Transcript Highlights:

• most selected rising cost that presented a challenge for residents. 117 people selected it as a top priority
• most selected rising cost that presented a challenge for residents. 117 people selected it as a top priority
• I think is a top priority of mine. Uh, the more we can make here, the better.
• I think is a top priority of mine. Uh, the more we can make here, the better.
• I think is a top priority of mine. Uh, the more we can make here, the better.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Science is shaped by societal values, funding priorities, and biases.
• And this is actually a really big research priority for the consortium in 2026: translating this non-targeted
• Representative, so anytime there's a change in administrations, I think question marks arise: will this be a priority
• And, yeah, the time might seem a little challenging, but they can move this up the priority list if they
• This was a high-priority issue, and that, like the governor said in the 50-year water action plan, the

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At staff, making sure that our non-recurring recommendations addressed a lot of the priorities that you
• intentional at staff in making sure that our non-recurring recommendations addressed a lot of the priorities
• So your staff knows that community schools is a really big priority for you all as a committee.
• Chairman, when we talk about making a priority, removal from the special ed department, as it is, gives
• they’re committee-endorsed bills, certainly on my side, I’m going to work to try and move those as priority

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• So please make that a priority, uh, for yourselves to get Mescalero booked.
• Just make that a priority, alright? Uh, and there was a third thing, wasn't there? No, maybe not.
• in place to solve them and how much it costs to do that and it has to compete with all the other priorities
• tough it is, and we try to keep our communications with our representatives going and our, our priorities
• law enforcement agencies, including Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story, whose daily duties and priorities

Transcript Highlights:

• through, but it's my understanding that he had them to you weeks, weeks ago, and that it's kind of a priority
• There is also, with the language in this third reprint, language to give priority to students that attend
• So if a student is zoned for a school that is one- or two-star, then they would have priority when they
• AB 568 is one of NFA's highest budget priorities after campus security, for which we are anxiously awaiting
• This was our number one priority from the association's perspective.

Bills: AB49, AB93, AB108, AB169, AB188, AB212, AB221, AB224, AB251, AB282, AB284, AB296, AB304, AB331, AB356, AB366, AB375, AB409, AB467, AB475, AB476, AB479, AB494, AB514, AB515, AB533, AB542, AB550, AB558, AB567, AB568, AB571, AB581, AB583, AB584, AB585, AB595, AB596, AB597, SB170, SB427, SB460, SB508

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, health insurance, speech-language pathology

Transcript Highlights:

• In my opinion, first priority: helping as many students as possible with tuition and fees.
• In my opinion, first priority: helping as many students as possible with tuition and fees.
• In my opinion, first priority: helping as many students as possible with tuition and fees.
• And I just find it curious that if that's such a high priority that Northstar Promise Plus, we didn't
• find it curious that if that's such a find it curious that if that's such a high<00:46:19.839> priority

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• about, and then we take those bills... ...me about, and then we take those bills and try to set a priority
• We build those calendars based on those priorities.
• So our committee members are meeting with members, seeing what the priorities are.
• Then when the list comes out, they pull and take those priorities based on feedback each of them have
• They would lobby the committee to try to say this is a priority, this is what the bill does, and would

Bills: HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684, HJR 99, HB 1399, HJR 5, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 2, HJR 6, HB 1587, HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• In Texas, for election integrity to really be the number two priority in our legislative priorities.
• That's this legislature's priority. But I think this bill is way too broad to address that.
• With busy lives and competing priorities, it's understandable that updating one's voter registration
• Members, the integrity of our electoral system has been and continues to be a priority.

Bills: HB304, HB401, HB556, HB1475, HB1489, HB2259, HB2424, HB2773, HB2811, HB3323, HB304

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship proof, provisional ballot, election security, Texas, voting rights, deep fakes, misleading videos, election integrity, criminal offense, digital misinformation, deep fake, political manipulation, misinformation, artificial media, political influence, artificially generated media, election influence, Texas Election Code, healthcare reform

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Adjutant General's number one priority to continue to support our service members by allowing
• 40.959> one this is the agent general's number one this is the agent general's number one priority
• 42.560> continue<00:13:42.880> to<00:13:43.120> support<00:13:43.360> our priority
• uh to continue to support our priority uh to continue to support our service<00:13:43.920> members
• Cracking down on predatory claim companies is the number one priority of the Veterans of Foreign Wars

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students do not have access to a robust climate education as implementation varies depending on school priorities
• students do not have access to a robust climate education as implementation varies depending on school priorities
• implementation varies depending<00:31:54.960> on<00:31:55.679> school<00:31:56.000> priorities
• ,<00:31:56.559> teacher depending on school priorities, teacher depending on school priorities

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meline Sarillo said that effective disposal of wind and solar infrastructure remains a top priority for
• the state to the other, and there's a lot of also special interests that come to the capital with priorities
• come to the special interests that come to the capital<00:53:44.240> with<00:53:44.440> priorities
• as<00:53:45.640> well<00:53:46.640> and<00:53:47.359> it's capital with priorities
• as well and it's capital with priorities as well and it's sometimes<00:53:48.040> challenging

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• since we're already in a state of emergency for the immigration, which state of emergency would take priority
• Would it be the state of emergency for the natural disaster, or would this take priority?
• since we're already in a state of emergency for the immigration, which state of emergency would take priority
• Would it be the state of emergency for the natural disaster or would this take priority?
• Representative McClure. ...or would this take priority? Representative McClure: Thank you, Mr.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1B on immigration, along with discussion of anticipated Senate changes. The sponsor described the bill as creating a chief immigration officer housed in the Department of Agriculture, establishing an Office of State Immigration Enforcement, expanding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, increasing criminal penalties for certain offenses by unauthorized aliens, ending undocumented-student fee waivers, and providing substantial appropriations for enforcement and related programs. Members also questioned the Senate version’s proposed mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses involving unauthorized aliens, as well as pretrial detention, 287(g) participation, DMV reporting requirements, and the bill’s effects on schools, teachers, social workers, and local agencies. The sponsor and supporting members repeatedly said the bill required broad cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and that existing federal law would control where conflicts arose. A major portion of the debate focused on whether the bill would allow or require immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive settings, and whether teachers, school resource officers, and social workers could be placed in conflict with federal privacy or professional obligations. Members also raised concerns about detention based on suspected status, the standard of proof for immigration-status determinations, prison and jail impacts, workforce shortages, and the fiscal effects on counties and state agencies. The sponsor said the bill did not provide DMV funding, that the state would need to study some implementation questions, and that the appropriations included $25 million for a local law enforcement participation incentive program and up to $350 million for broader implementation and coordination. Several amendments were offered and failed. Representative Chambliss proposed protecting schools, churches, and places of worship from enforcement activity; Representative Escamani offered amendments to preserve in-state tuition for Dreamers and to grandfather currently eligible students; Representative Woodson offered a similar Dreamer-related amendment; and Representative Bartleman proposed barring local law enforcement from entering schools during school hours to detain children solely for immigration status. Supporters of these amendments argued they would protect children, preserve educational access, and prevent trauma in schools and houses of worship. The House rejected each amendment by voice vote, and the transcript ends during debate on the Bartleman school-safety amendment before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our priority is to make sure that those resources go to the places where they are most needed.
• I appreciate their earlier comment about having to juggle priorities in the budget.
• So it is a priority to us, but we had to make some difficult decisions.
• In terms of the numbers that we have, both in the to make that a priority in the court system.
• They have an ability to make, determine some priority about the needs that exist in their communities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that's something that we take as a priority, and I don't know how many times, if somebody was going
• we take<00:01:55.840> uh<00:01:56.159> as<00:01:56.399> a<00:01:56.640> priority
• and<00:01:57.360> and<00:01:57.759> I<00:01:57.920> don't take uh as a priority
• and and I don't take uh as a priority and and I don't know<00:01:58.159> how<00:01:58.320>
• <00:03:54.159> for Medicaid services is a high priority for Medicaid services is a high priority

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, adopting the chamber's 2026 legislative priorities would improve the state's business
• <00:34:13.040> would 2026 legislative priorities would 2026 legislative priorities would improve
• So on the legislative priorities here, um, you talk about taxes and the conforming to the pro-growth
• So on the the legislative<00:54:31.119> priorities<00:54:31.680> here,<00:54:33.040>
• priorities here, um you talk about<00:54:34.559> taxes<00:54:35.119> and<00:54:35.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:55.199> that<00:04:55.520> are<00:04:56.000> drastically priorities that
• are drastically priorities that are drastically misaligned. misaligned. misaligned.
• Child safety should always be the priority.
• safety should always be the priority. safety should always be the priority.
• Ensuring the safety of children in our care is our highest priority.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• have specific amendments to address that and also to clear up the process of procuring the lien and priority
• have specific amendments to address that and also to clear up the process of procuring the lien and priority
• It is one of our priorities.
• Uh, this is one of<01:15:55.880> our<01:15:56.000> priorities.
• <01:15:57.320> Uh, of our priorities. Uh, of our priorities.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing either support or comments rather than opposition. HB 2395, relating to taking marine deposits for research, education, management, or propagation, received support from the University of Hawaii and DLNR. HB 2585, relating to agricultural tourism, drew broad support for its intent to keep agritourism secondary to farming, but agencies and farm groups raised concerns about enforcement, county authority, and the rebuttable presumption language. Testifiers included OPSD, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, a small farm operator, and others, with some urging clearer definitions, simpler registration, and protections for bona fide farms and hosted farm stays. HB 1728, on rainwater catchment systems, was supported in principle by DLNR, which cited drought conditions and said it deferred to counties and the Department of Health on safety and regulation. HB 1881, which would prohibit passenger ropeways on mountain lands, drew strong support from community testifiers who said it would help prevent development disguised as agritourism and protect forests and country lands. HB 1990, establishing penalties and possible foreclosure for unresolved zoning violations, received comments from the Attorney General recommending removal of AG references and more county-centered enforcement, while the Hawaii Association of Realtors warned the 30-day timeline could create problems for absent or unaware homeowners. The committee also heard HB 1712, which would expand and make permanent certain seats on the State Building Code Council. The Plumbers and Fitters union supported the bill, but BIA Hawaii requested amendments to add “licensed contractor” language, and architects and other professionals opposed the measure, arguing that increasing the council from 12 to 15 voting members would make it less efficient and harder to reach quorum. Finally, HB 2151, relating to hempcrete, was supported by a Kauai workforce development advocate and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, who said hempcrete could support agriculture, manufacturing, and affordable housing while reducing carbon and reliance on imported materials. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• members in my district, as I'm sure you all do, across the whole state, that I expect us, this is priority
• Members and people in the public that are watching my district, this is a top priority.
• <01:25:05.840> us,<01:25:06.960> this<01:25:07.199> is<01:25:07.360> priority
• that I expect us, this is priority that I expect us, this is priority number<01:25:08.080> one
• this is a top priority. I'm voting yes. this is a top priority. I'm voting yes.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate File 856, a bill to create a statewide Office of Inspector General to combat fraud. Representative Norris presented a delete-everything amendment that would keep most of the Senate bill but add more emphasis on fraud prevention, fully fund the office, avoid duplicating work already done by the BCA’s financial crimes division, and preserve subject-matter expertise by keeping some existing inspectors general in their agencies. He said the amendment would retain strong investigative powers, including subpoenas, while using the BCA for arrests, and he acknowledged his original version was likely too broad, so he planned to offer smaller amendments if needed. Chair Nash and other members challenged the DE on both process and substance. Nash said the amendment had not been shared with key stakeholders, noted that the Senate author had publicly distanced herself from it, and pointed to a governor’s office document saying the administration wanted a different approach than the Senate bill. He argued the Senate bill was a bipartisan, bicameral product and said the committee should be careful about accuracy and process. Representative Davis questioned Norris about the claim that the Senate bill was underfunded and about the governor’s role in selecting the inspector general, arguing that the governor should not have broad control over the office. Norris responded that the Senate bill’s fiscal note estimated roughly $12 million for the biennium, but the bill appropriated less than that amount, and he said the Constitution requires the governor to appoint the inspector general if the office is in the executive branch. He said the DE tried to preserve independence through a bipartisan advisory commission, Senate confirmation, a five-year term, restrictions on partisan activity, and removal only for cause with a public hearing. After debate from several members, the committee held a roll call and the DE failed on a 7-7 tie, so it was not adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that’s for this committee to decide, you know, what’s the priority?
• <01:14:38.159> Is<01:14:38.400> the<01:14:38.640> priority<01:14:39.120>
• that the priority?
• Is the priority that the priority?
• Is the priority that you're<01:14:39.840> of<01:14:40.080> a<01:14:40.320> certain

Bills: HB0045

Keywords: property tax, exemption, homeowners, long-term, aged, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they said that because of the administration's priorities, they said that they would either have
• <01:20:32.480> said administration's priorities, they said administration's priorities, they
• Yeah, I think with the priority of immigration enforcement and to make, as we talked about, the quotas
• Yeah, I I think with the with<01:24:50.960> the<01:24:51.199> priority<01:24:51.520>
• of<01:24:51.760> immigration with the priority of immigration with the priority of immigration

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.