Transcript Highlights:

• This provision was originally put into law to minimize the impact on the wild herd.

Bills: HF647 , HF2824 , HF1249 , HF623 , HF820

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to the devastating and catastrophic loss caused by the wild.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it bothers me too much, but I can tell you that it's so horrific to imagine being attacked by five wild

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and took up four bills. First, CS/SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon or restrain an animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado. The bill was presented as a response to a widely publicized case of a dog tied to a fence during Hurricane Milton. Several speakers supported the measure, and the committee voted unanimously to report it favorably. Next, SB 374 by Senator Trunow would refine the definition of “farm product” to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from restricting the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment related to food waste was withdrawn for further discussion, and public testimony came from composting, recycling, and poultry interests in support. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 560 by Senator Martin on chemical additives in food products, which would restrict a list of 10 chemicals in food. The sponsor argued the bill was aimed at serious health concerns and noted some chemicals had already been banned federally; industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules and potential market disruptions, while some senators supported the health goal but raised concerns about consistency. The committee voted to report SB 560 favorably, with one recorded no vote. Finally, SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry and impose additional criminal penalties, permitting requirements, microchipping, sterilization, and insurance requirements for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and family members of attack victims described severe injuries and deaths to support the need for public notice and accountability. Some members questioned the usefulness of a registry and the burden of the information requirements, but the sponsor said the bill was intended to prevent repeat attacks and help victims. The committee voted to report SB 572 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's important to educate the public because it's kind of like the Wild West on the zipper merge

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Senator<04:23:52.720><c> Bird</c><04:23:53.040><c> still</c><04:23:53.199><c> has</c><04:23:
• </c> &gt;&gt; Senator Bird still has a question. &gt;&gt; Senator Bird still has a question.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thoughtless and overbroad and encompasses everything from Wikipedia to local community forums for bird
• thoughtless and overbroad and encompasses everything from Wikipedia to local community forums for bird

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In some sense, we kill two birds with one stone there.
• Particularly students from rural settings, in some sense, we'd kill two birds with one stone there.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Klay Mama Crowning Bird Myo, and the lineal kahu of Ma.
• Klay Mama Crowning Bird Myo, and the lineal kahu of Ma.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard multiple gubernatorial nominations to island burial councils, with testimony focused on the importance of filling vacancies so the councils can reach quorum and fulfill their kuleana to protect iwi kūpuna and burial sites. For GM 674, Kavuna Khalipi was introduced as OHA’s nominee for the Molokaʻi burial council, with OHA, SHPD, and several community members testifying in support and describing her cultural grounding, community service, and experience in mālama ʻāina. Testifiers also stressed that burial councils are essential for protecting ancestral remains and that prolonged vacancies have left sacred sites vulnerable. Khalipi herself said she was honored to serve but expressed concern about accepting the appointment without quorum, saying she did not want to waste a term if the council could not function effectively. The chair explained the Senate advice-and-consent process and the consequences of inaction, and after discussion Khalipi asked to pull her nomination from the committee. The chair then deferred decision-making on GM 674 until April 10 at 1 p.m. to clarify the process and avoid unintended rejection. The committee then heard testimony on GM 676, Dane Maxwell for the Maui and Lānaʻi burial council, GM 677, Noani Parisa, GM 678, Caroline Hartman, and GM 679, Benedict Duman. Supporters, including SHPD and OHA, highlighted each nominee’s cultural knowledge, preservation work, genealogy, and experience with burial or historic preservation matters. Testimony repeatedly linked the nominations to the need for functioning burial councils, especially in light of the 2023 Maui fires and long-standing vacancies. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated votes would be taken at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to respond to it, whether it is the avian bird
• > The Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to respond to it, whether it is the avian bird

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, it's the wild wild west. But I do also want to add this one final point.
• Right now, it's the wild wild west. But I do also want to add this one final point.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 Approve Minutes from June 11, 2026- 00:00:40 Staff Report on 2026 Child Fatality Panel Update- 00:01:17 Panel Staff Response to Report-00:21:12 University of Kentucky Name, Image, and Likeness-00:44:34 Kentucky State Police Update on SERVS-01:17:55 Adjornment-01:33:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members then received a staff report on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including an annual LOIC evaluation of the panel’s operations, statutory compliance, case management system development, member experience, and written procedures. The report noted recent House Bill 778 expanded the panel’s access to records and to TWIST/I-TWIST, and recommended that staff request access and training promptly to avoid implementation problems. Analysts reported the panel has met statutory membership and meeting requirements, and that agency responses to the panel’s 2025 recommendations improved, with all responses meeting statutory content requirements though some were late. They also said the panel still lacks formal written procedures, so a prior recommendation was reissued. The report discussed the panel’s new case management system, now in testing with the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and a survey of panel members showing generally positive views of meetings and case discussions but recurring concerns about SharePoint access, time demands, virtual meetings, and the panel’s lack of enforcement authority. The report included a matter for legislative consideration suggesting the General Assembly may wish to seek additional testimony from agencies when responses are unclear or more information is needed. Panel staff responded that the work is difficult but important, said they are optimistic about gaining TWIST access, and acknowledged that written procedures have not yet been completed because they wanted to align them with the new system. They said both the system and procedures are hoped to be finished by the end of the year, with the new case management system expected to be implemented by September 1 after further testing and migration. Members also discussed trends in child fatality and near-fatality cases, including increases in reported cases since 2013, substance abuse, safe storage of firearms, and concerns about THC/CBD gummies reaching children. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• STDs way down, and when in reality, that's coming from a lack of socialization, and that it's the Wild
• STDs, way down, and when in reality, that's coming from a lack of socialization, and that it's the Wild
• It's wild. Yes. It's wild. We'll bring it back to the dais. Any questions, concerns? Oh, Ms. Irwin?

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This wild west atmosphere means that fans feel cheated before the lights even go down.
• passed, it's now been in effect, and we've identified gaps, as we do when our bills go out into the wild
• software in a closed environment because we've talked about what happens when you put it out in the wild
• software in a closed environment because we've talked about what happens when you put it out in the wild

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we're seeing a real wild variability in terms of the rates, and, as Senator Rosenwald said, the
• seeing</c><01:35:38.159><c> a</c><01:35:38.400><c> real</c><01:35:39.040><c> uh</c><01:35:39.280><c> wild
• </c><01:35:39.760><c> variability</c> we're seeing a real uh wild variability we're seeing a real uh
• wild variability uh<01:35:40.800><c> in</c><01:35:41.040><c> terms</c><01:35:41.199><c> of</c><01:35:

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She said these are not wild things.
• these</c><01:28:17.320><c> are</c><01:28:17.440><c> not</c><01:28:17.880><c> like</c><01:28:18.240><c> wild
• </c> these are these are not like wild these are these are not like wild things,<01:28:19.719><c> and

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• File 16 provides, what you would see is significantly more targeted operations that don't have the wild
• 00.239><c> don't</c><01:14:00.560><c> have</c> that don't have that don't have the<01:14:02.560><c> wild
• externalities</c><01:14:04.000><c> that</c><01:14:04.320><c> have</c><01:14:04.480><c> been</c> the wild
• externalities that have been the wild externalities that have been cited cited cited because<01:14:06.880

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So that but we've got this bill called forestry division wild fire modules and now we're bringing in
• 41.840><c> called</c><01:26:42.159><c> forestry</c><01:26:42.719><c> division</c><01:26:43.199><c> wild
• </c> this bill called forestry division wild this bill called forestry division wild fire<01:26:44.239

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guess, would be for large landowners if they were to go into the regular system; there might be some wild
• ><c> some</c> into regular system, there might be some into regular system, there might be some um wild
• 04:11.120><c> could</c><00:04:11.320><c> happen</c><00:04:11.680><c> in</c><00:04:11.959><c> in</c> wild
• deed issues that could happen in in wild deed issues that could happen in in a<00:04:12.600><c> the<

Bills: SB2041

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: land court, real property, legal documents, bureau of conveyances, judicial confirmation, property registration, working group, Hawaii Revised Statutes, reform, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 2041, which would repeal the Land Court, transfer its functions to the Bureau of Conveyances, and create a working group to recommend implementation. DLNR and Judiciary stood on their written testimony, while Realtors supported the bill and one testifier raised concerns about the loss of judicial authority, title disputes, adverse possession, and possible effects on Kuleana lands. Members questioned whether property could be deregistered and what the legal consequences would be, and the Bureau of Conveyances said deregistration is already available but burdensome. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted by both committees. The Judiciary Committee then heard SB 2247, which restricts certain governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed executive branch employees from participating in campaign fundraising. The State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill as a way to curb pay-to-play concerns and the appearance of undue influence, and several advocacy and civic groups also testified in support, with one person opposing. The committee agreed to amend the bill so the restrictions apply only after confirmation and continue until the person leaves the covered position. The committee voted to pass SB 2247 with amendments. Finally, the Judiciary Committee heard SB 2143, which would make the Attorney General the interim Chief Election Officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. Supporters argued the bill would provide continuity, prevent delays in certifying election results, and protect election integrity; opponents argued it would politicize the office, create a conflict of interest, and was unnecessary because current law already provides a process for filling vacancies. Testimony was extensive and sharply divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript provided does not include a final vote or action on SB 2143.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> That's wild. >> Right?
• &gt;&gt; That's<01:20:12.520><c> wild.</c> &gt;&gt; That's wild. &gt;&gt; That's wild.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• I made the pun on purpose of thinking about how can we incorporate wild game and fishing, which are integral
• of thinking about how can we on purpose of thinking about how can we incorporate<01:15:19.600><c> wild
• game</c><01:15:20.480><c> and</c><01:15:20.719><c> fishing</c><01:15:21.120><c> which</c> incorporate wild
• game and fishing which incorporate wild game and fishing which are<01:15:21.760><c> uh</c><01:15:21.920

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” efforts. Chair Funky Fromm opened by describing a recent foot injury from a road hazard and used it to emphasize the importance of infrastructure, nutrition, sleep, and activity as part of a broader wellness culture. The main witnesses were Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, Holly Harris of Appalachian Regional Health Care (ARH), and Jim Muser of the Kentucky Hospital Association. Shell and Harris described a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Hospital Association, and hospitals such as ARH to connect local farmers with hospital cafeterias, farmers markets, CSA-style subscription food boxes, and medically tailored meals. Harris said ARH serves a large region with 14 hospitals, more than 95 clinics, about 6,700 employees, and 1,300 medical staff, and that the system began by improving employee food options because hospital workers often have limited access to healthy meals during shifts. They reported examples such as a local-protein burger, parking-lot farmers markets, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and plans for container gardens at some hospitals. The witnesses said the program is intended to improve health outcomes, reduce readmissions, support chronic disease management, and also increase rural prosperity by expanding demand for Kentucky farm products. Shell said more than 40 hospitals had already been onboarded into the food-is-medicine program, with measurable outcomes being studied through pilots such as one at Russell County Hospital. He also noted that some systems, including CHI St. Joseph Health, Taylor Regional, and UK King’s Daughters, have formally embedded food-as-medicine goals into strategic plans. Members and witnesses also discussed barriers, especially the lack of reimbursement, fragmented short-term funding, and regulatory or purchasing hurdles that make it difficult for small farmers to participate. Shell said the goal is to make the model scalable and easier for hospitals and farmers to navigate, while Harris emphasized that ARH has been funding its efforts without reimbursement because of its mission. No votes or formal policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> It seemed a little wild to me as well. So, um just wanted to ask about that data.
• It<00:48:42.720><c> seemed</c><00:48:42.880><c> a</c><00:48:43.040><c> little</c><00:48:43.200><c> wild
• </c> &gt;&gt; It seemed a little wild to me as well.
• &gt;&gt; It seemed a little wild to me as well.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources. The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.