At the House Public Safety Committee’s final meeting, members voted to report six Senate bills to the full House, advancing measures on prison contracting oversight, policies for inmate participation in telehealth appointments, and standardized mental‑health guidance for emergencies.

The measures moved through with a mix of unanimous and divided votes. Several items were conformed to companion House bills or reported with line amendments intended to narrow their scope. Legislative counsel described one set of line amendments as removing a repeal clause and narrowing references to the Department of Motor Vehicles and identification documents.

Votes at a glance

- SB 11 55 — Conforming substitute reported initially 18–0; after a motion to reconsider the committee later reported the bill 10–9. Motion to adopt substitute and report: moved and seconded; outcome: reported to the House (final committee tally 10 yes, 9 no). The item was brought up as a conforming measure to a House bill; details beyond the conforming action were not specified on the record.

- SB 14 50 — Conformed to the companion House bill (House Bill 1608 as described on the record); the committee agreed to the motion and the bill was reported 9–7.

- SB 9 56 — Line amendments were offered to remove a repeal of a prior enactment (the second enactment of chapter 421 of the Acts of Assembly, 2021 Special Session I) and to narrow references to the DMV and identification documents, leaving the bill focused on reducing the frequency of certain state police reports. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill as amended by voice and roll call; final tally recorded 20–0.

- SB 12 83 — Described to the committee as a bill that would remove the authority of the director of the Department of Corrections to enter into contracts for operation of prison facilities unless approved by the General Assembly. The House Public Safety subcommittee recommended reporting this bill on a 6–0 vote; the full committee reported it 20–0.

- SB 10 39 — Reported out of subcommittee on a 5–1 vote and by the full committee on a 15–5 vote. The bill directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to develop and implement policies for inmate participation in telehealth appointments.

- SB 13 86 — Conformed to House Bill 2350 by subcommittee substitute and reported by the full committee 11–9. The bill directs the Department of Emergency Management to consult with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services when developing standardized guidelines for mental‑health support during an emergency.

What changed in committee

Legislative counsel Kelsey described the line amendments to SB 9 56 as removing a repeal provision and narrowing the bill’s text: “The effect of that is to remove the repeal of the second enactment of chapter 421 of the Acts of Assembly, 2021 Special Session I,” Kelsey said. Kelsey told the committee the amendments also removed references to the DMV and to driver’s licenses and identification cards so that the measure now focuses on limiting the number and frequency of reports the State Police must prepare.

Several bills were advanced with substitutes that conform Senate language to companion House measures; the chair moved multiple conforming motions and the committee adopted those substitutes before voting to report the bills to the House.

Procedure and next steps

On at least one bill (SB 11 55) the committee voted to reconsider an earlier roll-call result before voting again; that reconsideration produced a narrower margin on the second vote. Where subcommittees recommended reporting with a recorded subcommittee vote, those recommendations were reflected to the full committee and followed by roll calls. The committee adjourned after thanking staff and clerks for their work during the session.

Ending

With the votes completed and no further business before it, the committee rose for the session’s close. Committee members thanked clerks and staff on the record.