Senate committee substitute) to raise penalties for fatal DUI crashes and to include assistance for low‑income offenders to cover initial ignition‑interlock costs; the Senate vote recorded a constitutional majority on third reading.
The Senate took up House Bill 1740 with a Senate committee substitute and moved the measure to final passage. The sponsor, identified on the floor as Senator from Cole, described the bill as a package that increases penalties for driving while intoxicated when that conduct causes death and includes affordability provisions to help low‑income individuals obtain ignition‑interlock devices.
Sponsor comments stressed victims’ families and public safety: "A death that could result from this poor decision is completely avoidable," the sponsor said on the floor, and he introduced surviving family members who were present. Colleagues questioned the interlock provisions and potential costs; one senator noted that an interlock and associated insurance requirements can impose thousands of dollars of expense and described changes in the substitute to offer discounts or assistance for people under 150% of the federal poverty level.
After brief inquiries and floor discussion the Senate adopted the substitute and ordered the bill read a third time. The roll call on the final passage was recorded on the floor and the clerk announced the bill "had received a constitutional majority" and declared it passed. The transcript records the roll call and a tally indicating the measure achieved the necessary votes on final passage.
