Video & Transcript Research : 'fraud'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 6
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 00:44:55.920>
on Representative Anderson's 100% tax on Representative Anderson's 100% tax on fraud - 57.839>
changes <00:44:58.160>to <00:44:58.319>the <00:44:58.480>Homestead fraud - , um, changes to the Homestead fraud, um, changes to the Homestead Resort,<00:45:00.079>
um, <00 - Uh, the Norris bill on Medicaid fraud control unit. going into the APCD, the allpayer claims going into
- Uh the Norris bill on Medicaid<00:57:10.559>
fraud <00:57:10.960>control <00:57:11.440><
Summary:
The House took up House File 719, the capital investment/bonding bill, and members spent much of the debate praising committee staff and describing the bill as a bipartisan product shaped by statewide bonding tours and negotiations. Supporters highlighted major infrastructure and public facility projects, including water and sewer work, transportation projects, housing, natural resources, and specific local needs such as Grand Marais, the Manomomen County hospital/nursing home, and airport tower funding. Several members emphasized that the bill was a “Team House” effort and argued that infrastructure funding should not be treated as partisan.
During debate, members also focused on the bill’s water infrastructure investments and the need for broader, dedicated funding to address lead pipes, PFAS contamination, and rising wastewater costs. Representative Lee noted that more than $400 million in the package went to water infrastructure, while other speakers pointed to transportation funding and a one-time reduction in tab fees as important elements of the bill. Representative Franson and others urged support, saying the package reflected statewide needs and was a down payment on larger asset-preservation needs.
The House adopted three technical amendments to House File 719, then gave the bill its third reading. After floor discussion, Representative Niska moved to lay House File 719 on the table, and the motion prevailed, tabling the bill. The chamber then moved on to House File 2484, the cash portion of the infrastructure package, where members again described the measure as a small but important funding bill and discussed a Lower Sioux Indian Community Dakota language item and the limited size of each caucus’s cash allocation.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 107 May 1st, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, when we talked about that, we went in and we said, "Well, there's $285 million worth of fraud
- here, another $40 million worth of fraud here, another $40 million worth of fraud here that were found
- Solution: make it illegal to go look for fraud.
- Even though one department there was identified $285 million worth of fraud and then another 40 million
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House judiciary committee approves HF20 2/13/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Given the breadth of current federal and state investigations into the rampant fraud that has pervaded
- Given the breadth of current federal and state investigations into the rampant fraud that has pervaded
- Given the breadth of current federal and state investigations into the rampant fraud that has pervaded
- trying to influence the Attorney General's office, or whether we're talking about investigations into fraud
- trying to influence the Attorney General's office, or whether we're talking about investigations into fraud
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- If there is any fraud or abuse, we then will report that to the appropriate authorities.
- Have we seen any fraud? When you do the compliance checks, are we seeing any cases of fraud? Yes.
- question that I raised earlier was specifically what has been the impact of the guardianship, abuse, fraud
- And I also think that in instances where there has been fraud or abuse or seeing one of the wards that
Bills:
SB 1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs.
Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue.
The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Unfortunately, we know there's a lot of daycare fraud out there.
- Four people committing child care fraud that were also illegal immigrants, bilking the state of California
- Fraud takes money away from the very communities that the programs are intended to serve.
- So when we bring up other topics that aren't related to this legislation, I think fraud was brought up
- I think the President just pardoned individuals who've committed fraud for many, many people.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Elect Committee Meeting - 2026-03-11
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- Walz administration that played a role in this because they wanted to be able to turn the page on fraud
- They wanted to be able to shift the narrative away from fraud, $9 billion stolen from taxpayers that
- narrative that some of our colleagues are talking about instead of, you know, getting to the root of fraud
- to<01:36:58.320>
the <01:36:58.480>root <01:36:58.719>of <01:36:58.880>fraud - you know, getting to the root of fraud. you know, getting to the root of fraud.
Keywords:
municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF2431 5/13/25
Transcript Highlights:
- advantage of this program in particular advantage of this program in particular for<01:01:21.680>
fraud - 24.079>
a <01:01:24.880>area <01:01:25.200>of <01:01:25.440>concern for fraud - And this is a area of concern for fraud. And this is a area of concern for<01:01:25.920>
me. - And then they also do use that to target some of their fraud investigation, since they're able to see
- And then they also do use that to target some of their fraud investigation, since they're able to see
Summary:
The Higher Education Conference Committee reviewed differences among the Governor’s, House, and Senate proposals for state grant parameter changes and their effects on state grant spending, North Star Promise spending, and average student awards. Nonpartisan staff explained that the proposals use different combinations of parameter changes, with the Governor’s and Senate plans modeled to avoid or minimize rationing, while the House plan would require rationing to balance the program. Staff reported projected biennium balances of a positive $29.836 million for the Governor’s proposal, a negative $60.758 million for the House proposal without rationing, a positive $994,000 for the House proposal with rationing, and a positive $3.623 million for the Senate proposal; North Star Promise balances also varied, with the Senate showing a positive balance and the Governor and House with rationing showing negative balances. Staff also said the Senate proposal would extend availability of the state grant appropriation and suspend surplus procedures through fiscal year 2029, allowing the balance to carry forward.
The committee then focused on the House-only tuition and fee cap provision, which would limit the tuition recognized for state grant purposes for four-year programs to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities level, with 1% annual increases in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. House members said the cap was intended to address rising tuition, especially at the University of Minnesota, and to produce savings in the state grant program. The governor’s office confirmed the provision was not included in the Governor’s bill. Representatives from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Private College Council opposed the cap, arguing it would reduce awards for low-income students and shift costs to students rather than address underlying tuition pressures; they also said it could discourage enrollment at higher-cost institutions. Supporters from Minnesota State argued the cap would improve fairness because students at lower-tuition institutions are effectively capped lower, while students at more expensive institutions receive larger awards, and they said the legislature should intervene in a variable that has grown substantially over time.
Committee members questioned how the cap would work and whether it was tied to the Twin Cities campus rate. Testifiers clarified that the state grant formula is tied to the University of Minnesota level, but because Minnesota State institutions are below that level, the cap effectively limits their students to their own lower tuition while allowing higher awards at the University of Minnesota and private colleges. No formal vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated the committee would continue with item-by-item review of the remaining parameter changes and hear additional testimony from agencies and institutions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- end of the day, I do think that this training resource could be a powerful measure to prevent wage fraud
- end of the day, I do think that this training resource could be a powerful measure to prevent wage fraud
- end of the day, I do think that this training resource could be a powerful measure to prevent wage fraud
- end of the day, I do think that this training resource could be a powerful measure to prevent wage fraud
- end of the day, I do think that this training resource could be a powerful measure to prevent wage fraud
Keywords:
HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Health Services (3-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The examples you gave frankly sound like fraud.
- The examples you gave frankly sound like fraud.
- The examples you gave frankly sound like fraud.
- <01:40:12.360>
And <01:40:12.600>if gave frankly sound like fraud. - And if gave frankly sound like fraud.
Keywords:
00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call
00:01:10 Discussion of 25RS HB 414
00:44:26 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 414
00:50:25 Discussion of 25RS SB 27
00:53:44 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 27
00:55:49 Discussion of 25RS SB 93
00:57:57 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 93
00:59:29 Discussion of 25RS SB 132
01:37:39 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 132
01:40:55 Discussion of 25RS SB 153
01:42:05 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 153
01:43:46 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 414 with a committee substitute. The bill, described by sponsors and supporters as a continuation of prior maternal-health legislation, was framed as a clarification of medical standards and an effort to improve care for women and families facing complicated pregnancies. Representative Tate, Representative Nemes, Adair Wushar of Kentucky Right to Life, and Dr. Jeff Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky all testified in support, saying the substitute was developed collaboratively to reduce confusion in the law and help physicians provide evidence-based care without fear of criminal penalties.
Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to define what is not an abortion under Kentucky law and to spell out medical treatments for conditions such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and fetal demise. Dr. Goldberg said current statutes contain significant ambiguity and have created unintended barriers to treating pregnancy complications, including emergency situations, and he gave examples of patients who were delayed or harmed because physicians were uncertain about what the law allowed. Representative Nemes said the measure was the result of unusual cooperation among groups that do not usually agree and described it as a first step toward fixing a discrete problem.
Representative Wilner raised concerns that the language could effectively require a patient to be in severe distress before treatment is clearly permitted and that it was too prescriptive about how physicians should manage miscarriages. In response, Dr. Goldberg and the sponsors said the substitute was not perfect, was meant as a short-term solution, and was designed to give doctors more confidence in providing routine, medically necessary care for pregnancy complications. The transcript indicates the committee substitute was adopted, but no final vote on the bill itself is shown in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/6/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- we need to make sure that we're getting this right, and as we've had lots of discussions on waste, fraud
- we need to make sure that we're getting this right, and as we've had lots of discussions on waste, fraud
- committees yesterday, in this committee, because we don't hear bills in that other committee, and the fraud
- Medicaid provider fraud is a real thing. We're probably going to talk about it.
- Medicaid provider fraud is a real thing. We're probably going to talk about it.
Keywords:
nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, workforce development, job training, economic stability, low-income, career pathways, education funding, Summit Academy, employment, STEM programming, GED preparation, Neighborhood Development Center, NDC, small business, entrepreneurship, business training
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And so if that's not an invitation to fraud, I don't know what is.
- And so if that's not an invitation to fraud, I don't know what is.
- And so if that's not an invitation to fraud, I don't know what is.
- And so if that's not an invitation to fraud, I don't know what is.
- And so if that's not an invitation to fraud, I don't know what is.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- The only way we can go after a consumer is if there's fraud involved, and because we have the attorney
- The only way we can go after a consumer is if there's fraud involved, and because we have the attorney
- The only way we can go after a consumer is if there's fraud involved, and because we have the attorney
- >
there's we can go after a consumer is if there's we can go after a consumer is if there's fraud - involved and because we have the fraud involved and because we have the attorney<00:51:18.319>
sign
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted.
Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition.
Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators.
Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE Jan 15th, 2026
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- Fraud, deception, and misrepresentation is another big one, but I would say misappropriation, drug abuse
Summary:
The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, noting it regulates about 72,000 nurses and oversees RNs, LPNs, advanced practice nurses, medication assistants, and a new dialysis patient care technician registry. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint types, and the board’s finances; the board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but has vacancy issues in some areas, complaints commonly involve criminal backgrounds, fraud, misrepresentation, drug abuse, and misappropriation, and the average case length is 191 days though some cases remain open much longer while awaiting criminal adjudication. Officials also said they are working on efficiency improvements and have added help positions with Department of Health support. The report was accepted without objection.
The committee then reviewed the soil classifier program, now housed under the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. Agriculture Department officials explained that soil classifiers are a small, specialized profession requiring a four-year degree with coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences, and that the state currently has 29 registered soil classifiers. Members asked whether that number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the program’s finances are used. Officials said the profession is mainly used for septic system design, wetland determinations, nutrient management, and other soil-related work, and that current staffing appears adequate. They also noted the program has about $20,000 in reserves, above the statutory three-year balance, and discussed possible uses such as training, curriculum upgrades, and expanded administrative funding. The report was also accepted without objection, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.
AZ
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-03-04 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, do not be afraid to shake the tree of government and pull out the weeds of waste, fraud, or
Summary:
The Florida House convened for the opening day of the 2025 regular session with prayer, moments of silence honoring Senator Geraldine Thompson and Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a quorum call, presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. The chamber also recognized Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz as law enforcement officer of the day and approved the journal. Numerous guests were introduced, including members of the Florida Cabinet, Supreme Court justices, former House speakers, former legislative leaders, former members, and Speaker Perez’s family.
Speaker Daniel Perez delivered the opening address, emphasizing that the session should focus on meaningful reforms, strong committee work, and bipartisan engagement rather than personal priorities. He highlighted property insurance as a major issue and said the insurance and banking subcommittee would investigate possible misconduct by insurers, including the use of subpoenas, sworn testimony, and outside experts. He also pointed to housing, health care, public education, public safety, government accountability, and budget savings as key areas for legislative work.
The House received a letter from Governor Ron DeSantis requesting a joint session on March 4 at 11 a.m. for the State of the State address. The chamber adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1294 to authorize the joint session, and the related House concurrent resolution was laid on the table. The House then adjourned to conduct committee and other business and to reconvene for the joint session at 11 a.m. or upon call of the Speaker.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-03-04 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, do not be afraid to shake the tree of government and pull out the weeds of waste, fraud, or
Summary:
The Florida House convened for the opening day of the 2025 regular session with prayer, moments of silence honoring Senator Geraldine Thompson and Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem. The chamber recognized Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz as law enforcement officer of the day, approved the journal, and welcomed state officials, Supreme Court justices, former House speakers, former legislative leaders, former members, and Speaker Perez’s family.
Speaker Daniel Perez delivered opening remarks focused on making the House a more engaged and dynamic chamber, emphasizing substantive reforms, strong committee work, and accountability in government. He highlighted property insurance as a major issue, noting concerns about undisclosed reports and directing the insurance and banking subcommittee to hold hearings with subpoena power and outside experts. He also called for attention to housing, health care, public education, public safety, and budget savings, urging members to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse and to find recurring spending cuts.
The House received Governor Ron DeSantis’s request to address a joint session on March 4 at 11 a.m. and adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1294, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session for that purpose. Upon adoption of the resolution, HCR 1289 was laid on the table. The House then adjourned to allow for committee and subcommittee meetings and to reconvene for the joint session later that morning.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is about punishing people who speak out about waste, fraud, and abuse.
- So if you want to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and if you actually want to put our country
- This is about punishing people who speak out about waste, fraud, and abuse.
- So if you want to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and if you actually want to put our country
- This is about punishing people who speak out about waste, fraud, and abuse.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- They they came in here and basically committed fraud.
- They they came in here and basically committed fraud.
- They they came in here and basically committed fraud.
- They they came in here and basically committed fraud.
- <00:48:30.720>
It's and basically committed fraud. It's and basically committed fraud.
Summary:
The committee heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 433, which would restrict the carrying of “bladed weapons” and related items. The Office of the Public Defender, Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Knife Rights, and many individual testifiers opposed the bill, arguing it is overbroad, vague, and likely unconstitutional. Common concerns were that the term “bladed weapon” could sweep in ordinary tools such as pocketknives, Leathermans, multi-tools, fishing and camping gear, and items used by farmers, ranchers, hunters, divers, and martial arts practitioners. Several speakers also warned that the bill could burden lawful self-defense and create an affirmative-defense scheme that shifts costs and proof burdens onto defendants.
Supporters and opponents alike focused on the need for a clearer definition, with HPD saying a narrower definition would help distinguish ordinary tools from dangerous weapons used in assaults. Opponents repeatedly urged the committee to defer or kill the measure, citing pending and related court cases and the risk of new constitutional challenges. Some testifiers tied the bill to Native Hawaiian gathering rights and subsistence practices, saying it would interfere with hunting, fishing, and food gathering, while others argued it would do little to deter criminals and instead penalize law-abiding residents and visitors.
After finishing testimony on SB 433, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 2575 relating to firearms. The transcript shows the start of that item with the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies being called, but no substantive testimony or action on SB 2575 is included before the excerpt ends. No votes or final committee actions are reflected in the portion provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- legislature should do everything we can to get rid of excess spending, unnecessary spending, waste, fraud
- 00:47:12.000>
waste spending unnecessary spending waste spending unnecessary spending waste Fraud - and Abuse and reinvest those Fraud and Abuse and reinvest those dollars<00:47:15.000>
in <00:47 - c> of<00:48:42.520>
um <00:48:43.440>um <00:48:43.680>of <00:48:44.000>fraud - /c><00:48:45.559>
of <00:48:46.079>uh <00:48:46.359>or indication of um um of fraud
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It literally is the only legislation I've ever heard of that actually promotes fraud.
- It actually says if a developer, for example, hides the fact that there's defects and uses that as fraud
- was, I found, to be the most shocking, that they don't want consumers to defend themselves by active fraud
- If a developer, for example, hides the fact that there's defects and uses that as fraud to keep it under
- was, I found, to be the most shocking, that they don't want consumers to defend themselves by active fraud
Summary:
The Committee on Housing held a public hearing on January 31 and heard testimony on a series of housing and building-code bills. The first major item, HB 1 relating to building codes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters, including BIA Hawaii, Grassroot Institute, Dr. Horton, and several builders and trade groups, argued the current code-adoption process is slow, fragmented, and costly, and that reform would help housing production. Opponents, including Sierra Club Hawaii, AIA Hawaii, ICC, and labor representative Kiko Bosi, said the bill would weaken public safety, reduce statewide consistency, and could leave tenants and first responders at greater risk. No vote was taken during the hearing, and members asked questions about the effect of a governor’s emergency proclamation suspending the Building Code Council and about county authority over code amendments.
The committee then heard HB 745 and HB 1321, both also relating to building codes. Grassroot Institute supported both measures, saying the system is broken and needs streamlining, while BIA Hawaii and others emphasized the cost burden of repeated code updates. Opponents, especially Bosi and ICC, argued that the bills would undermine the State Building Code Council’s role, create confusion, and prioritize cost over safety; Bosi also said labor should be included in any code discussions. Members questioned whether counties can remove state code provisions and whether the state code already supersedes county codes, and one member noted the need for clarity and consistent enforcement rather than a wholesale overhaul.
Later, the committee heard HB 284 on housing, HB 761 on county permitting and inspection, and HB 738 on historic preservation. HB 284 drew support from several housing and real estate groups, while DLNR opposed it. On HB 761, HHFDC supported the bill, DLNR warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hawaii’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, DAGS said it would likely need to duplicate county permitting staff, and the Department of Planning and Permitting opposed it; Grassroot Institute and NAIOP supported it. For HB 738, HHFDC, DLNR, Grassroot Institute, Hawaii YIMBY, NAIOP, and others supported the measure, with Grassroot and NAIOP suggesting clarifications so expedited review would also cover mixed-use projects and better define the scope of work. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on these bills during the hearing.