Transcript Highlights:

• Those mailers offered to process the consumer's annual registrations for a fee.
• Those mailers offered to process the consumer's annual registrations for a fee.
• Those mailers offered to process the consumer's annual registrations for a fee.
• the violence towards women has increased the violence towards women has increased tremendously.<
• again I think is just going to increase again I think is just going to increase those<01:27:15.520

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 1957, relating to safe entryways, would create enforcement procedures in large cities to prevent personal property from blocking private doorways or entrances. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended moving the offense to the criminal code, adding clearer definitions to avoid vagueness, and including notice, inventory, storage, and property-disposition procedures to address constitutional concerns. No other testimony was offered and no questions were raised. HB 25003/HB 253, relating to fireworks, would expand civil asset forfeiture for certain fireworks offenses, revise the definition of aerial device, and clarify air-delivery offenses. The Attorney General supported the bill but suggested removing the 25-pound weight threshold to avoid unequal treatment of similar offenses. The Department of Law Enforcement also supported the measure, saying it would improve clarity for evolving fireworks investigations and prosecutions. The committee took no action during testimony. HB 2137, relating to artificial intelligence, would prohibit certain harmful uses of realistic AI-generated digital imitations, require disclosures, and create civil remedies and fines. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the bill, while the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women opposed it on First Amendment grounds. The Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, and SAG-AFTRA also opposed the bill but said they preferred a different framework, the federal “No Fakes” model, and were willing to work with the committee on amendments. The Attorney General had suggested constitutional amendments, which the chair said would be considered later. The committee also heard HB 2198 on prediction markets, with the Honolulu prosecutor strongly supporting inclusion of prediction markets in the gambling definition because of concerns about speculative betting on events and national security-related outcomes. HB 1511 on consumer protection drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Insurance Division, with OCP proposing clearer disclosure for license and registration renewal solicitations. HB 1897 on condominium alternative dispute resolution received supportive comments from the Real Estate Commission and CI. HB 1642 on crypto kiosks drew strong support from OCP and AARP Hawaii for a ban on kiosks accepting U.S. currency, but opposition from Hill Ventures, which argued for regulation and guardrails instead of a ban. HB 1753 on social media account deletion received supportive comments from DCCA on clarifying deletion of unique identifiers and inferences. HB 1654 on anonymous complaints against public employees drew strong opposition from the Attorney General over implementation and due process concerns, while the Government Employees Association supported it as a way to screen baseless complaints; the committee then moved on to HB 1659 on collective bargaining, with testimony beginning as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:23.920> the talking about and not increase the talking about and not increase the budget
• of it, then I think fees, you know, the<01:23:01.600> fees<01:23:01.920> associated<01
• does is um that the the attorney's fees does is um that the the attorney's fees and<04:40:24.320
• So, this is the fee business, right? Oh, no. This is the moving solid waste to taking over by fees.
• increase did.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 733, a third-party litigation financing reporting bill. Representative Cole explained that the bill shifts reporting from the Secretary of State to the courts, which he said removes the fiscal note and helps insurers obtain information for underwriting and premium-setting. The committee accepted the explanation and voted ought to pass; the roll call was 8-0 in favor, with one member taking a pause. The committee then heard House Bill 219, dealing with the renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy fund. Representative Bose argued the bill would reduce electricity costs by lowering the REC purchase obligation from 220,000 to 170,000, which he said would reduce payments into the renewable energy fund by roughly $1 million to $2 million and save consumers only pennies a month. After questions about timing and whether to wait for a DOE report, the committee voted to retain the bill for further discussion rather than advance it; the motion to retain passed 5-4. House Bill 365 was then discussed as an election-related bill intended to help verify citizenship for voter registration and create a voucher process for people who cannot afford a birth certificate. The sponsor said the Secretary of State may be able to use federal and state databases to verify citizenship, and if not, indigent applicants could receive a voucher reimbursed by the state, with a $25,000 appropriation included. Members raised concerns about the Secretary of State’s access to databases and the bill’s timing and cost, and the committee decided to hold the bill until Secretary Scanlan could come testify. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 552, which updates retiree health coverage rules so dependent children can remain on the plan until age 26, consistent with the Affordable Care Act. DAS officials said retirees pay the full cost for dependents, about $1,000 per month, while the state covers only the retiree and spouse. The committee voted ought to pass unanimously, 9-0. The committee then began discussion of House Bill 572, a housing bill aimed at missing-middle housing, describing a voluntary program to identify developable public land, support construction, and streamline review, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases the rate at which we can iterate, increases our ability to be successful.
• To our backyard here in New Mexico, it increases the rate at which we can iterate, increases our ability
• We've had a 14% increase in enrollment and a 61% increase in appropriations to higher education.
• It also covers fees for lottery students. Tuition and fees for returning students.
• That's a 2.7% increase. The LFC recommended $51 million in recurring increases.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:31:18.880> which relating to administrative fees, which relating to administrative fees
• does it makes the two recording fees does it makes the two recording fees equal<00:32:58.720>
• Second, she said the bill expands DNR discretion over fee use and is too broad, allowing fee revenue
• how mandatory recording fees are spent. how mandatory recording fees are spent.
• <01:26:14.719> Um relating to administrative fees. Um relating to administrative fees.

Bills: SB2603, SB2083, SB2341, SB2306, SB2782, SB2756, SB2161, SB2477

Keywords: Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, state funding, public performances, educational programs, cultural arts funding, historic properties, preservation, inheritance, working group, public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, historic preservation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, construction, state review, burial sites, cultural artifacts, development review, phased review, administrative fees

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt. Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the administration, Congress, and federal agencies to promote the interests of Texas and to increase
• The first one that we will be pointing out is the increased inmate population at our county jails, all
• Every year in our budget hearings I will drill my tech services director about these increases.
• We can't keep having double digit percent increases in our technology cost.
• Everybody benefits from the increased presence.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:05:15.960> back<00:05:16.160> to<00:05:16.320> the direct any fines and fees
• back to the direct any fines and fees back to the local<00:05:16.919> authorities<00:05:17.560
• This bill would increase that limit to 500 gallons, which is 6,000 pounds.
• This increase in the limit of what a beekeeper can produce before a certified honey house is required
• raw and shelf stable food this increase raw and shelf stable food this increase in<00:10:36.560>

Keywords: 00:00 – Introduction 00:45 – Attendance Roll Call 02:09 – House Bill 216 03:15 – Roll Call Vote 04:06 – Senate Bill 122 05:42 – Roll Call Vote 08:43 – House Bill 391 17:25 – Roll Call Vote, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. The committee first considered House Bill 216, which would correct a conflict created when an office was moved into the Department of Agriculture by restoring grant and loan eligibility for Department of Agriculture employees while keeping the prohibition in place for employees of the office of policy. The bill was approved unanimously and sent on to the Senate floor. The committee then revisited Senate Bill 122 after concerns from the prior meeting. Members adopted a committee substitute that clarified local governments may regulate the covered businesses but not ban them outright, and that fines and fees go back to the local authorities doing the regulating. During final consideration, Senator Deneen, Senator Reed, and Senator Richardson voted no, citing concerns about enforcement, inspection, and potential bad actors, while Senator Webb supported the bill as a needed regulatory scheme. The motion passed and the bill advanced. House Bill 391, dealing with Kentucky honey production, was also approved. Representative Jason Nemes and industry witnesses said the bill would raise the threshold for requiring a certified honey house from 150 gallons to 500 gallons, add language requiring “pure and unadulterated” Kentucky-produced honey, and support local beekeepers without creating additional public health risk. Members discussed whether the limit should be removed entirely, the cost of honey houses, and concerns about imported or adulterated honey. The committee passed the bill to the Senate floor. Senator Yates later registered a no vote on Senate Bill 122 and yes votes on House Bill 216 and Senate Bill 171, though Senate Bill 171 was passed over for further work and not heard that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff learned this is due to an increase in insurance rates.
• It's supported by license and application fees.
• This is supported by license and application fees. Mr.
• This is a $100,000 transfer from operating expenses to professional fees.
• And so as we increase the burden on that, we are burning the cash faster.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, again, this one here is an increase and so we denied the increase.
• Um, again, this one here is an increase and so we denied the increase.
• . increases. increases.
• Line 40, JAC adopted the Governor's recommendation of $150,913 in general funds for maintenance fee increase
• funds for maintenance maintenance fee funds for maintenance maintenance fee increase<03:49:20.399

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because to me, I mean, I know the Republican side of the aisle increased fees last year.
• You know, we were pushing for fee increases, and I kind of see this as the same thing basically.
• Because that, to me, I mean, I know the Republican side of the aisle increased fees last year.
• <01:26:42.000> fees<01:26:42.400> last my side of the aisle increased fees last my
• year you know we were pushing for fee year you know we were pushing for fee increases<01:26:45.040

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that creates a fundamental problem for us, and that it will increase NOx emissions.
• With the commitment to have no resource shuffling, no unbundled RECs, and no increased air pollutants
• Look, SB 1341 provides CalRecycle with the statutory authority to reduce the processing fees for wine
• Look, the SB 1341 provides Cal Recycle with the statutory authority to reduce the processing fees for
• wine or spirits bag-in-a-box beverage containers when the department determines that the forecasted fee

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last decade, California's water scarcity has increased.
• cases of endometriosis, ovarian failure, menstrual irregularities and infertility. and increased growth
• And then I think just lastly, it imposes a fee on soap and body wash manufacturers to fund the regulations
• and then those fees will be passed down to consumers.
• I've been on this committee, but I've voted on bills where we've dealt with chemicals prior, and the fee

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CLPP, we increase by about between 4,000 and 5,000 net every year.
• Is this going to increase? Is this going to increase regulatory burdens?
• You're just increasing costs and we can't find any need for this exam.
• We intend to increase our return on investment, and we intend to increase our operational tempo in the
• But at the end of the day, if we can't do that, we can increase that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by 200 the negative means is a increase by 200 the negative means is a increase increase<00:22:40.039
• an increase in 2024.
• increase<00:33:31.279> in have a increase in have a increase in 2024<00:33:33.320> but<
• for the first 11 months increase for the first 11 months increase<01:28:31.560> about increase
• > going to be rental or fee it be all fee going to be rental or fee it be all fee simple<06:03:00.200

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held its first informational briefing for 2025, beginning with member introductions and then hearing an economic outlook presentation from Dr. Eugene Tian of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Dr. Tian said Hawaii’s economy was in relatively good shape in several areas, especially construction, which he described as at a historical high, with construction employment above 40,000 monthly and building permit values and contracting tax base both up sharply. He also noted real estate sales had rebounded in 2024, the labor market had stabilized with unemployment around 2.9%, and initial unemployment claims were below 2019 levels. At the same time, he highlighted challenges including inflation running above the national rate, a shrinking labor force, lower employment compared with 2023, and continued weakness in visitor spending and arrivals. He said future growth would likely come from health care, professional services, construction, tourism recovery, and diversified sectors such as renewable energy, aquaculture, creative industries, and technology. Dr. Tian also discussed Hawaii’s economic structure and recovery, saying the state remains more concentrated in a few industries than the U.S. overall, with government and hospitality making up larger shares of the economy. He said non-tourism sectors had recovered, but tourism-related jobs and output were still below pre-pandemic levels, with Maui and the visitor industry still affected by the wildfire and COVID-19 impacts. He projected tourism and non-agricultural wage and salary jobs would not fully recover until 2027, and said population trends remain a concern because of aging, the likelihood of deaths outpacing births in coming years, and reliance on in-migration. After his presentation, the chair said questions would be taken later and the committee took a short break. After the break, Dr. Carano of the Hawaii Executive Director’s office presented a second outlook, saying Hawaii’s economy in 2025 looked better than 2024 overall, though he emphasized substantial uncertainty tied to the incoming federal administration. He said possible changes to tariffs, tax policy, immigration, and federal spending could raise inflation and keep interest rates higher than previously expected, which would affect housing, consumer debt, the dollar, and Hawaii’s visitor industry. He noted that U.S. visitors account for roughly three-quarters of visitor spending in the state, making federal policy especially important. He also said deregulation could be a long-term positive but would not likely have much effect in 2025 or 2026. As an additional risk, he pointed to bird flu and its effect on livestock, poultry, and egg prices. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board did request a 260,000 increase over the FY 26 operating budget, which increased personnel funding
• So everything additional is just to increase the agency's rate from 2 to about 4.6.
• paid in every state that's in due, or is it just one license fee?
• So the other part of this is that our increase of. 16,500 is for an increase in our contracts that we
• That's one reason I'm asking for the pay increases.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is page R16, Article 4, and it increases the felony for assault of an EMS personnel or firefighter
• It increases the felony for assault of an EMS personnel or firefighter with demonstrable bodily harm
• This allows reasonable attorney fees on appeal for appeals from district court to the court of appeals
• This allows reasonable<00:14:54.399> attorney<00:14:54.880> fees<00:14:55.760> on
• <00:24:51.760> upon reduced civil marriage license fee upon reduced civil marriage license

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The retail delivery fee.
• > cost<00:54:49.280> to exacerbated with increased cost to exacerbated with increased cost
• Increased loneliness also correlates, unfortunately, with increased deaths.
• Increased loneliness also correlates, unfortunately, with increased deaths.
• Increased loneliness also correlates, unfortunately, with increased deaths.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• driveway permit there's no fee driveway permit there's no fee associated<00:19:34.200> with
• <00:19:47.600> to they would be willing to pay a fee to they would be willing to pay a fee
• the municiple portion registration fees the municiple portion registration fees to<00:35:15.800>
• <00:41:40.240> uh state and Municipal costs and fees uh state and Municipal costs and fees
• <00:41:57.520> will<00:41:57.720> be fees will be fees will be prated<00:41:59.680>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and defines extraordinary impact fee language and processes.
• Amendment 109-660 deletes the provisions relating to impact fees from the bill.
• It's not clear if impact fees could be applied in this circumstance.
• It's not clear if impact fees could be applied in this circumstance.
• That's going to increase even more. OBGYN, $243,000 for $10,000.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 602 on fees of the Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign by Senator Truenow.
• SB 602, this bill established by the department rule the fees associated with running Florida Manufacturing
• ADUs increase workforce housing because ADUs cost less to build.
• ADUs increase workforce housing because ADUs cost less to build, they cost less to rent, and they're
• I think we need to be doing everything we can to increase the housing supply that we have in the state

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and took up three bills. The first two, both by Senator Truenow, addressed Florida manufacturing. SB 600 would codify the Office of Manufacturing in the Department of Commerce, support workforce development grants, create a Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign, and require biannual reporting. A strike-all amendment clarified that the chief manufacturing officer already exists, the campaign is voluntary, the program falls under Chapter 288, and grant awards are at the department’s discretion. Florida Makes, Associated Industries of Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce appeared in support, and the committee reported CS/SB 600 favorably. SB 602 established fees for the promotional campaign, with an amendment setting the fee at no more than $100 to administer the voluntary program; Florida Makes supported the bill, and the committee reported CS/SB 602 favorably. The committee then considered CS/CS/SB 184 by Senator Gates, an affordable housing and property rights bill requiring local governments to allow accessory dwelling units in single-family residential areas, while exempting planned unit developments and master-planned communities. The bill also limited local restrictions on parking and homestead treatment, allowed a density bonus for housing affordable to military families, and referenced an OPPAGA study on mezzanine financing. An amendment clarified that ADUs could not be used as short-term vacation rentals and must be rented for at least 30 days, allowed manufactured homes if they meet local standards, and removed a requirement that the unit be rented at an affordable rate or to a moderate- or low-income person. Senators asked about homestead exemption treatment, property tax impacts, and local control, and Gates explained that ADUs could be built later and would be separately taxed without affecting the original homestead exemption. Several groups appeared in support of SB 184, including AARP, Americans for Prosperity, Florida Realtors, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senators Smith and Arrington spoke in favor, with Arrington noting concerns about parking flexibility for local governments. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/CS/SB 184 favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Collins asked to be recorded as voting yes on tabs two and three, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they charge a small fee based on the price of the room of their guests, and kind of a complicated
• We left one off, and that is the valuation exclusion increase for disabled veterans.
• We increased that, the valuation exclusion for disabled veteran homeowners. Thank you.
• > for valuation exclusion increase for valuation exclusion increase for disabled<01:02:20.520>
• We increased that, >> Okay, yeah. Okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all