Legislator urges scrutiny of bill to codify homeland-office powers; department says it would formalize existing roles

Representative Bain told the committee he is concerned that pending administration bills would expand state power by creating or codifying a homeland office with broad investigative discretion and record secrecy. "This bill not only explains that authority, but it removes the visibility and expands a police function that can operate across the entire state," Bain said, urging careful review of scope, limits and accountability.

Graham Tudor, director of legislation for the Department of Safety, said the administration's intent is to codify functions already exercised under an executive order and to clarify whether certain sensitive homeland-security records should be exempt from public disclosure. "We're just making sure the legal framework is there to do what we are already doing rather than relying on executive orders dating back to the early 2000s," Tudor said. He said more legal review is under way to determine which homeland records are legitimately sensitive and not subject to public release.

Members followed up by asking whether an expanded office could investigate protests or advocacy groups and whether officers would assist federal agencies, including immigration enforcement. Tudor said the bills are intended to reflect existing practice and the department invited further legislative scrutiny as bills move through the process.