Transcript Highlights:

• and across the Commonwealth and Sail Boston starting on July 11th.
• Fourth of July on the Esplanade.
• The opening ceremony will be on the 10th of July.
• The ships will be parading till about 2:30 or 4:00.
• July 18th, the commemoration in Watertown, it's actually a BOGO event.

Summary: The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without a quorum, but proceeded with updates on upcoming commemoration activities. Co-chairs Representative Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting and welcomed Superintendent Armstrong from the National Parks of Boston. The main focus was the approaching slate of major events tied to the Revolution and July 4th, including Bunker Hill observances, Harborfest, Sail Boston, and the Boston Pops Spectacular. Dusty Rhodes gave a detailed overview of Sail Boston, describing the arrival and anchoring of tall ships, the parade of sail, public boarding opportunities, harbor fireworks, and the Sail Boston festival site. He noted the complexity of coordinating ships, pilots, tugboats, and public safety across multiple agencies, and said the event budget is over $5 million. Kate Fox and Sheila Green then reported on Massachusetts 250 programming: strong website and email engagement, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, multicultural outreach, the I Civics “We Declare” student project, the America 250 time capsule contributions, the July 8 national reading of the Declaration of Independence, the flag sojourn, and a new schools-and-farms partnership with state agencies. Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill activities, the Gloucester Battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the Declaration of Independence project. He said funding had been secured to reprint the Ezekiel Russell Declaration of Independence for distribution to all 351 cities and towns, with printing underway and hopes to deliver copies by July 4. The commission also discussed creating a Massachusetts-specific time capsule and forming a working group to gather ideas and possible contributions from cities and towns. Members expressed support, offered to help, and the meeting ended with thanks, announcements of an upcoming documentary screening, and a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just going to change the effective date to July 1, 3000 for further discussion. Any...
• July 1, 3000, for further discussion. Any questions, comments, or concerns?
• </c> effective date to July 1, 3000. effective date to July 1, 3000.
• And change the effective date to July 1. Further discussion.
• 152-4 152-4 and<01:36:33.840><c> distribution</c><01:36:34.480><c> notifications</c><01:36:35.040><c>

Bills: HB1621 , HB1880 , HB1831

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Summary: The joint committees on Agriculture and Food Systems and Energy and Environmental Protection heard three bills. HB 1621 would create a conservation, agriculture, and soil health incentive program under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, with annual reporting and funding. Testimony was broadly supportive from the Climate Commission, University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Farmers Union, White Alliance for Progressive Action, and the Farm Bureau, and the bill was described as a way to advance soil health and support producers. HB 1880 would prohibit, beginning in 2027, the use of pesticides containing 1,3-dichloropropene (such as Telone). The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity offered written comments, Hawaii Farmers Union supported the ban citing drift and health concerns, and the Farm Bureau opposed it, arguing growers need such tools; the bill also drew discussion about crop rotation and other pest-management practices. HB 1831 would authorize funding to address survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues on certain non-agricultural parklands; the Attorney General’s Office warned the bill as written may violate the U.S. Constitution’s contract clause and suggested revisions, while the department and Farm Bureau supported the measure’s intent. The committees later took up decision-making and voted to pass all three measures with amendments, with the effective dates changed to July 1, 3000 and HB 1831 amended to reflect the Attorney General’s suggested changes. The Agriculture and Food Systems committee then heard HB 1572, which would establish a four-year restorative aquaculture development program to streamline permitting, expand infrastructure and workforce capacity, create pilot sites, and convene an advisory council. The Attorney General noted a technical issue about whether council members would be compensated, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Farmers Union all expressed support for streamlining aquaculture and promoting restorative aquaculture. Members asked about the bill’s focus on restorative aquaculture, and the department said the program would give the area dedicated resources and a framework. The committee also heard HB 219, which would temporarily reestablish the coffee berry borer pesticide subsidy program and manager position; the department, Waimea Coffee Association, Farm Bureau, and Farmers Union supported it. HB 2139 would fund University of Hawaiʻi research on treatment methods for the Queensland longhorn beetle. Testimony from DLNR, the invasive species council, university researchers, farmers, and the Farm Bureau emphasized the beetle’s spread and damage to trees and crops, and described nematode biocontrol as promising but labor-intensive and in need of more research and scaling. Members asked whether the funding was for research rather than a position, whether the current nematode approach is sufficient for large orchards, and whether other controls are being explored; the response was that the bill funds testing and that more work is needed, including local production of nematodes if the method proves effective.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean to July or August or September, because I like being here, I like doing the work. ...or August
• ongoing funding increases at the Department of Corrections, including $24 million to make permanent a 4%
• You and I started talking about H.R. 1 in July, I think, of last year after I passed, and how do those
• The prior year, community colleges got $4 million, and then the year before that we got $6 million.
• 14 164 416 4 14 164 4 14 64 4 1464 4 47, 4158, 4159, 4161, 4162, 4163, 4164, 4165, 4165, 4166, 4165,

Summary: The joint House and Senate Appropriations committees met to hear the FY 2027 budget package, beginning with the General Appropriations Act (HB 4154/SB 1847). Staff outlined the overall budget, including one-time fund transfers, lump-sum reductions, funding for state employee health insurance, school facilities, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, education and child care, and other ongoing and supplemental items. Members briefly discussed the absence of a requested $1.5 million for the oversight office, but the chair said no amendments would be taken in committee and that only limited technical changes were likely later in the process. Public testimony on the feed bill was largely supportive but focused on specific funding concerns. Testimony highlighted school safety funding, Alzheimer’s services, small business tax expensing provisions, disability oversight for group homes, county use of opioid settlement dollars, adult education/community college funding, victim notification funding, and ESA oversight. Several speakers praised the budget for funding DDD and other services, while others opposed or sought changes to items such as the COMIT group home monitoring program, Maricopa Community Colleges’ lack of operating aid, and a possible cut to the victim notification program. The chair repeatedly emphasized that changes to the negotiated budget would be difficult and should be routed through leadership. The committee then moved quickly through the remaining budget reconciliation bills. Staff summarized bills covering amusement and wagering, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, and K-12 education. Notable provisions included continued wagering assessments, highway and building renewal funding, defense innovation and economic development changes, corrections and wrongful conviction provisions, groundwater and water banking measures, health insurance oversight and opioid settlement provisions, higher education funding and ABOR operating caps, SNAP and housing trust fund changes, and a 2% inflation increase for K-12 formula components. The K-12 bill also included a biometric school safety pilot and a child sexual abuse prevention pilot. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue through the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• state tribal education compact school to instead fully implement literacy curricula for use with K-4
• by grade level of each literacy curriculum that is currently in use with any students in K through 4,
• It also requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, or JLARC, beginning July 1, 2029,
• I move adoption of MOET 517 on page 4, line 18.
• I moved adoption of Amendment 521 on page 4, line 22.

Summary: The House Education Committee first briefed several bills and amendments before going into caucus, then returned for executive action. House Bill 1295, on comprehensive literacy programs, was amended to require aligned literacy curricula and reporting, with one proposed substitute withdrawn and several amendments debated; the committee rejected amendments that would have added implementation deadlines and reporting, adopted an amendment requiring a 2032 OSPI report on literacy outcomes, and advanced the bill with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2262, which adds cursive signature instruction to mandatory high school civics and requires election-related reporting on signature mismatches, was amended to recognize culturally specific signatures, include historical context about marginalized communities, remove a graduation-credit condition, and drop State Board monitoring language; the committee rejected a null-and-void amendment and advanced the bill. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was debated as a fiscal flexibility measure and passed out of committee on a 10-4 vote. The committee also considered House Bill 2593 on school district fund balances and monthly financial reporting. A proposed substitute shifted the bill away from mandatory minimum fund balances toward formal financial monitoring for districts below required levels, technical assistance from OSPI, and possible withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures; an amendment removed the withholding provision, and the substitute bill was then advanced with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2594, establishing state-based protections for homeless students and aligning state requirements with McKinney-Vento, received a technical amendment to avoid duplicative provisions and was reported out unanimously. House Bill 2636, creating a Public Education Performance Operations and Funding Review Commission, was substantially revised into a Public Education Review Advisory Council that would work with JLARC to review education policy requirements and funding; a null-and-void amendment failed, and the committee advanced the substitute bill unanimously. Throughout the meeting, sponsors and members emphasized literacy improvement, student access, district fiscal stability, and reducing or reviewing unfunded mandates. Several members spoke in support of the bills as tools to improve outcomes or provide flexibility, while others raised concerns about mandates, reporting burdens, and the practicality of implementation. Final actions included multiple do pass recommendations, with recorded votes on HB 2551, HB 2593, HB 2594, and HB 2636, and unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other measures after amendment debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to defect the date to July 1st, 2050. to defect the date to July 1st, 2050.
• going</c><00:22:11.320><c> live</c><00:22:11.560><c> in</c><00:22:11.679><c> 5</c><00:22:12.200><c> 4<
• </c> Okay, going live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
• rental renter information so the citation may be issued to the renter, and delete Part VI, Section 4
• rental renter information so the citation may be issued to the renter, and delete Part VI, Section 4

Bills: HB1618

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committees held a joint hearing on HB 1618 HD1, which would create and fund a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to help homeowners upgrade, convert, or connect cesspools. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies and advocacy groups, with witnesses emphasizing that cost is the main barrier to cesspool conversion and that recent Kona flooding underscored the public health and pollution risks of cesspools. One testifier suggested the fund should actively pursue outside funding sources, and another urged an effective date that would allow counties to contribute sooner. A member raised concerns about whether loans would be affordable and whether other financing tools, such as tax credits, should also be considered; another member opposed the bill as not adequately addressing district-level sewer and septic issues. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, and the motion was adopted. The joint Judiciary and Ways and Means committees then considered HB 2592 on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. The chair outlined amendments to clarify that the authority would assume property and liability associated with transferred assets, preserve existing liability rules, transfer conditional use permits if not already transferred, allow lease extensions before transfer, and set reversion triggers if the authority fails to adopt a management plan by June 30, 2028, or administrative rules by December 31, 2029. Members asked about preserving the public trust and whether the amendments would keep the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ role intact; the chair confirmed the fee and board role would remain unchanged. The committees voted to pass the bill with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also took up HB 2033, making further amendments to clarify the definition of state, delay certain effective dates, allow rental and U-Drive lessors to avoid liability by identifying renters, delete one section, and add administrative hearing language and bus-camera clarifications. HB 1888 was amended to expand protections for educational workers to include sports officials, define sports official, make intentional bodily harm a felony with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and authorize the attorney general to assist with restraining orders. Both measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted. Later, several bills were moved with little or no discussion: HB 1515, HB 1713, HB 1718, HB 2022, and HB 2385 were recommended for passage unamended; HB 2375 was deferred; and HB 1741 was amended to reflect Honolulu’s concerns, narrow study requirements, add exemptions and a delayed implementation date, and was recommended for passage with amendments. The committees adopted the recommendations on these measures, with some members noting reservations or prior opposition on certain bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• B of Article 1, Section 4.
• B-4, yes.
• And Mark Guillory, let's go to Julie Sandifer. Is Julie here? Julie waves.
• Let's go to Julie Sandifer. Is Julie here? Julie waves in support.
• Julie, would you like to start?” “Sure. My name is Julie Sauer. I’m from Vernon Parish.

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met on House Bill 7 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson, the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, which would remove eminent domain authority for carbon capture and geological sequestration projects. After housekeeping and roll call, the committee adopted a set of technical amendments that cleaned up definitions, removed a stray statutory reference, and changed “commissioner” to “secretary.” The author then gave an extended presentation arguing the bill was needed to align Louisiana law with the state constitution’s property-rights protections and recent court rulings, and to ensure carbon capture projects proceed only through voluntary agreements rather than forced takings. Several members questioned the author and supportive witnesses about whether the bill would stop carbon capture, affect oil and gas pipelines, or disrupt investment. The author and supporters said it would not stop projects, only prevent taking land without consent, and argued that landowners—especially small and rural owners—should not face the threat of expropriation. Supportive testimony also emphasized family land, inheritance, and constitutional limits on takings. Some members raised concerns about changing the rules after prior legislative action and about the economic importance of carbon capture, but the author responded that the legislature had made a mistake in 2020 and should correct it now. Opposition testimony came from representatives of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Louisiana Chemistry Association, and attorneys who handle right-of-way matters. They argued that eminent domain is a rare last resort, that existing law and the Landowner Bill of Rights already protect owners, and that the Constitution’s provisions for private-entity expropriation are different from the provisions discussed by the bill’s supporters. They warned that removing the tool for carbon capture would chill investment, threaten jobs and revenue, and could spill over into other energy infrastructure. The committee did not reach a final vote on the bill in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:40.360><c> the</c> first performance year ends July the first performance year ends July the
• That's July the 31st.
• </c><00:33:20.920><c> the</c> on our performance through July the on our performance through July the
• The budget period ends July the 31st.
• /c> the fifth year of funding, the last 4 the fifth year of funding, the last 4 years<00:58:36.920><c

Committee: Joint Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:26:18.000><c> million</c> fund which generates about $4 million fund which generates about $4
• So, I exercised into effect on July 1st.
• to DLL, which take effect on July 1, 2027.
• And section six is the effective date, which is July 1st.
• So the half they don't open until 4:00.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now it's $4 and $5 in some places. That's a $3.65 difference.
• And now a loaf of bread starts $2, $3, or $4 now. A dozen of eggs with $25.
• The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since July of 2009.
• The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since July of 2009.
• My name is Julie Schwamm Harris. I came in at the last minute.

Committee: Senate Local & Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• July or August, I may have a chance to start it.
• It came over to us on July 1st. It has been a fun and challenging 6.5 Months of work.
• Remaining 3 to 4 phases of pavement work that needs to be done out there.
• Like I said, 4 really 5 major components.
• So, we had 9 team members move over from OSIDA to ODA and become employees of ODA July 1st.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wondered, is that coming from Prop 4 bond funds?
• This is in Prop 4, you mean? Yes, I believe.
• Bennett and his team for leading on the Prop 4 discussions.
• We will try to be sensitive from Budget Sub 4 in terms of that.
• We're also grateful for the Proposition 4 allocations.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• 4, 2026, and throughout the year.
• 4, 2026, and throughout the year.
• And it's going to be on July 4th and throughout the year. Okay. Mm-hmm.
• Especially on July 4th, but throughout... We have a celebration already taking place.
• I mean, we have some of the stuff going on on July 4th. Okay. All right. That's all I have.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• We were looking at about a 4-year period, and then we brought that back to a little under 4 years, but
• Back out to about a 4-year time frame.
• So, it's not, you know, I last taught in May, but then I retired in July.
• We plugged that gap, and now if they want to switch programs, they may do so every July.
• You had talked about the ability to switch programs in July, I believe you mentioned.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Denny Turner, State 4-H President.
• Shaylee Priest, State 4-H Leader. and Leadership Ambassador, Kate Dionne Lamont, State 4-H Secretary.
• Nadia Edna Parco, State 4-H STEM Ambassador. Samuel Prada, State 4-H Song and Recreation Leader.
• She's the Eddy County 4-H President. This group is the group that makes 4-H what it is statewide.
• July? July in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at New Mexico State University.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a $4 million one-year increase in the There's a $4 million one-year increase in the renter credit
• July 1st, 2026, and then dropping to 114.5% in fiscal year 29, 113.5% in fiscal year 30, and getting
• The way it's currently constructed is any bonds that have been taken out by voters prior to July 1st,
• In this new bill, it extends that to July 1st, 2026. For new projects, that's subject to the...
• So in sections 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Transcript Highlights:

• 4 years as<00:08:00.160><c> well.
• So, 4 4 4 437A 437A 437A &gt;&gt; benefit<00:11:58.760><c> of</c><00:11:58.840><c> the</c><00:11:58.920
• The hearing lasted 4 days.
• The hearing lasted 4 days. scheduled. The hearing lasted 4 days.
• . >> Roman numeral three on line 21 is okay. 466:4. 466:4.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• This one adjustments every 3 to 4 years.
• July 1. So, but I mean from the time when you last updated the maximum.
• So, currently now the bill has a defective date of July 1st.
• So, currently now the bill has an effective date of July 1st.
• And that's July 1st next of 2027.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures relating to public employment, the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), retirement benefits, and cafeteria plans. HB 2472 and HB 2276, both concerning EUTF staff and investment office staff salaries, drew support from the trust fund and labor groups, and no opposition was heard in person. HB 2272 and HB 2273, emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, were supported by the administration and labor representatives; members briefly clarified which bargaining units were covered. A longer discussion centered on HB 1664, which would address a dispute mechanism for EUTF-related negotiations. HGEA said the current process lacks a dispute resolution path and that the bill would allow interest arbitration when the state and union disagree. The Department of Human Resources Development and the Budget and Finance director raised concerns about consistency across bargaining units and the role of an arbitrator unfamiliar with the complexities of the system. Senator Moriwaki questioned whether another dispute forum might be more appropriate, but no alternative resolution was settled. The committee also heard HB 1655, which would make retirement benefits negotiable, and HB 1658, concerning collective bargaining repricing. ERS opposed HB 1655, saying it could create administrative and tax problems if retirement benefits were negotiated separately across many bargaining units, while UPW, HGEA, HSTA, and UPA supported it as a bargaining issue. On HB 1658, DHRD explained that repricing is an internal classification tool meant to preserve equal pay for equal work, not to address market pay, and said a single arbitrator or the Merit Appeals Board could handle disputes; HGEA preferred a neutral arbitrator and opposed the Merit Appeals Board as too employer-controlled. The final measure, HB 1661 on cafeteria plans, was supported by UPW and HGEA. DHRD said it planned to raise the maximum contribution through rulemaking but needed to manage plan solvency and timing because IRS limits change on a calendar-year basis while the state plan runs on a fiscal year. The committee then moved into decision-making and adopted recommendations to pass HB 2472 and HB 2276 as amended/unamended after a brief correction to the vote language.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1509 CD1, HMSO proposed-4. >> Yeah, that's correct. >> Great.
• This is the effective date of July 1, 2026.
• </c> effective date of July 1st, 26. effective date of July 1st, 26.
• </c> of July 1st, 2027. of July 1st, 2027. &gt;&gt; Yep. &gt;&gt; Yep. &gt;&gt; Yep.
• Okay, we will see you guys at 10 till 4 in 329. >> Sounds good.

Bills: HB2241 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1696 , HB2021 , SB2135 , SB2466 , SB2727 , SB3082 , SB3097 , SB2861 , SCR100 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , SCR162 , SB2614 , SB3118 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Transcript Highlights:

• Continuing to add $4 million to it, but it feels like the program hasn't started.
• We are funding for $4 million for a new direct-buy program.
• Are we still going to be projecting about $4 billion or a billion each year?
• They wouldn't have to wait until July 1st. Is that accurate? Thank you, Mr. President.
• Statutory changes are temporary and expire on July 1, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• which establishes new requirements for these that take effect July 1st of this year.
• After Terry Allen, we're going to have Luke Ross, Julie Range, and Hasib Abdullah.
• Julie Range, Julie, you're... ...listed as the policy manager for Commission Shift Action.
• So, Julie Range with Commission Shift Action. We support HB4572. ...at 4572.
• Is there anybody else that wishes to testify on or against House Bill 4?

Bills: HB3619 , HB3652 , HB4572 , HB4891 , HB4941 , HB5103 , HB5105 , HB5106 , HB5224 , HB5600

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards