Transcript Highlights:

• , or 25% of the project cost, and give more flexibility to the Salvation Army to retrofit an existing
• This bill would provide a modest level of state funding of $2 million, or 25% of the total project cost
• > the<00:01:29.280> project<00:01:29.640> cost or $2 million or 25% of the project
• cost or $2 million or 25% of the project cost and<00:01:30.880> give<00:01:31.119> more
• $2 million or 25% of the total<00:02:33.519> project<00:02:33.959> cost<00:02:34.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be for 2023-25, Chair Beckett. Thank you.
• So that was projected out at $416 million.
• And then projecting, as a result, projecting potential revenue collections becomes As a result, projecting
• And I will also point out that you see that that's 25%, you know, 25-plus years later, we hit that other
• 25% of the oil.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• matter,<00:25:39.840> people<00:25:40.080> who<00:25:40.320> deserve<00:25:
• Upwards<00:25:41.679> of<00:25:41.919> 15,000<00:25:43.000> people,<00:25:44.000
• , people like Wana,<00:25:45.120> who<00:25:45.360> lives<00:25:45.520> in<00:25
• <01:25:08.400> We<01:25:08.719> did<01:25:08.880> that<01:25:09.120> in
• 25:16.159> every<01:25:16.560> person<01:25:17.440> is<01:25:17.760> entitled

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > that real project impacts for projects that real project impacts for projects that we<01:14:
• :47.119> thank<01:25:47.280> you<01:25:48.280> thank<01:25:48.560> you<01
• :25:49.560> uh<01:25:49.719> next<01:25:49.920> up removed thank you thank you uh
• ><01:25:50.760> Albert<01:25:51.159> on<01:25:51.320> zoom<01:25:51.719> in
• <01:25:58.840> I<01:25:59.000> assume<01:25:59.320> you<01:25:59.440> guys

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > as<00:25:18.520> well<00:25:19.080> and<00:25:19.240> thank<00:25:19.399
• > to<00:25:22.520> talk<00:25:22.679> to<00:25:22.840> you<00:25:23.039><
• <00:25:49.960> have<00:25:50.080> to<00:25:50.240> go<00:25:50.399> through
• ><00:25:54.039> is<00:25:54.399> uh<00:25:54.559> what<00:25:54.720> they
• <00:25:55.360> be<00:25:55.520> called<00:25:56.159> and<00:25:56.640> what

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 46, which would allow lottery winners of $1 million or more to remain anonymous. After brief discussion and a motion with a second, the committee approved the bill unanimously and sent it to the House floor. Members then heard House Bill 54, a workforce and education measure aimed at aligning dual credit and project-based learning with licensed construction trades and other high-demand careers. The sponsor and witness said the bill is intended to help students meet both education and on-the-job training requirements, address labor shortages, and speed entry into the trades. Several members raised concerns about possible abuse of internships, the need for input from unions and other trade groups, and the amount of authority left to the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to write regulations. The sponsor said the bill does not replace current hands-on training requirements and expressed willingness to continue discussions. The committee passed the bill, with some members explaining their votes as conditional or in hopes of further amendments. The committee also approved House Bill 261, which would let retired CPAs provide certain uncompensated services, such as nonprofit work, while retaining their CPA designation, and would create a retirement-based CPE waiver for those limited services. A question from Representative Donworth focused on how retired CPAs would disclose their status to nonprofits; the board representative said retired status is noted in board records, but there is currently no separate requirement governing use of the CPA designation. The bill passed. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 262, which would remove restrictions on small CPA firm names after an owner dies or retires. The sponsor said Kentucky is an outlier because current law requires the remaining owner to change the firm name. The bill passed unanimously. After that, the chair turned the gavel over to the vice chair and began presenting House Bill 306, which would change engineering education requirements for licensure, especially to help Eastern Kentucky University fire protection engineering technology graduates qualify for licensure in Kentucky rather than leaving the state. The sponsor and witnesses explained that the bill would not change the rest of the PE licensure pathway, only the education component, and said most other states already allow this route. Members noted that engineers may have concerns and encouraged continued discussions before the bill advances further.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:16.960> Do<00:25:17.200> you<00:25:17.360> know<00:25:17.520> what
• differs for a lot of the >> Some it differs for a lot of the projects.<00:25:21.440> Um
• <00:25:21.760> in<00:25:22.000> some<00:25:22.240> cases projects.
• Um in some cases um<00:25:24.320> the<00:25:24.640> projects<00:25:26.080> were
• um the projects were um the projects were um<00:25:28.880> held<00:25:29.200> up<00:25:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3322 relating to law enforcement. Chairs recommended adopting amendments from the Department of Law Enforcement that would exempt plainclothes officers from identification requirements, limit conspicuous agency markings to vehicles used in immigration enforcement operations, and allow a plainclothes officer to wear a mask when within eyesight of an unmasked officer from the same agency while performing official duties. Although there was an initial quorum issue, both committees ultimately voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation and advance the bill as amended. The next major item was SB 3333 relating to property tax treatment for certain housing. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from a Maui County real property tax board member and a representative of Nali Maui, who described homeowners in affordable housing being taxed at much higher rates when exemptions were missed or when resale restrictions kept values below market. The committees recommended passing the bill with amendments, including a deferred effective date of April 19, 2042, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also heard SB 2422 on a pro housing score program for counties, SB 2981 on eliminating minimum off-street parking requirements in urban districts, SB 2007 on county land use boundary amendments, SB 3028 on restructuring the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system, SB 3033 on public petitions for review of beach structures, and SB 2434 on electric vehicle infrastructure. SB 2422 drew support with a request for flexibility and an appeals process for counties facing extraordinary circumstances; the chair’s recommendation was to pass it with amendments and note a $200,000 implementation study request, which was adopted. SB 2981 received strong support from housing and transportation advocates and was advanced unamended, while SB 2007 drew opposition from the Sierra Club and discussion about the Land Use Commission’s limited enforcement tools and the number of approved but unbuilt units. SB 3028 received mixed testimony, with support for the marginal-rate change but concerns about earmarking and blanks in the bill, and SB 3033 was supported as an early-warning mechanism for erosion-threatened coastal structures, though OPSD said it should not be the regulatory decision-maker. SB 2434 prompted concern about whether utility capacity can support EV infrastructure goals, with the chair citing a recent report suggesting transmission and distribution constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:25:40.000> a<00:25:40.200> large<00:25:40.480> Chun<00:25:40.720> of
• c><00:25:40.799> It<00:25:40.960> Go<00:25:41.120> chunk<00:25:41.360> of
• it goes<00:25:41.679> to<00:25:41.760> New<00:25:41.919> Hampshire<00:25:42.240
• :45.559> turn<00:25:45.760> and<00:25:45.840> it<00:25:45.960> goes<00:25
• that<00:25:50.120> was<00:25:50.279> formed<00:25:50.799> to<00:25:51.440><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Taylor Yarkosky, District 25, which is Lake County.
• During any given year, we receive between 25 and 35 projects through one of the Given year, we receive
• between 25 and 35 projects through one of these forms.
• So as I was saying, we have 25 to 35 projects per year that come through these avenues.
• It's within those policy areas that the project work is completed.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive annual overviews of its oversight responsibilities and the work of the Auditor General and OPAGA. Committee staff reviewed the committee’s authority over state and local governments, enforcement of audit-report filing requirements, repeated audit findings, Transparency Florida reporting, and lobbying compensation audits. Auditor General Cheryl Norman described her office’s independence, audit standards, quality control, and major audit areas, including the state’s annual financial and single audits, school district and university audits, operational and performance audits, and attestation work. She also noted staffing shortages, recruitment efforts, and a request for carry-forward funds to study salaries. Members asked about whether audits can quantify recoverable dollars, how school district spending comparisons are handled, and how to raise concerns about DCF-related audits or a local city audit that has been pending for years. Norman said her office can quantify findings when possible, sometimes compares costs across districts in operational audits, and that members can bring specific concerns to the appropriate deputy auditor general or the committee. She also explained that citizen or local-government audit requests may require payment of audit costs. OPAGA Coordinator Kara Collins-Gomez outlined OPAGA’s role as a legislative research unit that conducts studies directed by law, the presiding officers, or the committee, and described its policy areas, methodologies, contract monitoring, and recurring statutory reports. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy explained how to read operational audit reports, including findings, criteria, condition, cause, effect, recommendations, and management responses. Deputy Auditor General Greg Senators explained financial audit reports, including audit opinions, required supplementary information, internal control and compliance findings, federal program compliance, and management letters. The meeting concluded with thanks to the presenters and a motion to adjourn, which passed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• 25:23.840> as<00:25:24.000> the<00:25:24.120> length<00:25:24.360> of<00:
• elsewhere<00:25:27.840> to<00:25:28.039> the<00:25:28.480> us<00:25:29.480>
• 25:31.360> that<00:25:31.600> in<00:25:31.799> 2022<00:25:32.799> it<00:25
• c> ever<00:25:41.640> seen<00:25:42.640> uh<00:25:42.840> in<00:25:43.039>
• :25:41.000> and<02:25:41.160> as<02:25:41.279> you<02:25:41.479> see<02:25

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:02.919> disposal<00:25:03.520> of<00:25:03.640> floral<00:25:04.240><
• <00:25:40.480> law<00:25:40.760> provides<00:25:41.120> for<00:25:41.360>
• for that so I<00:25:42.080> ask<00:25:42.240> you<00:25:42.360> to<00:25:42.480
• > vote<00:25:42.760> against<00:25:43.240> HF<00:25:44.240> 81<00:25:44.880
• all<00:25:47.960> right<00:25:48.360> thank<00:25:48.520> you<00:25:48.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a series of projects that are in current progress.
• Then you'll see a series of projects. These tend to be kind of special projects.
• A couple of projects, including doing a deep dive kind of postmortem on the Mascaro school district project
• How have we... progressed on that project. Mr.
• Chairman, say 25 vacant positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, one<00:25:07.360> one<00:25:07.600> thing,<00:25:07.840> if<00:25:08.000>
• There<00:25:18.640> were<00:25:18.880> eight<00:25:19.120> topics<00:25:19.600><
• <00:25:22.240> This<00:25:22.400> is<00:25:22.559> not<00:25:22.720> one<
• c><00:25:24.000> this<00:25:24.159> is<00:25:24.320> a<00:25:24.480> very
• <00:25:28.480> But<00:25:29.039> I<00:25:29.360> I<00:25:29.760> find

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a board perspective<00:25:02.559> one<00:25:02.720> of<00:25:02.799> the<00:25:
• So the<01:25:05.040> the HVCB<01:25:09.040> in<01:25:09.280> the<01:25:09.440>
• > past<01:25:10.000> has<01:25:10.800> has<01:25:12.000> there<01:25:12.239>
• :25:20.239> lags<01:25:20.639> in<01:25:20.800> payment<01:25:21.199> before.
• And so as we're, you<01:25:47.840> know,<01:25:48.080> as<01:25:48.239> a<01:25:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate tourism briefing focused on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract oversight, destination management action plans (DMAPs), and the impact of recent legislation and audit findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson said she accepted the temporary role to help address agency challenges, emphasized rebuilding trust, and said HTA is reviewing the state auditor’s concerns and posting its response publicly. She also described HTA’s mission and organizational structure under SB 1571, including reporting lines to the governor, the director, and the board, and outlined staff additions in finance, brand marketing, destination stewardship, and planning. A major topic was the permanent CEO search. HTA board chair Tata Po said the goal is to select a CEO within about four months, with the search firm still engaged, the position description being revised to reflect the new law and compensation changes, and approvals still needed before the job can be reposted. Members expressed frustration that the recruitment had been paused and questioned whether HTA has sufficient qualified leadership and staff during the interim period. Board leadership said the current staff is limited by vacancies but that they have confidence in the team and will add resources if needed. Members also pressed HTA on the role of the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana contract, asking how staff oversight works and whether staff members were effectively wearing multiple hats. HTA explained that the stewardship team provides direction to contractors and that the work is divided among specialists overseeing projects such as tour guide certification, technical assistance, community tourism collaboratives, and a destination app. The committee also discussed whether the board can still vote on budgets under the new structure; the Attorney General’s office was cited as confirming that the board may advise, but the department director retains budget authority. HTA said it is working with CNHA and HVCB on contract and budget timing, with a goal of shifting to a calendar-year process so recipients know funding earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><01:25:04.159> uh,<01:25:04.400> you<01:25:04.480> know,<01:25:04.639> more<
• <01:25:06.239> Um<01:25:07.120> we<01:25:07.360> will<01:25:07.600> do
• Repres um<01:25:14.480> his<01:25:14.719> motion<01:25:15.199> that<01:25:15.600
• >> The<01:25:28.239> the<01:25:28.560> motion<01:25:28.960> prevails<01:25
• <01:25:38.400> So<01:25:38.560> I<01:25:38.800> will<01:25:38.960> let

Bills: HF3423, HF2354, HF3634

Keywords: healthcare, provider enrollment, medical assistance, legislation, state funds, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, service verification, Medicaid, human services, electronic documentation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• An additional 40,000 acres are projected to be pulled out this year alone.
• Current law allows wine labeled American to contain up to 25% foreign bulk wine.
• Say they import 25% from Canada, perfectly fine and legal under federal...
• They import 25% from Canada, perfectly fine and legal under federal law.
• , even on projects where the work is complete and accepted.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with extensive testimony and debate. AB 2507 by Assembly Member Wynn would strengthen state consultation with federally recognized tribal governments by requiring clearer tribal liaison roles, a tribal advisory committee, and more consistent early engagement across agencies. Support came from Wilton Rancheria and the California Tribal Business Alliance, with members praising the bill as improving respect, coordination, and outcomes for tribes. AB 2024, also by Wynn, would require the Outdoor Advertising Act permitting process to reach a determination on submitted applications, aimed at reducing delays and uncertainty; it drew support from the outdoor advertising industry and the California Association of Realtors, with members describing it as a technical cleanup measure. Both bills were later moved to Appropriations, along with a consent calendar of several other measures. AB 1585 by Assembly Member Connolly would require wine labeled as American to be made from 100% American-grown grapes, aligning the federal “American” label with California’s existing 100% state-origin standard. Supporters, including California wine grape growers, family wineries, consumer advocates, and several local agricultural groups, argued the bill would improve truth in labeling and help struggling growers. Opponents from major wine companies and industry groups warned it could reduce flexibility, create labeling complications, and limit the ability to list varietal and vintage on some blended wines. After a lengthy debate over labeling standards, consumer expectations, and impacts on interstate wine sales, the committee passed the bill to Appropriations. AB 1605 by Assembly Member Ransom would allow judges to place a no-alcohol-sales notice on the licenses of repeat or serious DUI offenders, restricting their ability to purchase alcohol as a preventive measure. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, the Safe California Roads Coalition, and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would give courts another tool to reduce recidivism and save lives. Retailers and restaurant representatives raised concerns about implementation and ID-checking burdens, but the bill was amended and passed to Appropriations. AB 2211 by Assembly Member Hoover, which would allow craft distillers to operate a second tasting room, also advanced with support from the California Distillers Association. Finally, AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson, presented by Assembly Member Solache, would require anti-hate speech training for local and state elected officials; it drew strong opposition over First Amendment and definitional concerns, and members pressed for a clearer definition of hate speech before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• :16.000> you<00:25:16.320> to<00:25:16.640> the<00:25:16.880> Kentucky<00
• ,<00:25:18.559> especially<00:25:19.279> Debbie,<00:25:19.760> Ray,<00:25:20.000
• :21.120> for<00:25:21.919> um<00:25:22.320> providing<00:25:22.799> lunch
• > and<00:25:34.720> being<00:25:34.960> so<00:25:35.120> kind<00:25:35.279
• > We<00:25:35.840> want<00:25:35.919> to<00:25:36.080> just<00:25:36.240>

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:18 Report of Committees 05:09 Orders of the Day 06:40 HB 169 06:50 HB 393 13:08 HB 194 15:43 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 24:38 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 35:23 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 38:09 ConC/Rules Report 40:57 Floor Amendments 42:04 Adjournment 42:20, 958, all

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded 95 members present, approved the prior journal, and received notice from the Senate that Senate Bills 1 and 3 had passed and were sent over for concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on housing, local purchasing, health care credentials, postsecondary education, school bus safety, special license plates, milk transportation, veteran PTSD treatment, and the Kentucky Fire Commission, with several reported with committee substitutes. The chamber then considered House Bill 169 on coverage for feeding or eating disorders. The sponsor explained that the bill addresses insurance coverage decisions tied to body mass index by requiring BMI to be considered alongside another factor, such as depression, anxiety, or family circumstances, and said the committee substitute clarified that one factor alone could not control the decision. The substitute was adopted, and the bill passed 95-0. House Bill 393, which updates the Alzheimer’s and related dementias council, adds a caregiver seat, and requires an annual action project including an early detection toolkit, also passed unanimously, 95-0. House Bill 194, relating to cigar bars, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said the bill does not repeal existing smoke-free ordinances, but creates a narrow exemption for tightly defined cigar bars, with a 25% gross revenue threshold from cigar-related sales, age restrictions, local permitting options, smoke containment requirements, and signage. Members asked about local authority, other tobacco products, and whether the bill could affect smoking bans; supporters emphasized the narrow scope and personal choice, while opponents said their districts’ smoking bans and constituent concerns led them to vote no. The bill passed 69-24. The House then applied the clincher and moved to announcements, including committee schedule notices, a Small Business Day event, receptions, and citations recognizing National School Counseling Week, the KBLC Black History Celebration, and memorializing Brandy Engles.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:15.760> I<00:25:16.000> mean,<00:25:16.240> we<00:25:16.480> do
• We<00:25:21.919> need<00:25:22.080> a<00:25:22.400> fiscal<00:25:22.799> note
• :25:34.480> people's<00:25:34.880> motives<00:25:35.279> or<00:25:35.360> or<
• <00:25:42.240> That's<00:25:42.400> a<00:25:42.640> little<00:25:42.720>
• a<00:25:53.360> sudden<00:25:53.600> how<00:25:53.840> much<00:25:54.080>

Bills: HF3919, HF3791, HF1781, HF3908, HF4233, HF3966, HF3430

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, security, protective services, state officials, Capitol complex, state patrol, public safety, legislative protection, threat assessment, transportation, electronic attestation, traffic signals, accident reporting, legislative routes, agricultural aircraft

Transcript Highlights:

• in those bills<00:25:00.799> who<00:25:01.039> are<00:25:01.279> allowed<00:25:
• :25:04.000> are<00:25:04.320> because<00:25:04.640> they<00:25:04.880> have
• a need<00:25:05.360> for<00:25:05.520> them<00:25:06.080> for<00:25:06.400>
• I<00:25:09.360> often<00:25:09.760> use<00:25:09.919> my<00:25:10.240> phone,
• 25:54.799> prefer<00:25:55.039> to<00:25:55.200> do<00:25:55.279> it<00:25

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• available on Zoom chair<00:25:20.080> okay<00:25:20.679> uh<00:25:20.799> that's
• ><00:25:20.960> everyone<00:25:21.200> who<00:25:21.279> had chair okay uh that's
• c> to<00:25:21.880> testify<00:25:22.240> is<00:25:22.399> there<00:25:22.559
• <00:25:26.840> have<00:25:27.039> medson<00:25:27.600> seeing afternoon you
• 00:25:29.039> comments<00:25:29.399> but<00:25:29.480> they<00:25:29.559> didn't

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

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Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 Kentucky’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative – Domestic Violence: 00:02:00 Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act: 00:46:41, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary approved the minutes from its July 24, 2025 meeting and heard an announcement about a lunch sponsored by the Kentucky State Buildings and Trades Council on forming a blue-collar caucus. The main presentation came from the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center on the Kentucky Justice Reinvestment Initiative’s domestic violence work, which was described as a multi-year effort begun in 2023 to analyze data and interview stakeholders across the state. Presenters reported that domestic violence is widespread in Kentucky, with about half of adults experiencing some form of violence or stalking in their lifetimes, and that an average of about 22,000 IPV incidents occurred annually from 2018 to 2022. They said domestic violence is a major driver of violent crime, accounting for about 48% of person offenses over a six-year period, and is linked to significant shares of homicides, sex crimes, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and simple assault. They also said reported incidents and arrests have risen in recent years, that protective-order violations and convictions have increased, and that Kentucky ranks near the bottom among surrounding states in the share of victim compensation for domestic-violence-related claims. Law enforcement survey results showed strong adoption of model policies and guidance, but limited use of screening tools for serious injury risk. The presenters emphasized that domestic violence also places heavy demands on law enforcement, courts, and corrections, citing roughly 30,000 law-enforcement responses in 2022 and noting that more than a third of people entering DOC custody and nearly a third under supervision had DV-related histories. They said a small group of repeat offenders drives ongoing harm and that targeted interventions could reduce recidivism. They highlighted a North Carolina example in which focused intervention reduced IPV-related homicides and calls for service, and they referenced Kentucky’s 2020 assessment recommendations on training, language access, protective-order service, and coordination with victim services and batterer intervention providers. They estimated that a 25% reduction in reported DV incidents could prevent nearly 5,000 victimizations annually and reduce DOC commitments and costs substantially. Committee members asked about the relationship between civil domestic violence petitions and companion criminal cases, and the presenters said they would check whether the data could answer that question. Members also discussed recent Kentucky legislation, including Senate Bill 319 on crime victims compensation and House Bill 38, which made a third domestic violence offense a Class D felony. Several members thanked the presenters and advocates, and one member raised concerns about service of process and recent violent incidents involving domestic violence-related warrants, prompting discussion of dedicated service units in larger jurisdictions and the resource limits faced by smaller agencies.