Video & Transcript Research : 'development exaction'
Page 141 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Nov 19th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- We have all 67 sheriffs on that system and 200, I don't know the exact number, 200-plus police departments
- We have developed technology that. ...into crypto exchange, you probably have seen those.
- We have developed technology that we can trace those funds, and we are becoming more and more successful
- I'm not sure of the exact statute, but there is a statute that requires law enforcement to report all
- Well, the FDLE team, their team of researchers, developed a true methodology to most accurately report
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding.
FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed.
The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:43 am
House Taxation & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- Because according to folks in the Economic Development Department, this is one of the most successful
- I'm the Director of Development for Palindrome.
- future businesses, development of infrastructure, and investment in the state.
- This part of the package will reduce the overall cost of development.
- Lowering upfront costs for developers translates into more units coming online sooner.
Bills:
SB240
Keywords:
capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Feb 5th, 2026 at 08:31 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Just depending on the whim of the trustee, if the trustee wanted to stop development or anything.
- I mean, not only oil and gas development on public land, but I would also cite the state trust land up
- to develop electric-only subdivisions.
- been tailored to those land development entities.
- , which include the avoided cost of greenhouse gas emissions. ...electric development, which include
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-08 - 11:30AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So AOT would have to develop a vehicles.
- So AOT would have to develop a plan<01:20:04.159>
on <01:20:04.400>the <01:20:04.640> - Towns, Planners, Development Agencies on Towns, Planners, Development Agencies on studies<01:28:33.679
- <01:47:51.040>
the rather than state dollars to develop the rather than state dollars to develop - <02:12:53.520>
mileagebased to develop an incremental mileagebased to develop an incremental
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Mar 24th, 2025
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- The current tax rate in El Paso, unfortunately, I don't know the exact number, but I can tell you that
- I don't have the exact facts for El Paso, but I would examine how much is debt-related and how much is
- We even defer most of our developer fee; we defer it and just take it from cash flow.
- I'm a multi-family tax credit developer in San Antonio.
- A typical development is 300 units with a total cost of about $65 million in 2021.
Keywords:
local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House higher education panel debates bill to restrict state aid for undocumented immigrants 2/11/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- If not, we’ll get that out in an email to everybody so they have the exact same information that we’re
- and an email to everybody so they have and an email to everybody so they have the<00:05:01.759>
exact - same<00:05:02.240>
information <00:05:02.680>that <00:05:02.840>we're the exact - same information that we're the exact same information that we're working<00:05:03.880>
off <00 - benefit from the North Star Promise sat in my classroom this past fall, putting in the hard work, developing
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Approximately one in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime.
- one in 26 Amer- Americans will develop one in 26 Amer- Americans will develop epilepsy<00:05:17.320
- So, this would not be out of line with the developing contracts that they're already doing.
- We don't have the exact number, but we do have a stat sheet for you that we can pass around.
- We don't have the exact number, but we do have a stat sheet for you that we can pass around.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:36:53.480>
system, <00:36:54.480>integrated <00:36:55.040>system development - savings in year one then with the exact savings in year one then with the exact same<01:51:28.480
- So, we've been developing our biennial budget for many months.
- Yeah, I I cannot give you an exact Yeah, I I cannot give you an exact estimate<02:41:04.800>
- I I can't give you an exact million.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- And now they're out developing those.
- require amendments to be the exact require amendments to be the exact language<02:04:38.560>
- And with that, we'll close the exact And with that, we'll close the exact session<02:23:09.120><
- Um so, a little bit of development.
- struggle to come up with the exact struggle to come up with the exact number<05:49:18.400>
of
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And so it's just the exact same thing you heard in official bill format here.
- And the exact response was, I hope so. Okay, I mean think about that.
- Okay, I exact response was I hope so.
- Um, I gives us an exact definition.
- Um, she uh developed an close to home.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Government Structure - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 10:30 AM
Government Structure
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:09:29.680>
So, <00:09:30.640>personally, <00:09:31.040>my that develop that - So, personally, my that develop that.
- [clears throat] That was my exact question. I want another birthday. All right.
- <00:14:46.560>
I <00:14:46.639>want >> that was my exact question. - I want >> that was my exact question. I want another<00:14:47.120>
birthday.
Summary:
The committee first took up an Irish trade commission bill, described as a recurring measure that had previously stalled in the other chamber. Members said prior concerns had been reconciled, no questions were raised, and the committee moved it out by voice vote. The next major item was Senator Boyd’s “People’s Access Act” (SB 2259), which would require public bodies to livestream meetings and provide a central listing of those streams. Boyd said the bill was intended to improve public access, especially for people who cannot attend in person, and noted it had passed the Senate before.
Members asked whether the bill would cover subcommittees and subboards; Boyd said those meetings were not contemplated in the bill. Senator Blunt supported the transparency goal but raised concerns about small municipalities lacking staff or equipment to comply, and suggested the notice links be housed on a Department of Finance and Administration page rather than with the Secretary of State. The committee adopted that amendment. After further discussion, members added population-based implementation dates for municipalities and discussed a possible due-diligence exception for technology failures, with several senators emphasizing the need to balance transparency with practical limits for small towns. The bill was then reported out as amended.
The committee then began Senator Boyd’s task force bill (SB 2260), which would direct several health and human services agencies—including Medicaid, Human Services, Child Protective Services, Health, and Mental Health—to recommend ways to reduce duplication and improve coordination in licensing and certification processes. Boyd said the bill grew out of testimony about inefficiencies in child care and mental health regulation and was intended to create a more streamlined process. Discussion began, and Senator Sparks suggested considering whether the Department of Rehabilitation Services should also be included, but no action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Jan 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- prioritize these, aligning our budget requests, we're aligning our policy requests and policy developments
- This is something that is developed through a committee as outlined in statute.
- It includes the exact same assessments that every other student in the state of Florida is taking in
- It includes the exact same assessments that every other student in the state of Florida is taking in
- But I can get you an exact number, but I would tell you it's probably somewhere in the ballpark right
Summary:
The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs.
Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing.
The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted.
Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 108 May 2nd, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >
a Research and development isn't a Research and development isn't a loophole.<03:06:17.520>< - Brooks. and development companies that are in and development companies that are in our<03:10:20.800>
- 54.479>
where <03:15:54.720>you research and development is where you research and development - pay raise goes into effect at the exact pay raise goes into effect at the exact same<04:46:54.878
- deduction in order to stop this exact deduction in order to stop this exact double<05:28:05.920>
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from April 30, 2026, and then moved through a series of announcements and introductions, including recognition of guests from Aurora Public Schools, remarks about International Workers Day and Law Day, and several social announcements about food events and a Cinco de Mayo potluck. The chamber also heard a brief recess and then proceeded to third reading business.
The first major action was House Joint Resolution 10:30, sponsored by Representatives Gonzalez and Joseph, which designates a portion of Colorado Highway 14 in Weld County as Mono and Matt Road in memory of Eduardo Mono Hernandez and Matthew Garcia, two Greeley Central High School student-athletes killed in a 2014 crash. Sponsors and supporters described the resolution as a permanent tribute to the young men and to the Greeley community. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, 62-0, with three excused.
The House then considered Senate Bill 143, updating the name of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Review Committee, and Senate Bill 124, concerning information related to the automated protection order notification system. Both measures passed on third reading, each by a vote of 43-19 with three excused. The chamber also laid over Senate Bill 43 until Monday.
Finally, the House took up House Bill 1421, which would prohibit certain compensation arrangements in the legal profession and create the Colorado Legal Practice Integrity and Fee Sharing Prohibition Act. Supporters argued it would prevent private equity from influencing law firms and protect client-focused legal judgment, while opponents raised concerns about separation of powers, the judiciary’s role in regulating lawyers, and possible effects on rural legal services and consolidation. One member requested and received an excusal from the vote due to a potential conflict. The debate continued as the transcript ended, with no final vote shown for the bill in the excerpt.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee hearing.
- SB 457 directs HCD to develop statistical formulas grounded in historical development data that cities
- His recent studies show sites exist on a continuum of development potential.
- Like I said, not every incident has the exact same issues.
- excited about transit-oriented development.
Summary:
The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills. SB 457 would direct HCD to develop statistical formulas based on historical development data to help cities complete housing element site inventories, with the author and supporters arguing it would make RHNA compliance more realistic and less costly; the California Building Industry Association opposed, and the bill was later approved on a 7-1 vote. SB 904 would codify and expand wildfire-rebuilding coordination and reporting practices used after recent fires, with supporters saying it would speed recovery and opponents questioning the need for additional reporting; it passed 11-1. The committee also took up SB 1091, which would create a state acquisition-and-preservation program for unsubsidized affordable housing to prevent displacement; it drew broad support from housing and tenant groups and passed 9-1, with members emphasizing preservation as a key housing strategy.
Members also considered SB 1267, which would require EV charger installers in common-interest developments to indemnify associations during installation and make homeowners responsible for costs arising from use of privately owned chargers. The bill was presented as a follow-up to prior HOA-related EV charging legislation, with support from HOA, EV, and climate groups and opposition from the California Association of Realtors pending amendments; it passed 10-0. SB 1117 would clarify that ADU impact fees above the 750-square-foot exemption are charged only on the portion above that threshold, not the entire unit, and supporters said it would remove a fee cliff that discourages slightly larger ADUs. Cities, special districts, and fire agencies opposed or opposed unless amended, citing infrastructure funding concerns, but the bill passed 10-0 after extensive debate.
The committee also heard SB 1361, which would prevent local governments from taking actions to avoid SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements at existing or planned transit stops. Supporters from L.A. Metro, labor, and housing groups said it would protect transit investments and jobs, while the City of Burbank opposed; the bill passed 9-0. Two consent items, SB 722 and SB 1426, were approved without discussion. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly stressed the goals of streamlining housing production, preserving existing affordable homes, and reducing barriers to rebuilding and transit-oriented development.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Community Affairs Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I THINK THE DEVELOPERS CAN DO A HEAVY LIFT ON THE FRONT IN.
- SB 1090 DOES NOT STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT.
- WE ARE IMPROVING DEVELOPMENTS, THE NEXT DAY WE TRY TO STOP DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT.
- AND SO I AM MINDFUL OF MUNICIPALITIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD EXTORTING DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPERS ON PARTICULAR
- IT SURROUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Kentucky Housing Task Force 2025 (6-30-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- everything from community development everything from community development block<00:18:44.720><
- And the Community Development Block Grant program can support infrastructure for housing development.
- >
affordable <00:24:33.600>development, particularly affordable development, particularly - I I'm here tax credit developers.
- >
that <00:31:47.440>they economic development agencies that they economic development
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:15
Roll Call 00:00:45
Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33
Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all
Summary:
The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year.
KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years.
The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Jan 14th, 2025
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The Clinician Awareness Program, developed by the Florida Firefighter Safety and Health Collaborative
- Yes, those are all contemplated within the development of the per child per month calculation.
- If you had 40,000 child months, then 80% of your data would be used to develop that PCPM.
- Those questions can be asked now moving forward with this to develop.
- Not working at a CBC, I don't have the exact answer on how they manage that on their end.
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure.
The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions.
Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Limiting zoning authority of local governments over housing types 3/3/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- $10 million tax-based development $10 million tax-based development project.<00:50:11.280>
It - development, a townhouse. development, a townhouse.
- 01:03:02.240>
voted after development proposal get get voted after development proposal get get - The key to housing are the developers. The key to housing are the developers.
- developers but for-profit development. developers but for-profit development.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Apr 23rd, 2026
Business and Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, members and guests today, we are going to be juggling back and forth with the exact noms and bills
- Certainly very smart about real estate and real estate development.
- This is the same exact language that we passed out of this committee and what was passed off the floor
- Also, the Accountancy Board was exempt from this process in HB 2735 last session for the exact same reasons
- It was developed through collaboration between that board and the roofing industry.
Bills:
HB4322, HB4202, HB4203, HB4457, HB3983, HB3660, HB3802, HB2933, HB2955, HB2956, HB3781, HB3521, HB3794, HB3796, HB3800
Keywords:
funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer, funeral director in charge, dual licensure, mortuary science, Oklahoma Funeral Board, funeral establishment, commercial embalming establishment, crematory, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, apprenticeship, licensing requirements, professional regulation, undertaker, mortician, burial services, death care industry, workers' compensation
Summary:
The Business and Insurance Committee first handled a series of executive nominations, including appointments or reappointments to the Oklahoma Securities Commission, Real Estate Commission, State Athletic Commission, Accountancy Board, Commission on Consumer Credit, Uniform Building Code Commission, Abstractors Board, Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission, and State Banking Board. Most nominees briefly addressed the committee, and the nominations were advanced by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. One HB 4488 was laid over at the start of the meeting.
The committee then considered several bills. HB 4322, which would remove a dual-licensure requirement for funeral directors and embalmers, drew questions about consumer protection and body care procedures and passed 6-3. HB 4202, changing workers’ compensation fee schedule treatment for radiology, passed unanimously. HB 4203, directing the Uniform Building Code Commission to explore guidelines for single-exit configurations in certain buildings up to four stories, passed 7-2 after concerns were raised about fire safety. HB 4457, dealing with specialty pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and access to specialty medications, passed unanimously.
Members also debated HB 3983, which would move Oklahoma’s moist smokeless tobacco tax to a weight-based system; supporters argued it would improve fairness and revenue stability, while opponents said it would raise taxes on some products and lacked consumer protections. It passed 6-3. HB 3660, authorizing natural organic reduction as an additional end-of-life option, prompted a lengthy debate over dignity, religious concerns, and consumer choice; it passed 5-4. HB 3802, prohibiting auto insurers from raising premiums solely because a spouse died, passed unanimously. HB 2933, a consumer protection insurance bill, passed 9-0 after extensive discussion of claims handling and insurer accountability. Additional insurance and regulatory measures—HB 2955, HB 2956, HB 3781, HB 3521, HB 3796, HB 3794, and HB 3800—were also advanced, most with little or no opposition. The chair closed by noting all executive nominations and legislation had been cleared from the committee for the year.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
TRN Public Hearing - Tue Mar 24, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- commission and the commission develops commission and the commission develops confidence<00:56:56.799
- Hawaii Technology Development Corporation in support. Corporation in support.
- And those are systems that we're developing and testing, uh, right now in Rhode Island.
- And those are systems that we're developing and testing, uh, right now in Rhode Island.
- Community Development Authority. Community Development Authority.
Summary:
The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates.
Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority.
The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.