Transcript Highlights:

• Any members voting with reservations? Reservations with Senator Rhoads. Any members voting no?
• Any members voting with reservations? Reservations with Senator Rhoads. Any members voting no?
• Any members voting with reservations?
• Any members voting with reservations?
• </c><01:26:40.960><c> pursuant</c> costs, prepaids, and reserves pursuant costs, prepaids, and reserves

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House committees on Housing and Education heard HB 1713, HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and transfer remaining balances in the school impact fee and certain fair share accounts to the school facilities special fund. The Department of Education testified in opposition, while the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, the Attorney General’s office (with comments and suggested constitutional amendments), the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, NAP Hawaii, Avalon Development Company, Mark Development, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Landis Research Foundation, BIA Hawaii, and others testified in support. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments. The DOE said the bill would weaken a key tool for matching school facilities to residential growth, while supporters said the current program leaves funds unused or restricted in ways that limit their effectiveness. A lengthy discussion followed about the difference between the older school impact fee program and the separate fair share agreements tied to land use entitlements and change-of-zone approvals. DOE Deputy Superintendent Jesse Suki explained that fair share funds are tied to the district where they were collected, may be too small to build a full school on their own, and are held until needed for projects such as Core Ridge, Central and West Maui, and other planned schools. Committee members pressed DOE on why funds had remained unspent for years, how much money was in the accounts, and whether the department had reviewed audit findings about the program. Members also questioned whether homeowners ultimately bear these costs through developers passing them along. The committee did not take a vote during the portion of the meeting provided. The discussion ended with members and DOE debating whether the current statute should remain in place, whether past entitlements should be affected, and whether the bill should be amended to better address remaining construction-related obligations and the use of collected funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the members present, any voting with reservations or objections?
• Of the members present, any voting with reservations or objections?
• Of the members present, any voting with reservations or objections?
• </c> voting with reservations or objections? voting with reservations or objections?
• </c> voting with reservations or objections? voting with reservations or objections?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard six bills on February 5, 2026, covering timeshare registration, Agribusiness Development Corporation authority, a North Kohala land parcel, business competitiveness, state enterprise zones, and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Testimony was largely supportive across the agenda. For SB 2359, DCCA said the bill would streamline annual renewals and plan amendments for timeshares, though it still wanted review time rather than automatic acceptance. For SB 2169 and SB 2170, ADC and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the measures; members asked about condemnation authority and the intended agricultural use of the North Kohala parcel, with ADC stating it had no current lands it was seeking to condemn without authorization and that the parcel would be suitable for crops such as cucumber, eggplant, and tomato. SB 2263 drew broader discussion about how to measure and improve Hawaii’s business competitiveness. UHERO’s Dr. Steven Bond-Smith supported the bill’s intent but cautioned against relying on a mainland-oriented composite ranking as a benchmark for Hawaii, arguing it could mischaracterize the state’s economy. DBEDT responded that Hawaii must compete within the broader U.S. landscape and that the bill would add accountability and planning around competitiveness goals. On SB 2360, which revises the state enterprise zone program, DBEDT and other supporters said the program helps stimulate business activity and that the bill would better align the program with current business needs; a witness from Min Plastics said the current definition excluded businesses that do substantial custom manufacturing work, and another testifier urged combining enterprise zones with foreign trade zones. Committee questions focused on current zone locations, reporting, and whether technology, aerospace, and creative industries should be included. For SB 304, which concerns the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, HTDC said the bill would expand allowable uses of funds and help support local companies as federal R&D grant opportunities change; it currently awards about 20 grants from roughly 50 applicants each year. After testimony, the committee recessed and then took up decision-making. It recommended passage of SB 2359 with amendments, including extending a review period from 45 to 60 days; SB 2169 with technical amendments; SB 2170 with amendments blanking out the bond appropriation amount; SB 2263 with amendments and a new definition section; SB 2360 with amendments; and SB 3084 with amendments blanking out its appropriation amount. All recommendations were adopted without objections, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we reserve your right to close. Members, any questions? All right.
• Reserve your right to close. Thank you, sir. The Chair calls J.R. Woolley.
• We reserve your right to close. The Chair calls Earl Cook.
• We reserve your right to close. Sven Hendrickson. Thank you.
• We reserve your right to close. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• officers, and that's the traditional reserve officers from back when that was a lot. license, 4,478
• that don't have those strict rules on what their reserve officers could do.
• To be a reserve officer, you have to be a full-time.
• Constable, as a reserve, he never works a day in his life as a peace officer. serving the citizen, and
• The, uh, the reservable officer issue from gaming the system, that's been filed.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any noes or reservations? Representative Shimizu, any other noes or reservations?
• Are there any noes or reservations? Representative Shimizu, any other noes or reservations?
• Are there any noes or reservations? Representative Shimizu, any other noes or reservations?
• Are there any noes or reservations? Representative Shimizu, any other noes or reservations?
• Are there any noes or reservations? Representative Shimizu, any other noes or reservations?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I forget—there in reserves.
• is there a reason why that in reserves is there a reason why that your<00:14:24.399><c> reserves</c>
• Uh we do have<00:14:35.279><c> reserve</c><00:14:35.600><c> spends,</c><00:14:36.160><c> reserve</c><
• 00:14:37.040><c> um</c><00:14:37.199><c> dollars</c> have reserve spends, reserve um dollars have reserve
• I think it's important to note that the reserves, the availability of reserves, has been reduced.

Bills: HF3474, HF3475, HF3508

Keywords: agriculture, funding, research, agricultural institute, state appropriations, education, leadership council, compensation, research institute, dairy assistance, investment, relief initiative, farm support, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measures adopted.
• Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measures adopted.
• Any voting with reservations? Any no votes?
• </c><01:22:27.560><c> and</c> present any voting with reservations and present any voting with reservations
• Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Five members present. Any voting with reservations?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any reservations? Chair, your recommendation is adopted.
• Any reservations? Chair, your recommendation is adopted.
• </c> are present any knows any reservations are present any knows any reservations chair<00:42:54.079
• </c><00:43:10.440><c> okay</c> no any votes with reservations okay no any votes with reservations okay
• </c> knows any with reservation knows any with reservation chair<00:44:27.559><c> your</c><00:44:27.760

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism, Housing, and Economic Development and Technology began with House Bill 604, which would raise the transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point starting January 1, 2026 and direct the revenue to the Hawaiian Homes General Loan Fund. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the bill as a source of consistent funding, while the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed it, warning that Hawaii already has very high tourism taxes and that further increases could hurt visitors, workers, and the broader economy. The committees later voted to pass HB 604 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date; the vote was adopted, with one member noted as having reservations in the housing committee vote and one no vote in that committee. The committees then heard House Bill 973, which would require transient accommodations brokers and others to display all resort fees, taxes, and government-imposed charges upfront in advertised prices and would establish penalties. The Office of Consumer Protection expressed concerns about the bill’s intent requirement and noted a forthcoming federal FTC rule on junk fees; the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the measure as promoting transparency and uniformity, and a public witness also supported price transparency while questioning the size of the penalties. After questions about federal rescission of the FTC rule and enforcement authority, the committees voted to pass HB 973 with amendments as an HD1, including removal of the intent requirement and technical changes, and the recommendation was adopted unanimously. House Bill 594, relating to hotel service disruptions, would require hotel keepers to give notice of disruptions to guests and third-party vendors and allow damages. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to add a purpose section and savings clause to address First Amendment and contract clause issues, and Unite Here Local 5 supported the bill, saying guests are not always notified of disruptions and that the measure would improve transparency; the union agreed with the legal amendments. The committees voted to pass HB 594 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date, adopting the recommendation. The final measures were House Bill 448 and House Bill 449, both related to technology enablement and economic development for small businesses, including tourism-related businesses. HTDC strongly supported both bills but emphasized that technology should be targeted to the actual problem and coordinated with sister agencies rather than applied broadly; the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce also supported HB 448, and HB 449 received support from HTDC and HFIA. The committees adopted amendments to HB 448, including moving a $250,000 appropriation to the committee report, and to HB 449, including deleting duplicative language tied to HB 448 and moving a $500,000 appropriation to the committee report; both bills were passed as HD1s with deferred dates, and the hearing adjourned after the votes were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendations adopted. reservations? Any nos?
• Any reservations? Any nos? amended. Any reservations? Any nos?
• Any reservations? Any knows? amended. Any reservations? Any knows?
• Any reservations? Any nos?
• Any reservations? Any nos? amended. Any reservations? Any nos?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If an Indian tribe chooses to establish a voting center or ballot drop box within the reservation, the
• , and any voter who is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and resides on an Indian reservation
• He said reservation voting is really low.
• She said Pierce County is honored to serve the Puyallup Reservation and that it is important to meet
• To participation, including voters with disabilities and those on tribal reservations.

Bills: HB2356, HB2574, HB2572, HB2460, HJR4212, HB2631, HB2333, HB2462, HB2419, HB2176, HB2491

Keywords: homicide, public records, transparency, law enforcement, victim rights, election, ballot, candidates, deceased, voting law, voting access, military voters, overseas voters, Native American voters, disabled voters, election reform, accessibility, ballot measures, vacancies, elected offices

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to answer any questions, and I reserve my right to close.
• OK, then we'll reserve your right to close. Chair calls Lauren Corrales.
• Thank you again, members, and I reserve the opportunity to close.
• We reserve your right to close. Uh, Chair, call.
• And if not, I'll close, uh, reserve the right to close.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd be happy to answer any questions and we'd like to reserve the right to close.
• Uh, don't go away, but, uh, and we will reserve your right to close.
• Uh, there being no other questions, the chair will reserve your right to close.
• Uh, chair reserves your right to close, uh. The Chair will now call.
• We will reserve, uh, chair, will reserve your right to close. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HB303

Keywords: jail standards, living conditions, Harris County jail, safety, inmate welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I reserve the right to close, Chairman.
• Otherwise, uh, we've got plenty of people here, um, uh, you reserve reserve the right to close.
• After my time in the Corps, uh, I went to the Army Reserve and was subsequently mobilized.
• That failure caused all kinds of adverse and deadly consequences for the Guard and Reserve.
• You may recall there was a Scud missile from Iraq that hit the Army Reserve barracks in Doran, Saudi

Bills: HB39, HB227

Keywords: public school finance, property values, homestead exemptions, funding allocation, education policy, HB227, kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, kratom products, kratom processor, kratom retailer, controlled substances, Texas Controlled Substances Act, Health and Safety Code, Penalty Group 1, tianeptine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine, synthetic kratom, kratom alkaloids

Transcript Highlights:

• Also during this time, utilities maintain a relatively small reserve fund or additional resources that
• amounts to establish utility specific storm reserve amounts and an annual or cruel or contribution.
• The cruel was designed to build up the storm reserve to determine the level over time.
• cover the costs that exceeded the reserve.
• the reserve front fund that's been exhausted.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair votes with reservations. Senator McKelie: reservations. Senator Richards: yes.
• But there are serious reservation.
• </c> Vice chair votes with reservations. Vice chair votes with reservations.
• </c><01:31:24.880><c> Reservations.</c><01:31:26.000><c> Senator</c> Senator McKelie. Reservations.
• Senator McKelvie: "Reservations." Senator Richards: "Reservations." Senator A.: "No."

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate committees heard HB 108 HD2, which would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require liquor commissions to adopt rules. Most testimony came from craft brewers and distillers in support, who said the bill would help small and fragile producers reach customers, move limited or specialty products that wholesalers do not carry, and maintain relationships with visitors after they leave Hawaii. Supporters also argued that direct-to-consumer shipping would not meaningfully increase underage access because common carriers age-gate deliveries and require adult signatures, and that the measure would supplement rather than replace the three-tier system. Opposition came from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association, which said the bill could create problems with minor access and tax revenue and would allow out-of-state manufacturers to ship directly to Hawaii households. Supporters responded that similar concerns were raised when wine direct shipping was adopted and said the existing shipping and reporting systems can track and tax these sales. Several witnesses, including Maui Brewing, Ola Brew, Koloa Rum, Hana Rum, Koulana Rumworks, Koval Distillery, and the Brewers Association, described their small-batch operations, limited distribution options, and the potential for direct shipping to expand sales and jobs. Committee members questioned witnesses about underage access, tax collection, and the impact on the three-tier system. One witness discussed efforts to protect and potentially scale the Hawaiian spirit Okolehao through geographic and sourcing rules. The transcript does not show a final vote or disposition on HB 108 HD2 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Operating reserve. I hate those two funds. I get them confused.
• The target for reserves is 27.5%.
• I like scenario five because I think we need to move the reserves back up.
• Chair, the reserve right now, we're at 26.7. So this proposal of cutting 75 would get us to 27.5.
• I think we should at least look to getting reserves to 28.

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the chair will reserve your right to close. Chairman Bell?
• We request the right to close and reserve the right to close.
• We will reserve your right to close.
• I respectfully request the right to close or reserve the right to close.
• Chair, we'll reserve your right to close. Any questions?

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair, Chair, with amendments, noting the presence of all members, any opposition or reservation
• </c> is there any opposition or reservations is there any opposition or reservations to<00:09:37.200>
• Any opposition or reservations to the chair's recommendation?
• Any opposition or reservations to the chair's recommendation? We pass this measure with amendments.
• Any opposition or reservations to the chair's recommendation?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Government Operations met on January 31, 2025, to hear several bills related to disaster resilience, the National Guard, veteran services, and memorials. SB 111 on hurricane-resistant criteria drew support from HEMA and DAGS, with one witness suggesting tighter language on funding timing, wind-speed standards, and bathroom access. SB 239 on disaster preparedness, requiring new public buildings and schools to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and serve as shelters, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which said its facilities should be able to withstand such storms but shelter capacity would be limited. SB 998, creating a Hawaii First Responders Memorial study and consultant appropriation, drew support from state and local officials and one written opposition. During the first decision-making segment, the committees adopted amendments to SB 111, including changing the effective date language to July 1, 2026. For SB 239, the committees agreed to amendments removing correctional facilities from the shelter requirement, changing “public buildings” to “state buildings,” retaining the January 1, 2026 construction date, and accepting DAGS language. SB 998 was advanced as introduced. Government Operations lacked quorum and said it would formally vote later, but Public Safety and Military Affairs took action on the measures before it. A second Public Safety and Military Affairs hearing later considered SB 1381, SB 1382, SB 1379, SB 609, and SB 1377. Testimony was generally supportive: the Department of Defense, HEMA, the Office of Veteran Services, veterans groups, and others backed the National Guard, emergency preparedness, veteran services, and veteran cemetery measures, while one witness opposed SB 1379. Members asked why SB 1382 needed statutory changes, and the Adjutant General explained it was to better protect National Guard members during law-enforcement support duties. The committee then passed SB 1381 with technical amendments, SB 1382 as is, SB 1379 with technical amendments, SB 609 with amendments including deleting appropriations and changing the effective date to July 1, 2077, and SB 1377 with technical amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The gentleman reserves. The time. The gentleman reserves.
• Um, but I'm going to reserve and yield. The gentleman reserves.
• I'll reserve. The gentleman legislation? I'll reserve.
• </c><02:59:19.520><c> The</c> Reserves. The gentleman reserves. The Reserves.
• The member reserves. The member time. The member reserves.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much does this budget leave us in reserves?
• So part of that reserve amount, or those reserves, are composed of amounts from different funds.
• Fund prior to 2023 was one of the component pieces that made up our reserves.
• So they usually hold a little bit in reserve for those last quarters of the fiscal year.
• It had to be reserved because it was part of the reserves.