Transcript Highlights:

• , candidate committee formed on behalf of a candidate, and take out that entire section.
• So you're going to go for a, and then line 17, multi-candidate... ...and take out that entire section
• So you're going to go for a, and then line 17, multi-candidate committee, et cetera, et cetera.
• But my main heartburn was on the candidates or the candidate committee's perspective.
• I’m a candidate committee, or I’m a multi-candidate committee, or I’m some sort of a local district party

Committee: House Government and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The committee resumed discussion of a campaign finance reporting bill and related amendments, focusing on whether the new reporting system should require beginning and ending fund balances for candidate committees and other entities. Representative Koppelman said he supported the modernization and software improvements, such as auto-populating donor information and aggregating contributions, but opposed making running balances mandatory because he viewed them as unnecessary for reporting and potentially burdensome. He also raised questions about language on contributions and expenditures, including whether certain uses of property or deposits were being classified correctly. Secretary of State Mike Lau responded that the questioned language on pages 5 and 6 was existing law, but said the beginning and ending fund balance on page 13 was important to the new system because it would allow amended reports to populate correctly across years. He said removing that requirement would effectively create two separate systems, and that the vendor could implement changes only if required by law. Members discussed whether the balance information could be hidden from the public, whether a zero-start approach would work, and whether an opt-in checkbox could avoid requiring all filers to use the same format. The committee did not take a final vote. Instead, the chair said the bill would go back to the subcommittee, with Representative Steiner and the Secretary of State’s office to continue working on the issue, and Representative Koppelman included in further discussions. The chair indicated the group would meet again later in the week to try to move the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> themselves about their candidates themselves about their candidates without<01:10:21.560><c> this
• , such as a candidate forum.
• , such as a candidate forum.
• of candidates maybe a candidate<01:18:13.520><c> Forum</c><01:18:13.880><c> where</c><01:18:14.040><
• I might support the Libertarian candidate once I see how low the Libertarian candidate is polling.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 287 provides qualifications in order to run for office, specifically requiring candidates
• A large group will become candidates, and also there are many potential candidates who have earned criminal
• to run the 40 potential candidates to run for sheriff in the county.
• That gives you a pool of less than 40 candidates.
• Well, people won't have... 40 candidates, and they still make the choice on one out of the 40.

Bills: SB287

Committee: House Local Legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:00.079><c> and</c> observers as well as the candidates and observers as well as the candidates
• </c> was received about suggested candidate was received about suggested candidate questions<01:09:08.920
• of candidates maybe a candidate<01:18:13.520><c> Forum</c><01:18:13.880><c> where</c><01:18:14.040><
• </c><02:44:32.600><c> and</c> putting on a forum for candidates and putting on a forum for candidates
• I might support the libertarian candidate once I see how low the libertarian candidate is polling.

Committee: House Election Law

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than voting against the process where they generally like the candidates.
• These are qualified candidates who are willing to serve the public, so I urge your aye vote.
• These are qualified candidates who are willing to serve the public, so I urge your aye vote.
• So I am optimistic and encouraged by all three of the candidates.
• One candidate, as we've heard, is our highly respected Coos Bay superintendent.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:01.720><c> are</c> responsible for what um candidates are responsible for what um candidates
• </c><00:06:24.800><c> and</c> now which is why holding candidates and now which is why holding candidates
• The last election I had one candidate who was a very aggressive campaign attacking the candidate whom
• That was Lugar Julo as a Republican candidate and Al Chiller as the Democratic candidate.
• election, nor did six Senate candidates and one Executive Council candidate. percentage of candidates

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• We saw that in a candidate that we heard at the last hearing; we're seeing it here similarly.
• We saw that in a candidate that we heard at the last hearing; we're seeing it here similarly.
• We saw that in a candidate that we heard at the last hearing; we're seeing it here similarly.
• We saw that in a candidate that we heard at the last hearing; we're seeing it here similarly.
• </c> leadership for this particular candidate leadership for this particular candidate thank<00:40:30.640

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The committees heard advice-and-consent testimony on several gubernatorial nominations, beginning with GM 644 for Steven Logan to serve as Adjutant General of the Department of Defense through December 7, 2026. Testimony from multiple state officials and others was strongly supportive, citing Logan’s military leadership, service during the COVID-19 period, and coordination during the fireworks-related patient transfer. Logan described his 44 years of military service, 22 years with the Honolulu Police Department, and his approach of “unity of effort,” including how he would help operationalize the Office of the State Fire Marshal by coordinating with county fire chiefs, the State Fire Council, and emergency management to pursue funding and implement recommendations. The committee then took up GM 621 and GM 623 for the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee. Shante Asuda of Hawaii Correctional Industries supported both nominees and said the board is important for evaluating private-sector joint ventures that can provide work skills for incarcerated people. Carla Kashiwa said she wanted to help improve outcomes through public-private partnerships and vocational rehabilitation opportunities for people reentering society. Lee Shinato, however, gave a less prepared presentation, offering broad ideas such as crafts, lunch wagons, and ukulele-making, and acknowledged he was not fully clear on the board’s scope or goals. Committee members expressed concern about the lack of preparation and clarity around the board’s mission, and the administrator later explained that the board’s role is to review business plans for viability, return on investment, sustainability, and whether they provide marketable skills for inmates. The final item discussed was GM 568 for Aris Banag to serve on the Advisory Board of Veteran Services. Supporters described him as community-minded and deeply committed to veterans. Banag said he has over 30 years of service, has worked as a mental health therapist and veterans resource coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, and helped create the first veteran service center there. In response to questions about federal VA cutbacks and veterans nearing retirement, he said the board must be a strong independent voice for veterans, advocate against reductions in benefits, and help service members plan for post-military life, including disability benefits, retirement, and financial planning. No votes or final committee actions were stated in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their advertisements are currently reviewing candidates and 2 more positions have open advertisements
• This year, the department has made filling vacancies were qualified candidates a priority.
• So we have a candidate in the seat filling that important function for a state, cyber security and for
• We've got a candidate we're waiting on the start date.
• Can Inc candidate declined the positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> candidate of their choosing. candidate of their choosing.
• If this goes their candidates of choice.
• the candidate of their choosing. the candidate of their choosing.
• </c> strong candidates. strong candidates.
• ,</c><01:04:10.800><c> we</c> And with those strong candidates, we And with those strong candidates,

Bills: HB1

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:52.560><c> that's</c> uh between the two candidates that's uh between the two candidates that's
• A because that's who they supported, that's a strike against their candidate.
• of their choosing, Candidate A, results in an increased likelihood that the candidate that they support
• A because that's who they supported, that's a strike against their candidate.
• of their choosing, Candidate A, results in an increased likelihood that the candidate that they support

Committee: House Ethics

Transcript Highlights:

• People saying this is electioneering for the town, you know, making one candidate or another candidate
• one candidate or another candidate<00:19:33.039><c> or</c><00:19:33.200><c> another</c><00:19:33.720
• </c> own rules on candidate own rules on candidate signs<00:25:24.159><c> then</c><00:25:24.799><c> the
• </c> the individual that's is the candidate the individual that's is the candidate they<00:48:21.680>
• and the candidate than another candidate and the candidate who<01:00:02.480><c> got</c><01:00:02.720

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number 18, this requires actual notice to the Secretary of State when a candidate dies before an
• that the candidate died, we can't comply with the law.
• And so it allows us to avoid a challenge in a case where we didn't know that the candidate died.
• We've had candidates die multiple times.
• This is consistent with other candidate contest suits.

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the March 11, 2025 meeting. Chair Nancy Landry explained that the board was reviewing proposed technical and administrative changes for the Department of State’s 2026 elections omnibus bill, which would later go to the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees for public hearing. No public comment cards were submitted, and the board reiterated that comments could also be emailed to the acting secretary. First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd presented items 1 through 39, with item 7 removed before consideration and item 37 later removed after board discussion. The proposals covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including registrar salary payment timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, clarifying party affiliation for voters who select “unaffiliated,” technical updates for voter registration transfers and precinct changes, protections for pre-registrants’ personal information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee ballot procedures, nomination petition certification, notice requirements when a candidate dies, watcher deadlines, over-voting, ballot curing, nursing home voting timing, procurement authority for voting equipment, and deadlines for contesting constitutional amendments and election irregularities. Several items were explained as cleanup or consistency changes to align the election code with current practice and prior omnibus revisions. Board members asked multiple clarifying questions, especially about the meaning of “unaffiliated,” the timing language for pre-registrants, what counts as actual notice of a candidate’s death, and whether proposed rules would follow the APA. The most substantive disagreement involved item 37, which would have allowed the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official; after discussion, the board agreed to remove that item from the omnibus recommendations. Members also discussed item 38, which would create a cause of action and deadline for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, which clarifies that election contests cannot be filed before election day. The board then approved the remaining provisions—items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 and 39—and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This creates problems for candidates in these smaller districts.
• This creates problems for candidates in these smaller districts.
• All our statewide candidates now filed online as well for this cycle.
• favors well-funded political candidates.
• favors well-funded political candidates.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• As an elected official, annually I'm required to file such as economic interest Form 700, or candidates
• Code to give the California Secretary of State authority to remove constitutionally ineligible candidates
• For instance, a major party candidate for president could be an 18-year-old or an individual who is not
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, leaving voters without a meaningful electoral choice because their party's candidate
• , as we do not currently engage in candidate investigation.

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would provide for an online candidate would provide for an online candidate filing<00:14:52.800>
• Um 2020 there was a Hawaii candidate.
• Um, you can go to that to see who your candidates are and read up on your candidates before you vote.
• are um and read up on your candidates are um and read up on your candidates<00:42:01.440><c> before<
• </c> candidates before you vote. candidates before you vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• candidates or small PACs, but not both concurrently.
• The amendment exempts candidate special purpose PACs, so your treasurer can run your... ...candidate
• So are we impacting the candidates and PACs?
• Can they serve as a treasurer for a candidate and a PAC as long as that PAC is a candidate special purpose
• Of candidates.

Bills: HB200 , HB541 , HB1803 , HB30 , HB175 , HB249 , HB721 , HB851 , HB897 , HB 1128 , HB1904 , HB1916 , HB5560 , HB3071 , HB5627 , HB5435 , HB3913 , HB2921 , HB2695 , HB2688 , HB3045 , HB3483 , HB3673 , HB4213 , HB4226 , HB783 , HB4373 , HB4735 , HB5155 , HB5057 , HB4984 , HB4944 , HB4813 , HB5339 , HB5196 , HB5033 , HB4853 , HB3486 , HB4211 , HB74 , HB4670 , HB4730 , HB4743 , HB4603 , HB4463 , HB3892 , HB4139 , HB4752 , HB4520 , HB4517 , HB4486 , HB4437 , HB4426 , HB4396 , HB4263 , HB3487 , HB3418 , HB2284 , HB2266 , HB2229 , HB4912 , HB2189 , HB4506 , HB5269 , HB5224 , HB5195 , HB3317 , HB4166 , HB3947 , HB3358 , HB3370 , HB4438 , HB3745 , HB3602 , HB3697 , HB2001 , HB1968 , HB3371 , HB3909 , HCR7 , SB1744 , SB1364 , SB1316 , HB2026 , HB3302 , HB3368 , HB1639 , HB5652 , HB4655 , HB5654 , HB5658 , HB5656 , HB4894 , HB4996 , HB5088 , HB5650 , HB4464 , HB3751 , HB5665 , HB5661 , HB 1237 , HB2802 , HB5437 , HB2703 , HB5666 , HB5667 , HCR113 , HCR86 , SB2196 , SB463 , SB856 , SB1245 , SB1169 , SB509 , SB985 , SB305 , SB552 , HB1535 , HB 123 , HB1804 , HB426 , HB1773 , HB1871 , HB2035 , HB2492 , HB1411 , HB4753 , HB4666 , HB4529 , HB1499 , HB1610 , HB2028 , HB1506 , HB886 , HB3546 , HB796 , HB223 , HB3556 , HB2448 , HB4638 , HB 111 , HB180 , HB 1027 , HB 1178 , HB610 , HB 1277 , HB1615 , HB1620 , HB5342 , HB4885 , HB4751 , HB4530 , HB4488 , HB2149 , HB2071 , HB2282 , HB2248 , HB2243 , HB2522 , HB2310 , HB2513 , HB2300 , HB1902 , HB1813 , HB3719 , HB4284 , HB3743 , HB3778 , HB5153 , HB5147 , HB4877 , HB4850 , HB3261 , HB3005 , HB3033 , HB2849 , HB2967 , HB3531 , HB1768 , HB333 , HB2914 , HB2613 , HB3717 , HB3704 , HB2697 , HB3801 , HB3099 , HB3488 , HB3477 , HB3466 , HB3396 , HB3469 , HB2594 , HB2776 , HB2564 , HB2298 , HB5331 , HB5646 , HB5247 , HB5323 , HB4384 , HB3896 , HB4014 , HB3627 , HB3594 , HB2524 , HB510 , HB561 , HB5111 , HB5446 , HB 1181 , HB3963 , HB2785 , HB1661 , HB2460 , HB200 , HB541 , HB1803 , HB30 , HB175 , HB249 , HB721 , HB851 , HB897 , HB 1128 , HB1904 , HB1916 , HB5560 , HB3071 , HB5627 , HB5435 , HB3913 , HB2921 , HB2695 , HB2688 , HB3045 , HB3483 , HB3673 , HB4213 , HB4226 , HB783 , HB4373 , HB4735 , HB5155 , HB5057 , HB4984 , HB4944 , HB4813 , HB5339 , HB5196 , HB5033 , HB4853 , HB3486 , HB4211 , HB74 , HB4670 , HB4730 , HB4743 , HB4603 , HB4463 , HB3892 , HB4139 , HB4752 , HB4520 , HB4517 , HB4486 , HB4437 , HB4426 , HB4396 , HB4263 , HB3487 , HB3418 , HB2284 , HB2266 , HB2229 , HB4912 , HB2189 , HB4506 , HB5269 , HB5224 , HB5195 , HB3317 , HB4166 , HB3947 , HB3358 , HB3370 , HB4438 , HB3745 , HB3602 , HB3697 , HB2001 , HB1968 , HB3371 , HB3909 , HCR98 , HCR92 , HCR126 , HCR7

Keywords: juvenile offenders, parole eligibility, youth justice, criminal justice reform, inmate rehabilitation, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, dentist, dental hygienist, interstate practice, licensure, compact privilege, public health, military members, disaster relief, tax rates, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• of speeches and the color of light on the voting machine for each candidate.
• To be elected Speaker, a candidate must receive 76 or more of the votes cast.
• Of the three candidates, Ana Maria Rodriguez-Ramos is the only candidate for Speaker who has consistently
• What should we be looking for in a candidate to lead this House?
• I have always advocated relentlessly for the causes and candidates that I believe in.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> political candidates. political candidates.
• I would think incumbent or candidate.
• </c> political committees, and candidates. political committees, and candidates.
• Candidates are time of the election.
• of who the candidates are going to<03:10:06.800><c> be.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Opportunity to elect their preferred candidate when compared to the current CD 29.
• The population should be able to elect their candidate of choice for Congress.
• I hope that everybody has the opportunity to elect their candidate of choice.
• Nine would be able to regularly elect their candidate of choice. So, let every matter matter.
• Hispanic voters can elect their preferred candidate to Congress in this newly drawn CD35?

Bills: SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB4 , HB1 , HB3 , HB20 , HB22 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , HB4 , SB2 , SB5

Transcript Highlights:

• The definition of a candidate is referenced on the last page of The definition of a candidate is referenced
• So that would be a candidate, not just a sitting legislator.
• He noted that the candidate filing deadline had been two weeks earlier, and there had been multiple candidates
• So they would be indicating that on their candidate paperwork.
• You know, it's tough enough to get candidates now.

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.