There are a number of criminal-legal system bills pending in our state legislature. We want to provide you with some general guidance on understanding the process of legislation, as well as being able to quickly locate and find out more about the bills that are currently pending.

 

Legislative Committees:

​Legislative Committees play a pivotal role in deciding which bills will progress through the legislative process. The Committee chair, in particular, wields significant power by selecting which bills to schedule for committee consideration. Moreover, Committees evaluate proposed legislation, discuss the merits, and decide whether the bill should move forward for further review. Committees provide a platform for presenting information about bills to Committee members. This can include, but is not limited to, expert testimony, data, and public input. By gathering relevant information, committees ensure that legislators make informed decisions during the legislative process.

Issue-Specific Focus:

Committees are broken down into subject-area issues. Members of each Committee specialize in particular areas, such as public safety, corrections, education, healthcare, and judiciary. Each Committee is responsible for focusing on bills related to its assigned subject matter, allowing for in-depth analysis and expertise.

Jurisdiction Oversight:

Committees also exercise legislative oversight of the various state agencies whose responsibilities fall within the subject-matter of the Committee. Such oversight may involve reviewing and approving proposed administrative rules, eliciting testimony from state agency leadership, pursuing investigations, and calling for audits and other oversight practices. As a general rule, the following Committees are where the majority of criminal-legal bills will originate:

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Criminal-Legal System Committees in the State Legislature:

Senate Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety

Assembly Committee on Corrections

Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Assembly Committee on Judiciary

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Each of the Committees named above play a substantial role in the crafting, adoption, and passing of criminal-legal legislation. By clicking on the above links, you can see the members of each Committee, all of the bills that are pending, as well as upcoming meetings being held by the Committee. Additionally, you have the opportunity to subscribe to receive notifications and other alerts specific to the work of the said Committee.

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We hope you find this information helpful! Do not hesitate to contact us with your questions.