Transcript Highlights:

• Again, I'd have to defer either to nonpartisan staff or maybe one of our partners in the audience who
• Again, I'd have to defer either to nonpartisan staff or maybe one of our partners in the audience who
• Again, I'd have to defer either to nonpartisan staff or maybe one of our partners in the audience who
• Again, I'd have to defer either to nonpartisan staff or maybe one of our partners in the audience who
• I'll defer to them. Thank you, Miss Per. Looks like she's ready to say something.

Bills: HF3487, HF3421

Keywords: anonymous reporting, school safety, education, crisis intervention, threat reporting, early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers

Transcript Highlights:

• So I will defer to Eric first. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members.
• I will defer to our nonpartisan if we're able to do that. Yeah, I don't think we can. Ma'am, Mr.
• to<00:16:12.079> our<00:16:12.240> nonpartisan<00:16:12.959> if at I will defer
• <00:38:27.599> who<00:38:27.760> wants I'll defer to our nonpartisan who wants I'll
• defer to our nonpartisan who wants to<00:38:28.160> walk<00:38:28.320> us<00:38:28.560

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, starting on page 163, there is one rule change that is related to our 457 deferred compensation
• Liz, I’m going to have to defer to you.
• We'll just defer to the chairman to set the date.
• We'll just defer to the chairman to set the date.
• We'll defer to him; he's the chairman. So any... Representative Feigley, thanks, Madam Chair.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• foreign governments such as China and Russia harass and coerce people on U.S. soil, and I'm going to defer
• foreign governments such as China, Russia, harassed, coerce people on U.S. soil, and I'm going to defer
• And I'm going to defer to Senator Hodges. Do you want to go next? No, you go first. Okay, okay.
• I am going to defer my bill, Senate Bill 481. Is there any objection to deferring Senate Bill 481?
• There being none, that bill will be deferred. You beat Kleinpeter for the first time.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• where foreign governments such as China, Russia, harass, coerce people on U.S. soil, and I'm going to defer
• where foreign governments such as China, Russia, harass, coerce people on U.S. soil, and I'm going to defer
• where foreign governments such as China, Russia, harass, coerce people on U.S. soil, and I'm going to defer
• I am going to defer my bill, Senate Bill 481. Is there any objection to deferring Senate Bill 481?
• There being none, that bill will be deferred. You beat Caleb Kleinpeter for the first time.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 1033, which expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include airports, heliports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, certain government and military sites, and oil and gas platforms. Supporters said the bill is part of a broader effort to position Louisiana for aerospace and defense investment, while opponents from the Sierra Club warned that repeatedly broadening critical infrastructure could chill protest and free-speech activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1034, which authorizes local officials to declare temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with one extension. The sponsor and the Department of Economic Development said it would be a tool for aerospace and defense projects and other public-safety needs; ACLU testimony raised concerns about notice, property rights, and possible impacts on public waterways. The bill was also reported favorably. The committee next considered several criminal justice bills. House Bill 51, barring post-conviction bail for defendants convicted of aggravated offenses against children, and House Bill 55, limiting public disclosure of juror information to protect juror privacy, both received broad support and were reported favorably. House Bill 635, aimed at protecting Louisianians from transnational repression by foreign governments through penalty enhancements for underlying crimes, was supported by a national security advocate and reported favorably. House Bill 133, increasing penalties for students who commit attacks on teachers or other students, was amended to address juvenile procedure and exceptionalities; teachers testified about serious injuries they suffered, while the ACLU and criminal defense lawyers raised concerns about mandatory minimums and individualized sentencing. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 676, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, or “body brokering,” in the substance-use treatment industry. The sponsor and Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives described schemes that steer vulnerable patients into fraudulent treatment arrangements for profit; the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 159 created a Caddo Parish pilot program for pretrial home incarceration with electronic monitoring to reduce jail overcrowding. The sheriff said the jail is far over capacity and that the program would be limited to nonviolent, non-sex-offense defendants with risk assessments, court approval, and behavioral-health check-ins. Witnesses supported the concept but urged tighter liability language; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill with amendments. House Bill 106, dealing with unauthorized administration of melatonin to children in child care settings, was reported favorably. Later, the committee amended and reported House Bill 108, which changes juror qualifications to exclude people convicted of crimes of violence or sex offenses from criminal juries, after opponents argued it would unnecessarily bar citizens from jury service. House Bill 784, a cleanup bill on sex offender registration and notification, was amended and reported with technical changes. Senate Bill 388, which removes a trigger clause tied to a border compact and authorizes review of state contracts for foreign-adversary benefit, was amended and reported. Finally, House Bill 772, a bail-procedure reform requiring accurate mailing and electronic notice information and consolidating notice rules, was presented as a fairness and efficiency measure and had support from the bail industry and prosecutors; the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, higher ed certainly needed, asset preservation, we call it, deferred maintenance, whatever you want
• preservation,<00:04:41.199> we<00:04:41.440> call<00:04:41.600> it,<00:04:41.919> deferred
• preservation, we call it, deferred preservation, we call it, deferred maintenance,<00:04:42.880>
• One is consistent large bonding bills would help with a significant amount directed toward deferred maintenance
• We're responsible for helping them with deferred maintenance. So that's one thing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to defer to our elders, uh, Representative Sarge, and the voice of age, experience, and wisdom
• I think that I'll defer to the sponsor, but I think that means that whether you have your aunt hunt with
• I think that I'll defer to the sponsor, but I think that means that whether you have your aunt hunt with
• I<00:28:58.760> will<00:28:58.880> defer<00:28:59.200> to I will defer to I
• will defer to um um um >> Yeah,<00:29:00.440> will<00:29:00.560> you<00:29:00.640

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:30 HB 571 Discussion 01:29 HB 571 Roll Call Vote 04:02 HB 542 Discussion 06:01 HB 542 Roll Call Vote 10:21 HB 142 Discussion 13:30 HB 142 Roll Call Vote 22:47 HB 212 Discussion 24:00 HB 212 Roll Call Vote 25:40 HB 658 Discussion 27:01 HB 658 Roll Call Vote 32:02, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Um, for right now, we will propose to defer 2121. >> Okay. And we will, because you're emerging.
• And we will defer Senate Bill 3239.
• And we will defer Senate Bill 3239.
• For now, the chair recommends that we defer action on Senate Bill 2121 and on Senate Bill 3239.
• For now, the chair recommends that we defer action on Senate Bill 2121 and on Senate Bill 3239. >> Okay

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several public safety and emergency-related measures. SB 3192, on emergency healthcare license waivers, drew support from nursing and healthcare advocates who said automatic emergency licensure during a governor-declared emergency would help avoid delays in bringing qualified clinicians to disaster areas, citing the Lahaina wildfire response. The committee reported 13 supportive testimonies, none in opposition, and one comment. It later recommended passage of SB 3192 with technical non-substantive amendments and a defective effective date, and the recommendation was adopted by vote. SB 2121, requiring ASL interpretation and visible picture-in-picture display during official emergency announcements, received supportive testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters. DAP demonstrated why captions alone are not sufficient and why an interpreter on screen improves effective communication. Broadcasters supported the bill’s intent but raised practical concerns about implementation and staffing, suggesting amendments. SB 3239, which would appropriate funds to HMA for bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency, was supported by legal aid and immigrant-rights advocates who emphasized the need for language access during disasters and noted the large LEP population in Hawaii. After discussion, the chair proposed folding the sign-language and multilingual access concepts into SB 21109, a broader emergency preparedness communications bill, and the committee deferred SB 2121 and SB 3239. The committee also heard SB 2645 on fire prevention and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire marshal supported the bill’s provisions to modernize the office, create cross-certified assistant fire marshals, shift inspections to a risk-based schedule, establish the state fire code as the baseline, and create a special fund, but DLNR opposed the section changing the marshal selection process from a council-based appointment to gubernatorial appointment. The chair ultimately recommended passage of the proposed SD2 with blank appropriation amounts and committee-report concerns, and the recommendation was adopted. The committee then passed SB 21109 with amendments, incorporating the deferred sign-language and language-access ideas into the broader emergency communications framework. It also later took up measures from the prior day’s agenda, passing SB 2882, SB 3191, and SB 2339 with amendments, including changes to the state buildings, water safety/drowning prevention, and building code council measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, I'm going to defer to the expert as we deal with it.
• But again, I defer to the expert, please.
• So, Madam Chair, if I may, I'm going to go ahead and defer also to the...
• Madam Chair, and I'm going to defer, of course, to Ms. Garcia, please. Thank you.
• Madam Chair, and I'm going to defer, of course, to Ms. Garcia, please. Thank you.

Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• I will defer the majority of that answer to the panel, but what I can speak to is what our data shows
• I believe that the minimum number of questions to be answered is 75, and I may have to defer to my Board
• So yes, industry standards, and I defer to my colleagues, the deans and the directors, and the panel
• to really go into their... defer to my colleagues, the deans, and the directors, and the panel to really
• I would like to defer to the Board of Nursing and... ...answer the question about what is the process

Summary: The subcommittee met to examine Florida’s nursing education pipeline and the state’s persistently low NCLEX passage rates. Chair Tuck opened by noting the projected nurse shortage and Florida’s ranking near the bottom nationally for first-time NCLEX pass rates. The Department of Health explained the Board of Nursing’s approval process for nursing programs, including application requirements, probation standards, and termination for programs that repeatedly fail passage-rate benchmarks. The Florida Center for Nursing then presented statewide data showing Florida has more test takers than most states, but still trails the national average; the gap has narrowed in recent years, though Florida remains below average. Members focused heavily on why the state continues to underperform, with discussion of faculty shortages, clinical placement constraints, accreditation, student preparedness, and the large share of newer private for-profit programs among those placed on probation. Committee members asked about how probation works, what happens when programs improve, and whether the board requires corrective plans. They also questioned the relationship between program type and outcomes, the effect of Operation Nightingale, and how many students fail and retest. The Florida Center for Nursing said first-attempt pass rates are the standard measure and that students who fail are expected to remediate and retest, though costs vary. The center also said Florida’s data shows accredited programs outperform approved or probationary ones, and that the state’s nursing workforce challenges are tied to broader issues such as faculty vacancies, clinical site competition, and student demographics, including many students balancing work, family, and language barriers. A panel of nursing school leaders from public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit institutions then described strategies used to improve outcomes. These included transparent recruitment, early orientation, tutoring, success coaching, stronger faculty development, curriculum mapping to NCLEX standards, higher course benchmarks, mandatory remediation, simulation labs, and commercial NCLEX prep tools such as ATI, Kaplan, and HESI. Several panelists said their programs had improved after probation or had very high passage rates, and they emphasized that student success depends on academic preparation, clinical experience, and support services. Members also asked about tuition, program length, translation into other languages, and faculty recruitment; panelists said costs vary widely, faculty hiring is difficult because hospitals pay more, and some schools are considering medical Spanish and immersion options rather than full curriculum translation.

Transcript Highlights:

• accrued over time, um, with a pick interest feature, which basically means that the interest is deferred
• And the, the assets on the balance sheet include the deferred development costs and they include the
• I'll defer to my colleague Mitch, our Representative Little on, on being able to get that produced in

Bills: HB 2007, HB 2462, HB 2621, HB 2921, HB 3187, HB 3331, HB 3332, HJR 144, HB 3514, HB 3528, HB 3539, HB 3563, HB 3720, HB 3726, HB 3751, HB 3859, HB 3947, HB 4148, HB 4164, HB 4337, HB 4346, HB 4368, HB 4706, HB 4916, HB 4950, HB 4967, HB 5177, HB 5603

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, regional transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd have to defer to >> Mr. Chairman.
• I need to defer that to my county treasurer, who is also here.
• I I would defer to the assessors clear.
• Chairman, I will defer to the Mr. Chairman, I will defer to the director<00:57:45.280> Fanning.
• to the assessors probably I would defer to the assessors on<01:01:55.599> that.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We defer to the department of artist.
• So, questions or concerns about my request to defer? >> Nope.
• concerns about my request to defer? concerns about my request to defer?
• defer this measure. defer this measure.
• So, my recommendation is to defer House Bill 2185.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, please have discussion, stop, defer, and kill this geothermal bill.
• So again, please have discussion, stop, defer, and kill this geothermal bill.
• So again, please have discussion, stop, defer, and kill this geothermal bill.
• So again, please have discussion, stop, defer, and kill this geothermal bill.
• So again, please have discussion, stop, defer, and kill this geothermal bill.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it may very well relate to that, but I would rather defer that question to Representative Vose.
• Again, I'd have to defer<00:36:17.599> to<00:36:18.240> my<00:36:18.400> question.
• Is there really a defer to my question.
• defer to him<00:36:42.320> on<00:36:42.480> that.
• Uh so I am going to defer. sense to you? Uh so I am going to defer.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we find some money in the corners and cracks of our budget for this, that we would, well, I would defer
• we find some money in the corners and cracks of our budget for this, that we would, well, I would defer
• ability to keep up with deferred ability to keep up with deferred maintenance.<01:10:06.719>
• can see our backlog of deferred can see our backlog of deferred maintenance<01:11:06.400> grows
• > maintenance also reduces our deferred maintenance also reduces our deferred maintenance backlog

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, I respectfully urge you to defer this resolution, and um, mahalo for the opportunity to testify
• So, um, I respectfully urge you to defer this resolution, and um, mahalo for the opportunity to testify
• So, um I respectfully urge you<00:20:04.960> to<00:20:05.120> defer<00:20:05.520> this
• <00:20:05.760> resolution<00:20:06.400> and<00:20:06.880> um you to defer this
• resolution and um you to defer this resolution and um hollow<00:20:07.440> for<00:20:07.520><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met on April 16, 2025, and heard three resolutions. STR 57 SD1 urged Congress to create a national reinsurance program to address insurance impacts from catastrophic natural disasters; there was no public testimony, and the committee later recommended passage without amendment. STR 198 SD1 encouraged Hawaii insurers and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to pursue subrogation claims against polluters to reduce insurance costs for residents; again, there was no public testimony, and the committee recommended passage without amendment. The committee spent most of its hearing on STR 136 SD1/HD1, which would create a Hawaii State Energy Office nuclear energy working group to study advanced nuclear power technologies. The Public Utilities Commission and State Energy Office provided written testimony and answered questions. Testimony from 350 Hawaii, Energy Justice Network, and an individual witness opposed the measure, arguing nuclear power and small modular reactors are too expensive, unproven, slow to deploy, create unresolved safety and waste issues, and do not align with Hawaii’s renewable energy goals. Opponents also criticized the measure’s amendment process, saying it replaced the original contents without adequate public notice. During decision-making, the committee adopted the recommendation to pass STR 57 SD1 unamended and STR 198 SD1 unamended. For STR 136 SD1/HD1, the committee adopted a recommendation to pass the measure with amendments, including changing it to a one-year working group with an interim report in 2026 and a final report before the 2027 Legislature. The motion passed with one recorded no vote and some excused members, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• When it was transferred, there was, you know, $300 million in deferred maintenance.
• When it was transferred, there was, you know, $300 million in deferred maintenance.
• When it was transferred, there was, you know, $300 million in deferred maintenance.
• deferred maintenance. deferred maintenance.
• Uh, I'm going to defer this measure.

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:18.880> to<00:30:19.120> LSO now, I I would certainly defer to LSO now, I I
• <00:30:35.520> to But uh madam chairman I would defer to But uh madam chairman I would defer
• Would defer to LSO legal there. But it certainly, the intent is there.
• Would defer to LSO legal punt here.
• Would defer to LSO legal there.<00:35:12.560> Uh,<00:35:12.800> but<00:35:13.040> it

Bills: SF0023, SF0057

Keywords: mental health, involuntary hospitalization, examiners, public safety, Wyoming legislature, hospital pricing, healthcare transparency, public health, civil penalties, shoppable services, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I don't know, and again I'll defer to Administrator Barrows on this, um, I believe HEMA did get
• What I don't know, and again I'll defer What I don't know, and again I'll defer to<02:39:43.439>
• I'm going to defer House Bill 2439 and allow House Bill 2554 to be the vehicle that moves forward.
• Um<03:07:38.720> I'm<03:07:39.040> going<03:07:39.200> to<03:07:39.439> defer
• House Bill 2439 Um I'm going to defer House Bill 2439 and<03:07:41.520> allow<03:07:41.840>

Bills: HB676

Keywords: HB676, Hawaii correctional facilities, youth correctional facilities, adult correctional facilities, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Youth Services, inmate phone calls, prison phone calls, jail phone calls, free prison calls, free communication services, incarcerated persons, prison reform, reentry, family visitation, recidivism, video visitation, electronic messaging, commissions, ancillary fees

Summary: The committee heard three public safety bills. HB 2235 would appropriate $1.3 million for the Military Affairs and Community Relations Office to strengthen coordination on military and defense issues. Supporters, including the Hawaii National Guard and DBEDT’s military relations office, said the office helps Hawaiʻi understand federal contracting, USA Jobs, and military-related economic impacts. One member questioned why the state should fund a DoD-related office while Hawaiʻi remains under-reimbursed on impact aid; supporters responded that the office serves Hawaiʻi communities and helps prepare residents for federal jobs. The chair said she intended to recommend the bill pass with a HD1, a blank appropriation to be filled in the committee report, technical amendments, a defective effective date, and updated office title language. HB 2263 would expand Hawaiʻi family leave law to cover qualifying military exigencies. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii National Guard supported the measure, saying military families often face short-notice deployments, relocations, briefings, and urgent family arrangements that require time away from work, and that aligning state law with federal standards would provide clarity and consistency. The chair said she would recommend passage with a HD1, a defective effective date, and technical amendments. HB 2291 would clarify that certain National Guard Youth and Educational Programs employees are excluded from collective bargaining, rename the program, and codify its Hawaiian name. The Hawaii National Guard said it was a housekeeping bill with no appropriation, but requested an amendment to align the bill with updated authorities and program references; the chair asked for proposed language before the later decision-making. She said she would recommend passage with a defective date and the requested amendment if provided, and then recessed the hearing until 11:30 a.m. for decision-making on all three bills.