Video & Transcript Research : 'general manager'

Page 121 of 500
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:42:23.520> It's rate generally. Is that correct? It's rate generally.
  • > you<00:58:49.680> know<00:58:49.839> five managing over um you know five managing
  • What we do is we use MCOs; we uh essentially outsource payment management to managed care organizations
  • essentially outsource payment management essentially outsource payment management to<01:09:47.359
  • 01:09:49.839> uh<01:09:50.319> it's to manage care organizations so uh it's to manage care
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services. Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access. Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access. The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 18, 2025 - 08:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • General counsel for Lloyds of London and Weight Steer the managing director and head of Tampa office
  • Generally, that's a lot.
  • Just just some general, just general highlights of where we see ourselves in the past year.
  • Is that that that helps a general absent pause button on that general question probably know the answer
  • And the percentage that was being sent to MTA's managing general agents, we still conduct or you is the
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Transportation Feb 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill also provided a one-time funding of 200 million dollars from the state's general revenue.
  • As I mentioned earlier in fiscal year 2024, the Sun Trail program received a general revenue allocation
  • There is third-party service approvals for utm systems that manage that drone traffic.
  • And what the systems will look like to kind of manage that airspace. There's certainly a roll.
  • >> I would say generally not.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Taxes - 02/20/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • estimate from our construction manager estimate from our construction manager about<00:35:55.319
  • There'll also be space for the Sheriff's Office, emergency management, and facilities management.
  • <01:05:07.319> and<01:05:07.559> and emergencies management and and emergencies management
  • It'll generate additional economic activity and will actually be one of the most important economic generators
  • It'll generate additional economic activity and will actually be one of the most important economic generators
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Item 12 would be an information management system for our Office of Inspector General.
  • Item 12 would be an information management system for our Office of Inspector General.
  • Pharmacy benefit manager.
  • And correctional managed health care and UTMB had to sit in that seat.
  • Murray, do y'all have a PBM within correctional managed health care? We're basically self-managed.
Bills: SB 1
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand. DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Local Government Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • management in Merced County.
  • The developer, general contractor,...
  • And we're losing a new generation of Californians.
  • And it's about building more housing for our future generations.
  • Ezra Shaban, managing partner at Dodd and Shaban Strategies on behalf of MTS.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The committee hearing covered a large slate of local government and housing-related bills, with several authors presenting measures aimed at streamlining development, updating local government procedures, and addressing infrastructure and resource issues. Early bills included AB 2639 on Merced County flood control coordination, AB 1786 allowing certain local agencies to use best-value contracting, AB 2058 reducing duplicative permitting and inspection costs for factory-built housing, AB 2576 clarifying historic resource protections in housing law, AB 2568 increasing the number of compensated days for water district board members, AB 2224 updating county recorder fees and electronic recording requirements, AB 2469 requiring data-center water supply assessments and cost responsibility, and AB 2397 limiting local vetoes over housing infrastructure financing districts. Most of these measures drew support from local governments, housing advocates, or special districts, while some also drew opposition from business, county, or labor groups depending on the bill. The most extensive debate centered on AB 1751, which would create ministerial approval for qualifying townhome projects and establish a $28 hourly minimum wage floor for construction workers on covered projects, while expressly preserving prevailing wage law. Supporters, including the author, the California Conference of Carpenters, and housing advocates, argued the bill would expand homeownership opportunities, raise wages for largely non-union workers, and improve accountability through direct developer liability and enforcement provisions. Opponents, including several building trades organizations and some local government groups, argued the bill would undercut prevailing wage standards, reduce benefits, and could create broader wage pressure in the construction market. Committee members raised questions about land-use barriers, the wage floor, and the bill’s interaction with prevailing wage and federal law, and the author emphasized that the measure was intended as a wage floor rather than a replacement for prevailing wage. AB 2469 on data centers also drew a sharp split. Supporters said the bill would give local governments better information before approving water-intensive projects, protect overdrafted groundwater basins, and ensure data centers pay for needed infrastructure rather than shifting costs to ratepayers. Opponents from the Chamber of Commerce, the Data Center Coalition, and others argued the bill imposed unnecessary and potentially unconstitutional burdens, singled out one industry, and could create security and competitiveness concerns. Across the hearing, several authors asked for aye votes, and committee members repeatedly noted that the committee was still operating without a quorum, so no final votes were taken during the discussion.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Agriculture Oct 7th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a fourth-generation cattle and citrus grower.
  • I'm a fifth-generation dairy farmer here at Milking Our Dairy.
  • The land has been in the same family for four generations.
  • Manager? Yes.
  • These lands are managed and preserved for enjoyment by future generations through providing resource-based
Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met to hear updates on land conservation and agricultural preservation programs. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, explaining that it protects active agricultural lands through conservation easements while keeping land in private ownership and on the tax rolls. The director said the program requires participants to use agricultural best management practices, noted strong demand with 428 ranked projects for 2025, and reported that consistent legislative funding and partnerships with USDA, DOD, local governments, land trusts, and water management districts have expanded acreage protected, much of it within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Committee members asked about eligibility, ranking, local government involvement, and how many projects are typically funded each year. Conservation Florida’s president and CEO testified that both Rural and Family Lands and Florida Forever are critical and complementary tools for preserving working lands, wildlife habitat, water resources, and public access to nature. She warned that uncertainty or cuts in state funding can stall projects, raise land prices, and reduce conservation momentum. In discussion with senators, she said public access is often negotiated case by case and is more common on lands acquired for parks, forests, and other public green space than on conservation easements. The Department of Environmental Protection then updated the committee on Florida Forever, describing it as the state’s premier conservation and recreation land acquisition program. DEP said Florida Forever uses both conservation easements and fee-simple purchases, with about half of acquisitions done through easements, and emphasized that steady funding is needed to keep projects moving. The deputy secretary reported 60 projects on the current work plan, more than $1.4 billion invested since 2019, and recent acquisitions including new state forest, park, and preserve expansions. Members also raised concerns about payment in lieu of taxes for fiscally constrained counties, local notification of acquisitions, and the need for continued support for agriculture, citrus, roads, and conservation funding. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after member comments and public testimony.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Education Policy Committee 2/11/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Generally, CACFP operates year-round.
  • keer thank you it's more of a general keer thank you it's more of a general question<00:40:07.800
  • <01:17:33.080> that an office of Inspector General that an office of Inspector General that
  • <01:19:05.080> counsel going to turn that to general counsel going to turn that to general
  • establishing the office of general establishing the office of general counsel<01:20:13.840> is
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The Education Policy Committee met to hear a delayed presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future, a report released in June 2024. The chair framed the hearing as an oversight review of how the Minnesota Department of Education handled the nonprofit’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, emphasizing that the hearing was not about criminal charges against agency staff. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Tyson explained that their review focused on state oversight, not the underlying federal fraud case, which involved an alleged $250 million scheme and ongoing criminal proceedings. The auditors concluded that MDE’s oversight was inadequate and created opportunities for fraud. They said MDE failed to act on warning signs before the pandemic, did not effectively use its authority to hold Feeding Our Future accountable, and was ill prepared to respond to problems. Examples included approving applications despite concerns about internal controls and staffing, failing to follow up on earlier review findings, not adequately investigating at least 30 complaints, and in one case referring a complaint back to Feeding Our Future for resolution rather than conducting an independent investigation. They also said MDE deferred serious deficiencies without enough evidence that problems had been fully corrected and approved meal claims despite records showing major inconsistencies. Tyson said MDE had made progress on all eight recommendations in the report, though one recommendation to the legislature had not yet been addressed because the session had not convened since the report’s release. The auditors recommended that the legislature establish clearer statutory criteria or give MDE rulemaking authority for sponsor applications, and that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint procedures, and emphasize program integrity if waivers reduce oversight in the future. In response to member questions, the auditors said MDE’s reported progress was partial in some areas and that further review would be needed to fully confirm implementation. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 03/26/26

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:18:30.000> of only for collection and management of only for collection and management
  • Minnesota generates hundreds of millions Minnesota generates hundreds of millions pounds<00:25:21.560
  • from the general fund. from the general fund.
  • Or general orders. General orders. Okay, that works for me. So, Mr.
  • <01:45:30.960> Okay, Or general orders. General orders. Okay, Or general orders.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Economic and Rural Development Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:32 am

Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've got a comment just about things in general before I ask my question.
  • And freight management issues experienced during the COVID epidemic.
  • And freight management issues experienced during the COVID epidemic.
  • And this concerns me because it has an impact for all our future generation.
  • And our generation will be Mexicans that are trying very hard to become generation.
Keywords: 996, all
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

Culture, Recreation & Tourism Aug 6th, 2025

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • How was it, the coordination between local emergency management.
  • I think of different ways to manage risks. That is certainly one way.
  • My question is more about a general overview.
  • I'm general counsel for the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association.
  • It'd be codified into law, so there's one generic plan for the whole state.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Nichols, my name is Alexander Ross Hernandez, and I am the sixth generation of a. sixth generation
  • on the management of those funds.
  • Apply this to all new generation and storage.
  • We have generated literally billions.
  • We, like any generator, go through a rigorous interconnection process to bring that new generation online
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And the Airport Managers Association.
  • That's located on the general office campus of the DOT.
  • We provide a lot of general technical assistance.
  • The Asset Management Bureau has four areas.
  • We're also responsible for the Transportation Asset Management Plan.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Will the general counsel introduce this item? Yes, uh, thank you, Chair.
  • Will the general counsel please address this item? Yes, thank you, Chair.
  • Our new interim general counsel, Ms.
  • Well, we are generally sworn complaint generated. People, third parties file complaints.
  • So the general election as a tech.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026

Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:
  • A lot of money just went out a few months ago from Proposition 4 to assist with wildland management and
  • A lot of money just went out a few months ago from Proposition 4 to assist with wildland management and
  • So I know that it's no secret, there's no, not news to people here, but for the general public, after
  • And we will tackle that in a joint hearing in Natural Resources and Emergency Management.
  • Those accounts allow us to track funds that we spend beyond our general rate case.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The committee held the first of several informational hearings on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study, focused on wildfire risk, utility liability, and how to finance catastrophic losses. Chair Allen opened by describing California’s recent utility-ignited wildfires, the creation of the wildfire fund under AB 1054, and SB 254’s extension of that fund and requirement for a study. The California Earthquake Authority, as wildfire fund administrator, presented the report’s process and findings, emphasizing that the study was intended to be neutral and broad, based on extensive stakeholder outreach, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, communities, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA’s report organized recommendations into three policy pathways: continued mitigation investment, more equitable allocation of catastrophe burdens, and expanded state roles in catastrophe financing. For utilities, the report discussed options such as setting a binding risk-tolerance standard, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, creating confidential reporting with safe-harbor protections, reforming utility liability including possible changes to inverse condemnation, limiting damages, reducing insurance subrogation, and creating a fast-pay facility for survivors. The financing analysis compared a more durable wildfire fund, risk transfer/reinsurance, liability reforms, and state-backed mechanisms such as a state insurer, a state backstop, and broader funding for community wildfire mitigation. The CPUC said wildfire mitigation oversight has improved, but wildfire-related costs are driving electricity bills higher and creating an affordability crisis. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan review and field inspections, and recommended stronger safety reporting and more safety-weighted executive compensation. In member discussion, senators and assemblymembers focused on the cost of the status quo, whether the burden should be shared by ratepayers, utilities, the state, or other parties, and whether California should consider broader disaster-financing approaches. Several members raised concerns about inverse condemnation, the pace of survivor compensation, local land-use responsibility, and the need for a more comprehensive statewide solution rather than piecemeal bills. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/19/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • tracking and recording of all management tracking and recording of all management and<00:07:48.400
  • <00:30:22.640> program implements every best Management program implements every best Management
  • to implement every best management to implement every best management practice<00:31:38.960>
  • practice sometimes called management practice sometimes called management intensive<00:48:42.599
  • toward towards the river It generally toward towards the river It generally slopes<01:17:27.480>
Keywords: 1183, house
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And I do want to thank our Attorney General Bonta for taking swift legal action against these reckless
  • This is for statewide project management.
  • I will mention in general, consistent with Proposition 30, we expect to use General Funds to support
  • I will mention in general, consistent with Proposition 30, we expect to use general funds to support
  • Managed care plans have already been providing those, so we want to look at how they...
Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Public Health Jun 4th, 2026

Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Generally, it's about five years.
  • So adding to the fleet is great, but generally it's used to So adding to the fleet is great, but generally
  • I get the general purpose of the bill.
  • Medical and health services managers generated more than 36,000 job postings statewide over the past
  • Chair recognizes Raymond Winter, Inspector General, Office of Inspector General for Health and Human
Keywords: 1184, house, all
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate State and Local Government Apr 3rd, 2025 at 09:00 am

State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, you know, that suggests that they get to do that just as legislative management.
  • Who's the general?
  • And then 1601 is Special Assistant Attorney General.
  • My husband is buried there, and many of his family members for three generations.
  • Whoever is managing it in Edward Jones or whoever.
Bills: HB1162
Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1162, which would add the West Fargo mayor as a voting member of the Lake Agassiz Water Authority board. The sponsor and Fargo’s mayor argued West Fargo has grown into a major regional water stakeholder and should have a formal vote, while members questioned the board structure and why the change was not framed more specifically. The bill was supported in testimony, closed without opposition, and received a 6-0 do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 1259 on annual legislative sessions and session structure. Members adopted an amendment that left the structure and logistics of sessions to legislative management rather than prescribing details in statute, after discussion about flexibility, committee workload, annual versus biennial sessions, and concerns about preserving debate and committee process. The amended bill received a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with some members voting no because they preferred a different committee recommendation or had concerns about the broader change. House Bill 1254, which would allow any North Dakota resident to obtain a State Library card, drew supportive testimony from the bill sponsor and State Library staff. They said the change would align law with current practice and expand access to books, e-materials, and other resources statewide, including for military families and out-of-state state employees. The committee closed the hearing and approved the bill 6-0. The committee also considered House Bill 1469, which narrows financial disclosure requirements so only business or trust interests directly related to the office sought or held must be disclosed. After brief discussion that the change would reduce unnecessary disclosure burdens, the committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a 6-0 do pass recommendation. House Bill 1368, dealing with administrative rules and the standard for challenging them, was opposed by committee counsel as too broad and legally problematic; the committee rejected it on a 4-2 do not pass vote. Finally, House Bill 1219, which would reduce the required perpetual care fund set-aside for certain cemeteries from 20% to 10%, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, cemetery representatives, and local users, but also concern about long-term fund health. The committee ultimately recommended do pass on a 5-1 vote.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Wed Jan 29, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Cata Deputy Attorney General commenting on HB 364.
  • <00:36:34.119> financial Control providers and generate financial Control providers and generate
  • the Trap neuter return managed the Trap neuter return managed caretakers<00:42:04.160> and
  • First up, we have the Attorney General in support.
  • I'm Kevin Ramirez the program manager I'm Kevin Ramirez the program manager for<00:54:42.119>
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on January 29, 2025, and heard testimony on HB 108, which concerns intoxicating liquor and would expand direct-to-consumer shipping for beer and spirits. Supporters included representatives of Koloa Rum Company, Maui Brewing Company, and Ola Brew, who argued the bill would modernize alcohol laws, help small local producers compete, support jobs and local agriculture, and give consumers more access to Hawaii-made products. They also said Hawaii already has experience regulating direct wine shipments, with age verification and carrier-based delivery systems in place, and that direct shipping could help businesses reach visitors after they return home and diversify beyond tourism. Opposition came from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, whose representative said the bill could increase access for underage drinking, especially because liquor commissions do not currently conduct compliance checks on alcohol shipments and may lack capacity to do so. The group also raised tax-enforcement concerns, saying the existing three-tier system makes excise and sales tax collection easier, while direct shipping would require additional auditing. They urged the committee to oppose the bill or defer it until more research is done, and suggested a common carrier reporting requirement to help reconcile shipments. Committee members questioned both sides about whether current law already allows some alcohol shipments, whether a Kentucky distiller could ship directly to Hawaii, and how reciprocity with other states would work. Supporters said the bill is modeled on wine-shipping language and could be amended to clarify reciprocity, while opponents said the bill lacks a common carrier reporting requirement and would place a burden on county liquor commissions. No vote or final action on HB 108 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.