Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of your vacant positions.
• And vacant positions are funded, not just a position. So, many of them are not.
• > position.
• Positivity. Mhm.
• positions to fill. positions to fill.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and one temporary position.
• of these 18 positions are position nine of these 18 positions are to<01:00:40.319> continue<01
• and the positions for those as well, because those positions would expire.
• That act provided a permanent position, and it also provided a temporary position.
• positions.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not full-time positions.
• Is it going to be a permanent position? Yes, it would become a permanent position.
• is it going to be a permanent position is it going to be a permanent position yes<00:52:00.000><
• <00:52:07.079> Federal been in this position I've seen Federal been in this position I've
• so this is a federally funded position so this is a federally funded position and<00:52:31.599><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll let my Senate position.
• We've seated to the position. Thank you. All in favor of the house position.
• >> position. Thank you. >> position. Thank you.
• These positions.
• These positions.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• > are vacant positions so when positions are vacant positions so when positions are left<00:06:29.599
• as<00:10:43.560> well positions and exempt positions as well positions and exempt positions
• positions.
• <00:47:54.480> next<00:47:54.920> is position position yes okay uh next is position
• So those two positions, we'd like to transfer from federal positions to general funded positions.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for one new position. There's no request for appropriation changes.
• This changes the total number of authorized positions in the bill from 76 to 77.
• You're rearranging several positions as you described a little bit in your summary.
• We're able to pay for those positions with interest that we receive.
• I'm just focused on the government affairs position.

Summary: The committee met to consider several requests related to constitutional offices and court security staffing, with opening remarks noting that the fringe-benefit percentage had been updated to 40–45% and that the bills already filed would be amended if the committee approved the requests. Item B, from the Supreme Court, requested one new Supreme Court police chief position at LESO5 with no appropriation change; the committee approved it. Item C, from the Secretary of State, requested five additional State Capitol Police corporal positions, a reclassification and consolidation of several job titles, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase for salaries and matching funds; after questions about how the office would absorb the changes and whether the new security role would replace a contract, the committee approved the item. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, sought to move from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in the number of positions but an estimated $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the change was intended to align with other constitutional offices, address a long period without raises, and improve retention, but Senator Hill placed the item on hold until the next day for follow-up questions. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested a realignment of classifications, salary maximum increases, one UCP claims examiner position, and one UCP compliance agent, for a total increase of $579,468; the auditor said the office had withdrawn a government relations position from the request, that the new positions were revenue-neutral or needed to handle increased workload, and that salary increases were based on market comparisons and long-term stagnation. The committee approved item E, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• the general fund for the position costs. the general fund for the position costs. Okay. Okay.
• be able to afford two positions.
• Right where we're at right now is the one position for the program is a general fund position.
• Right where we're at right now is the one position for the program is a general fund position.
• > position.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Pettigrew, the positions that we hired in 2024 were funded, but not every position is
• We have many positions, and there were several positions that were unfunded and are currently unfunded
• have all five classified positions.
• Our unfunded positions became part of the GovEx. Positions.
• Yes, we had unfunded positions, and so we cannot hire those positions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• to uphold the position of the Senate. to uphold the position of the Senate.
• to uphold the Senate position.
• The Senate position needs to be back. The Senate position needs to be fought for.
• accord with the position of the Senate. accord with the position of the Senate.
• . position. position.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• money back in for our positions for 36.5 positions.
• > 36.5 back in for our positions for 36.5 back in for our positions for 36.5 positions<00:55:04.160
• those positions to fill other positions those positions to fill other positions that<00:58:47.440
• He's taken positions and he put the money back in for our positions.
• So these are new positions, the six positions?” “Yes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with their positions. associated with their positions.
• Three positions that we're asking to be exempt from civil service are critical and core positions for
• that qualifies me for for my position that qualifies me for for my position none<00:09:32.480>
• <00:18:12.000> that reclassification for the position that reclassification for the position
• My position on... if you can state your name and your position, please. >> Sure.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The positions are not optional.
• and and 15 part-time sworn positions and and 15 part-time sworn<01:15:24.760> positions.
• due to dragging positions and vacancies. due to dragging positions and vacancies.
• them to this position not this position. them to this position not this position. this<01:55:28.800
• Unfund position<03:48:31.199> number position number position number 18241<03:48:33.760> and

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:53.680> by<00:08:54.240> 50% Senate position by 50% Senate position by 50% um
• <00:09:23.839> um Senate maintains the Senate position um Senate maintains the Senate position
• > consolidating<00:09:47.720> the Senate position of consolidating the Senate position
• :35.919> of Senate maintains its position of Senate maintains its position of including<00:21:
• The Senate maintains its position.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• temporary full-time positions.
• So, going backwards, you actually added positions? No, we're actually reclassing positions.
• <00:32:11.799> added<00:32:12.159> positions backwards you actually added positions
• <00:51:26.599> where so 004 is is where the position where so 004 is is where the position
• You'll notice the positions here. So if you look at the bottom, you'll see position count increase.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:54.720> to are seeking a full-time position to are seeking a full-time position to
• In paragraph B, this position would In paragraph B, this position would allow<00:03:17.680> us
• <00:04:01.200> was position to note that this position was position to note that this position
• <00:11:05.120> Without position is intended to address.
• Without position is intended to address.

Bills: SF0014, SF0053

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, amateur status, high school athletics, student eligibility, sports regulation, monetary compensation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this a vacant position or not? It is not a vacant position.
• The first one is the one with the position, and it is the secretary 2 position.
• Secretary 2 position.
• <03:33:24.279> so position or other funded positions so position or other funded positions
• <04:02:13.159> to position so that position needs to position so that position needs to actually

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I always want to just take an opportunity to first some positives and then a thank you to the General
• that we had and I'd a lot of positives that we had and I'd cite<00:05:07.480> a<00:05:07.520>
• Retired member in the participating employer and position must meet the statutory requirements.
• Retired member in the participating employer and position must meet the statutory requirements.
• > deputies,<00:29:18.080> the positions, the sheriff's deputies, the positions, the sheriff's

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:54 Pension System Update 00:03:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date. A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs. Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• scope with recruiting certain positions scope with recruiting certain positions this<00:12:43.519
• Okay, and we've been having a difficult time filling the position, so we would like to have all positions
• What position is that? It is, I believe, a secretary position.
• No further questions. time filling the position um so we would time filling the position um so we would
• is that it is I believe a position is that it is I believe a secretary<00:44:25.200> position

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is 14.53% of its position count.
• is 14.53% of its position count.
• Our job announcements are tailored toward a specific position, including position-specific job duties
• those positions.
• on<03:11:10.920> top positions uh additional positions on top positions uh additional

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were reduced by nine positions.
• So going from the 86 proposed positions for the 2025 session to 77 proposed positions for this upcoming
• Right now we have eight current FTE positions open.
• specialist position.
• So that's why I've proposed adding that position.

Keywords: 908, all