Transcript Highlights:

• differing religious backgrounds to address poverty, uphold the dignity of overlooked communities, and mitigate
• the dignity of overlooked communities, the dignity of overlooked communities, and<00:07:44.640> mitigate
• <00:07:46.280> Our<00:07:46.400> four and mitigate social harm.
• Our four and mitigate social harm.
• testify to that, you can respond to that, you can say, "Oh, it's not as bad as you think, or we have mitigating

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I was trying to mitigate change where I could throughout the map, but knowing that because of the
• Now, I was trying to mitigate change where I could throughout the map, but knowing that because of the
• So here, in trying to mitigate the change as much as I could, I took District 8, which currently is all
• So I attempted to mitigate that where I could.
• So I attempted to mitigate that where I could.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a presentation from the Governor’s office on proposed congressional reapportionment. Executive Office of the Governor counsel Mo Jazeel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is legally permissible, that race should not be used in drawing districts, and that the Florida Fair Districts provisions are inconsistent with federal equal protection principles and, in the executive branch’s view, are inseverable. Jason Parada then presented the proposed map, explaining that it was drawn using 2020 census block data, with county growth estimates used only as a guide, and that the plan was designed to be race-neutral while also considering compactness, county and municipal boundaries, and other traditional redistricting criteria. He said the map keeps 48 counties and 382 municipalities whole, has compactness scores comparable to the current map, and makes the largest changes in South Florida, with some districts remaining unchanged and others reconfigured around population shifts and geographic boundaries. Members questioned both presenters extensively about the legal basis for disregarding the Fair Districts Amendment, the use of partisan data, the absence of racial analysis, and whether the map truly reflects population growth. Jazeel said the executive branch’s position is that race-based provisions in the state constitution cannot be used if they conflict with the U.S. Constitution, and that the forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Calais could further clarify the law. Parada said he did not use race in drawing the map, did use partisan information as one of several traditional criteria, and relied on 2020 census data for population equality. Senators also pressed him on who reviewed the map, why the public and legislators had limited time to review it, and whether the plan was intended to favor Republicans; Parada denied partisan intent and said he was the only person who moved lines on the map, though he consulted with other Executive Office of the Governor staff and counsel. Several senators raised concerns that the map did not clearly reflect Florida’s recent population growth, that some districts remained highly irregular, and that the plan appeared to be based on a legal theory contingent on future court rulings. The presenters responded that congressional districts must be equal to the person, that growth estimates can only guide orientation rather than replace census data, and that the map was designed to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible while making the largest adjustments in South Florida. No vote or final action on the map was taken during the excerpted portion of the meeting, and the committee continued with questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that our centers are doing a lot right now, for example, to provide training about how to mitigate
• one of the things that we are implementing at the moment pursuant to AB 130 last year is the VMT mitigation
• turn significant transportation impacts that a project has into infill affordable housing as a mitigation
• turn significant transportation impacts that a project has into infill affordable housing as a mitigation
• turn significant transportation impacts that a project has into infill affordable housing as a mitigation

Summary: The subcommittee heard an informational update from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development on the state’s Jobs First economic development strategy and related budget requests. Go-Biz described its regional planning process, priority sectors such as ag-tech, space defense, life sciences, and semiconductors, and requests including an extension of the CalCompetes tax credit, support for export promotion, additional film commission staff, innovation and emerging technology capacity, and a California brand campaign. Members questioned the campaign’s purpose, with some supporting efforts to counter misinformation about California and others warning it should not obscure regulatory and business-climate concerns. Go-Biz said the campaign would be nationally focused, could include business attraction efforts, and was intended to complement—not replace—policy work on permitting and workforce development. The item was informational only. The committee then heard from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate on the California RISE program, the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, and the Technical Assistance Program/Capital Infusion Program. CalOSBA reported that California RISE’s first round awarded $16.9 million to 61 employment social enterprises, which collectively increased revenue, secured contracts, and employed thousands of people facing barriers to work; a second round is being launched with a new administrator and expanded services. For the performing arts payroll fund, the office said all 100 awardees had been paid, but demand far exceeded available funding, and the program was oversubscribed within days. California for the Arts testified that the sector remains fragile after COVID and urged statutory changes to simplify eligibility and stretch dollars further. SBDC representatives described TAP/SIP as a statewide network supporting small businesses, capital access, and disaster recovery, emphasizing their role in underserved communities and the leverage of federal matching funds. Committee members focused on whether these programs produce durable outcomes and reach smaller or disadvantaged businesses. Questions centered on long-term job retention in California RISE, outreach to ethnic and community media in the civic media program, and whether TAP/SIP are accessible to entrepreneurs with limited capital or capacity. CalOSBA and its partners said they rely heavily on local community organizations for outreach, provide one-on-one counseling and training, and are working to collect more longitudinal data. The committee also discussed the film and television tax credit program, for which Go-Biz requested funding for three permanent positions and ongoing program support. Film Commission staff said the expanded program is tracking demographic and career-pathway data, with most productions opting into new diversity provisions, and that a formal report to the Legislature is expected in 2027. The item concluded without a vote, as the hearing was for oversight and budget discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a mechanism that's been used previously for wildfire mitigation, wildfire liability, and other purposes
• Additionally, improving the review of wildfire mitigation plans to prioritize cost effectiveness and
• It's a mechanism that's been used previously for wildfire mitigation, wildfire liability, and other purposes
• Additionally, improving the review of wildfire mitigation plans to prioritize cost effectiveness and
• significant wildfire losses, California's electric utilities have invested heavily in ignition mitigation

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that involvement could mitigate many of the concerns raised.
• about gender identity or sexual orientation applied to, and I quote, an action taken to prevent or mitigate
• Additionally, it requires compliance to mitigate, mitigation plans for utilities, and allows for liability
• for mitigation plans for utilities allows for liability protections must must regard measures relevant
• Members, the bird bill is designed to provide Texas Parks and Wildlife with a seat at the table to mitigate

Summary: The House met in a late-session floor session that began with prayer, pledges, quorum, and a series of excused absences and Senate messages reporting action on numerous bills, conference committee appointments, and conference reports. Members also adopted a memorial resolution honoring Mark James Hanna, a Capitol lobbyist and advocate for nurses, and a congratulatory resolution for Rishi Tarumalasetti, an eighth-grade civics bee winner from Katy. The chamber also received and recorded a parliamentary colloquy about an unusual Senate request on SB 293, with the Chair stating the House could not recede from only part of its amendments and could not suspend the rules because the bill had not been returned from the Senate. The bulk of the session was devoted to taking up conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions, especially the state budget. The House adopted a resolution allowing the SB 1 conferees to go outside the normal bounds, then adopted the SB 1 conference report on a 107-21 vote. Debate on the budget centered on public education funding, tax relief, health care, corrections pay, and judicial compensation, with supporters calling it a responsible compromise and opponents arguing it was overly expansive and insufficient on property tax relief. The House also adopted a technical correction resolution tying judicial pay increases in SB 1 to the House version of SB 293, and members discussed at length the relationship between judicial salaries and legislative pensions. The chamber then adopted a long series of conference reports on measures covering topics such as school library review and book challenges (SB 13), SNAP restrictions on sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), hospital price transparency (SB 331), nursing home accountability (SB 457), school district personnel compensation conflicts (HB 3372), property notice rules (HB 2011), research and development tax credits (SB 2018), and several other bills affecting elections, permits, education, and criminal justice. Most reports passed by wide margins, though some drew significant opposition, especially SB 13 and SB 379. The House also granted several Senate requests for conference committees and introduced additional resolutions to suspend conferee limits on various bills as the session moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• mitigation plan getting funded.<01:06:24.440> That's<01:06:24.720> the<01:06:24.840>
• Uh sure, there are a whole lot of other mitigating circumstances within the language itself, but I think
• Uh sure, there are a whole lot of other mitigating circumstances within the language itself, but I think
• Uh sure, there are a whole lot of other mitigating circumstances within the language itself, but I think
• within the mitigating circumstances within the language<01:47:46.200> itself,<01:47:47.160>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill seeks to create a mitigation fund that small businesses, including mom-and-pops with 25 and
• <00:02:08.720> fund to create a meditation mitigation fund to create a meditation mitigation
• Chair. fund a mitigation and we understand that fund a mitigation and we understand that transportation
• The mitigation fund is designed to this.
• The mitigation fund is designed to help<00:04:31.120> businesses<00:04:31.600> cover<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kraft said the account would be used to hold funds for mitigation of road projects that
• to<00:24:46.039> be<00:24:46.200> used<00:24:46.480> to<00:24:46.760> mitigate
• this account is to be used to mitigate this account is to be used to mitigate projects<00:24:48.399
• need m road projects when<00:24:50.880> they<00:24:51.000> need<00:24:51.279> mitigation
• <00:24:51.880> because when they need mitigation because when they need mitigation because

Bills: HF198, HF269, HF185, HF303, HF305, HF189

Keywords: HF198, shared time pupils, shared-time enrollment, nonpublic school, private school, public school, career and technical education, CTE, secondary credit, school funding, state aid, education finance, Minnesota Statutes 126C.01, compulsory attendance, school district, education policy, HF269, Spicer, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• forests and the roads that provide access to them support wildlife habitat, recreation, climate mitigation
• habitat Recreation climate mitigation habitat Recreation climate mitigation and<00:35:00.160>
• This also contributes to climate mitigation and adaptation goals as well.
• These requests also include $5.6 million for the flood hazard mitigation grant program.
• grant program this program mitigation grant program this program provides<00:49:27.280> cost<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• let's look at what this handcuffs: intrastate actions, which are generally done as the result of catastrophe
• that we saw was obviously a huge delay in the deployment of the National Guard to clean up the catastrophe
• that we saw was obviously a huge delay in the deployment of the National Guard to clean up the catastrophe
• Deployment of the National Guard to clean up the catastrophe in Louisiana after Katrina.
• And depending on what you're building and what you're doing and what the potential for catastrophic failure

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Leah Laramie, Climate Change Mitigation Commission, in support. Thank you very much.
• Okay, but you're already doing some mitigation, right, right now?
• Okay, now, but you're already doing some mitigation, right, right now?
• .. it's only covering the forest though, and only hazardous trees, so it doesn't include forest mitigation
• Okay, uh, HB 1359, relating to flood mitigation.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• See, all this is mitigation and rehabilitation. Now, would you hire me?
• Number four, evidence of mitigation and rehabilitation. I got degrees. I've been home 30 years.
• This is mitigation. Number five, whether the applicant was a juvenile at the time.
• This is mitigation. Number five, whether the applicant was a juvenile at the time.
• That is an average of 12, but sometimes mitigating circumstances could be fewer.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first disposed of several measures without debate, including deferrals of House Bill 460, House Bill 561, Senate Bill 322, and another deferred Senate measure, before taking up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz. HB 819 would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with ODG by MCG, a private evidence-based guideline system used in other states. Cruz and Troy Prevo argued ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and could reduce claim duration, medical costs, and premium rates; Dr. Jason Picard said Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference for gaps in the state schedule and that the bill would not change appeals or variance procedures. Opponents, including injured-worker advocates Joseph Jola St. and Robin Crumholt, argued Louisiana’s current guidelines are working, that ODG is more cost-cutting and insurer-driven, and that the bill could increase denials and delay care. Members discussed amendments to add a two-year sunset, allow tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and raise the carrier’s burden to challenge care; the committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 819 favorably by a 7-6 vote. The committee then began Senate Bill 409 by Senator Myers, the Louisiana Living Donor Leave Protection Act. The bill would provide paid leave protections for living organ donors, set eligibility and verification procedures, and prohibit forfeiture of leave in certain circumstances for private employers. Myers said the measure is intended to remove job and paycheck barriers for people willing to donate organs and to support better transplant outcomes. Technical amendments were adopted at the start of the presentation, and the bill was introduced for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officer Mueller said that global shocks are inevitable, and we have to do our part as a state to mitigate
• California is not going to mitigate those global shocks.
• So we aren't going to be able to mitigate the price of crude oil with any policies.
• Especially when we had short-term supply disruption, and then used a collected mitigation fee for the
• They also have the mandate to mitigate environmental and economic leakage.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that first grant program is a statewide drinking water contamination mitigation program.
• 04.480> contamination wide drinking water contamination wide drinking water contamination mitigation
• 06.600> This<01:03:06.760> is<01:03:06.880> created<01:03:07.200> by mitigation
• This is created by mitigation program.
• <01:10:16.040> pieces project, the statewide mitigation pieces project, the statewide mitigation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aggravating evidence, but what is the mitigation?
• evidence, whether there's... on their own merits, whether there is mitigating evidence, whether there's
• aggravating evidence, but what is the mitigation?
• what a judge does on a daily basis in terms of calling the balls and strikes, listening to the mitigation
• reasonable, and again, always listening to both sides of the case, always balancing what's the mitigation

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether fire mitigation, timber sales, invasive species mitigation, eliminating the employee cap would
• Uh whether fire mitigation,<00:58:48.799> timber<00:58:49.200> sales,<00:58:50.079>
• uh<00:58:50.319> invasive mitigation, timber sales, uh invasive mitigation, timber sales,
• uh invasive species<00:58:51.440> mitigation,<00:58:52.559> eliminating<00:58:53.119>
• > the species mitigation, eliminating the species mitigation, eliminating the employee<00:58:53.680

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that mitigated some of the risk of future. liabilities as well.
• We work with those utility operators through the design process to, one, try to do. our best to mitigate
• The last item that we're going to take up today A is water and flood mitigation infrastructure.
• We've been appropriated about $1.4 billion towards flood mitigation projects, and we've been able to
• And that's standard when you look at other states. when you look at federal efforts to mitigate flood

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Up next, we have the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Thank you very much.
• have the much director up next we have the climate<00:01:15.560> change<00:01:16.280> mitigation
• <00:01:17.280> and<00:01:18.040> adaptation climate change mitigation and adaptation
• climate change mitigation and adaptation [Music] commission<00:01:27.119> okay<00:01:27.360><
• And when their expectations aren't met, it's incumbent on us to mitigate this as much as possible.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• component in terms of being proactive component in terms of being proactive with<00:42:04.440> mitigation
• as it relates to with mitigation as it relates to biocurity<00:42:07.599> yeah<00:42:07.839><
• have this very massive network, which this bill does seek to create, to come in and do all the mitigations
• 00:48:14.440> um<00:48:14.760> to<00:48:14.960> get<00:48:15.119> to mitigations
• um to get to mitigations um to get to eradication<00:48:16.960> um<00:48:17.880> that<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on a bill reorganizing Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity and invasive species framework, including moving or renaming responsibilities within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and clarifying the role of the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC). Testimony from the Hawaiian Invasive Species Council, DLNR, Oʻahu and Big Island invasive species committees, the Sierra Club, farmers, and community members generally agreed that invasive species management is critical, but many opposed consolidating HISC or broader biosecurity functions into a single department. Supporters of the existing interagency model emphasized HISC’s statewide coordination role, its links to DLNR and other agencies, and its ability to fill gaps with federal funding and cross-agency collaboration. Several testifiers raised concerns that the bill could weaken existing authority or create unintended legal and operational problems. The Sierra Club and others warned about possible interstate commerce issues, loss of authority to regulate movement of infested material within an island, and the need to preserve HISC as an independent or elevated coordinating body rather than placing it inside one agency. Community testimony described real-world impacts from little fire ants, coqui frogs, and landscaping-related introductions, and argued that the current system has produced service gaps and duplication when funding or responsibilities shift. One testifier also urged removing hemp movement reporting provisions, saying they do not aid biosecurity and should be treated like other crops. DLNR and Department of Agriculture representatives said they support the overall goal of stronger biosecurity but stressed that invasive species work is broader than agriculture alone. They noted that DOA, DLNR, and other partners each have different missions and capabilities, and that staff safety, terrain, and training matter when responding in remote areas. The department said it was recruiting for new positions, with some of the 44 funded positions still being finalized, and that implementation would require phased rulemaking, standards, training, and outreach. Members asked about the bill’s practical impact, staffing needs, and whether inspectors are prohibited from hiking; the department said no blanket prohibition exists, but staff use judgment based on safety and terrain. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I think we can adopt some of the measures that the Native Nations have used to help mitigate these
• Um, I think we can adopt some of the measures that the Native Nations have used to help mitigate these
• have the right people at the table to talk that through, to go through the risks, and to try to mitigate
• have the right people at the table to talk that through, to go through the risks, and to try to mitigate
• try to mitigate that as much as possible or<00:21:46.720> even<00:21:46.960> just<00:21

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs briefly met and adjourned after noting that GM 574, a nomination on its agenda, had been withdrawn, leaving the committee with no business to consider. A separate joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs then took up HCR 192, a resolution to convene a tourism and gaming working group. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Nation of Hawaii, and CARES, said the measure would allow Hawaiians to have a seat at the table, learn from Native nations with gaming experience, and make informed decisions about whether and how gaming should be approached. Some supporters emphasized that the working group was about research and self-determination, not immediate legalization, and suggested the state should focus on broader economic development options as well. Opponents, including the Honolulu prosecuting attorney and several community members and faith leaders, warned that gambling would increase addiction, crime, family breakdown, debt, and exploitation of low-income and vulnerable residents. They argued that online sports betting and other forms of gaming would be especially harmful, with some citing examples from other states and concerns about problem gambling, domestic violence, and illegal activity. Committee members questioned witnesses about the purpose of the working group and whether it could provide enough data to make an informed decision, while supporters and opponents alike acknowledged the need for Hawaiians to be involved in any future discussion. No vote or final action on HCR 192 was taken in the portion provided.