Transcript Highlights:

• The chairs in particular were involved in many extensive behind-the-scenes meetings where we overcame
• were involved the chairs in particular were involved in<00:07:06.960> many<00:07:07.599> extensive
• <00:07:08.639> behind-the-scenes in many extensive behind-the-scenes in many extensive behind-the-scenes
• We've been talking about the financing mechanisms and what it looks like, and I expect to be having extensive

Bills: HF3422, HF3461, HF2904

Keywords: state grants, grant oversight, grants management, executive agencies, Minnesota Department of Administration, commissioner of administration, fraud prevention, waste prevention, grant monitoring, financial reconciliation, grant compliance, state government, public funds, grant recipients, competitive grants, grant administration, administrative oversight, monitoring visits, grant policy, legislative leave

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them is the extension of the limitation on excess business losses.
• them is<00:22:53.360> the<00:22:54.080> uh<00:22:55.120> uh<00:22:55.679> extension
• c><00:22:56.320> of<00:22:56.640> the<00:22:56.880> limitation is the uh uh extension
• of the limitation is the uh uh extension of the limitation on<00:22:57.679> excess<00:22:58.159
• <01:32:26.159> well "I believe they are 30-year leases with three additional 30-year extensions

Bills: HR1, HF387

Keywords: January 6 insurrection, pardon, law enforcement, violent crimes, public safety, justice system, political accountability, Blaine, local sales tax, special tax, restaurant tax, lodging tax, admissions tax, amusement tax, hotel tax, redevelopment, capital improvements, municipal finance, bonding authority, tourism tax

Transcript Highlights:

• particular concept, and I understand you have a bigger issue about injury, and you and I have talked extensively
• and I bigger issue about injury and you and I have<01:01:46.960> talked<01:01:47.280> extensively
• <01:01:48.000> about<01:01:48.240> that<01:01:48.559> and have talked extensively
• about that and have talked extensively about that and that<01:01:49.040> might<01:01:49.200><
• allows us time to make sure that we can get everything closed out and not have to come back for an extension

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an extension of a program that we do have now, the transportation benefit program.
• It's, you know, it's an<00:41:47.599> extension<00:41:47.920> of<00:41:48.079> a
• 48.319> program<00:41:48.480> that<00:41:48.720> we<00:41:48.880> do an extension
• of a program that we do an extension of a program that we do have<00:41:49.200> now,<00:41:49.440
• pertaining to employees exercising rights under the occupational safety and health law without former extension

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work. The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Creation of a new state-only benefit would require extensive information technology system changes.
• Creation of a new state-only benefit would require extensive information technology system changes.
• That would require extensive information technology system changes.
• fail to fund it in any case, the whole cost of the program for that vaccine, including changes, extensive
• fail to fund it in any case, the whole cost of the program for that vaccine, including changes, extensive

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked with him for right of ways, and then within that area, I worked with him for electrical extension
• Through this extensive process and analysis, and through critical and important work with tribal and
• In addition, we provided an extensive list of all the evidence we found through years of work on this
• To get water, due to this extension, we're having to drill wells. Again, we're mining the water.
• Reclamation did an extensive study over a couple of years and found that it was in the interest of the

Transcript Highlights:

• know one of the Representative Coutab is going to be here next, and she's actually done some fairly extensive
• done some here next and she's actually done some some<00:48:28.319> fairly<00:48:28.640> extensive
• some fairly extensive research on this. some fairly extensive research on this.
• against this, and I should say candidly, I'm not suggesting that there have been some, you know, extensive

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• North Memorial Hospital, which is in my district, and then providing for the possibility of the extension
• North Memorial Hospital, which is in my district, and then providing for the possibility of the extension
• North Memorial Hospital, which is in my district, and then providing for the possibility of the extension
• North Memorial Hospital, which is in my district, and then providing for the possibility of the extension
• And then providing for the possibility of the extension of the Twins lease on Target Field.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to over 40,000 patients, with roughly half being supervised and about half on my own, so I've got extensive
• They undergo extensive multi-level education with rigorous requirements, including a Bachelor of Science
• to point out to the committee is that in the discussions, the word "supervision" has been used. extensively
• I also wanted to point out that all physical therapists receive extensive education in different... .
• And I just want to further say, all PTs receive exceeding... ...extensive education in differential diagnosis

Bills: HB46, HB35, HB4490, HB4454, HB2188, HB3078, HB4743, HB2556, HB46, HB5342, HB4783, HB3785, HB5278, HB1639, HB2581, HB4224, HB4070, HB4099, HB4882, HB3794

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Transcript Highlights:

• deadline for that application process in most cases, other than in-person drop-offs, will help with the extensive
• We'd like to see a potential extension on that first plan so it's more timely and tied to elections in
• <00:54:50.400> see<00:54:50.760> a<00:54:51.000> potential<00:54:51.480> extension
• we'd like to see a potential extension we'd like to see a potential extension on<00:54:52.200>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is extensive industry testimony.
• You work to how you get paid, all those things have led us to be very extensive in testing.
• How extensive of a process is that? Thank you for the question.
• Historically, nurses and their anesthesia programs trained in hospitals were working extensive hours
• clearly distinguish between undergraduate nurses, students in training, and those who have completed extensive

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• This makes the extension of the state business tax credit eligibility period applicable to taxable years
• beginning after December 31, 2025, and makes the extension of the general excise tax exemption eligibility
• December 31st 25 years beginning in December 31st 25 makes<00:31:04.960> the<00:31:05.159> extension
• <00:31:05.519> of<00:31:05.639> the<00:31:05.799> general makes the extension
• of the general makes the extension of the general excise<00:31:06.880> tax<00:31:07.200> exemption

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer SchoolLink mental health therapy, but our three therapists and our waiting list is extensive
• sand it down, they're still looking at nearly $800,000, and I think I appreciate the time frame, an extension
• the<01:33:04.199> time<01:33:04.480> frame<01:33:05.320> an<01:33:05.520> extension
• /c><01:33:05.960> of<01:33:06.119> the<01:33:06.320> time the time frame an extension
• of the time the time frame an extension of the time frame<01:33:07.159> and<01:33:07.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had this measure last year, and I guess they need an extension of the date. help develop a bank for
• /c><01:03:18.680> they<01:03:18.799> need<01:03:19.200> an<01:03:19.400> extension
• year and I guess they need an extension year and I guess they need an extension of<01:03:20.200>
• Okay, maybe you can come up and maybe you can give us an explanation what you need an extension because

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and Higher Education heard HB 1494, relating to sports facilities. Testimony was largely in opposition to the bill as drafted from the Stadium Authority, the Department of Accounting and General Services, and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, with several other written comments also opposing; each asked that if the measure advances, Senate language from related stadium bills be incorporated instead. The University of Hawaiʻi testified in support of the Nāʻid project and said it wants the project delivered at Halawa so the university can have a football facility, though members pressed the university on whether it was effectively supporting both the project and the bill’s current approach. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on the stadium project’s financing, schedule, and oversight. DAGS and Public Works discussed a consultant contract that had grown to about $28 million and an audit that recovered $441,000 after improper travel and expense reimbursements, including first-class airfare and other personal expenses; officials said the audit exposed weak internal controls and led to revised reimbursement policies. Members questioned whether the problems would have been found without media reporting and whether stronger oversight should have been in place earlier. The committee also discussed the current Ching Field setup for UH football, with witnesses describing it as less than ideal and temporary until the new stadium is built. Stadium Authority representatives said the current preferred offeror is Aloha Halawa Development Partners, negotiations have recently accelerated, and the goal remains a contract this summer and a fall 2028 opening. They said the state is committed to $350 million in general obligation bonds, with the overall project expected to cost more, and that the developer is exploring other financing sources such as TIF or CFD while the state and city work to expedite permits and demolition. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Open Doors because it’ll allow more families to benefit from this important subsidy program and, by extension
• Open Doors because it’ll allow more families to benefit from this important subsidy program and, by extension
• from this important subsidy program and from this important subsidy program and by<01:11:43.159> extension
• > improved<01:11:44.199> access<01:11:44.440> to<01:11:44.600> early by extension
• improved access to early by extension improved access to early learning<01:11:45.159> for<01:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies, so we all get together, we review the grants, we talk about where the gaps are or the extensions
• We talk about where the gaps are or the extensions are needed.
• about where uh where the gaps are<00:13:48.079> or<00:13:48.279> the<00:13:48.440> extensions
• <00:13:48.880> are<00:13:49.040> needed<00:13:49.920> uh are or the extensions
• are needed uh are or the extensions are needed uh decisions<00:13:50.480> are<00:13:50.639>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture, water, invasive species, and land-use bills. HB 299 and HB 1220, both relating to invasive species, drew broad support from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, C-GAPS, Sierra Club, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and others. Testifiers said HISC funding fills gaps between agency mandates, supports research and technology, and helps respond to both terrestrial and marine invasive threats. On HB 1220, C-GAPS described a marine anemone infestation in Kāneʻohe linked to aquarium release and said control and restoration would be difficult without the bill’s funding. A committee member asked for tracking information on the species, and the Division of Aquatic Resources said it maintains monitoring data and annual reports. No opposition was noted on either measure. HB 506, relating to conservation enforcement, also received support from DLNR and Malama Pu‘u Ma. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope and how the funding would be used. Members asked about a prior boat purchase mentioned in opposition testimony and about whether mainland vendors were being used; the department said it did not buy that boat and that procurement follows the normal state process, with total bid price including delivery, taxes, and other fees. The department explained that the bill’s funding is primarily for marine enforcement work in nearshore fisheries, including herbivore protection around O‘ahu. HB 915, relating to water use, had mixed testimony. DLNR supported alternative water sources and amendments to the water code, while the Department of Agriculture opposed the bill as drafted, saying its irrigation program is designed for non-potable agricultural use and is not structured for residential or mixed-use development. The Department of Health said it needed more information on its reuse guidelines and noted concern about removing the recycled water manager requirement, which it said helps ensure safe operation and maintenance of reuse systems. Members questioned the bill’s preemption language and whether county or state rules would be displaced, and Agriculture suggested county water agencies might be better suited for some of the proposed uses. HB 502, concerning land use, drew support from the Attorney General’s office, the Land Use Commission, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union, with the Department of Agriculture standing on its written testimony. The Attorney General warned that allowing important agricultural lands to be redistricted through a declaratory ruling process could conflict with the state constitution and recommended excluding IAL from the bill. The Land Use Commission said it has an inventory of IAL lands and did not believe the bill would affect them, and it agreed to the suggested protection. Supporters said the bill could help move lands with limited agricultural value into the rural district, reduce pressure on productive farmland, and better align land use with actual farming potential. HB 929, relating to the agricultural land conveyance tax, received comments from the Department of Taxation and opposition from Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Realtors; Farm Bureau said it supports preserving agricultural land but was concerned about unintended consequences and questioned whether speculative flipping of ag land is a current problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires extensive supervision of students and requires that students sip and spit in a wine
• So is that really part of the original Lake Winnipesaukee, or is it an extension?
• 01:27:08.719> an original lake wiip pasak or is it an original lake wiip pasak or is it an extension
• 10.520> know<01:27:10.719> the<01:27:10.920> answer<01:27:11.199> to extension
• so I don't know the answer to extension so I don't know the answer to that<01:27:11.639> question

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh, it was pretty scary when the Department of Human Services terminated a program without this extensive
• We are asking for a time extension of one year to utilize funds already allocated to this program to
• That's the gist of the bill and we'll be working to make sure that it's extensive and we can provide
• ><01:21:26.040> sure<01:21:26.160> that<01:21:26.360> it's<01:21:26.720> extensive
• working to make sure that it's extensive working to make sure that it's extensive and<01:21:28.040

Bills: HF1767, HF2068, HF4725, HF4637, HF4638

Keywords: human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance

Summary: The Human Services Finance and Policy Committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 1767, as amended by the DE4 amendment. Representative Garande explained that the bill, originally intended to codify Integrated Community Supports (ICS), was being redirected because of concerns about fraud vulnerability and program integrity. The DE4 would create a smaller legislative study group to redesign ICS, pause DHS changes for about six months while the group develops a transition plan, continue DHS fraud investigations and enforcement, and ultimately terminate ICS as currently structured. Testimony in support came from Mr. Buck and Zania Harut of the Residential Providers Association of Minnesota, both of whom argued that ICS is unstable, inconsistently implemented, and in need of a new statutory foundation. They said the current system mixes different service models under one rate framework, lacks clear codification, and has shifting policy guidance that creates compliance problems for providers and risks to people receiving services. They emphasized that the bill would preserve oversight and enforcement while allowing time to build a replacement service with clearer rules, documentation standards, and guardrails. Members asked about effects on counties, providers, data, audits, and fraud enforcement. Representative Curran and Mr. Berg said the bill would not change funding structures or DHS’s existing authority to audit, request documentation, investigate fraud, or sanction bad actors, and that the study group would use existing data to identify where problems are concentrated. Vice Chair Gillman supported the study-group approach as a bipartisan, public process and raised concerns about whether the bill would prevent DHS from acting on known fraud; Curran responded that the language was intended to preserve those enforcement actions. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE4 amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would prevent the individuals from getting a 2-year extension on getting their licenses, you know.
• > getting<01:25:33.000> their<01:25:33.120> licenses,<01:25:34.280> you extension
• on getting their licenses, you extension on getting their licenses, you know. know. know.
• And then, yeah, they need an extension to the deadline.
• Yeah, your amendment would strike that extension. Okay, but it's not until 2028 anyways.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation, and welcomed guests including the doctor of the day, a Johns Hopkins student, and visiting scouts. The chamber then moved through first-reading introductions of several House bills, including measures on bullying and harassment reporting, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, Baltimore County nuisance actions, parole hearing commission procedures, a blockchain technology task force, and a task force on deed fraud, all of which were referred to standing committees. The main floor action centered on layover bills. Senate Bill 932, concerning social media platforms displaying a user’s usual location, was amended to broaden the protected location reference and to protect participants in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program; after discussion about whether minors and child-abuse victims were covered, the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, drew multiple county-specific amendments. Howard County and Baltimore County amendments sought to give priority to existing local tobacco businesses for the new licenses. Supporters said the changes would protect established local shops from out-of-state entities, while opponents argued the bill should remain statewide and not be amended county by county. A motion to special order the bill failed, and the amendments were adopted before the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 84, on collective bargaining for graduate assistants, also advanced after a committee amendment was adopted. A District 2 amendment was offered to clarify that graduate assistants are employed as teaching, administrative, or research assistants, but the floor leader opposed it, saying the bill’s definition was already clear and the change would create confusion. The minority leader questioned the definition and the relationship between graduate assistants and employees, prompting discussion of collective bargaining as bargaining by employees through representatives. The transcript cuts off before final disposition of that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the A6 amendment is to give DNR deadline extension to the uh carb deter on locking down number five
• c> the<00:26:41.919> uh<00:26:42.480> carb<00:26:42.880> deter deadline extension
• to the uh carb deter deadline extension to the uh carb deter on<00:26:43.840> locking<00:26:44.240
• I did have the answer for myself, but it's good to have the DNR here for requesting the extension.
• I did have the answer for myself, but it's good to have the DNR here for requesting the extension.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all