Committee advances bill to create confidential domestic‑violence registry for law enforcement

The House Committee on Crime and Public Safety advanced House Bill 2323, a measure sponsors described as creating a domestic‑violence offender registry accessible to law enforcement, voting the bill a committee “do pass.” The motion to consider the bill came during an executive session and, according to the chair, the committee reported the item as passed by voice (the chair announced a committee report of "13 aye, 0 or 1 no and 3 present").

Committee members spent the limited discussion clarifying the bill’s purpose. A committee member asked whether the bill would put both parties in a domestic dispute onto a registry or whether it applied only to convicted offenders; the chair read the bill text describing the measure as requiring the Department to “maintain a confidential database of registered domestic abuse offenders which will be accessible by law enforcement agencies to aid investigations and ensure the safety of victims.” The chair also said the director of the Department of Public Safety may adopt rules to implement the system and that the measure authorizes the department to allocate funding and resources for implementation.

Members contrasted HB 2323 with other related bills that have moved through the committee. One lawmaker noted other proposals create a public database; committee members and a sponsor described HB 2323 as an internal law‑enforcement tool that allows officers to see prior domestic calls or convictions tied to an individual at the time of arrest. Questions also touched on whether the bill changes the age threshold for registration; the chair said the draft before the committee did not alter age provisions.

Supporters argued the registry would help officers assess risk and protect victims; critics and questioners pressed for clarity on privacy, potential duplication with other proposals and how the information would be used and governed. The committee did not record further floor‑level amendments during the executive session.

The committee’s recommendation moves HB 2323 to the full House calendar where members will have further opportunities to amend or debate the proposal. No effective date or implementation timetable was specified during the committee discussion.