Lexi’s Law (SB 209) prompted emotional victim testimony; committee took the bill by for the day

Senate Bill 209, presented as "Lexi’s Law," would tighten geriatric conditional-release eligibility by adding certain serious sex and violent offenses to the list of disqualifiers for early consideration.

Sponsor testimony recounted cases where offenders convicted at older ages were brought up for geriatric parole within months of incarceration, producing repeated trauma for victims and families. Multiple victims and survivors provided emotional testimony describing the distress of receiving notice that an offender who harmed them could be considered for parole shortly after conviction.

Given those concerns and the sensitivity of the language, the committee agreed to take the bill "by for the day" to allow sponsors and stakeholders to refine the text before formal reporting. No final vote was taken during this hearing.