H.B. 34 Victim Rights Amendments

What this bill does

H.B. 34 would write the victim rights coordinator role into state law and set out that role's duties. It would also clean up definitions, including who may file a complaint, organize the complaint steps, and clarify how complaints involving the courts are routed.

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Every vote

• 72 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal House vote · Jan 20, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 27, 2026Who voted how
• 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
• 25 yes, 0 no, 4 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 4, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 20, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)1:29:03

     The bill's been circled. Madam Reading Clerk House Bill 34, victim Rights Amendments by Representative Mauga. Representative Mauga.

  2. Rep. Verona Mauga1:29:13

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker House Bill 34 is about our victim's rights committees, which operate in each of our eight judicial districts. These committees have been around since the 1990s, reviewing questions and complaints from victims, and issuing findings that are focused on support and accountability and helping v helping victims find resources. After a year of using the updated process, it's become clear that a few parts of statute need to be cleaned up so the process is clearer and more consistent statewide. And that's what this bill does. It's a cleanup bill from HB 3 0 8, and so it doesn't change or expand victim rights or create anything new. It does force simple things. It puts the victim rights coordinator role into statute and clearly lays out the responsibility. This role already exists and is supporting committees today. This just makes sure that the law reflects what's already working. Second, it cleans up definitions, including who can file a complaint so that committees can focus on eligible cases, and the process is clear from the start. Third, it organizes the complaint process, so the steps are easier to follow, and that reduces confusions and lightens the burden on the committees. And finally, it clarifies how complaints involving the courts are handled so that they're routed appropriately. These changes just help the process run more smoothly and consistently across the state. And these next steps are just codifying what is already working well. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

  3. Speaker (presiding)1:30:45

     Thank you, Representative Mauga discussion to the bill,

  4. Rep. Ariel Defay1:30:48speaker not certain

     Representative Ivory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. Uh, having created the Victim Services Commission. A number of years ago, I would get questions from all over the place of where do people go when they have issues about victims' rights, and what do they do and how do we process those? And I didn't even know Mr. Speaker. And so I'd send them to someone that I knew that was working with a victim's organization or a another area. And what this does is it simply funnels the processing of claims related to victim's rights. There we have a victim's Bill of Rights in the Constitution. We also have it in code. And there's just certain, uh, processes, procedures that we afford to victims because we want them to come forward and testify and be involved in the, in the court process. And so this just creates a process. It standardizes for that. And I applaud the good sponsor on this. Encourage a body sport.

  5. Speaker (presiding)1:31:47

     Thank you, Representative Ivory. Further discussion to the bill. See none. Back to your Representative, Mauga for summation. I'll waive. Thank you. Summation Has been waived. Voting will now be open on HB 30.

  6. Speaker (presiding)1:32:40

     See, all present, having voted, voting is now closed. HB 34 passed this body with 72 yes votes zero. No votes be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Madame Reading Clerk

• Jan 27, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (14 turns)

  1. Committee chair1:47:42

     Representative Moss, uh, Maga. Am I saying that right? No.

  2. Rep. Verona Mauga1:47:47

     Okay. Alna MNA. Alna. Yep. Okay.

  3. Committee chair1:47:51speaker not certain

     The, can I move to put an n in the spelling of your name?

  4. Rep. Verona Mauga1:47:55

     Yes. Okay. I accept that. Alright, I'm sorry.

  5. Committee chair1:47:58

     I was just teasing. Okay. Please proceed.

  6. Rep. Verona Mauga1:48:02

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this is HB 34 Victims' Rights Amendments. It's a bill that, um, was heard in the interim and passed unanimously. It, it's a cleanup bill, uh, from HB 3 0 8, which passed in 2024. After a year of using that process, a few clarifications were needed. So that statute reflects what's working in practice. And so the bill just codifies an improved process to better support victims alleging violations of their rights. It places the victim's rights coordinator role into statute a position that already exists and is functioning, and it incorporates lessons learned from implementation. Um, it doesn't expend victim's rights or authority and it doesn't carry a fiscal note. It just brings clarity and consistency to an existing process. I have Marlis Jones with here, here with me and I'll let you, um, continue on. Thank you.

  7. Marlesse Jones, Director, Victim Services Commission1:48:56

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. And we really appreciate Representative Mauga and her work on this. It's, it's been very important. Uh, since 2020, the number of victim rights complaints has increased by 426%. Uh, there's no way that our eight judicial district committees could function without a coordinator. And this definitely, um, during the time period that we've had Ms. Fox, who is our current coordinator, uh, in this role, it has streamlined, we've learned lessons. And so this bill just codifies that. One other part of this bill that I think may be of interest that's important is there's always a question of when you have a victim rights complaint involving a court and the case is in process and there's been some concern about that. We've worked well with the courts, uh, but the courts have also given input on this bill and crafted the language so that we now have a clear direction when we do have those complaints.

  8. Committee chair1:49:47

     Alright, thank you. Does that conclude your presentation?

  9. Marlesse Jones, Director, Victim Services Commission1:49:50

     Yes, it does. Thank you. Thank you very much.

  10. Committee chair1:49:51

      Um, clarifying questions from the committee. Seeing none, uh, by a show of hands, are there members of the public that would like to be heard on this bill? I see one in person or there any online? None online. So we'll take one public comment. If one of you would like to make a space thank you. Please tell us your name and if you're representing an organization or just appearing all by yourself today.

  11. Liz Klc, Criminal Policy Director, CCJJ1:50:14

      Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members. My name is Liz Ke. I am the Criminal Justice Policy Director for CCJJ. We are the agency that oversees both the Victim Services Commission and this position, and we are very much in support. We're appreciative of the work that's being done and would like to encourage your support as well.

  12. Committee chair1:50:30

      Thank you. It would've been more interesting if you were opposing that, but, um, thank you. I mean, just trying to spice things up a little bit. Okay. We're gonna close the public hearing and bring it back to the Committee for Action. Senator Balderree.

  13. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:50:43

      Thank you. I move that we, um, pass HB 34 to the full body of the Senate, Senate Victims' Rights Amendments.

  14. Committee chair1:50:53

      All right. We have a motion to favorably recommend the bill discussion to that motion. Seeing none, uh, representative, would you like to sum I'll waive. Senator, would you like to sum waive All in favor of the motion to favorably recommend House Bill 34 to the floor of the Senate? Say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Sorry. Chair rules of that passes unanimously, which in this instance is six to zero with Senator Es a voting online.

• Feb 4, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (19 turns)

  1. Senate President (presiding)17:43

     Senator Wilson.

  2. Sen. Chris H. Wilson17:45

     Senator Wilson. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill is a cleanup bill from HB 3 0 8, which passed in 2024. After a year of using that process, a few clarifications were needed. So the statute reflects what is working in practice. This bill codifies an improved process to better support victims alleging violations of their rights. It places the victim rights coordinator role into statute a position that already exists and is functioning very well. And it incorporates lessons learned from the implementation. It does not expand the victim rights or authority and carries no physical note. It simply brings clarity and consistency to an existing process. Uh, these are the next steps in codifying that process that's already been proven and is working well. That concludes my presentation. Mr. President, thank You for the presentation.

  3. Senate President (presiding)18:42

     Senator Macau you up looking for discussion? Not seeing any. I'm gonna go to you. Senator Wilson. A motion.

  4. Sen. Chris H. Wilson18:50

     Thank you Mr. President. A motion that HB 34 be read a third time.

  5. Senate President (presiding)18:54

     Thank you. And the question is, shall house bill 34 be read a third time Roll call

  6. Unknown speaker19:00speaker not certain

     Vote. Senator Vickers Baldry Lewin Brammer Bus A Colmore Escamilla Fillmore Grover Harper Escamilla Aye. Pinks Aye. Ipson A Johnson. Aye. K. Juab McKay Mikel Milner Aye. Musman Aye. Owens pitcher Lum Aye. Re Aye. Sandal Aye. Stevenson. Aye. Stratton Bickers Aye. Bier Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. President Adams Aye.

  7. Senate President (presiding)20:01

     House bill 34, having received 2070 a votes, zero nay votes two being absent shall be read a third time.

  8. Senate President (presiding)20:10

     Senator Sandall.

  9. Sen. Andrew Sandall20:12

     Motion to table on third for fiscal impact, having a motion to table on third.

  10. Senate President (presiding)20:18

      All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Or That motion passes. The bill will be tabled on third

  11. Senate President (presiding)20:30

      Oh, before I, before I take that, let me call it again. So the, the, the motion is to table house bill 34 Victim rights amendments on third. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will let motion passes House Bill 34 will be tabled on third

  12. Senate President (presiding)20:52

      house Bill 39. Now House Bill 39, prison and jail standards amendments.

  13. Senate President (presiding)20:56

      Senator Musselman.

  14. Senate President (presiding)21:00

      Senator Wilson.

  15. Sen. Chris H. Wilson21:03

      Motion to circle sponsors off the floor.

  16. Senate President (presiding)21:05

      Motion to circle. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Rule that motion passes. The bill is circled. House bill 19,

  17. Senate President (presiding)21:14

      House bill 19, drinking water utilities amendments.

  18. Senate President (presiding)21:17

      Senator Balderree. Senator Balderree.

  19. Sen. Heidi Balderree21:21

      Thank you Mr. President. In light of the recent water audit findings

• Mar 4, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (14 turns)

  1. Rep. Verona Mauga32:03

     This incorporates lessons learned from implementation. Uh, be happy to answer any questions Mr. President.

  2. Unknown speaker32:10speaker not certain

     Thank you. And again, I noticed this bill has a fiscal note on it of 130,000. Has it been funded?

  3. Rep. Verona Mauga32:16

     It it is a, uh, internally funded by the, um,

  4. Unknown speaker32:20speaker not certain

     Okay. Uh, just wanted to make sure.

  5. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)32:22

     Yes. All right. Any discussion on the bill? See no discussion. I'm going back to you, Senator. Uh, I need a motion. Thank you.

  6. Sen. Chris H. Wilson32:32

     I'll, I'll waive and, uh, motion that house Bill 34 pass.

  7. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)32:36

     Thank you. And the question is, shall house bill 34 pass. Roll call vote.

  8. Unknown speaker32:40

     Senator Vickers. Spry Aye. Lewin Aye. Brammer bus? Aye. Comore Aye. Escamia Fillmore Grover Harper Aye. Kinins Ipson Aye. Johnson Aye. Juab McKay Mikel Milner Aye. Musman Owens pitcher Alum Rebi Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Aye. Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye.

  9. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)33:26

     President Adams Aye. House bill 34, having received 25 yay votes, his zero nay votes, four being absent passes, his body will be signed by the President. And turn to the house with a signature.

  10. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)33:39

      The speaker, Senator Cullimore a couple of motions.

  11. Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore33:45

      Uh, motion to, Let's just suspend the rules. Take just one after the purpose of, uh, moving the third reading requirement for third reading require, okay, go ahead. Yes, let's do that. Motion to suspend the Constitutional three reading requirement for the remainder of the day. We have that a motion to suspend the constitutional three reading requirement. It's allowed under the Constitution for the remaining of the day.

  12. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)34:06

      Discussion of that motion. Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will it? Motion passes. So now I'm gonna recognize Senator Stevenson for a motion Encircle.

  13. Sen. Jerry W Stevenson34:21

      Thank you. I would, I would move to encircle house bill two. New fiscal year, uh, uh, supplemental appropriations.

  14. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)34:29speaker not certain

      We have a motion to Uncer House Bill two again.

• Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (2 turns)

  1. Senate clerk (roll call)52:45

     Stevenson Stratton Aye. Vickers Weiler Wilson. Aye. Winterton President Adams Aye.

  2. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)52:57

     Fourth substitute Senate Bill 34. Having received 29 yay votes, his zero nay votes zero being absent, passes his body and will be returned to the house for the signature of the speaker. Concludes. Oh, lemme look. Let me call the next bill. In concurrence we just saw third substitute Senate Bill 42 62.