Transcript Highlights:

• Also, the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach 2023 report reveals that a minimum wage
• Reach 2023 report reveals that a Out Of Reach 2023 report reveals that a minimum<00:49:09.960><c> wage
• worker in Hawaii must work minimum wage worker in Hawaii must work almost<00:49:12.240><c> 100</c><00
• </c><01:15:57.159><c> good</c> through access to Fair wages good through access to Fair wages good benefits
• </c> opportunities we experience low wages opportunities we experience low wages and<01:21:38.199><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 7, 2025, to hear testimony on several bills and later take up amendments and votes. HB 1405, HB 1406, and HB 1407 drew broad support from business, housing, utility, and development groups, with no opposition noted on those measures. Testifiers generally said the bills would streamline permitting, improve coordination, and expand support for chambers of commerce and small businesses. After recess, the chair recommended amendments to each bill, including changes to broaden eligibility, add reporting requirements, and include funding and staffing notes. HB 1405 was amended to allow certain projects with one state and one county permit to qualify, require annual DBEDT reports to the Legislature, and note one full-time position and $125,000 in funding; the committee voted to pass it with amendments. HB 1406 was amended to move the intergovernmental task force from DBEDT to the House Legislature, add a Speaker-appointed chair, and include a $125,000 appropriation note; it also passed with amendments. HB 1407 was amended to convert the chamber support from a grant process to an RFP process and require a 1-to-5 match on a $100,000 award; it too passed with amendments. In each case, the chair’s recommendation was adopted, with Representative Tam excused. The committee also heard HB 796, a tax-credit review bill, which drew no support and 12 opposition testimonies with three comments. Opponents, including SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued that automatic sunset provisions or broad tax-credit cuts would burden working families and that existing review mechanisms already exist under state law. The Department of Taxation and DBEDT offered technical comments, and the Tax Foundation suggested the bill’s goals might be better addressed by cleaning up the existing review process. Later, the committee heard HB 303, which had 17 supporters and no opposition. Testifiers from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Queen’s Health System, and the Hawaii State Chiropractors Association supported the measure, with the chiropractors asking to be included in eligibility. The Hawaii State Center for Nursing said the program had been successful for five years and had room to expand. HB 577 also drew support, with the Department of Taxation offering comments and the Tax Foundation noting technical issues. HB 949 generated mixed testimony: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce supported it, while Hawaii Children’s Action Network raised concerns about the bill’s effects and the lack of fiscal analysis; Sugar Creek Capital also supported the measure and clarified that the credit would not offset the GET. Finally, HB 933 and HB 959 were heard, with HB 933 receiving six support testimonies and comments focused on grocery tax relief and food insecurity, and HB 959 drawing strong support from labor and advocacy groups for its broad tax relief package, while the Tax Foundation and Hawaii Appleseed urged caution about the proposed 50% GET increase and asked for clearer fiscal analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will vote no today to be on the prevailing side in case we have what Mr.
• Okay, I was on the prevailing side, so... Who else was on the prevailing side?
• Prevailing side was no. Yeah, that's true. So, have Alex doing?
• So I need a member on the prevailing side to recall. Four and two, right?
• It has to be someone on the prevailing side. I was on the prevailing side.

Summary: The committee heard an extended presentation and discussion on Arizona higher education research security, focused heavily on Arizona State University’s foreign funding, international partnerships, and alleged ties to Chinese military-affiliated institutions. The presenter argued that ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents had not been transparent about foreign gifts, contracts, and research collaborations, especially those involving the Chinese “Seven Sons” universities, and said the committee would pursue a congressional referral and other federal review. A strike-everything amendment to SB 1060 was described but then withdrawn; the underlying SB 1327 was then taken up as a companion measure requiring ABOR to adopt university research security policies and submit annual reports on those policies and on foreign contributions over $250,000. The committee heard testimony in support from Marina Macklin, who said the bill would help protect dual-use and defense-relevant research from being funneled to China’s military ecosystem, and she answered questions about biosecurity, semiconductors, AI model theft, and election systems. After debate, SB 1327 was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Delos Santos and Marquez voting no and Colloden, Powell, and the chair voting yes; the chair stated his support was to keep missile, armor, guidance, and other technology safe from the Chinese government. The committee then heard SB 1803, a veterans’ consumer-protection bill regulating private companies that help veterans file disability claims. The bill would prohibit unaccredited persons from preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans’ benefits matters, require service agreements to be filed with the Attorney General, cap compensation, ban certain practices such as overseas call centers and in-house doctors, and create consumer-fraud enforcement authority. Sponsor Sen. Gallin said the measure was intended to add guardrails for veterans and prevent bad actors from taking excessive fees or misleading claimants. Testimony from Veterans Guardian representatives supported the bill as a way to create transparency and preserve veterans’ choice while regulating the industry; they said many veterans seek private help after unsuccessful attempts with free services and that the bill would not eliminate competition. Opponents and skeptical members questioned whether the bill would effectively legalize one business model while restricting others, whether the contingent-fee structure was consumer-friendly, and whether the companies were engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The discussion also referenced prior federal and state litigation involving similar laws and the possibility of future federal accreditation reform. The transcript ends during continued questioning on SB 1803, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails in the Senate.
• The motion prevails in the Senate nay.
• The motion prevailed and is adopted. So, now we're going to go.
• It prevails. An A9 amendment to House language is adopted.
• It is prevails in the amendment to sign.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. The minutes are approved. We will start with House File 1722.
• The motion prevails. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• The motion prevails. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members.
• The motion prevails. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members. Mr.
• The motion prevails. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion does not prevail. I call division, Mr. Chair. Division is called.
• I call division Mr chair Prevail I call division Mr chair Senator<00:42:29.000><c> mat</c><00:42:29.440
• okay any other uh questions for prevail okay any other uh questions for the<00:43:09.000><c> for</c>
• The motion prevails. It's sent on to Judiciary. Thank you, Senator Putnam. Thank you much, members.
• On the Matthews motion, there being five ayes and six nays, it does not prevail.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• after being disqualified from collecting benefits and seeking to be represented at a hearing, the low-wage
• She had wages in both Massachusetts and out of state that should have been included in the calculation
• waited for months and months and months, reached us in this limbo, and we were able to submit the wage

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hearing on House 5188, a late-filed bill to establish a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in Massachusetts. Representatives Hadley Luddy and Joshua Tarski, the bill’s sponsors, said they filed it after seeing many constituent cases involving delays, unresolved claims, and difficulty navigating the unemployment system, especially for seasonal workers and others facing financial instability. They argued the commission should review claim data, gather stakeholder input, and identify gaps in the process so the system is more efficient, equitable, and transparent. Greater Boston Legal Services testified in support, describing numerous client cases in which claimants waited months for determinations or were stuck in limbo after the launch of a new online benefits system. Attorneys said DUA’s backlogs and timeliness metrics had worsened, citing large increases in non-monetary, separation, and hearings backlogs, and they urged the committee to consider systemic fixes, including better notice about paid family and medical leave and possibly more funding or staff for DUA. Committee members generally praised the bill and the sponsors’ collaboration, and one suggested the commission’s reporting deadline might need to be extended. No vote was taken during the hearing. After testimony and brief discussion, the chair closed the hearing and concluded the committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• new grant proviso to launch a grant program to reimburse eligible farmers for qualifying overtime wages
• The farm had to pay overtime wages to employees for handpicking one or more specialty crop vegetables
• The grant was available in early 2025 for overtime staff, or overtime wages that were paid in the 2024

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reviewed several House bills in executive session. Staff briefed bills on aviation assurances for wildland fire response (HB 2104), derelict vessels (HB 2199), irrigation district director spouse employment conflicts (HB 2223), statewide food security strategy (HB 2238), water quality and game farms (HB 2343), timber sales efficiencies (HB 2348), treaty reserve fishing rights and repeal of Initiative 456 (HB 2554), and a task force on reducing regulatory stress in agriculture (HB 2619). Members noted that HB 2238 had been heard previously as a striker but was now being considered as the engrossed substitute. Several bills had no amendments and little or no fiscal impact, while others carried modest fiscal notes. The committee took action on most bills: HB 2104, HB 2199, HB 2238, HB 2348, HB 2554, and HB 2619 all received due pass recommendations and were sent either to Ways and Means or Rules, with votes recorded by voice and no opposition noted. The committee took no action on HB 2223 or HB 2343. Members also thanked staff and acknowledged departing senators for their service. In the work session, the Washington State Department of Agriculture presented an overview of the 2024 local farms, workers, and food overtime reimbursement grant. WSDA described how it used targeted outreach, cross-agency coordination, and a streamlined application to administer the one-time program, which reimbursed qualifying overtime wages for hand-harvest vegetable farms selling to local markets and schools. The agency reported that 24 farms received about $213,000 total, and members asked about lessons learned, including how the experience might inform future grant design and broader agricultural support programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• career opportunities, receive career advising, and imagine themselves in different high-growth, high-wage
• Um, my understanding is it's a program that supplements wages for young people.
• Um, and so it kind of provides, I think it's a minimum wage.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 59, introduced by Representative Lujan, is an act relating to wage access, enacting the Earned
• Wage Access Services Act, providing powers and duties of the Financial Institutions Division of the
• House Bill 59 provides for licensure of earned wage access services providers, including provisions for

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> minimum wage? minimum wage?
• And this is like a huge wage theft if you ask me. We're supposedly against wage theft.
• And this is like a huge wage theft if you ask me. We're supposedly against wage theft.
• And this is like a huge wage theft if you ask me. We're supposedly against wage theft.
• against wage theft. Think about if you against wage theft.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The sad reality is that so many there's such a big disconnect between the cost of housing and the wages
• And so that the teachers can earn wages on par with K-12 teachers.
• Teachers also deserve a livable wage and benefits, and high-quality staff directly impact those that
• wage and benefits,<01:21:06.520><c> and</c><01:21:06.680><c> high-quality</c><01:21:07.160><c> staff
• "You can't do increase minimum wage. That'll just get passed down to consumers.

Bills: HF4561, HF4343

Keywords: homeless prevention aid, homelessness, housing stability, rental assistance, family homelessness, unaccompanied youth, housing navigation, legal representation, family outreach, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aid, general fund appropriation, unspent funds, aid redistribution, sunset repeal, Minnesota property tax aid, services for persons experiencing homelessness, sales tax, use tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, is there anything in the budget for those caregivers to get a better wage, to get a worthy wage?
• business operations, and for all Arizonans that investment certainty translates to more jobs, higher wages
• dire situation of revenue... ...people-first economy, and you have testified many times for worthy wages
• They deserve wages that are worthy of the work they're doing, and they are not getting that.
• Can we please get a worthy wage for our caregivers?

Summary: The joint House and Senate Appropriations committees met to hear the FY 2027 budget package, beginning with the General Appropriations Act (HB 4154/SB 1847). Staff outlined the overall budget, including one-time fund transfers, lump-sum reductions, funding for state employee health insurance, school facilities, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, education and child care, and other ongoing and supplemental items. Members briefly discussed the absence of a requested $1.5 million for the oversight office, but the chair said no amendments would be taken in committee and that only limited technical changes were likely later in the process. Public testimony on the feed bill was largely supportive but focused on specific funding concerns. Testimony highlighted school safety funding, Alzheimer’s services, small business tax expensing provisions, disability oversight for group homes, county use of opioid settlement dollars, adult education/community college funding, victim notification funding, and ESA oversight. Several speakers praised the budget for funding DDD and other services, while others opposed or sought changes to items such as the COMIT group home monitoring program, Maricopa Community Colleges’ lack of operating aid, and a possible cut to the victim notification program. The chair repeatedly emphasized that changes to the negotiated budget would be difficult and should be routed through leadership. The committee then moved quickly through the remaining budget reconciliation bills. Staff summarized bills covering amusement and wagering, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, and K-12 education. Notable provisions included continued wagering assessments, highway and building renewal funding, defense innovation and economic development changes, corrections and wrongful conviction provisions, groundwater and water banking measures, health insurance oversight and opioid settlement provisions, higher education funding and ABOR operating caps, SNAP and housing trust fund changes, and a 2% inflation increase for K-12 formula components. The K-12 bill also included a biometric school safety pilot and a child sexual abuse prevention pilot. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue through the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• give them an opportunity to go to an LCTC, a career technical school, going to a high-demand, high-wage
• If they don't repay, is they going to be subject to wage garnishment?
• You don't know whether the wages are going to be garnished.
• And you're... ...for repayment, you don't know whether the wages are going to be garnished, and you're
• You have the option to go to a high-wage, high-need curriculum and a career and technical pathway, and

Bills: HR179, HR180, HR181, HR182, HR183, HR184, HR185, HR186, HR187, HCR75, HCR76, HCR77, HCR78, HCR79, HR165, HR166, HR168, HR169, HR170, HR171, HR172, HR173, HR174, HR175, HR176, HR177, HR178, HCR65, HCR66, HCR67, HCR68, HCR69, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR73, HCR74, SCR34, SB34, SB43, SB52, SB56, SB165, SB173, SB189, SB190, SB260, SB322, SB345, SB374, SB387, SB401, SB448, SB449, SB455, SB487, SB496, SB502, SB505, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HB55, HB385, HB394, HB396, HB406, HB608, HB622, HB676, HB772, HB897, HB1030, HB1035, HB1038, HB1045, HB1049, HB1056, HB1058, HB1059, HB1092, HB1100, HB1117, HB1160, HB1161, HB1162, HB1177, HB1180, HB1189, HB1216, HB1239, HB1240, HB59, HB74, HB159, HB330, HB364, HB414, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB786, HB1008, HB1033, HB1034, HB1041, HB1062, HB1070, HB1079, HB1112, HB1118, HB1139, HB1151, HB1176, HB1182, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB368, HB433, HB441, HB447, HB466, HB481, HB741, HB1242, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, HB977, HB181, HB31, HB664, HB9, HB192, HB225, HB306, HB310, HB366, HB635, HB911, HB1230, HB1236, HB615, HB864, HB1103, HB1175, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB996, HB1003, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234

Keywords: neighborhood, crime prevention, security districts, law enforcement, community safety, funding, Counseling Day, mental health, Louisiana Counseling Association, community support, mental wellness, Louisiana State University, athletics, NAIA, sports achievements, recognition, success, competition, education, higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of educational preparation, experiences, and differences in terms of salary versus hourly wages
• I am strongly in favor of nurses being paid wages that are fair, that they deserve to earn for the work
• um wages that are fair that are that um wages that are fair that are that they<00:46:39.280><c> deserve
• to to advocate for themselves<00:47:00.240><c> for</c><00:47:00.400><c> these</c><00:47:00.640><c> wages
• </c> themselves for these wages. themselves for these wages.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered multiple gubernatorial nominations, beginning with several appointments to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board. Testimony on the Hurricane Relief Fund nominees was overwhelmingly in support from the DCCA Insurance Division, Hawaii Insurance Council, Hawaii Insurers Council, the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, and various individuals and industry representatives. Nominees Michael Naka, Marie White, Raina Miamoto, Leslie Door, Edward Hike, and Gwen McDonald were discussed, with Miamoto and Hike offering brief remarks about the need to address hurricane insurance affordability, condo coverage, and the importance of attracting reinsurers. The committee spent substantial time questioning Hike about the fund’s strategy, including whether to keep eligibility broad in the first phase to move quickly into the reinsurance market, how much capital would be available, and whether later policy refinements such as owner-occupancy requirements could be added after an initial rollout. Hike said the fund intended to start with broad parameters to secure reinsurance and then consider more targeted changes later, and he indicated further responses to prior committee questions would be submitted later that day. No votes were taken during the excerpted discussion. The committee then moved to other nominations. Terresa Hernandez was considered for the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic, with support from the board, and she said chiropractic had been a passion for her for seven years. Terrence Aratani was considered for the Board of Nursing, with support from the Board of Nursing, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others. During questioning, a senator raised concerns from constituents about a 2019 grant-related controversy involving a proposed resiliency hub project; Aratani responded that his organization had partnered on a grant-in-aid proposal, later withdrew when the project scope changed substantially, and said no money was transferred to the other group. Cheryl Schultz Hansen was also considered for the Board of Nursing and described her long nursing and teaching background, while a senator asked about alleged pressure on nurses to participate in employee give-back campaigns at Hawaii Pacific Health and the University of Hawaii; Hansen said the campaigns were voluntary and she was unaware of harassment, though she acknowledged managers may feel pressure to encourage participation. The excerpt ends before any final committee actions or votes on these nominations are announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• what the policy should look like, the majority of members of the House, that their decision will prevail
• , meaning we're communicating that our decisions should prevail over the Senate because we are the better
• of the House that their<00:37:44.640><c> decision</c><00:37:45.119><c> will</c><00:37:45.359><c> prevail
• </c><00:37:46.720><c> meaning</c> their decision will prevail. meaning their decision will prevail. meaning
• over the Senate because should prevail over the Senate because we<00:37:53.119><c> are</c><00:37:53.920

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails.<00:46:38.079><c> That</c><00:46:38.400><c> leaves</c><00:46:38.720><c> us</c> prevails
• That leaves us prevails.
• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails. So are there Opposed. Motion prevails.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.
• &gt;&gt; Motion<00:01:59.120><c> prevails.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted. Now, Ms.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted. All right.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way to Finance. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Mr.
• The motion prevails, and the amendment is adopted.
• The motion prevails, and the A2 amendment is adopted.
• The motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.
• The motion prevails and the A3 amendment is adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 67 ayes and 66 nays, the motion prevails and the amendment is adopted.
• <c> motion</c> role there being 67 I 66 Nays the motion role there being 67 I 66 Nays the motion prevails
• There being 67 yeas and 66 nays, the motion prevails.
• representative Nisa thank you prevails representative Nisa thank you madam<01:27:15.400><c> speaker<
• The motion prevails.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The prevailing sentiment at the time was that the economic engine, sugar and pineapple, could not be
• The prevailing sentiment at the time was that the economic engine, sugar and pineapple, could not be
• The prevailing sentiment at the time was that the economic engine, sugar and pineapple, could not be
• The prevailing sentiment at the time was that the economic engine, sugar and pineapple, could not be
• The prevailing sentiment at the time was that the economic engine, sugar and pineapple, could not be

Keywords: House Agenda:, 910, house, all