Transcript Highlights:

• And on behalf of the Senate, Senator Elefante as chair, co-chair Senator Aino, Senator Lee, Senator Rhoads
• ,<00:01:27.439> Senator And on behalf of the Senate, Senator And on behalf of the Senate,
• > Rhodess, Aino, Senator Lee, Senator Rhodess, Aino, Senator Lee, Senator Rhodess, members<00:01:
• And on the Senate, may I take the vote? Sure. Senator Elephante. Hi. Senator Aino. Hi. Senator Lee.
• Senator Elephante. Hi. Senator Aino. Hi. Senator Elephante. Hi. Senator Aino. Hi.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met several times on April 25, 2025, to resolve a number of bills, often delaying items until later in the day because of missing FIN/WAM releases or lack of quorum. Early in the day, SB 382 was discussed briefly but not advanced because finance would not release it. HB 1064, relating to the state fire marshal, was taken up and approved after conferees confirmed a $2,212,000 appropriation for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund eight positions in the Department of Law Enforcement. Members thanked the many agencies, staff, and advocates involved, and the bill passed by unanimous votes of those present. Several other measures were rolled over to later conference-room meetings, including HB 423 on workers’ compensation, HB 214 on government, HB 1036, HB 1037, and HB 1039 on public employment cost items, SB 828 on workers’ compensation medical benefits, SB 717 on collective bargaining, and HB 286 on the individual housing account program, all pending FIN/WAM release or further agreement. A larger housing agenda was also postponed to 4:30 p.m. in Room 225, including bills on housing, transportation, transient accommodations development, rental housing revolving funds, dwelling unit revolving funds, and low-income housing credit. At the later transportation and housing sessions, HB 1231 was adopted as a conference draft establishing a $5 county motor vehicle registration surcharge for the Safe Routes to School special fund and clarifying rules for automated enforcement citations and liability. HB 4209 on transit-oriented development also passed; it defined transit-oriented development, created a mixed-income subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund, and authorized HCDA to use the definition in planning. HB 1298 on housing passed with amendments to support a government employee housing program tied to a transit-oriented development site, including funding for planning and an HHFC position. HB 830 on historic preservation reviews also passed with amendments limiting third-party review to residential or mixed-use development and setting staggered effective dates. Later, SB 662 on transportation passed with amendments authorizing county police officers to enforce the statewide traffic code on public streets, roadways, and highways. Several other bills remained pending and were recessed for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Fukunaga votes aye. Senator McKelvey is excused.
• Senator McKelie is Senator Fukunaga. Hi.
• Senator Richards votes aye. Senator Awa is excused.
• Senator Fukunaga votes aye. Senator McKelvey votes yes. Senator Awa is excused.
• And Senator W Uh, Senator Richards, hi. And Senator W is<00:26:11.520> excused.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered several conference measures on April 25, 2025, mostly waiting on FIN or Ways and Means releases before taking action. SB 25 on eviction mediation was agreed to and passed with amendments, with members voting aye except for one no vote recorded from Representative Pirk and several excused members. SB 1367 on installment loans was also taken up later in the meeting; a revised conference draft was noted to include a five-year timeframe, a $1 convenience fee, and a corrected effective date, and it passed unanimously among those voting. Other measures were repeatedly rolled to later times in Room 224 or 225 because releases were still pending, including SB 1044 on property insurance stabilization, SB 1220 on a renewable gas tariff, SB 500 on electric utilities, HB 1370 on liquor tax/draft beer definitions, HB 939 on alcohol/liquor tax changes, HB 1052 on the universal service program, and SB 1500 on electric utilities. When SB 1220 and SB 500 were eventually heard, both were described as creating or adjusting utility-related processes and both passed with amendments. HB 1370 also passed with amendments after the committee noted it would redefine draft beer for liquor tax purposes. SB 1044 drew the most detailed discussion: the conferees described major funding provisions, including a $30 million reimbursable general obligation bond appropriation for the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, a $20 million reimbursable GO bond appropriation to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for a condominium loan program, and a $5 million appropriation for GAP reserves, along with 36-month assessment periods and a temporary recording fee up to $44. The bill passed with amendments. HB 1052 on the universal service program was described as allowing the Public Utilities Commission to use program funds to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities, with a $150,000 cap, and it also passed with a conference draft.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Chang: Aye. Senator Sanuro: Aye. Senator Awa is excused. The recommendation is adopted.
• Senator Chang: Aye. Senator Sanventura: Aye. Senator W is excused. The recommendation is adopted.
• <00:01:54.640> Senator<00:01:54.960> W I. Senator Sanventura I. Senator W I.
• Senator Sanventura I.
• Senator Chang: Aye. Senator Senura: Aye. Senator Waz is excused. The recommendation is adopted.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on Thursday, April 24, and considered several judicial nominations and confirmations. The first items were Governor’s Messages 790, 788, and 789, naming nominees for Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals and Circuit Court Judge positions for the First Circuit. Members briefly discussed the nominations, including one public concern raised about Judge Karen El Holma, but the chair and members stated the nominees were qualified and recommended consent in each case. All three nominations were approved by unanimous votes of the members present, with some members excused. The committee then took up Judiciary Communications 29, 30, and 31, covering confirmations to the District Family Court and District Court of the First Circuit for six-year terms. The committee again recommended consent on each item and adopted those recommendations without objection. For JC 31, the chair noted that the nominee was absent due to a family memorial for her father-in-law and asked members not to weigh that absence against her. The nominations were approved, and applause followed several of the votes. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that the Senate floor vote was anticipated for Wednesday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m., and then adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Pappas or Senator Jazinski.
• Senator Frentz: Pass. Senator Pratt: No. Senator Champion: I. Senator Draheim: No.
• Senator Howe: No. Senator Jasinski: No. Senator Mohamed: I. Senator Murphy: Yes. Senator Pappas: I.
• Senator Mohammed. Senator Jazinski. No. Senator Mohammed.
• Senator Papus. I. Senator Murphy. Yes. Senator Papus.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate conferees are myself as chair, co-chairs Senators Kim and Kidani, and managers Senators Hashimoto
• Senate conferees are myself as chair, co-chair Senator Elefante, and Senator Chris Lee, as well as manager
• Senator Fevella.
• Senate conferees are myself as chair, co-chair Senator Hashimoto, and manager Senator Fevella.
• Senate conferees are myself as chair, co-chairs Senator Zinoi and Hashimoto, and Senator Flla as manager

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Remaining under motions and resolutions, Senator Murphy to designate special orders.
• <00:21:06.640> Senator<00:21:07.039> Murphy motions and resolutions.
• Senator Murphy motions and resolutions.
• > Senator Senator Bar, Senator Carlson, Senator Senator Bar, Senator Carlson, Senator Swisinski,<
• Senator Drescowski, Senator Swisinski, Senator Drescowski, Senator Fate,<00:23:16.559> Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next up on the agenda is Senate Bill Uh, next up on the agenda is Senate Bill 405, Senate Draft 1
• On behalf of the Senate, I will vote aye. Senator Rhoads and Senator Awa is excused.
• chair,<00:20:25.760> senators Senator Confer myself as chair, senators Senator Confer
• Senator Rhoads: Aye. Senator Favella: Aye. Recommendation adopted on the Senate.
• Senator RHS. Hi. Senator Favlla. Hi. Senator RHS. Hi. Senator Favlla. Hi.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate there's a Senate only provision.
• <00:33:48.720> Latz State Senate File 2039, a Senator Latz State Senate File 2039, a Senator
• Senator Murphy: Thank you, Senator Frentz, then Senator Murphy, then Senator Dreheim.
• Um, Senator<01:14:09.199> Jheim. Senator Jheim. Senator Jheim.
• Senator Papus moves at Senate File 147. Senator Papus moves at Senate File 147.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions from the<01:09:41.679> senators. the senators. the senators.
• Senator. Thank you.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator. Nice to see opioids. Thank you, Senator.
• Questions from the senators. have. Questions from the senators.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, may I take the vote for the Senate? Yes. Yes. Senator Inouye. Aye. Senator Moriwaki. Aye.
• Senator Enoi. Hi, Senate? Yes. Yes. Senator Enoi. Hi, Senator<00:02:10.160> Morywalk.
• May I take the vote for the Senate? Senator, you know it. Hi, Senator Mory. Hi, Senator Dort.
• Senator, you know it. Hi, Senator Mory. Senator, you know it. Hi, Senator Mory.
• So the Senate confereies for the Senate.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The last two are Senate bills. The last two are Senate bills.
• On behalf of the Senate, myself as chair, Senator McKelvey as co-chair, Senator Awana as member.
• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator McKelvey, yes. Senator Awana is excused.
• /c><00:11:34.160> Senator Senate, myself as chair, Senator Senate, myself as chair, Senator Moriwaki
• On behalf of the Senate, I vote aye. Senator Moriwaki, aye. Senator Awana is excused.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> as of the Senate is Senator Alfonte as of the Senate is Senator Alfonte as chair,<00:05:08.080
• Senator Souza, aye. May I take the vote? Yes, please. Senator Alfonte, aye. Senator Hashimoto.
• Uh, Senator Senator. Yes, please. Uh, Senator Alfante.<00:09:22.320> Hi.
• <00:09:24.000> Senator Alfante. Hi. Senator Hashimoto. Senator Alfante. Hi.
• Senator Hashimoto. Senator Wakai.<00:09:24.959> Yes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gord. Hi. May I also Excuse. Senator Gord. Hi.
• Senator Ko. Hi. Can you I. Um, I vote I. Senator Ko. Hi.
• For the Senate, myself as chair, Senator Kim, co-chair, Senator Kuhandi, and Court as managers. p.m.
• > co-chair<00:29:05.200> senator<00:29:05.600> Kuhandi senators Kim co-chair senator
• For the Senate, myself as chair, Senator Le and Chang as co-chairs, and Senator Port [questionable] as

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, Senator Greg.
• Senator Gre.
• Okay, Senator Carson. Thank you, Mr. Okay, Senator Carson. Thank you, Mr.
• Thank you, Senator. Uh for Good morning. Thank you, Senator.
• back to you, Senator. I don't remember. back to you, Senator. I don't remember.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe Rivier, former state senator, in support. but he participated in a group going out but he participated
• Joe Rivier, former state senator<00:27:16.720> in<00:27:17.080> support.
• Good morning and aloha, Chair Rhodes and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• I'm here in strong support of Rashelle's Senate confirmation as a judge. ...I'm from the west side of

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered three judicial confirmations for the First Circuit family court. The first nominee, Maria F. Penn, was introduced for confirmation to a six-year term as a district family court judge. Testimony from family law attorneys and the Hawaii State Bar Association was strongly supportive, emphasizing her courtroom demeanor, preparation, knowledge of family law, respect for litigants and counsel, and ability to manage emotionally difficult family court matters. Judge Penn also spoke about her background, including her legal career, prior service as a PDM family court judge, and her view that family court requires both legal judgment and empathy. The chair noted that the committee would not vote that day and would take up votes the next morning. The second nomination was Wilson Aunga for a district family court judgeship. Supporters described his character, community involvement, and suitability for family court, including testimony from the Honolulu prosecutor, longtime friends, classmates, community members, and others. Speakers highlighted his work with youth, his leadership in the prosecutor’s office, his calm and impartial temperament, and his commitment to education and public service. The chair reported 105 supporters, no opposition, and one comment from the Hawaii State Bar Association. Additional testimony continued from members of the public, including a speaker discussing mental health and personal support for Aunga. Throughout the hearing, the chair enforced a two-minute limit on oral testimony and explained that the committee was short on time and would recess as needed. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair announced that voting would occur the following day in the same room.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Carroll? Aye. Senator Miles? Aye. Senator Hughes? Yes. Senator Blanco? Aye. Senator Sparks?
• Senator Perry? Senator Hancock? Senator Hall? Senator Miles? Senator Hughes? Senator Blanco?
• Senator Kolkhorst? Senator Perry? Senator Hancock? Senator Hall? Senator Ramos? Senator Hughes?
• Senator Hawkins? Senator Miles? Senator Hughes? Senator Blanco? Senator Sparks? Senator Cook?
• Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye. Senator? Aye.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all