House Bill 532 passed second reading after Representative Mercer, carrying the bill for the Department of Justice, explained the measure recodifies and revises statutes relating to abuse, neglect and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults.

Mercer told the committee DOJ requested the change to integrate definitions with the criminal code (Title 45) and to make the evidence statute more workable for prosecutors and victims. He said the bill moves provisions currently in Title 52 into Title 45, aligns the definition of abuse with the definition of assault in Title 45, and modifies evidentiary rules to permit testimony that prosecutors view as more productive while maintaining defendants' rights. Mercer moved an amendment (HB0532001.002) on the floor to (as described by the sponsor) correct the title to reflect identity theft repealers and to delete duplicative references to law enforcement officers in certain sections; the clerk recorded the amendment as passed (100 aye on the amendment) and the committee then passed the bill as amended (100‑0 recorded vote on second reading).

Representative Baum and other supporters thanked the sponsor for consolidating the provisions into the criminal code, noting it clarified prosecutors’ tools. The sponsor said the amendment addressed drafting corrections that had been identified post‑committee hearing.

The motion recommending the bill do pass as amended was recorded with the clerk’s tally of 100 aye votes; House Bill 532 is passed second reading.