02/03/2026 Senate Committee on Rules

We got a call. We're gonna call rules standing committee to order. I've got a caddy in the audience. Senator Williams, would you lead us in a word of prayer? It's a remember, this is standing rules, so it would need to be a standing rules prayer.

Thank you.

Nobody's done yet. Okay. Hint hint. Dear Lord, thank you again for another day. Thank you for the many blessings and opportunities you've bestowed upon us.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here, dear Lord, and give us, will and courage and wisdom. In thy name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Alright. First on the agenda is s b one one six, senator Bearden. If you would just go to the podium for us, tell us about your underlying bill, and then you have a committee sub. There were some, small change if you'll cover the the bill and the change.

Thank you, mister chairman. We are working off the substitute to senate bill one sixteen l c six three zero zero seven five. The change s That's

75.

777777

s.

Did I say 5?

You said 5.

Oh, I'm sorry. S.

I just didn't want my committee members to be confused.

Apparently, the one presenting is confused. I don't

care if you're confused.

Okay. That's perfect. I don't

want them confused.

The biggest change in this bill, if you look on lines 28 through 33. So the bill will basically allow, if any if any illegal alien is arrested or charged in this state, they will allow DNA to be taken. But when you look at lines 28 through 33, once this ICE detainer is placed on them, if ICE picks them up currently within the forty eight hours they're supposed to, ICE already takes DNA. So what we're saying now is, at first, we had it they were taken the DNA was taken by our local law enforcement officials. If ICE does not pick up the illegal within forty eight hours, then our locals, wherever they're charged or arrested, will then take the DNA.

This just, really prevents a duplication of a process here. So if ICE has already taken the DNA, there's surely no sense in us doing it. But if ICE can, for some reason, cannot pick them up without forty eight hours before they are released, then DNA will be taken. This bill truly just make sure that we if there's any unsolved crimes that may be able to be solved by DNA, that we catch those. And if they are deported out of the country and come back and commit a crime, then we can make sure we know who commits a crime.

So we're looking at this strictly as a public safety type bill.

K. How are they getting that DNA?

It'd be a swap. Swap. K.

Is there any questions from the committee? Alright. Hold on. Hold on. I got a question from senator Harbison.

Thank you, sir. Online I'm noticing on line 29, convicted has been who's been convicted scratched out, and then it goes to charge with a misdemeanor felony. But online, I I see still on 23 that it says convicted of a felony. Is that am I reading that correctly? Is that what it says in your eyesight as well?

That

There's a different subsection to the bill than c comes in. We're also putting, someone that's been charged with a misdemeanor or felony. So these other ones are where they already have DNA taken, but we're bringing in charged with a misdemeanor or felony.

And we've got the chairman of public safety who this bill originally came through. Chairman, if you would enlighten us as well, please.

Thank you, mister chairman. If you look specifically in that, section c, this is about those who are having ICE detainer, which is different from someone who would just normally would have if you look under subsection c, this is pertaining to somebody who has an ICE detainer on them, where if you're looking above on section 23, that's just in general of somebody who has been convicted of a felony. This is adding that on that because of their illegal presence in the country to begin with.

Good question. Any further questions? Hearing none. Alright. Is there anyone that would, from the public, will speak in favor against this bill?

Did we have a sign up sheet? Nobody signed up, but we headed out there. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Okay. What is the will of the committee?

I got a move due passed from center again. I got a second from chairman Albers. Any further discussion? Alright. All in favor, raise your right hand.

Alright. I'll oppose one no. One no. Motion carries. Onto the general calendar you go.

You're in regular rules now, the calendar rules. So be gone with you, as my predecessor used to say. Yes. The motion was due passed by committee. So alright.

Next up, we have senate bill two thirty nine. Senator Williams.

Thank you, mister chairman. This is, the same bill we just passed a few days ago, but ledge council had left out some words.

I'm just them. Yeah. I'm sorry? You blaming it on them?

They actually did because they didn't take into consideration the human composting bill we passed Oh. Last session. So they had to go back and put that in here so it would be legit.

And just so everyone understands procedurally, what happened was, the amendment to fix it was gonna be too long and kick it back here anyway. So, he was kind enough to go ahead and do that and save us some time on the floor on Monday. So that is why the bill is here. And so your your changes were what you just stated?

Yes, sir. That's correct. They were just, to make sure that human composting was also mentioned as a method of disposition in this field.

How many how many of those have you done? Just curious.

None. Bills or

Not funeral bills. That counts long gone. Okay. Is there has anyone ever been composted or know anyone that's been composted? Alright.

Well, does anybody have any questions for the author of the bill or the author of this up? Alright. Does anyone from the public like to speak for or against this bill? Hearing none. Alright.

What's the will I think I had a motion due passed from a vice chairman by substitute l c five six zero five three two, SAsInSierra, and second from senator Anderson. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries unanimous. I didn't say which hand this time.

Last time, I said right. But some of y'all have trouble figuring that out. So alright. Well, this concludes senate rules 02/03/2026 in the year of our lord. Meeting adjourned.