Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:49:05.760><c> some</c><00:49:05.920><c> time</c><00:49:06.079><c> here</c><00:49:06.240><c> with
• Okay,<00:49:09.839><c> ladies</c><00:49:10.079><c> and</c><00:49:10.319><c> gentlemen,</c><00:49:11.040
• Next<00:49:12.319><c> process</c><00:49:12.960><c> here</c><00:49:13.440><c> is</c><00:49:14.240><c>
• Oh,<00:49:16.319><c> and</c><00:49:16.480><c> I</c><00:49:16.640><c> have</c><00:49:16.720><c> to</c>
• </c><00:49:19.680><c> where</c><00:49:19.839><c> we</c><00:49:20.000><c> will</c><00:49:20.160><c> assign

Transcript Highlights:

• 06.440><c> indd</c><00:49:06.960><c> indd</c><00:49:07.520><c> I</c><00:49:07.720><c> just</c><00:49:
• ><c> I</c><00:49:12.319><c> think</c><00:49:12.599><c> we</c><00:49:12.760><c> should</c><00:49:13.160
• <00:49:38.280><c> happen</c><00:49:38.599><c> here</c><00:49:38.839><c> I</c><00:49:39.160><c> mean</
• c><00:49:40.160><c> I</c><00:49:40.280><c> think</c><00:49:40.760><c> as</c><00:49:40.960><c> far</c>
• > this</c><00:49:41.880><c> in</c><00:49:42.040><c> my</c><00:49:42.200><c> mind</c><00:49:42.400><c>

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And he<00:49:51.040><c> said,</c><00:49:51.119><c> "Well,</c><00:49:51.440><c> that's</c><00:49:51.680
• "<00:49:58.640><c> And</c><00:49:58.880><c> I</c><00:49:59.040><c> asked,</c><00:49:59.280><c> "Is</c
• [snorts] As<01:49:06.960><c> long</c><01:49:07.040><c> as</c><01:49:07.119><c> there's</c><01:49:07.360
• ><c> not</c><01:49:07.440><c> a</c><01:49:07.679><c> battery,</c><01:49:08.000><c> my</c> As long as
• no</c><01:49:21.119><c> power</c><01:49:21.520><c> coming</c><01:49:21.760><c> into</c><01:49:22.080>

Bills: HB1697 , HB1678 , HB1679 , HB2282 , HB1940 , HB1671 , HB1481 , HB2015 , HB2207 , HB2486

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1697, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions. The DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it recognizes braiding as within the scope of cosmetology practice but warned that a broad exemption could create consumer protection gaps, especially around sanitation training, tool use, and enforcement. Supporters from the Institute for Justice and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued the current licensing regime is overly burdensome and unrelated to braiding, citing the 1,250-hour training requirement, high tuition costs, barriers for low-income entrepreneurs, and the fact that many other states already exempt braiders. Committee members asked whether a standalone sanitation course or similar training could address the board’s concerns, and the board said it would bring that idea back for discussion. The committee also noted 16 written testimonies in support and 2 in opposition. The committee then took up HB 1678, relating to condominium and planned community association elections using cumulative voting. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, said the bill would clarify that cumulative voting applies to all candidates, including write-ins, and would help resolve confusion in association elections. One testifier urged the committee to remove proxy voting, calling it an abuse of power in some associations, while another asked whether cumulative voting and proxies could be manipulated to stack votes. In response, the parliamentarian explained that cumulative voting and proxy voting are different, that proxies simply allow someone to vote on another’s behalf, and that existing deadlines and counting procedures reduce opportunities for abuse. Testimony also emphasized that electronic or mail voting can be secure and efficient, and that the bill would make the process clearer and more democratic. Finally, the committee heard testimony on HB 1679, which would clarify an association board’s authority over electronic meetings, electronic voting, voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Supporters said the measure would clean up statutory language, make electronic voting optional, and fix problems created by a 2024 change that made written-consent timing rules difficult to use for association actions. They also said the bill would clarify that proxies are only used at meetings, not for actions taken without a meeting. One opponent argued the bill needs further amendment because electronic voting is not well defined and could be abused, and questioned the neutrality of parliamentarians testifying on condominium bills. No votes were taken on any of the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• :33.359><c> you</c><00:49:33.520><c> mean</c><00:49:33.760><c> in</c><00:49:33.920><c> terms</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:38.400><c> Uh</c><00:49:38.880><c> just</c><00:49:39.520><c> basically</c><00:49:40.000><c
• authority<00:49:43.119><c> piece</c><00:49:43.520><c> and</c><00:49:43.680><c> the</c><00:49:43.839><
• Um I'm<00:49:56.079><c> trying</c><00:49:56.240><c> to</c><00:49:56.400><c> think</c><00:49:56.480><c
• > about</c><00:49:56.800><c> which</c><00:49:57.760><c> to</c><00:49:57.920><c> get</c><00:49:58.079>

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.119><c> at</c><00:49:00.359><c> new</c><00:49:00.599><c> ideas</c><00:49:01.440><c> new</c><00:49
• ><c> and</c><00:49:03.079><c> try</c><00:49:03.280><c> to</c><00:49:03.400><c> be</c><00:49:03.559><c
• 04.079><c> as</c><00:49:04.200><c> we</c><00:49:04.359><c> can</c><00:49:05.079><c> with</c><00:49:05.559
• </c><00:49:48.680><c> and</c><00:49:48.960><c> it</c><00:49:49.160><c> allows</c><00:49:49.680><c> two
• > the</c><00:49:54.880><c> amendment</c><00:49:55.440><c> first</c><00:49:55.839><c> the</c><00:49:55.960

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• c> front</c><00:49:00.800><c> of</c><00:49:00.880><c> us</c><00:49:01.040><c> that</c><00:49:01.200><
• </c><00:49:02.720><c> Um</c><00:49:03.440><c> I'll</c><00:49:03.680><c> just</c><00:49:03.839><c> cover
• to</c><00:49:05.680><c> lay</c><00:49:05.760><c> the</c><00:49:06.000><c> context.
• In<00:49:06.720><c> the</c><00:49:06.880><c> 2025</c><00:49:07.599><c> February</c><00:49:08.000><c>
• </c><00:49:15.200><c> So,</c><00:49:15.359><c> we're</c><00:49:15.520><c> looking</c><00:49:15.680><c

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:49:05.520><c> action</c><00:49:06.720><c> from</c><00:49:07.040><c> your</c><00:49:07.359><c> guys's
• :10.000><c> the</c><00:49:10.240><c> sponsor</c><00:49:10.640><c> of</c><00:49:10.720><c> the</c><00:
• </c><00:49:12.160><c> to</c><00:49:12.480><c> say,</c><00:49:12.559><c> "Hey,</c><00:49:12.960><c> let's
• let's really<00:49:13.760><c> look</c><00:49:13.920><c> at</c><00:49:14.000><c> this."
• </c><00:49:14.240><c> And</c><00:49:14.400><c> and</c><00:49:14.800><c> I'm</c><00:49:14.960><c> and<

Bills: HB0130 , HB0095 , HB0096 , HB0097 , SF0101 , SF0106 , SF0067 , SF0123

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• :09.720><c> whole</c><00:49:09.920><c> committee</c><00:49:10.240><c> to</c><00:49:10.400><c> hear</c
• ><00:49:11.160><c> a</c><00:49:11.319><c> little</c><00:49:11.480><c> bit</c> the whole committee to
• ><c> with</c><00:49:14.079><c> and</c><00:49:14.240><c> I'm</c><00:49:14.359><c> sure</c><00:49:14.599
• <00:49:17.760><c> probably</c><00:49:18.079><c> knew</c><00:49:18.319><c> what</c><00:49:18.440><c> the
• ><c> are</c><00:49:19.240><c> and</c><00:49:19.440><c> were</c><00:49:20.440><c> um</c><00:49:20.960>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:19.880><c> thank</c><00:49:20.040><c> you</c><00:49:20.200><c> madam</c><00:49:20.440><c>
• /c><00:49:26.720><c> you</c><00:49:26.799><c> had</c><00:49:26.960><c> talked</c><00:49:27.280><c> about
• ><c> to</c><00:49:29.880><c> make</c><00:49:30.000><c> sure</c><00:49:30.160><c> I</c><00:49:30.280><
• :30.880><c> so</c><00:49:31.119><c> some</c><00:49:31.319><c> of</c><00:49:31.559><c> the</c><00:49:32.520
• /c><00:49:34.119><c> be</c><00:49:34.920><c> a</c><00:49:35.119><c> potential</c><00:49:35.440><c> for

Bills: HF1470 , HF1310 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Is<00:49:01.599><c> there</c><00:49:01.760><c> a</c><00:49:01.920><c> second?
• And Madam Chair,<00:49:53.599><c> just</c><00:49:53.760><c> for</c><00:49:53.920><c> record,</c><00:49
• :54.240><c> so</c><00:49:54.400><c> we</c><00:49:54.559><c> have</c><00:49:54.640><c> a</c> Chair, just
• <00:49:55.599><c> for</c><00:49:55.920><c> my</c><00:49:56.160><c> HB306</c><00:49:57.280><c> and</c>
• then the<00:49:57.760><c> favorable</c><00:49:58.160><c> reading</c><00:49:58.400><c> for</c><00:49:

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:49:16.319><c> You</c><00:49:16.559><c> I</c><00:49:16.880><c> think</c><00:49:16.960><c> that</c
• You I think that you would solve<00:49:17.920><c> that</c><00:49:18.319><c> that</c><00:49:18.800><c>
• conundrum</c><00:49:19.680><c> if</c><00:49:19.920><c> you</c><00:49:20.160><c> said</c> solve that
• :22.559><c> be</c><00:49:22.960><c> of</c><00:49:23.359><c> different</c><00:49:24.160><c> political<
• So<00:49:27.040><c> they're</c><00:49:27.280><c> not</c><00:49:27.440><c> representing</c><00:49:28.480

Bills: HB0085 , HB0086

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> and</c><00:49:42.359><c> even</c><00:49:42.760><c> learn</c><00:49:43.119><c> more</c><00:49:43.559
• :45.040><c> now</c><00:49:45.359><c> all</c><00:49:45.520><c> of</c><00:49:45.799><c> this</c><00:49:
• /c><00:49:48.000><c> of</c><00:49:48.240><c> security</c><00:49:48.799><c> is</c> if their sense of security
• is if their sense of security is compromised<00:49:50.200><c> in</c><00:49:50.359><c> the</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:56.160><c> times</c><00:49:56.920><c> that's</c><00:49:57.119><c> 14</c><00:49:57.680><c>

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• :48.440><c> renewal</c><00:49:48.760><c> districts</c><00:49:49.119><c> and</c><00:49:49.240><c> the<
• ><c> very</c><00:49:54.760><c> appropriate</c><00:49:55.280><c> for</c><00:49:55.520><c> cities</c><00
• to come<00:49:56.280><c> to</c><00:49:56.400><c> you</c><00:49:56.799><c> guys</c><00:49:56.960><c> and
• </c><00:49:57.160><c> ask</c><00:49:57.440><c> for</c><00:49:57.680><c> exemptions</c> come to you guys
• ><c> law</c><00:49:58.760><c> and</c><00:49:58.880><c> I</c><00:49:59.000><c> can</c><00:49:59.119><c

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The<01:49:08.320><c> people</c><01:49:08.480><c> that</c><01:49:08.719><c> he's</c><01:49:08.960><c>
• ><c> indicted</c><01:49:10.560><c> in</c><01:49:10.719><c> the</c><01:49:10.880><c> feeding</c><01:49
• c><01:49:18.400><c> with</c><01:49:18.560><c> the</c><01:49:18.719><c> people</c><01:49:18.880><c> who
• "<01:49:24.000><c> These</c><01:49:24.400><c> facts</c><01:49:24.800><c> are</c> responsible."
• hand<01:49:30.800><c> that</c><01:49:31.040><c> is</c><01:49:31.199><c> going</c><01:49:31.280><c> to

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Thank<00:49:54.079><c> you,</c><00:49:54.319><c> Madam</c><00:49:54.640><c> Speaker.
• </c><00:49:54.960><c> I</c><00:49:55.119><c> just</c><00:49:55.280><c> want</c><00:49:55.359><c> to</
• I just want to thank<00:49:55.680><c> Representative</c><00:49:56.160><c> Fininky</c><00:49:56.559><c
• for the clarification.<00:49:57.440><c> I</c><00:49:57.680><c> don't</c><00:49:57.839><c> sit</c><00:
• I don't sit on public safety,<00:49:58.960><c> so</c><00:49:59.200><c> didn't</c><00:49:59.440><c> have

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.280><c> however</c><00:49:00.480><c> the</c><00:49:00.640><c> most</c><00:49:00.839><c> recent</c
• analysis as<00:49:02.119><c> Miss</c><00:49:02.319><c> Johnson</c><00:49:02.680><c> alluded</c><00:49
• ><00:49:07.480><c> actual</c><00:49:07.920><c> Gap</c><00:49:08.200><c> is</c> shows that the actual
• fully</c><00:49:16.319><c> adjust</c><00:49:16.640><c> the</c><00:49:16.760><c> wages</c><00:49:17.240
• <c> of</c><00:49:21.839><c> the</c><00:49:22.119><c> bill</c><00:49:23.119><c> how</c><00:49:23.280><

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Counties<00:49:04.360><c> operate</c><00:49:05.040><c> nursing</c><00:49:05.560><c> homes.
• County<00:49:12.760><c> answers</c><00:49:13.440><c> directly</c><00:49:14.800><c> to</c><00:49:14.960
• They<00:49:17.760><c> deserve</c><00:49:18.560><c> meaningful</c><00:49:19.400><c> participation</c>
• c><00:49:21.800><c> financial</c><00:49:22.600><c> policies</c><00:49:24.000><c> that</c><00:49:24.240
• And<00:49:39.880><c> I</c><00:49:39.960><c> respectfully</c><00:49:41.200><c> ask</c><00:49:41.640><c

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:49:01.119><c> but</c><00:49:01.839><c> a</c><00:49:02.079><c> token</c><00:49:02.400><c> of</c
• ><c> that</c><00:49:06.000><c> jurors</c><00:49:06.480><c> play</c><00:49:06.800><c> in</c><00:49:07.040
• Um and we'll<00:49:10.640><c> also</c><00:49:10.880><c> be</c><00:49:11.119><c> seeking</c><00:49:12.559
• ><c> $684,385</c> um<00:49:16.079><c> for</c><00:49:16.319><c> the</c><00:49:16.559><c> increase.
• </c><00:49:17.440><c> Um</c><00:49:17.839><c> thank</c><00:49:18.000><c> you</c><00:49:18.400><c> for

Bills: SB2444 , SB2446 , SB2450 , SB2453 , SB2461 , SB2457 , SB2462 , SB2313 , SB2528 , SB2532 , SB2571 , SB2678 , SB2529

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs.<00:49:47.920><c> And</c><00:49:48.160><c> so,</c><00:49:49.280><c> um,</c><00:49:49.440><c> we
• </c><00:49:49.680><c> we</c><00:49:50.000><c> I</c><00:49:50.079><c> I</c><00:49:50.240><c> we</c><00
• :49:50.559><c> know</c><00:49:51.040><c> our</c> costs.
• Maybe we<00:49:53.520><c> should</c><00:49:53.680><c> get</c><00:49:53.920><c> some</c><00:49:54.160>
• /c><00:49:57.359><c> I</c><00:49:57.599><c> would</c><00:49:57.839><c> ask</c><00:49:58.079><c> the</

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:27.840><c> we</c><01:49:28.000><c> have</c><01:49:28.239><c> the</c><01:49:28.440><c> amendment</
• discussion on the amendment<01:49:32.320><c> all</c><01:49:32.560><c> right</c><01:49:33.239><c> all
• c> amendment</c><01:49:34.719><c> say</c><01:49:35.000><c> I</c><01:49:35.639><c> I</c><01:49:36.080>
• those opposed<01:49:37.880><c> guys</c><01:49:38.280><c> have</c><01:49:38.480><c> it</c><01:49:39.159
• ><c> and</c><01:49:39.320><c> now</c><01:49:39.480><c> we</c><01:49:39.679><c> have</c><01:49:39.840>

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs