Overview:
During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding Law and Justice.
- ICE Enforcement & Face Coverings (2026) Senate Page, Meiling Hou, asks Senators from the Senate Law and Justice Committee about the recent piece of legislation that passed off the Senate Floor, a bill that would require law enforcement officers to not wear face masks. Senators Manka Dhingra and Phil Fortunato respond to her question with their thoughts.
- Gun Rights & Effective Background Checks (2026) Anshu Kopparapu asks Senator Manka Dhingra and Senator Phil Fortunato about the effectiveness of background checks for firearm purchases. The Senators appreciated the thoughtfulness of her question and responded with elucidative information.
Essential Questions:
- To what extent do face coverings for law enforcement officers help with accountability?
- To what extent are firearm background checks effective in improving public safety?
Senate Law & Justice Committee
The Law and Justice Committee considers issues relating to:
- Civil law
- Criminal law and sentencing
- Commercial law
- Public safety
- Property law
- General court administration
- Firearms
- Family law issues including marriage, child support, adoption, and guardianship
Teacher's Guide