Transcript Highlights:

• Affairs Development, Housing and General Affairs Development, Housing and General Affairs as<00:
• , Development, Development, Housing<01:04:37.160> and<01:04:37.280> General<01:04:37.920
• Uh, Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs will also meet immediately after the fall
• Uh Senate Economic Development<02:12:32.360> Housing<02:12:32.640> and<02:12:32.720>
• General<02:12:33.040> Affairs Development Housing and General Affairs Development Housing

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm owner of Ellison Development.
• affordable housing.
• We couldn't afford a house.
• They prevent property owners from using their property, developing it, but it also has an impact on housing
• Then House Bill 24 has 21 witnesses, and House Bill 2797 has 30 registered. So it could be a while.

Bills: HB24

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Transcript Highlights:

• Dean Minami, Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
• Housing Finance and Development Development Development Corporation<00:04:09.239> Wendy<00:04
• workforce housing.
• Statewide comprehensive economic develop Statewide comprehensive economic develop development<00
• that so that developers can develop and that so that developers can develop and that that<00:38:57.599

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 381, out of House Finance, Mr. Speaker, goes even further.
• Will the House please come back to order? Will the House please come back to order?
• I would like to quote from some House committee meetings from 12 years before Houseful 138.
• moves forward with developing.
• Shall Committee Substitute for House Bill 381, Finance, as amended, pass the House?

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are here this morning to present House Commerce and Economic Development Committee substitute for
• House Bill 27.
• The House Bill 27 is a bill to modernize our high tech research and development tax credit.
• I'm here to support House Bill 27.
• , so using certain types of AI built-out systems that can do full housing development within a factory

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The developer, we went through competition, we selected a developer.
• their development scheme.
• We have a great housing stock that is developing up around it in a really good, intense, mid-density
• One is on the Fairview Development in Orange County.
• I will say that we did develop, CDT developed, when, as part of the first EO, there is a risk assessment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So first is House Bill 307, relating to special member plates, and testifying first on House Bill 307
• let's move on to the next measure House let's move on to the next measure House Bill<00:05:09.639
• anyone else wishing to testify on House anyone else wishing to testify on House Bill Bill Bill 54
• We have the, uh, next to our K Kola, um, development, or excuse me, the Koa development, which we're
• <00:38:22.119> which our kamakana ali uh development which our kamakana ali uh development

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> workforce housing development program workforce housing development program also<00:09:41.760>
• development of both supportive housing development of both supportive housing and<00:16:13.839><
• Our members support the development of housing across our entire state and house our local workforces
• Our members support the development of housing across our entire state and house our local workforces
• Our members support the development of housing across our entire state and house our local workforces

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also working on the economic development and housing Challenge Program.
• We are also working on the economic development and housing Challenge Program.
• We are also working on the economic development and housing Challenge Program.
• We are also working on the economic development and housing Challenge Program.
• Department of Agriculture Rural Development rural housing service 515 portfolio.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and urging the HHFDC to partner with HCDA
• to facilitate the development of non-housing community development portions of the project.
• being used for non-housing development.
• a mixed-use development, so housing and commercial component, which is typical of TOD.
• >> developing. >> developing.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Housing, Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, and later Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Housing, heard several resolutions related to affordable housing and the East Kapolei transit-oriented development area. SCR 48 and SR 47 proposed declaring that affordable housing credits are perpetual until redeemed, and testimony from DHHL, OPSD, and NAIOP Hawaii supported clarifying that intent. The committees voted to pass SCR 48 and SR 47 unamended. The committees then considered SCR 107 and SR 101, which were amended to make clear the resolution applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Land Management and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Those measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted by the committees. In the later joint hearing, SCR 68 and SR 63 addressed the East Kapolei TOD project, urging DLNR to transfer certain parcels to HHFDC and urging HHFDC to work with HCDA on the non-housing portions of the project. Testimony from DLNR, HHFDC, HCDA, and DHHL focused on the balance between housing and revenue-generating or light industrial uses, the need for an EIS and market study, and the possibility of MOAs to memorialize agreements. After discussion, the committees amended the resolutions to prioritize rental housing as well as for-sale housing and to require MOAs before the board, then passed SCR 68 and SR 63 with amendments by unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• understand from an economic development understand from an economic development standpoint<00:08
• <00:09:21.560> by is that uh open development by is that uh open development by development
• our only housing option.
• I am on a statewide coordinated housing campaign, but discriminatory housing is doing harm.
• I am on a statewide coordinated housing campaign, but discriminatory housing is doing harm.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:27 SB 76 Discussion 01:20 SB 76 Vote 04:51 SB 59 Discussion 05:50 SB 59 Vote 20:49 SB 313 Discussion 23:46 SB 313 Vote 28:18, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met and first took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Greg Elkins. The bill would raise the construction retainage/escrow statute threshold from $500,000 to $2 million to reflect inflation, and would also make any contract term waiving the escrow protection void and unenforceable. Elkins said the measure would not apply to government contracts and was intended to protect contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers from delayed payment. The committee voted 9-0 to pass the bill with a favorable expression and send it to the floor. The committee then considered Senate Bill 59, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Higdon, with a committee substitute adopted first. Higdon said the substitute limited the bill to existing church property and the measure would allow religious institutions to build affordable housing on their property while still requiring local governing-body approval and compliance with building codes. Supporters framed it as a housing-supply tool and a way to use nonprofits and churches to help address Kentucky’s housing shortage, while questions focused on tax impacts, local control, and whether the bill could be used for single-family homes or other developments. A public witness from Henry County opposed the bill, arguing it could enable discriminatory housing and reduce local tax revenue. After discussion, the committee voted 9-0 to pass SB 59 with a favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 313 from Senator Phillip Wheeler, which would designate June as Kentucky History Month. Wheeler and Kentucky Historical Society Executive Director Scott Alvi said the bill would help promote Kentucky history statewide, especially in connection with the U.S. 250th commemoration in 2026, and would build on existing June observances such as Statehood Day and Boone Day. The committee approved the bill with favorable expression, and the chair announced it would proceed to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• The developer, we went through competition, we selected a developer.
• their development scheme.
• We have a great housing stock that is developing up around it in a really good, intense, mid-density
• And what the developers, like almost every developer, put forward was a more common... ...scheme.
• I will say that we did develop, CDT developed, when, as part of the first EO, there is a risk assessment

Summary: The hearing began with a vote-only agenda and then focused first on San Mateo County’s request to restore in-lieu vehicle license fee (VLF) funding. County officials, city leaders, labor representatives, nonprofits, and public safety advocates argued that the loss of roughly $157 million would force major cuts to homelessness services, housing assistance, mental health programs, libraries, parks, fire and police staffing, and other local services. They described the current formula as outdated and unfair, tied to school funding and basic-aid dynamics that no longer work for San Mateo County, and urged both an immediate budget restoration and a permanent legislative fix. The Department of Finance said the payments are discretionary, not statutorily required, and noted the administration does not view the expenditure as sustainable in the current fiscal climate. Committee members expressed sympathy, questioned the formula, and said they would keep the issue under consideration; the committee later voted to move the two vote-only items on the agenda. The committee then received an update from the Department of General Services on state property redevelopment, including the Hillcrest DMV site in San Diego, the Fell Street DMV site in San Francisco, and other state-owned properties. DGS explained that Hillcrest is not currently an active project, while the Fell Street project shifted from an integrated DMV-housing plan to a more feasible relocation of the DMV into leased commercial space, with a budget change proposal pending. Members pressed DGS on the slow pace of redevelopment, the potential for housing on state sites, and the costs and feasibility of adaptive reuse. DGS said many state buildings are aging and that adaptive reuse depends heavily on building design, floorplate depth, light, and risk from unknown conditions behind walls. The Government Operations portion then turned to the California Education Learning Lab, which supports intersegmental higher education innovation grants. The Lab asked for permanent restoration of $4 million in ongoing funding and a move of its home agency from the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps, along with technical trailer bill changes. Supporters said the program has funded more than 120 projects reaching thousands of faculty and hundreds of thousands of students, including work on generative AI in higher education. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the restoration and continuing the wind-down, citing the state’s projected deficit and suggesting the California Education Interagency Council could pursue non-state-funded grant opportunities instead. The committee held the item open. Finally, GovOps presented the new California Education Interagency Council staffing request, seeking four ongoing positions to support the council, with funding already included in last year’s budget. The department said the governor has appointed Debbie Cochran as executive officer and that the remaining positions are being recruited. Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee began questions about how the council will be staffed and organized.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the other side, we did a 48-unit housing development in a collaborative public-private partnership
• other side, we did a 48 unit housing other side, we did a 48 unit housing development<00:43:17.839
• , and we as economic developers recognize we don't actually really do housing.
• 00:48:32.160> housing.
• in these kind of developments. in these kind of developments.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from Secretary Jeff Noel of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, joined by Matt Wingate and Terry Bradshaw of the Kentucky Association of Economic Developers, on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) and the closing fund. The presentation focused on how KPDI helps communities develop shovel-ready industrial sites by funding infrastructure, engineering, geotechnical work, and other site-preparation costs. Noel emphasized that the program is designed to reduce uncertainty for companies, improve speed to market, and support statewide job creation and investment, especially in rural and eastern Kentucky where development costs are often higher. Testimony highlighted the complexity and expense of preparing sites, with examples of road, water, power, and rock-removal costs, and the importance of third-party evaluation in scoring applications. Noel said the program has 116 total projects statewide, with 20 active projects stemming from pilot efforts and 35 projects already resulting in about 6,381 jobs and $4.4 billion in investment. He cited examples including Crown Holdings, Flash Metals, Phoenix Paper, Pratt Paper, AESC, Sound Elements, Kitchen Foods, Latte, Krueger, Biomass, and Anna Munsman. Bradshaw added that even communities that have not yet landed a project have benefited by building spec buildings or improving access to industrial property. The speakers said the last KPDI round drew $81 million in requests but only $35 million in available funding, and they urged lawmakers to consider whether additional funding or program adjustments are needed. Suggested changes included modestly increasing eligibility or funding flexibility for rural and eastern Kentucky, while maintaining third-party performance metrics, and continuing to prioritize finishing existing parks and creating strong regional sites. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tour brought together cities, counties, developers, affordable housing advocates, and many others
• The tour brought together cities, counties, developers, affordable housing advocates, and many others
• By providing state support for infrastructure, this program would allow more housing developments to
• Housing Development Corporation.
• I am with Mission Housing Development Corporation.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill number 320 Development House Bill number 320 Development House Bill number 320 receives a
• House Bill number economic development. House Bill number economic development.
• House bill 461 receives a development. House bill 461 receives a development.
• House Bill 529 economic development. House Bill 529 economic development.
• House Bill and economic Development House Bill and economic Development House Bill number 445 receives

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not development; that's a family staying together and three more households housed on a lot that
• The real goal of AB 323, as Sierra was the sponsor for fair housing purposes, was to ensure that developers
• , a substantial developer of low-income housing in Los Angeles, in very strong support of this bill.
• documented housing barriers.
• And while everybody needs emergency housing and temporary housing and affordable housing and long-term

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• low to moderate income households through its affordable housing programs and provide emergency housing
• the housing, to operate and maintain the housing, and to invest economically in the bright future of
• I have a competitive kind that covers maybe 70% of the construction of an affordable housing housing
• So you can walk into an inmate housing area and you can ask those individuals that are housed there,
• And I think development and the pace of that development is now forcing us to do more of that.

Transcript Highlights:

• building apartments, houses, whatever.
• <00:07:03.360> uh uh permitting uh larger developments uh uh permitting uh larger developments
• <00:08:36.800> would proposed here that the developer would proposed here that the developer
• new housing.
• . development.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing focused on Senate Bill 153, a proposal to speed up Department of Transportation driveway/entrance permitting for larger residential developments, generally 20 units or more. Senator Mark McConkey, the prime sponsor, said long permit delays can stall financing and housing construction, and explained that the bill creates a second, expedited permitting lane funded by a per-door fee. He said the original 90-day mandate was replaced with a more workable process developed with DOT and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, and noted that the fiscal note had been removed. Committee members asked about the fee structure, timing, whether the bill applied to 20 doors/units, and whether it affected income-restricted housing; McConkey said it does not include income-based incentives and does not change zoning or local planning requirements, only the DOT permit timeline. Industry witnesses strongly supported the bill. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the proposal is a public-private partnership the industry requested, that time delays can jeopardize financing, and that builders are willing to pay for faster review as long as safety remains the top priority. Joshua Reap of Associated Builders and Contractors gave similar support, saying DOT bottlenecks have long slowed projects and that the bill would help move approved developments forward without burdening taxpayers. Questions from members focused on whether the expedited lane would pressure DOT to approve unsafe projects, whether consultants would already be vetted, and how the process would work alongside local approvals; witnesses said DOT would still retain final sign-off and that the process would be transparent and safety-focused. Alan Hanscom of DOT then explained the department’s role in more detail. He said the bill would require DOT to issue permits within 60 business days after approval of the traffic impact study for qualifying residential projects, and would create a $120 per-unit fee to fund a dedicated liaison position and software upgrades. He said the applicant would also pay for third-party consultant engineer review under DOT oversight, with the consultant costs passed through at no DOT markup and any unused funds returned to the applicant. Hanscom said DOT has been working with the sponsor and builders to clarify the process and improve transparency, and estimated the fee would support a position that coordinates between applicants, districts, consultants, and DOT bureaus to reduce dead time in the review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said Bloomington recognized this challenge and developed the Opportunity Housing Ordinance, where
• <00:14:22.240> Assessed<00:14:22.720> market housing development.
• Assessed market housing development.
• Eagan has been very successful in adding housing despite being a fully developed community.
• The proposed bills offer minimal incentives for affordable housing development.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House committees are subject to the same rules of decorum that govern House proceedings.
• Today we will hear two bills, House Bill 24, which does not fit within the call, and House Bill 27, which
• It is the chair's intention to vote out House Bill 27 after my layout, but not House Bill 24.
• The committee substitute for House Bill 27 will require the Texas Water Development Board to conduct
• Under House Rule 3, Section 22, the House has placed the responsibility of implementing that constitutional

Bills: HB24, HB27

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Summary: The committee met to hear House Bills 27 and 24 on groundwater issues in East Texas, with members and witnesses focusing on a proposed large-volume groundwater export project and the need for more science before major permitting decisions are made. HB 27, which was within the special session call, would direct the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a hydrogeologic study of the aquifers in the affected area and temporarily pause new export permits while the study is underway. HB 24, a separate bill that would limit certain production and export permits to 5% of modeled available groundwater, was laid out but the chair said it would not be moved out of committee. Testimony on HB 27 was largely supportive, though some witnesses were neutral. Supporters, including representatives from a water supply corporation, the Trinity River Authority, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, said the region lacks enough hydrologic data, that the proposed pumping could affect private wells, surface water, and local economies, and that the state needs better information on sustainable yield and groundwater-surface water interaction. Several witnesses emphasized that groundwater conservation districts need clearer tools and better data, while also noting concerns about property rights and the rule of capture. Committee members discussed the scale of the proposed project, the absence of a groundwater conservation district in Houston County, and the possibility that the study should examine desired future conditions and maximum sustainable pumping rather than only modeled available groundwater. The committee adopted the committee substitute for HB 27 and voted it out favorably to the full House with a recommendation that it do pass, be printed, and be sent to the Committee on Calendars. The roll call was unanimous, 11 ayes and 0 nays. After the vote, members briefly reflected on the complexity of the issue and the need to continue working on broader groundwater policy in the interim and next session. HB 24 was discussed later in the meeting, but no final action on that bill was taken in the portion provided.