Senate committee clears bill clarifying legislative security authority, members press for hiring standards

House Bill 103, a measure to clarify the authority of legislative security personnel, cleared the Senate committee after discussion and a voice vote.

Senator Sample introduced the bill, which the committee heard had been presented the previous day. Amanda Yarbrough, counsel for the Department of Public Safety, told the panel that “they would have statewide general authority” under the bill but that hires would be expected to work under CLEST standards and legislative rule could address minimum standards.

The bill’s sponsor and Speaker Matthew Shepherd said the measure grew from a vacancy in the House sergeant‑at‑arms position and the subsequent hiring of a person with federal law‑enforcement experience. Shepherd said the intent was to “clear up maybe what could be a gray area” about the scope of the sergeant‑at‑arms’s authority during meetings and official functions, not to create a new statewide law‑enforcement agency.

Committee members raised questions about the scope of the proposed statewide jurisdiction and about who would set hiring and training standards. Senator Tucker said the statewide jurisdiction language “gives me some pause,” and questioned why each chamber would be able to set its own qualification and training standards. Senator English asked what criteria would be used if the current hire leaves, saying the absence of explicit minimum standards was a concern.

The bill sponsor said he was open to future language tightening and further discussion to clarify hiring and qualification parameters. The committee then received a motion to pass the bill from Senator Bledsoe, seconded by Senator English, and passed it by voice vote; individual roll‑call votes were not recorded.

The committee closed its consideration and adjourned.