The House Judiciary Committee convened on March 25, 2025, to discuss several legislative items, primarily focusing on criminal law reforms. The meeting began with Mr. Johnson presenting House Bill 3524, which aims to remove a grandfather clause established in February 2008. This clause previously exempted victim service providers from completing basic certification requirements. The bill clarifies that licensed mental health clinicians are not categorized as victim service providers, acknowledging their existing qualifications. The committee unanimously voted in favor of the bill, with a roll call resulting in 22 votes for and none against.

Following this, Mr. Johnson introduced House Bill 3525, which underwent amendments based on recommendations from the House Oversight Committee. The amendments included a change in terminology from "spousal abuse" to "domestic violence," among other updates to modernize the statute. The committee again voted favorably on this bill, with 21 members in favor and none opposed.

The discussion then shifted to the pressing issue of fentanyl-related crimes. Mr. Johnson highlighted the importance of addressing fentanyl homicides, referencing a bill passed in the previous session. He reported that the criminal law subcommittee had met earlier to review Senate Bill 156, which aims to enhance law enforcement's ability to combat fentanyl distribution leading to fatalities. To expedite the legislative process, Mr. Johnson proposed recommitting House Bill 3591 to the subcommittee, allowing the committee to focus on the Senate bill. This motion was approved without opposition.

The meeting concluded with a brief mention of House Bill 3624, which was noted as a straightforward legislative matter. Overall, the committee's discussions reflected a commitment to refining laws related to victim services and addressing the ongoing fentanyl crisis, with significant progress made on both fronts.