Bills / S.B. 259
S.B. 259 Evidence Declaration Amendments
- Introduced
- Senate committee
- Senate vote (stopped here)
- House committee
- House vote
- Signed into law
What this bill does
The bill would require investigators, auditors, and prosecutors in felony cases to sign statements that evidence was obtained and provided in compliance with state and federal law, and would require a prosecuting agency to sign a statement about evidence disclosures. Under the latest amended version, making an untrue statement would be a Class C misdemeanor.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.
Official description
- defines terms
- requires certain individuals to sign a statement that evidence of a felony offense was obtained or provided in compliance with state and federal law
- requires a prosecuting attorney to sign a statement regarding evidentiary disclosures in a criminal case for a felony offense
- makes it a crime to fail to comply with the requirements of a signed statement
What it costs you
- State spending from tax funds goes up by $2.9 million in FY2027.
- The official fiscal note on residents and businesses:
To the extent that individuals violate provisions of this legislation, this could cost certain offenders about $340 per case; however, the total amount is unknown.
From the bill's latest official fiscal note, counting the state's tax funds (General, Income Tax, Education, Uniform School, and Transportation) in the first full budget year after the session. Some bills take effect partway through that year, so later years can be larger; the note shows each year. Household count: U.S. Census Bureau. An average is a starting point, not your bill.
Your legislators on this bill
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Take action
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Every vote
- 6 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
- 6 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
- 1 yes, 5 no, 3 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: Senate vote, which failed · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
Hearings and debates
- Feb 17, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
- Feb 18, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
- Feb 20, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (35 turns) →