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A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Thursday, Feb. 17, 2016:

STUDYING ASSET SEIZURES: State policy regarding civil asset seizures will be discussed by a committee of lawmakers and stakeholders after the legislative session under a plan proposed by Sen. Steve Sodders, chairman of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. A panel of state lawmakers decided to propose the interim study committee rather than advance legislation that would have required a felony conviction before law enforcement officials could seize any property. Civil rights, civil liberties and defense attorneys’ organizations expressed support in the bill over concerns current law allows for abuse. Law enforcement and county attorneys’ organizations opposed the bill, saying it would remove a valuable law enforcement tool. After a lengthy hearing, lawmakers agreed to shelve the bill and study the issue after the session.

JUDICIAL SALARIES: The House Judiciary Committee struck a judicial salary bill Wednesday and replaced with what Chairman Chip Baltimore, R-Boone, called a skeleton system that will give the Judicial Branch more autonomy over salaries and personnel matters, such as the number of judges and where they are located. HSB 527 now goes to the full House.