Senate leadership has decided to limit their support for criminal enhancement bills proposed by the House, rejecting some and offering limited support for others. The Senate’s consensus bill on immigration law enforcement includes mandatory jail sentences for individuals who commit illegal reentry. House Republicans initiated the 2025 legislative session with bills aiming to increase penalties for immigration-related crimes.
However, after six weeks of work, the Senate is now filtering out some of these bills to limit new criminal enhancements. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla and Senate Judiciary Chair Todd Weiler have emphasized the importance of carefully considering the necessity of these criminal enhancements, as an unsustainable course of enhancing everything every year.
The Senate has supported bills such as SB90, which introduces mandatory jail sentences for repeat offenders of drug and theft crimes who have reentered the country illegally. Another bill, HB226, focuses on increasing penalties for violent misdemeanors committed by immigrants to facilitate their immediate deportation.
The Senate has shown a willingness to address immigrant-related crime, particularly for repeat offenders or violent crimes, but is focusing on bills that are narrowly tailored. With just one week left in the legislative session, the Senate is working to refine and prioritize criminal enhancement bills to ensure they target the most pressing issues in the community.
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