Senate Bill 404: Law Or Not?

Senate Bill 404 has been introduced in several states, including Florida and Wisconsin, and has become law in some cases. The content of the bill varies depending on the state and the year it was introduced. For example, in Florida, Senate Bill 404 in 2020 was related to abortion, while in 2023, it concerned public records and reports of autopsies of minors. In Wisconsin, Senate Bill 404 from 2023 focused on penalties for operating a motor vehicle without a license or after license suspension or revocation. The specific details and status of each state's Senate Bill 404 can be found on their respective government websites.

Public records exemption for minors' autopsy reports

Senate Bill 404, also known as the "Rex and Brody Act", was approved by the Governor and became law in Florida on May 11, 2023. The bill creates an exemption from public records requirements for autopsy reports of minors whose deaths were related to acts of domestic violence.

The bill was referred to the following Senate Committees: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules. It received a favorable response from the first two committees, with a unanimous vote of 8-0 in both cases. The bill was then placed on the Special Order Calendar on April 11, 2023, and passed by the Senate with a vote of 39-0.

The bill was then referred to the House Calendar and added to the Special Order Calendar on April 27, 2023. It was substituted for CS/CS/HB 273 and passed by the House with a vote of 116-0. The bill was then enrolled, signed by the Officers, and presented to the Governor for approval.

The bill creates an exemption from public records requirements for photographs, video recordings, or audio recordings of the killing of a minor, as well as for autopsy reports of minors whose deaths were related to domestic violence. It also provides for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption and includes a statement of public necessity.

Abortion consent requirements

Senate Bill 404, also known as the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, was introduced in the Senate on February 5, 2015, by Sen. Marco Rubio. The bill aimed to amend the federal criminal code to prohibit physicians from performing or inducing an abortion on a minor from out of state without meeting parental notification requirements. It also sought to impose fines and/or prison terms of up to one year for physicians who performed abortions on out-of-state minors without the required parental consent.

SB 404 included exceptions for abortions deemed necessary to save the life of the minor. Additionally, it provided affirmative defenses for defendants who reasonably believed that parental consent or notification had been obtained or that a court had waived such requirements.

The bill also provided a definition of "abortion" as the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with the intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth or preserve the life or health of the child.

In Florida, a similar Senate Bill 404 was passed in 2020, which required minors to obtain notarized written consent from a parent or legal guardian or receive a judicial waiver from a court before receiving an abortion. This was in addition to the existing Florida law that already required parental notification for minors seeking abortions.

Motor vehicle operation penalties

Senate Bill 404, which relates to penalties for operating a motor vehicle without a license or after license suspension or revocation, was introduced in the Wisconsin 2023-2024 legislative session. The bill seeks to amend existing statutes and create new ones.

The bill proposes to repeal sections 343.44 (2) (ad), 343.44 (2) (ag), and 343.44 (2) (ar). It also seeks to amend sections 343.05 (5) (b) 1., 343.05 (5) (b) 4., 343.05 (5) (b) 5., and 343.44 (2) (b) (intro.). Additionally, the bill proposes to repeal and recreate section 343.05 (5) (am).

The bill also aims to create sections 343.44 (2) (a) and 351.02 (1) (a) 11. The new section 343.44 (2) (a) would provide penalties for operating a motor vehicle without a license or after license suspension or revocation. The specifics of these penalties are not outlined in the bill summary.

The bill was introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Cabral-Guevara, Hutton, Jacque, James, Marklein, and Tomczyk, and was cosponsored by several Representatives. It passed the third reading with 20 Ayes and 13 Noes. However, it failed to concur pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Public records of minors' killings

Senate Bill 404, also known as the "Rex and Brody Act", was signed into law by the Governor of Florida on May 11, 2023. The bill creates exemptions from public records requirements for photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings of the killing of a minor, as well as autopsy reports of minors whose deaths were related to acts of domestic violence.

The bill was referred to three Senate Committees: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules. It received a favorable response from the first two committees, with a unanimous vote of 8-0 in both cases. The bill was then placed on the Special Order Calendar and underwent several readings, with amendments being adopted along the way. It ultimately passed unanimously in the Senate (39-0) and the House (116-0).

The bill addresses the sensitive nature of records related to the killing of minors. It creates exemptions from public records requirements for photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings of such incidents. This means that these records will not be readily accessible to the general public. However, there are exceptions to this exemption, which are not detailed in the sources. Additionally, the bill includes a provision for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption.

The "Rex and Brody Act" component of the bill is named after two young boys, Rex and Brody, who were tragically killed by their father in a murder-suicide in 2017. Their mother, Sheena Thrower, has advocated for the passage of this bill to protect the privacy of families who have experienced similar tragedies.

Senate Bill 404, 2023

Florida

In Florida, Senate Bill 404, 2023, is titled "Public Records/Photograph or Video or Audio Recording of the Killing of a Minor/Autopsy Reports of Minors". It was introduced on May 11, 2023, and its last action was on May 12, 2023. The bill creates an exemption from public records requirements for photographs, videos, or audio recordings of the killing of a minor, with some exceptions. It also creates an exemption for autopsy reports of minors whose deaths were related to acts of domestic violence. The bill was approved by the Governor and enacted as Chapter No. 2023-44.

Michigan

In Michigan, Senate Bill 404, 2023, relates to elections, voting procedures, and voter access and assistance provisions. It amends sections 726, 736, 751, and 931 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, adds new sections, and repeals section 579. The bill was introduced by Senator Erika Geiss and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics. It was reported favorably with a substitute, referred to the Committee of the Whole, and passed by the Senate with amendments.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Senate Bill 404, 2023, relates to penalties for operating a motor vehicle without a license or after license suspension or revocation. It was introduced by several senators and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. The committee recommended passage, and the bill was placed on the calendar for a third reading. It passed the third reading and was ordered to be immediately messaged. However, the Senate failed to concur pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

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