Transcript Highlights:

• Chair's recommendation<01:00:04.079> on<01:00:04.480> SB2475 recommendation on SB2475 recommendation
• Same recommendation. >> for PSM members. Same recommendation.
• Recommendation pass with 2475.
• >> All others vote I and the recommendation >> All others vote I and the recommendation
• Same recommendation. Chair votes I.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures. SB 2723, which would designate April 27 as State Sheriff’s Day, was supported by the Department of Law Enforcement and a long-serving sheriff, who described the historical roots of Hawaii’s sheriffs in the Kingdom of Hawaii and said the bill would recognize that legacy. HGA submitted written comments, and there was no opposition or vote taken on the measure during the excerpt. The committees then heard SB 17 on wildfire mitigation. The Public Utilities Commission, DLNR, the State Fire Council, OPSD, the Attorney General’s office, and Kamehameha Schools all testified, mostly in support of the bill’s intent but with suggested amendments. Several witnesses said the bill should better define the working group’s structure, staffing, and funding, and the Attorney General noted constitutional concerns about placing the group outside a principal department and pointed out possible overlap with Acts 302 and 303 from the prior year. Committee members questioned whether SB 17 duplicated earlier wildfire legislation, and witnesses generally said it did not directly conflict but overlapped with existing efforts. On SB 2358, which would require reimbursement for search-and-rescue costs when people leave trails and enter closed areas, the State Fire Council and the Hawaii SAR Alliance testified in opposition or caution, arguing that reimbursement could deter people from calling for help and that Hawaii’s SAR system still has structural and administrative gaps. A committee member asked whether other jurisdictions had used similar measures without discouraging rescues; the Fire Council said Kauai has a similar law but it has not resulted in invoices being sent. No action was taken in the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 2475 on Red Hill remediation funding and reimbursement from the Department of Defense. The Board of Water Supply, DLNR, and other testifiers supported the bill, emphasizing the need for long-term research, monitoring, and cleanup, while also noting the unique groundwater conditions and the importance of keeping the funds focused on Red Hill contamination response. Committee members asked about existing federal and state funding, whether the state had received any direct federal money, and what would happen if reimbursement is not obtained. DLNR said it was still working through the reimbursement mechanism and that some federal funding had gone to the Red Hill registry, but not directly to the state for this purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• result in a series of recommendations. result in a series of recommendations.
• <00:14:41.280> to on to all of you as recommendations to on to all of you as recommendations
• So, we strongly recommend education.
• And with that, Senator Umuverben moves that SF 4481 be recommended to pass and be recommended to the
• So, candidates that were recommended.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and whether or not the DNR takes... ...that and whether or not the DNR takes action that we're recommending
• The committee would recommend that the department make modifications to Clearinghouse Rule 25-092.
• It's really truly advisory at that point, or just a recommendation that the agency basically do a new
• Today's scenario, it's still at a point where it's a recommendation to change the current thing that's
• So it’s sort of just, we’ll take a new form of recommendation rather than modify.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, all conforming bills recommended by conference committees have been published, subject
• Having met and after full and free conference, do recommend to their respective houses as follows.
• I'll briefly walk through a few other projects in various agencies recommended for funding.
• And we're recommending $32 million.
• This committee didn't make recommendations. That decision was decided higher up.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :18.880> putting recommendation when I've been putting recommendation when I've been putting this
• The recommendation on this measure is to adopt the recommended deletion of the qualifying language noted
• > this<00:42:23.839> measure recommendation is to defer this measure recommendation is
• to adopt the re the recommended deletion to adopt the re the recommended deletion of<00:43:26.560
• 00:44:04.160> is<00:44:04.400> to recommendation on this measure is to recommendation on

Bills: SB2004, SB2039, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2132

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll accept that recommendation. Will you get with Mr.
• I recommend that you get that. I'm sure you're familiar with it, sir.
• Chairman, I move that HCR 2001 be returned with a due pass recommendation.
• That would be one thing that we would recommend of this bill.
• Madam Secretary... ...and to be returned with a do pass recommendation.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:52:50.079> port recommendation is for our port recommendation is for our port development
• <00:54:28.640> 4 system, well, we're we're recommending 4 system, well, we're we're recommending
• And just a little bit more on this building renovation recommendation.
• And just a little bit more on this building renovation recommendation.
• over further recommend. over further recommend.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the March 5 minutes, then heard a presentation from Balig Engineering on cost drivers for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in small Minnesota communities. The testifier said most Minnesota communities are small, and that limited local staff, complex funding requirements, and the need to combine multiple funding sources make projects expensive and labor-intensive. He cited examples of aging infrastructure, including a Tracy street collapse and failing water mains, and said federal funding can help but often requires extensive reports that can cost tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of staff hours. He also pointed to inflation, supply-chain disruptions, colder climate requirements, higher material and labor costs, limited competition among contractors and suppliers, and newer treatment requirements such as PFAS removal and cybersecurity controls as major cost drivers. Members asked whether reduced bonding or less frequent state funding would lower prices, whether annual bonding bills provide market certainty, how regionalization could be encouraged, and whether tightening specifications adds costs. The testifier said stopping work would likely drive contractors out of the market and reduce competition, which could raise prices later, and that consistent funding helps keep contractors in Minnesota. He said regional water systems such as Red Rock Rural Water and Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water are already helping lower costs and that legislators could encourage more regionalization through incentives. He also said some specifications and federal requirements, especially around treatment plant controls and cybersecurity, increase costs, though some standards like deeper water-main burial are necessary. The committee then moved on to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, where John Kelly began presenting the governor’s 2026 capital budget recommendations and described the department’s mission, statewide network of veterans homes and cemeteries, and service to nearly 300,000 veterans and dependents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair recommendations adopted.
• Chair recommendations adopted.
• Chair recommendations adopted.
• <01:21:46.159> For recommendations adopted. Thank you. For recommendations adopted.
• Chair recommendations Senator Dort I. Chair recommendations adopted. Adopted. That was 774.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• File item four is SB 1175... ...recommendation to consent calendar.
• Motion is do pass as amended with recommendation to consent calendar.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations with recommendation to consent.
• Motion is do pass as amended to Appropriations with recommendation to consent.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations with a recommendation to consent calendar.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OMES may make recommendations to the Long Range Capital Planning Commission for the sale of state-owned
• LOFT found that 11 out of the 20 most recent OMES recommendations for the sale of property stemmed from
• We will always recommend state space when it is available to fill that need.
• , shall and recommend are two different terms in my mind.
• LOFT also had several recommendations for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move Senate Bill 1010 with a do-pass recommendation. Go ahead and move that amendment too.
• I move Senate Bill 1010 with a do-pass recommendation. Any discussion? Hearing none.
• I move Senate Bill 1077 with a do-pass recommendation. Thank you. Now, please call a roll.
• I move Senate Bill 1093 with a do-pass recommendation.
• You've given it a do-pass recommendation. I still have Rogers, I guess we'll go without her.

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1325 be reported to the Senate with a recommendation that
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 604 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 1832 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Bettencourt moves that Senate Bill 2185 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Hinojosa recommends that the bill be moved to local and uncontested. Any objections?

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• I don’t have my— You can just say recommended to pass. Recommended to pass. Okay. Very good.
• Uh, next we’ll go to 2990. recommended to pass and be sent to the recommended to pass and be sent to
• my You can just say recommended to pass. my You can just say recommended to pass.
• Recommended to pass. Okay. Very good. Recommended to pass. Okay. Very good.
• Senate file 2990 is recommended<00:58:05.680> to<00:58:05.920> pass.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Follow-up: Do you recommend?
• about but as far as whether they were recommendations they weren't recommendations that we that the
• legislature include those items in statute they were recommendations that it was a recommendation that
• I recommend a reusable cup.
• recommend certain regulations.

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that House File 1040 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
• <00:05:25.160> was<00:05:25.360> a one of the recommendations was a one of the recommendations
• The working group made two recommendations, which the committee had just heard about, and more detail
• The working group made two recommendations, which the committee had just heard about, and more detail
• The working group made two recommendations, which the committee had just heard about, and more detail

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• committee recommends the following. committee recommends the following.
• House Bill 1308 be postponed indefinitely. recommendation. House Bill 1227 be recommendation.
• recommendation and with a recommendation recommendation and with a recommendation that<00:38:55.040
• whole with favorable recommendation. whole with favorable recommendation.
• whole with favorable recommendation. whole with favorable recommendation.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports advancing or disposing of bills. Committee actions included favorable referrals for measures such as House Bills 1336, 1069, 1227, 1314, 1132, 1342, 1196, 1224, and Senate Bill 178, while Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 1308 were postponed indefinitely. The chamber also adopted a motion allowing current Joint Budget Committee members to leave while the Senate remained in session. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 134, a bill concerning fees imposed by payment card networks, after a close 18-17 vote. Supporters argued it would help restaurants and other small businesses by limiting swipe fees on sales tax, while opponents warned it would not lower consumer costs and could trigger litigation and broader conflicts among financial institutions, payment processors, and businesses. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 165 on species conservation funding, Senate Bill 138 on reducing administrative burdens in the health care system, Senate Bill 172 on the Front Range passenger rail district, House Bill 105 on reducing barriers in the Labor Peace Act and eliminating Colorado’s second union-election requirement, House Bill 106 on designating higher education institutions as thriving institutions, and House Bill 1312 on peace officer participation and POST-related changes. The Senate then moved into committee of the whole for second-reading consent calendar bills and adopted House Bills 1235 and 1299. Later, House Bill 1113 on election law modifications was taken up in committee of the whole; amendments were adopted to update terminology, extend Secretary of State review time for petitions, and exempt special districts from a recording fee. The bill’s sponsor and supporters described it as a technical and security-focused update to election administration, emphasizing voter access, anti-intimidation protections, and data safeguards. The transcript ends while debate on House Bill 1113 continues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, I do recommend denying.
• The chair is recommending an aye. The chair is recommending an aye.
• I do recommend deny. Let's... I do recommend an aye. Let's call the roll.
• It is an aye recommendation.
• It is an eye recommendation. And Senator, I've said it a few times, but. is an I recommendation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:30.319> to revised governor's recommendation to revised governor's recommendation to move
• So moving to the admin recommendation.
• So for a total of governor recommended.
• Um, so for the grain recommendations.
• Is there amended be recommended to pass.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The recommendation will be to move it as is.
• >> I. >> Chair, my recommendation. >> Thank you, members. >> Thank you, everyone.
• Same recommendation um is to Affairs.
• Same recommendation um is to pass<00:12:48.560> un<00:12:48.800> amended.
• My recommendation. >> Chair. My recommendation.

Bills: SB2596, SB3002, SB3067

Keywords: government leases, state entities, real property, affordable leasing, budget impact, green infrastructure, urban development, sustainability, environment, climate change, public health, Hawaii State Planning Act, land records, registration, surveys, subdivision, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water and Culture and the Arts and on Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 3173, which would create a cultural training pilot program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources, administered by DOBOR, for commercial permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Testimony was largely supportive from Lahaina Strong, which said the bill responds to community concerns and would help commercial operators return with greater cultural understanding and respect. Supporters framed the measure as a way to rebuild Lahaina intentionally and strengthen relationships between industry and community. Opposition came from Trilogy Excursions and the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii. They said they already provide or encourage cultural education, but argued the bill as written is too broad, potentially mandatory, and could create hiring and operational problems for businesses trying to restart after the fire. They asked that any program be voluntary, collaborative, and practical, with clearer details on who must take the training, how often it would be offered, and how it would be coordinated. In response to questions, a witness said most operators would likely participate if the training were accessible and well-marketed, but that the harbor’s limited current operations and staggered rebuilding make timing important. After testimony and questions, the chairs said they appreciated the comments but wanted to move the bill forward without amendments because of a filing deadline, noting that timing and other issues could be worked out in later committees with DLNR, OHA, and stakeholders. Both committees then voted to pass SB 3173 unamended, with one member excused in each committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Talley, we'll recommend your bill as a due pass and recommend it for the
• Thank you, committee. ...recommend your bill as a due pass and recommend it for the next committee.
• We'll recommend your bill to pass and recommend it to the next committee.
• We'll recommend your bill to pass and recommend it to the next committee. All right.
• committee. ...and we will recommend it for the next committee.

Bills: HB3048, HB3259, HB3646, HB3696, HB3780, HB3781, HB3802, HB3818, HB4294, HB4488, HB2929

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review