Committee adopts amendment removing blanket arrest authority for bomb squads; amended HB 1018 passes

Sen. Blake Johnson introduced an amendment to House Bill 1018 that removes general arrest authority from bomb‑squad personnel and adds the senator as a cosponsor. Johnson told the committee the change addressed "a great deal of concern about the arrest authority" and that the amendment leaves deputization to local sheriffs.

Sen. Rice voiced concern that pulling the bill off a deferred list could leave stakeholders out of the process, but Johnson said the bill will return to the House after amendment and participate in further steps. Several senators said sheriff and police associations had previously objected to arrest authority; Johnson said the amendment responded to those concerns and that "the sheriffs can deputize" in counties that choose to do so.

Committee members asked whether fire marshals have arrest authority; senators discussed that as a separate law‑enforcement question. A motion to adopt the amendment was made and seconded; the committee adopted the amendment, then took a final vote and passed HB 1018 as amended. Johnson closed by asking for a good vote.

The transcript captures committee discussion about policing authority, deputization and process, and shows the committee voting to adopt the amendment and then to pass the bill as amended. The amendment and adoption were positioned as compromises intended to address law‑enforcement concerns while preserving bomb‑squad function and local control over deputization.