Transcript Highlights:

• So right now, the proposed bill rate is what we're trying to...
• Blind Vendors Ohana Incorporated in support. Airlines Committee of Hawaii in support.
• That's higher than the national rate.
• And as the national rate declined, Hawaii's rate increased.
• And as the national rate declined, Hawaii's rate increased.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1588, which would establish a Department of Transportation noise detection program using cameras to enforce noise control laws. DOT supported the measure and said it is already piloting the technology at eight locations, with about 10 sites costing roughly $2 million to $2.5 million to install and operate. The Department of Health said it was willing to work with DOT but noted its current regulations are not designed for vehicular noise sources and that the bill may need clearer standards to be enforceable. Members raised concerns about the lack of a specific decibel threshold and whether the system could accurately identify the source of noise; DOT said the pilot can pinpoint vehicles and that the program would align with existing health standards, but no final number was identified during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1696, which lowers the minimum age for a commercial driver’s license from 19 to 18 and removes a restriction tied to vehicle category, while requiring DOT rule changes. DOT, the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii Transportation Association, Teamsters Local 996, and other stakeholders testified in support. The Hawaii Transportation Association suggested adding a training requirement for drivers ages 18 to 20, proposing at least 320 hours of employer training and recordkeeping. Members sought clarification that the bill would apply to intrastate, not interstate, licensing. For HB 233, the committee considered a measure authorizing DOT to designate airport special district zones statewide to prevent unauthorized access and improve security. DOT and the City and County of Honolulu supported the bill, explaining that defined boundaries would help law enforcement address trespassing, disruptions, fires, theft, harassment, and other incidents around airports and terminals; DOT said commercial airports are ready to implement the proposal, while some general aviation sites would need further work. Members asked about the scope of the boundaries, existing enforcement, and whether the measure would cover state-owned or non-state parcels near airports. The committee also heard HB 2332, which renames the Harbors Division as the Commercial Ports Division and distinguishes “harbor” from “port” in statute. DOT, the Maritime Group, and harbor users supported the bill, saying the change would reduce confusion between commercial cargo/cruise facilities and recreational small boat harbors, and could help with clarity and possibly federal grant competitiveness. Members asked about impacts on small boat harbors and cruise activity, and DOT explained that the bill is aimed at purpose-built commercial ports, not recreational facilities. The committee also took testimony on HB 2283, which clarifies DOT’s consultative role with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in setting port pilotage standards and requirements. DOT, DCCA, Matson, the Hawaii Pilots Association, and others supported the measure, saying it would improve coordination and ensure pilot licensing standards reflect operational realities in the harbors. Finally, after a recess, the committee heard HB 2217, which would allow driver’s permits, licenses, and ID cards to include a notation for a non-apparent disability. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities opposed the bill as drafted, saying voluntary alternatives such as Smart 911 may be better and that the category is too broad. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended limiting the notation to medically recognized, specifically defined conditions so agencies can train personnel and avoid confusion or escalation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Home care rates, Just one example here, home care rates in particular are, you know, run and developed
• through the Consumer Direct rate-setting board.
• The Consumer Direct rate is a straight labor and administration.
• The Consumer Direct rate is a straight labor and administrative rate.
• best rating because then the consumer will choose the one that's got the best rating because, again,

Summary: The committee began with an extended work session on the long-term care workforce. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector described the new Home and Community Living Administration and outlined major workforce pressures: Washington had about 126,000 long-term care workers in 2022, with demand expected to outpace supply as the 85-plus population and dementia prevalence rise sharply. She emphasized that direct care workers are largely women, people of color, and immigrants, and that family caregivers are also a major part of the system. She highlighted recruitment and retention efforts funded through federal Money Follows the Person dollars, including high school training partnerships, a retention toolkit, transportation support, caregiver newsletters, tribal workforce navigators, and a remote caregiving pilot. Committee members asked about career pathways, technology use, and turnover drivers; Rector said wages, benefits, unstable hours, and workplace support are key issues and promised follow-up data. Aidan Swain of the Washington Health Care Association said skilled nursing and assisted living facilities face acute RN vacancies, wage pressures, and Medicaid reimbursement that does not cover costs, and urged modernization of training, better reimbursement, and continued support for facility-based care. Maddie Fouch of SEIU 775, representing about 55,000 caregivers, said low wages, weak benefits, lack of voice, and certification delays are driving turnover and shortages, and argued for higher compensation, better worker protections, and more transparent reimbursement. Catherine Smith of Behavioral Health Solutions described growing behavioral health needs in nursing homes, the role of expanded behavioral supports programs, and credentialing delays that slow hiring. No votes were taken; the panel was informational only. The second agenda item was an overview of the palliative care benefit work group report required by 2024 legislation. Nico Jansen of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that the work group, convened with the Health Care Authority, studied a potential palliative care benefit for fully insured commercial plans and also Medicaid, PEBB, and SEBB. He said palliative care is a philosophy of care focused on symptom management, coordination, and support for serious illness, and is distinct from hospice because it can be provided alongside curative treatment. The actuarial analysis concluded that creating a new benefit would likely increase costs, estimating about a 28-cent per member per month increase overall and roughly $2.6 million to $4.5 million in annual state Medicaid costs if implemented in 2027. Jansen said the consultants did not find sufficient evidence to assume savings from avoided hospitalizations or long-term care, though several work group members disagreed and submitted response letters. Senators asked about other states, Medicare, health homes, and whether more research could clarify cost savings; OIC said some states, including Hawaii, are moving ahead with Medicaid palliative care benefits, Medicare covers some related services but not in the same way, and further evidence may emerge over time. OIC did not take a position on whether the Legislature should create the benefit. The final presentation covered health care price transparency tools in Washington and federally. Evan Klein and HCA Chief Data Officer Vishal Chaudry reviewed federal hospital and health plan transparency rules, the state all-payer claims database, prescription drug price transparency, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and other reporting systems. They explained that the APCD contains claims from fully insured commercial plans, Medicaid, and public employee programs, but not self-insured employer data except for limited voluntary submissions. They also described how machine-readable files, consumer price tools, and aggregated dashboards are used, and noted that data limitations, delays, and complexity remain significant. Senators asked about voluntary self-insured participation, the role of AI in making data more usable, and whether transparency can really help consumers given access barriers and medical debt. HCA said AI is increasingly used by private entities to mine large transparency datasets, but state agencies still face limits in data access and analytic capacity. The committee did not take action; the session was informational and ended with a discussion of how transparency data might better inform policy and purchasing decisions in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also a Senate File 2861 forensic examiner rate increase, a $29 hourly increase from 136 to $165
• </c> regularly and at unsustainable rates. regularly and at unsustainable rates.
• Is it by crime rates, or how is that done? in the A7 amendment.
• or is it how how is that by crime rates or is it how how is that done?
• </c> in comparison to employees vendors in comparison to employees vendors creditors creditors creditors

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• providers, administrators, health plan representatives, members of the public, legislators, and potential vendor
• Have you or the governor's office met with vendors, and have they helped craft this plan?
• Any of the vendors had input in this, or has it strictly been the departments in the governor's office

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 4 June, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OSPI staff said both they and their third-party vendors supporting the system struggled to address some
• third-party review of the apportionment suite, they covered that OSPI relies entirely on the suite vendor
• internal audit function, limited documentation, and a heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on OSPI’s school apportionment system, which distributes K-12 funding to districts. Auditors said the system and its underlying 2008-era infrastructure are outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of errors or failure. They also found weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and monitoring, with heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor knowledge. In limited testing of three districts, the system calculated 2023–24 funding correctly, but auditors identified small discrepancies between state budget inputs and underlying statutory language and said broader system risks remain unresolved. JLARC members asked about the scope of the district testing, whether smaller districts face greater risk, the meaning of the funding discrepancies, and whether the system could support a future change to a simpler per-student funding formula. Auditors said the discrepancies were small but could compound into millions statewide, and that the audit did not evaluate broader policy questions or alternative system owners. They recommended OSPI modernize or replace the system and address current control weaknesses while the new platform is developed. OSPI officials largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said a feasibility study completed in 2024 found the system at catastrophic risk of failure. They clarified that the Legislature had approved up to $16 million in the state IT pool for the project, but that funding is released through gated oversight and not all of it had yet been appropriated for the current biennium. OSPI disputed the auditor’s characterization of some rounding and budget-law issues, saying the calculations were consistent with agency rules and legislative inputs, and explained that some manual workarounds are used to handle newer statutory requirements. One member of the public testified in support of modernizing the system and strengthening controls. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the accessible voting equipment, figuring out how to get them programmed locally, working with our vendor
• the accessible voting equipment, figuring out how to get them programmed locally, working with our vendor
• The cost from our current vendor to program for a local election at a minimum was $600 per ballot style
• The cost from our current vendor to program for a local election at a minimum was $600 per ballot style
• to program for a local election vendor to program for a local election at<00:57:46.079><c> a</c><00:

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you look at their earnings growth rate, they have been around 22.23%.
• That's a very high growth rate for non-technology companies.
• So you can see in our example, that rate is 4.62%. That's the current 10-year fixed rate.
• So you can see in our example, that rate is 4.62%. That's the current 10-year fixed rate.
• You can see the average rate is 4.16 on that.

Summary: The Legacy Fund Committee received updates from the North Dakota Retirement Investment Office (RIO) on fund performance, liquidity, in-state investments, and internal management. Scott Anderson reported strong returns for the Legacy Fund across multiple time periods, with performance exceeding the policy benchmark and expectations, driven largely by strong equity markets and effective implementation. He also reviewed private market pacing, noting commitments were on plan but that unfunded obligations and distributions were lower than expected, and presented a new liquidity analysis showing the fund had substantial capacity to meet obligations even under stressed market scenarios. The committee also discussed RIO’s internal investment program and cost savings. Anderson explained how internal management of fixed income, equity, and cash overlay strategies has reduced fees and transaction costs, while improving flexibility and portfolio construction. Members asked about staffing needs, and RIO leadership said asset growth has outpaced current staffing, with a request for additional FTEs likely coming to support investment, operations, risk, and legal functions. The committee also reviewed the Legacy Fund’s in-state investment program, including 50 South Capital and infrastructure lending, and heard that one manager’s buildout is progressing more slowly because many opportunities are still early-stage. Adam Odison presented a preliminary estimate of the 2026 Legacy Fund earnings distribution, projecting about $894.8 million under current law, with roughly $237 million to the Highway Fund and $554 million to the Property Tax Relief Fund after the sinking and interest fund allocation. Jody Smith then gave a project update on a new standalone Legacy Fund website required by statute, intended to consolidate performance, holdings, governance, fees, and use-of-funds information for the public, with a planned launch around the October State Investment Board meeting. She also raised a possible future proposal to place the Legacy Earnings Fund back under State Investment Board management so the cash could remain invested longer before being transferred out, though members noted liquidity, accounting, and bank-deposit implications would need further review. Finally, Kelvin Holden of the Bank of North Dakota reviewed the match loan program, explaining how it supports large economic development projects by pairing Bank of North Dakota loans with State Investment Board CDs. He said the program currently has about $272 million outstanding and has supported projects such as Coal Creek Station and the MDU gas line to Gwinner. Members discussed whether the program’s return is appropriate and noted a prior moratorium on new investments so the committee can revisit the policy next session. The committee then elected Senator Klein as chair and Representative Hogan as vice chair, and the meeting ended with members thanking staff and partners for the fund’s progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the average rate that's out there now for commercial employers is the average wholesale price plus
• It sets a growth rate, Mr. Speaker, that is less than the rate of inflation.
• Now, there is one state, Florida, whose rate is 3% or CPI, whichever is lower.
• So, there may be some years that Florida beats us, but the fact is, for a fixed rate, Oklahoma will be
• As we move forward, there's also a lot of discussion about insurance rates, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HR1051 , HR1048 , SB2074 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB1983 , SB444 , SB1503 , SB1561 , SB592 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB1567 , SB1833 , SB2026 , SB904 , SB2178 , SB1651 , SB1558 , SB1565 , SB1553 , SB1257 , SB65 , SB1749 , SB1242 , SB1642 , SB640 , SB667 , SB1436 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1794 , SB1644 , SB1533 , SB933 , SB1555

Keywords: livestock, judging, Oklahoma State University, championship, agriculture, military children, recognition, community support, military families, April 15, pharmacy benefits managers, reimbursement, healthcare, prescription drugs, cost regulation, property valuation, tax limit, homestead, income threshold, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• all individuals enrolled in Medi-Cal, and we had a very similar outreach campaign where we had a vendor
• And because ex parte automation rates—this is sort of automatic renewal rates for Medi-Cal—remain about
• And because ex parte automation rates, this is sort of automatic renewal rates for Medi-Cal, remain about
• automation rates, so this is sort of automatic renewal rates for Medi-Cal, remain about 40%.
• in San Francisco... ...develop systems to get, you know, CalFresh enrollment up to the 90% plus rate

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On Snapchat, there are record rates of fentanyl sales, and we now have record rates of fentanyl overdoses
• . ...there are record rates of fentanyl sales, and we now have record rates of fentanyl overdoses.
• Next we have in-person Ari Cohn. record rates of fentanyl sales and we now have record rates of fentanyl
• What about the threats to raise rates on Massachusetts customers?
• Local equipment vendors lose hundreds of thousands in sales.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rated F in 2023 and not rated in 2022, its zone includes a booming area east of the Domain, right on
• You would supplant the current year with this year's ratings or the prior year ratings?
• in that area. tract is at the poverty rate or below.
• Do you know what their tax rate is that they charge? The tax rate currently is zero. It's inactive.
• Can I ask what the occupancy rating is for the vacancy rating in downtown?

Bills: HB22 , SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: emergency communication, broadband, funding, natural disasters, technology, HB 22, Texas broadband development office, comptroller, emergency communications, early warning systems, disaster alerts, natural disaster notifications, interoperable communications, interoperable emergency radio, public safety communications, 9-1-1, next generation 9-1-1, NG911, broadband grants, low-interest loans

Transcript Highlights:

• He published the Roel scoring system, a public health rating scale used to determine developing countries
• cities from providing or authorizing its funds to be used by employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors
• contractors... ...and will not use funds in requiring its employees and contractors, volunteers, vendors
• It's a ripple effect to the large vendors. It's a ripple effect for the state of Florida.
• It's a ripple effect to the large vendors. It's a ripple effect for the state of Florida.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities. The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0. Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• the guy coming in from out of vendors the guy coming in from out of state<00:45:53.160><c> doesn't</
• Rider Campbell High School as an opportunity, because there is a rate card for the Open Access for the
• for</c><01:08:28.759><c> the</c><01:08:28.960><c> Open</c><01:08:29.319><c> Access</c> there is a rate
• card for the Open Access there is a rate card for the Open Access for<01:08:29.799><c> the</c><01:08
• Some of the costs that were, um, taxed at the wholesale rate, you know, Hawaii is one of the few states

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They borrow at favorable rates, which allows them to loan at favorable rates to their customers.
• They borrow at favorable rates, which allows them to loan at favorable rates to their customers.
• They borrow at favorable rates, which allows them to loan at favorable rates to their customers.
• They borrow at favorable rates, which allows them to loan at favorable rates to their customers.
• I don't think it's a full-time job, but we could get a vendor to do it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 167, which would add ski, snowboard, and boat wax containing PFAS to the state’s consumer-product restrictions. The sponsor argued the product is already banned in many places, has PFAS-free alternatives, and is used in ways that can directly contaminate water rather than landfills. She cited high PFAS levels in several New Hampshire lakes and said the bill was a simple extension of prior PFAS legislation. A witness also described a personal experience where a liquid ski wax disappeared from the market and later returned, likely because of PFAS concerns. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 167 without a vote. The committee then opened a hearing on House Bill 312, dealing with college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Representative Moffett said the bill was modeled on New Jersey law and intended to let student-athletes earn compensation from NIL without losing institutional scholarships, while also requiring licensed representation and setting limits on certain endorsements. He described the measure as proactive because NIL rules are evolving and could create conflicts among schools and future lawsuits. Members questioned whether the bill should apply to two-year institutions, whether it should exclude firearms and weapons, and whether the scholarship protections would cover need-based or academic aid as well as athletic scholarships. Moffett said the scholarship language was intended to protect scholarships generally, but not need-based aid specifically, and he acknowledged discomfort with some of the endorsement restrictions. Public testimony on HB 312 was mixed. One supporter, a former Division III athlete and coach, backed the bill but urged removal of a section allowing institutions or athletic bodies to use an athlete’s NIL without compensation, arguing most New Hampshire athletes do not receive NIL money and should not have to work extra jobs to cover basic expenses. The chair also raised concerns about the bill’s contractual and identity-rights implications, referencing prior committee work on a J.D. Salinger-related identity case and noting the committee had previously declined to get involved in similar contractual disputes. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2024, the turnover rate was 15.6%.
• And so we worked hard with our vendor throughout the fall.
• Our call rate, our answering is within three to five minutes. Really?
• So we're experiencing a high growth rate and a tremendous.
• We need the reimbursement rates for TWC to match the market rates so that we can sustain it.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:25:16.880><c> is</c> interest rate if the interest rate is interest rate if the interest rate
• </c><01:31:59.760><c> and</c> post-pandemic um inflation rates and post-pandemic um inflation rates and
• </c> there'll be no change in interest rates there'll be no change in interest rates um<01:33:12.199>
• </c> rate so in our forecast we have one rate rate so in our forecast we have one rate cut<01:33:41.600
• </c> increase in the tenure in uh bond rate increase in the tenure in uh bond rate it's<01:34:16.199>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Residential rates, compared to 2023, increased by 4.5 percent in 2024, while residential rates only saw
• been for a rate payer.
• Bolduc:** Windstorm rates are determined by our board of directors, and any increase in rates must be
• Or if they've charged anybody in that time frame, if the rate—not all rates immediately go in.
• If the rate, so not all rates immediately go in. Into effect.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:32.240><c> I</c> even filters down right into vendors.
• I even filters down right into vendors.
• </c> think there needs to be a vendor think there needs to be a vendor responsibility<00:25:34.040><c
• You ought to know how many different vendors we've been through, what worked and what didn't work.
• ><c> been</c><00:40:46.120><c> through,</c> different vendors we've been through, different vendors we've

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s message nominations to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s advisory board. The first nominee, Daniel O’Leary, received strong support from HTA leadership and Deputy Director James Kunane Tokioka, who praised his visitor-industry knowledge and work on brand marketing and tourism planning. O’Leary said he hoped to contribute his experience and strengthen the organization’s integrity. Joel Guy was also supported by HTA, Tokioka, and several community testifiers, who highlighted his long work in Hana, his film-industry background, and his role in community-focused tourism planning. During questioning, Guy said the advisory board should still have influence, especially on strategic planning and community concerns, even though its role is advisory rather than decision-making. The committee then considered Linda Wong’s nomination. HTA and Tokioka strongly supported her, citing her long community experience and familiarity with HTA work. Wong said the new advisory board was collaborative, had no conflicts so far, and was trying to balance resident concerns with attracting higher-value tourists. Senator Kim questioned her about the advisory structure, and Wong said she believed the Legislature had reduced HTA’s authority because of past conflicts but that the new board could help turn things around and possibly regain more authority in the future. The committee also heard testimony on Kimberly Algos and Terry Fisher. Algos was described by HTA and Tokioka as a strong leader and solid board member; Tokioka explained that she and another co-chair were selected because of their busy schedules and that the advisory board’s committees were created so members could contribute beyond the single statutory duty of selecting the chair, president, and CEO. Fisher was supported for his tour-operator experience and strategic planning work. In questioning, he endorsed performance-based contracting and accountability for contractors, while acknowledging that external events can affect results. He also said the convention center is critical infrastructure that should be repaired and used to help fill tourism lulls and attract major conferences. The hearing included supportive testimony from industry representatives, but no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The executive added in those additional GSD and DOIT rates.
• rate study, you know, we were trying to be very mindful and intentional about how we asked for the Rate
• increases: So the last time we had a rate study, we broke up the rate increase into two fiscal years
• So that's my rate increase A discussion on support decision making.
• You know, insurance rates go up, insurance premiums go up.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's increased costs with the vendor, so we're asking for the difference needed for that.
• And if you notice, members, the rate is 64.25% for fringe.
• There's increased costs with the vendor, so we're asking for the difference needed for that.
• And if you notice, members, the rate is 64.25% for fringe.
• <00:42:07.839><c> is</c> rate is rate is 64.2<00:42:09.640><c> five%</c><00:42:10.400><c> for</c> 64.2

Keywords: 912, senate, all