Transcript Highlights:

• the cannabis industries including the cannabis industry.<01:04:40.559><c> Um</c><01:04:41.359><c> going
• Um going back to to the industry.
• ,</c> consolidation of the cannabis industry, consolidation of the cannabis industry, cannabis<01:05:
• </c> that we should be excluding industries that we should be excluding industries that<01:05:59.680>
• <01:09:56.320><c> hemp,</c><01:09:56.640><c> cannabis</c> industrial hemp, cannabis industrial hemp,

Bills: HF3579 , HF3549 , HF3548 , HF4388 , HF3566

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• from the industry and teach our<00:14:38.120><c> students</c><00:14:38.600><c> so</c><00:14:38.839><
• I represent industry in the Department of Defense.
• We need all these people coming out to support our industry.
• </c> opportunities and Industry opportunities and Industry I<01:15:25.920><c> decided</c><01:15:26.320
• </c><01:16:39.440><c> in</c> Steven Sasaki I represent industry in Steven Sasaki I represent industry

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know all of the diversity of industry. That just simply is not enough.
• Even though I had done the work, I did not receive the industry-recognized certifications I needed.
• Margaret Gladstein, on behalf of the Security Industry Association, in respectful opposition.
• When labor and management partner on workforce development, the result is stronger industries, a more
• We can strengthen entire industries. Oh, thank you, Madam Chair.

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills focused largely on labor, education, workforce, and public employment issues. AB 65 would provide public school employees up to 14 weeks of leave with full benefits for pregnancy and pregnancy-related health issues; supporters said current rules force educators to exhaust sick leave and suffer long-term retirement penalties, while the bill’s author noted it mirrors budget trailer language. AB 1818 would change HEERA procedures for CSU bargaining by shifting certain renegotiation disputes to PERB; Teamsters and other labor groups supported it as a way to stop CSU from unilaterally refusing agreed raises, while CSU moved from opposed to neutral after amendments. AB 1940 would explicitly reference menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause in workplace protections; supporters said it would clarify rights and improve awareness, while business opposition argued existing reasonable-accommodation law already covers these issues and warned of expanded liability. AB 1534 would add guardrails for new short-term Workforce Pell programs, including tuition caps, limits on income-share agreements, and transparency around partnerships with unaccredited entities; the author later said the bill would be amended to include private institutions. AB 1896 would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public jobs during a specified period; supporters framed it as a public-trust measure, while police and public-safety groups opposed categorical exclusion and urged a more individualized vetting approach. AB 2300 would streamline distribution of WIOA workforce funds and reduce delays in local workforce board contracting, with supporters emphasizing faster service delivery and no reduction in accountability. AB 2223 would require CDCR to report standardized data on contracted medical and mental health staffing, vacancies, and costs, following an audit that found heavy reliance on contractors and poor transparency. AB 2483 would create a pathway and certification for formerly incarcerated firefighters to move into firefighting careers after release, with strong support from the author and witnesses who described the work as a real career path and reentry opportunity. AB 2142 would require temporary classified school employees working more than 75% of the school year to receive permanent-employee benefits and protections; school administrators and community college groups opposed it as too rigid for grant-funded and fluctuating positions. AB 2367 would require quarterly reporting from state-run health care facilities on vacancies, overtime, registry/contract staffing, and missed staffing minimums, building on state auditor recommendations; health care workers supported it as a transparency and accountability measure. Several measures were voted out of committee or placed on call. AB 1818, AB 1534, AB 2300, AB 2483, and AB 2223 all received do-pass votes to the Senate Appropriations Committee, though each was placed on call after roll call. AB 65 and AB 1940 also advanced on do-pass motions but were placed on call. AB 2142 received a do-pass vote with opposition and was placed on call. S.J.R. 15, a resolution urging Congress to protect California employers from higher federal unemployment taxes tied to the state’s UI debt, drew divided testimony: business groups supported it, while labor and some members argued California should solve the problem itself and keep the unemployment system solvent; the resolution was also placed on call. The transcript also included committee discussion about working with authors on amendments, especially for AB 1940 and AB 1534, and several members noted support or co-authorship while raising concerns about implementation details and fiscal impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, our AV industry... ...of actual response.
• Right now, our AV industry is in a separate universe.
• So members, I always caution everybody, let's not kill industry before it gets going.
• Better than to have collaboration with the industry partners who understand their own product the best
• We will have superseding causes, you know, things like PG&E that have nothing to do with the industry

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on local transportation funding, roadway safety, e-bike regulation, veterans’ parking access, high-speed rail reporting, autonomous vehicle oversight, and wildlife-vehicle collision planning. SB 1408 would authorize Contra Costa County to place a countywide transportation sales tax measure on the ballot; supporters said it would continue funding highways, transit, bike/pedestrian projects, and paratransit, while CalTax opposed it over affordability and tax burden concerns. SB 990 would allow targeted Caltrans business-logo signage for Ridgecrest along Highway 395; supporters framed it as a rural safety and economic access measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1167 would tighten consumer protections by clarifying what qualifies as a legal e-bike and requiring clearer labeling and disclosures; supporters included bicycle advocates, medical groups, local governments, and auto clubs, while no opposition testified. SB 1034 would make it easier for disabled veterans rated permanent and total by the VA to obtain disabled parking placards, with strong support from veterans’ organizations and no opposition. SB 1177 would require the High-Speed Rail Project Update report to continue including additional information on revenue options, timelines, and international comparisons; the City of Burbank opposed, while the sponsor argued the bill preserves a historical record and transparency. SB 1246 would impose new remote-operations, response-time, and manual override requirements on autonomous vehicles; first responders and labor groups supported it, industry and business groups opposed it as duplicative of recently enacted law and DMV rules, and the committee discussed possible amendments and coordination issues. The committee also considered SB 1279, which would extend Long Beach’s speed camera pilot to Pacific Coast Highway; supporters cited fatal crash data and pedestrian safety, while the CHP association moved from opposition to neutral after discussions. The committee then took up SB 1250, a planning bill to integrate wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation into transportation planning, with the author emphasizing targeted crossings and fencing at known hotspots. Several consent items were approved on a 10-0 vote, and SB 1246 was reported out 7-2, while other bills were held on call pending quorum or later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Get a pilot program working with the industry and high school... ...with the industry and a high school
• And I think that we all know with the expansion of industry, we're going to need CDL drivers in these
• The earlier we expose our students to all sorts of trades and industry, the more we're better off in
• , the maritime industry on our waterway, and they do internships for students in the summer.
• , the maritime industry on our waterway, and they do internships for students in the summer.

Bills: HCR26 , HB113 , HB380 , HB392 , HB476 , HB513 , HB608 , HB682 , HB905 , HB987

Committee: House Education

Keywords: human growth, development education, prenatal education, state standards, biological science, grading scale, education reform, students, public schools, academic policy, community college, technical education, pilot program, driver training, transportation, Safe Haven Law, flyers, child safety, infant relinquishment, name image likeness

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Meracken and all of business and industry.
• When we started this conversation, All of business and industry.
• Meracken, and all of business and industry, we have. And we could have left it at that.
• We don't know if, for example, OSHA will carve out certain industries.
• And working with different industries, they brought forth the explanation.

Bills: SB6 , SB62 , SB74 , SB90 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB133 , SB135 , SB182 , SB185 , SB193 , SB207 , SB217 , SB229 , SB233 , SB260 , SB262 , SB280 , SB281 , SB300 , SB306 , SB378 , SB382 , SB393 , SB403 , SB422 , SB427 , SB431 , SB434 , SB442 , SB452 , SB456 , SB468 , SB472 , SB487 , SB503 , SB6

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Megan Stokes, with the Computer and Communications Industry Association, in respectful opposition.
• Notably, the industry standing in opposition to AB 1709 has disregarded these acute harms entirely.
• I know the industry is mentioning... ...other dangerous ones. I question the thesis.
• While lengthy, some of that reflects the bill's one-size-fits-all approach across industries.
• It would be in better shape if the industry said, here's what would work.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• We must stand by the industry partners who have made the choice to embrace renewable fuels.
• There's a lot of potential in this industry for SAF production.
• Are we just supporting an industry that we're going to need to support for the next 100 years?
• Are we just supporting an industry that we're going to need to support for the next 100 years?
• I believe supporting SAF has built a green and stronger future for our industry and our members.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that we've got a lot of impact here for California's arts, cultures, and creative industries.
• On Monday, SAG-AFTRA, along with the Coalition of Entertainment Industry Unions and Studios, signed on
• They've made it through a crucible of one of the toughest industries around.
• When you compare that to other industry sectors that I think we think are large, that's very large.
• And that was because of the strong contributions to the creative industries and from the creative industries

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think we've come together with a good understanding between both labor and industry of how we can
• And I think we've come together with a good understanding between both labor and industry of how we can
• </c><00:05:30.880><c> The</c><00:05:31.120><c> underlying</c> other industry partners.
• The underlying other industry partners.
• </c> concerns that the cottage food industry concerns that the cottage food industry folks<00:52:20.160

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You are backed by very credible agencies and people that are all a part of this industry.
• You have absolutely no ideas on how to improve this Correctional Industries advisory committee, ideas
• You know, the Correctional Industries is focused on sort of re-entry.
• I noticed, I'm just looking, that there are the current makeup of the Hawaii correctional industry.
• is focus on sort of re-entry Industries is focus on sort of re-entry you<00:53:08.079><c> did</c><00

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The committees met on February 19, 2025, to hear advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with GM 645/GM 650 for Mike Lambert as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state officials, community leaders, nonprofit representatives, and others, who praised Lambert’s collaboration with communities, communication skills, and practical approach to public safety. Several speakers highlighted his work on homelessness, game rooms, community policing, and his ability to work across public health and law enforcement lines. Lambert told the committee he has 22 years of law enforcement experience, including patrol, community policing, training, narcotics/vice, and work on fentanyl, internet crimes against children, and ghost guns, and said his priorities would include building community trust, improving training and discipline, and addressing fireworks and firearms enforcement. Senators asked about fireworks, federal collaboration, ports and airport screening, recruitment, pay parity, and whether the department should expand into a more formal state police force; Lambert said he would need time to learn the new port/shipping environment and would support a state police class and expanded enforcement capacity. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then heard GM 567 for Jean Dello Jr. as chairperson of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Supporters, including Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice and Hawaii Paroling Authority staff, described him as honest, ethical, fair, and experienced in balancing public safety with rehabilitation and re-entry. Dello said he came out of retirement in 2021 to serve on the board, and that his background in federal probation and state corrections led him to favor evidence-based practices over simple compliance monitoring. He emphasized the need to weigh public safety with giving inmates a real opportunity to transition successfully back into the community. No final action or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:09:46.080><c> broader</c> share of broader industries, broader share of broader industries,
• And so that way, when you have one industry take a hit, you have other industries around that can help
• And so that way, when you have one industry take a hit, you have other industries around that can help
• And so that way, when you have one industry take a hit, you have other industries around that can help
• ,</c><01:23:57.120><c> is</c> disparity in the in the industries, is disparity in the in the industries

Committee: Joint Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And department of labor and industry.
• </c> Department of Labor and Industry. Department of Labor and Industry.
• </c> experience and being in anac industry experience and being in anac industry and<00:30:01.840><c>
• </c> this slide, you can also see an industry this slide, you can also see an industry breakdown.<01:
• </c> state policy on a particular industry state policy on a particular industry follow<01:04:31.280>

Bills: HF3545 , HF4004

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:34.640><c> is</c> and service delivery and the industry is and service delivery and the industry
• The data center industry is committed to paying its full cost of service for electricity.
• The data center industry is efforts.
• The data center industry is committed<00:25:51.360><c> to</c><00:25:51.520><c> being</c><00:25:51.679
• :07.040><c> been</c><00:53:07.200><c> exempt</c> industrial um users have been exempt industrial um users

Bills: HF2928 , HF2912 , HF2297

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Jane Boutai, director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
• </c> the Department of Labor and Industrial the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.<00:25:03.200
• Other industries contribute significantly to the state's growth.
• </c><00:29:08.880><c> Um</c> other industries. Um other industries.
• Um other<00:29:11.440><c> industries</c><00:29:12.000><c> contribute</c> other industries contribute

Bills: HB1813 , HB2429 , HB2423 , HB1996 , HB1851 , HB2546 , HB2028 , HB2583 , HB2490 , HB2545 , HB2114 , HB1859 , HB2534 , HB2474 , HB1863 , HB2475

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> gaming industry. gaming industry.
• </c> here uh and all the work in the industry here uh and all the work in the industry to<00:02:42.640
• And I think this would industry.
• ,</c><02:40:58.720><c> and</c> the public, hear from the industry, and the public, hear from the industry
• industry.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Gaming

Transcript Highlights:

• It lets companies in strategic industries elect to make their Cal Competes credits refundable.
• It lets companies in strategic industries elect to make their Cal Compete's credits refundable.
• SB 1120 applies that same logic to industries that are critical to our economic future.
• SB 1120 applies that same logic to industries that are critical to our economic future.
• SB 1120 applies that same logic to industries that are critical to our economic future.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re a trade association for the historic reconstruction industry that has members across the state.
• We know the industry is very litigious, and we believe they are intending to occupy the entire field
• We know the industry is very litigious, and we believe they are intending to occupy the entire field
• And, as I mentioned, the industry has been litigious about some of these issues in the past.
• So I understand that the industry is opposed and has long sought to preempt. is opposed and has long

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so as we venture more and more into industrial solar and, um, as you have industrial solar, you'll
• She's shaking her head. and um as you have industrial solar you and um as you have industrial solar you
• </c><00:14:33.680><c> solar</c> uh located on those industrial solar uh located on those industrial solar
• And it's, you know, there's a whole industry that takes the gold.
• </c> whole industry that takes the gold. whole industry that takes the gold.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Add in the huge bounce back in investment returns over the last year, and the industry reported $169
• and vice president of operations for UPS Industrial Companies.
• I have over 36 years of experience in the insurance industry.
• Well, that seems to be the going thing in the trucking industry.
• I've personally worked in the insurance industry for over a decade.

Bills: HB4806

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards