Transcript Highlights:

• same time, I've connected with well-established businesses that have the experience and capacity to perform
• As part of that, what we do is we evaluate criminal bills.
• As part of that, what we do is we evaluate criminal bills.
• we</c><00:52:29.119><c> do</c><00:52:29.200><c> is</c><00:52:29.359><c> we</c><00:52:29.599><c> evaluate
• </c> of that, what we do is we evaluate of that, what we do is we evaluate criminal<00:52:30.559><c>

Bills: HB1629, HB1630, HB1631

Keywords: economic development, business, state statutes, Hawaii Revised Statutes, legislation, development strategy, state funding, infrastructure, employment opportunities, legislative intent, state legislation, development initiatives, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 1829 on marine affairs. Most testimony was in strong support, with speakers from state agencies, ocean-tech companies, startups, nonprofits, and community groups backing the creation of an Office of Marine Affairs and a marine affairs coordinator under HTDC. Supporters said the measure would better coordinate ocean policy, strengthen the blue economy, and help Hawaii capture jobs, investment, and innovation in marine-related industries. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HTDC-related measures, including HB 1615 and HB 1613, which also drew broad support from business, technology, and economic development interests. Testifiers said the bills would strengthen Hawaii’s technology and innovation ecosystem, support advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, and help build a more diversified economy with higher-wage jobs. The committee also heard HB 1607 on public procurement and HB 1772 on small business procurement; state procurement staff and several business groups supported efforts to expand opportunities for local firms, while one speaker from the city’s economic revitalization commission argued that a flat 5% preference could help keep more revenue and jobs in-state. On HB 1636 relating to shopping carts, the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in opposition, saying the bill would penalize businesses for carts that are stolen rather than abandoned and would add costs that could especially burden small and local retailers. HB 1810 on charitable solicitation drew support from Goodwill Hawaii and other nonprofits, who said the bill would improve transparency around donation bins and protect donors from misleading for-profit collection practices; the Attorney General’s office asked for a delayed effective date to allow system changes and staffing. HB 1782 on AI and the protection of minors received broad support from state agencies, educators, and advocacy groups, but some business and retail representatives urged narrowing the definition of covered AI services so ordinary customer-service chatbots would not be swept in. Finally, HB 1759 on theft drew opposition from the Public Defender’s Office, which said the bill could create overly harsh penalties and should include defense representation on any task force; the office also noted existing laws already address conspiracy and related conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just trying to paint that like each crew would need to be evaluated differently and how we monitor
• Crew would need to be evaluated differently and how we monitor that.
• When people come in, they're evaluated.
• When people come in, they're evaluated.
• When people come in, they're evaluated.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing was on an SP 15 replace-all, non-germane amendment to Senate Bill 15, a proposal to require hard labor for certain serious offenses in the New Hampshire prison system. Representative Jennifer Rhodess, the co-sponsor, said the bill is intended to make incarcerated people productive, help reduce costs, and serve as a deterrent; she also noted a two-year effective date for implementation and said anyone who refuses hard labor would receive a 50% sentence increase. She framed the work as ordinary labor already done by many people in the state and said the committee would later hear related testimony and possible amendments. Committee members questioned how the proposal would work in practice, especially for people already incarcerated, the difference between current prison work and the bill’s “hard labor,” and the impact on prison security and staffing. Rhodess said the bill only applies going forward, not retroactively, and that the Department of Corrections could better address operational details. Members also discussed the terminology, noting that “capital murder” is not a current New Hampshire charge and that the relevant offense is first-degree murder with mandatory life without parole. Department of Corrections officials Jane Graham and Nicholas Duffy testified in a neutral position but raised significant implementation concerns. They said the department would need more resources, vehicles, security equipment, and possibly armed supervision for higher-risk crews, and noted a 47% corrections officer vacancy rate. Duffy described current work programs inside prisons and in the community, including correctional industries, kitchen and education jobs, transitional work crews, and community service projects such as road work and landscaping. He explained that current community crews are limited by custody level, court approval, staffing, and safety, and said C1 and C2 inmates are already in transitional or work-release settings, while C3 and higher inmates would pose greater risks if taken outside the walls. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this case, the fatal flaws identified in the permitting process and the DEIR evaluation by public
• Sable is working closely with numerous agencies and performing state-of-the-art inspection and repair
• Sable is working closely with numerous agencies and performing state-of-the-art inspection and repair
• And then finally, DTSC's Green Chemistry Initiative already evaluates chemicals and consumer products
• And then finally, DTSC's Green Chemistry Initiative already evaluates chemicals and consumer products

Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.

Bills: SB2969, SB3263, SB2602, SB3229, SB3199, SB2550, SB2877, SB3325, SB2024, SB2614, SB2613, SB3063, SB2319, SB2800, SB2892, SB2321, SB2407, SB2805, SB2153, SB2595, SB2781, SB3233, SB2360, SB1432, SB2543, SB2599, SB3053, SB2001, SB2041, SB3247, SB3253, SB2401, SB2673, SB3067, SB411, SB2934, SB3219, SB2919, SB2239, SB2532, SB2601, SB1032, SB2446, SB2152, SB2721, SB3076, SB3140, SB2671, SB2338, SB2268, SB99, SB2930, SB3069, SB3096, SB3097, SB3090, SB2060, SB3028, SB2544, SB2069, SB2552, SB3218, SB3022, SB148, SB2259, SB2578, SB2928, SB2816, SB2580

Keywords: SB2969, Maui wildfire, Maui wildfires, wildfire exposure, Maui Health Registry, University of Hawaii, public health, biomonitoring, medical screening, mental health services, trauma recovery, disaster recovery, first responders, kupuna, children's health, medically vulnerable, environmental exposure, toxic exposure, respiratory illness, community health

Transcript Highlights:

• In the course of perfecting iron as a low-cost, high-performing battery component, we’ve learned that
• Um, and as Jason mentioned, performance.
• We are in the early phases of evaluating the call for applications.
• We are evaluating those projects now.
• Every loan is evaluated on its own merits.

Bills: HF4059, HF76

Keywords: climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, financing, sustainability, environmental policy, renewable energy, Minnesota Climate Innovation Financing Authority, earned incentive release credit, release credits, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, sentence reduction, good time, prison time, incarceration, violent offenses, murder, criminal sexual conduct, sex offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will ensure that only properly trained and certified professionals perform this critical life
• there existed a significant gap regarding consistent qualification standards for the individuals performing
• These programs ensure workers possess the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to perform this
• Mike West on behalf of the skills and experience necessary to perform this work safely and correctly
• So that also gives me great hesitation in evaluating this proposal today.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To take the example that was just given, if there was a chiropractor out there, you know... performing
• ASCs are facilities that typically perform surgeries that do not require an overnight stay.
• Not because you made an independent decision of their treatment, but you performed what you were prescribed
• All you are is a facility where healthcare providers, physicians, perform whatever medical procedure
• It's equivalent to psychiatry's performance on tests.

Bills: SB2024, SB227, SB268, SB1467, SB1580, HB5537, SB1313, SB1677, SB918, SB331, SB2207, SB2721

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• Establishing a centralized office creates an opportunity to evaluate performance, identify best practices
• They should be properly evaluated.
• And a lot of times they get discharged by being properly evaluated.
• , clinically, would that not be difficult, some, evaluation.
• But at the very minimum, they still need to be evaluated.

Summary: The committee first heard opening remarks from LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein and CMS Medicaid Director Dan Brillman, who discussed ongoing federal-state collaboration and praised Louisiana’s work on Medicaid and health system reforms. The committee then took up House Bill 1214 by Chairman Miller, which would create an Office of State Healthcare Facilities within LDH to centralize oversight of five state-operated inpatient facilities. LDH said the bill would streamline administration, combine shared services, add no new FTEs, and improve care and outcomes for vulnerable residents. Members asked about capacity and waiting lists at the facilities, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee next considered House Bill 1041 by Representative Ghali, a medical-freedom bill aimed at prohibiting denial of access or discrimination based on “medical intervention status.” After amendments were adopted, the bill was narrowed to exclude K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals, health care facilities, and tuberculosis-related actions, while keeping existing school outbreak exclusion law in place. Supporters, including patients, nurses, physicians, and advocacy groups, testified that mandates during COVID caused coercion, job loss, and harm, and argued for bodily autonomy and informed consent. Opponents, including the Louisiana Hospital Association, American Lung Association, and Louisiana Families for Vaccines, said the amendments addressed some concerns but warned the bill could weaken outbreak protections for children; after debate, the committee reported the bill favorably with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 414 by Representative Chenevere, which closes a loophole in background-check law by barring hiring of certain direct-care workers with substantially similar out-of-state convictions that would disqualify them in Louisiana. Amendments clarified the definition of covered workers, removed licensed ambulance personnel, and addressed documentation and third-party screening. The Attorney General’s office said the bill is intended to protect vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries from people with serious criminal histories, and supporters from disability and EMS communities backed the measure. The bill was reported favorably with amendments. Finally, the committee began House Bill 786 by Representative Egan, which would prohibit managed care organizations from using extrapolation to determine provider audit overpayments or recoupments, requiring decisions to be based on actual claims. Members discussed a proposed amendment preserving the Department of Health and Department of Justice’s ability to use extrapolation in fraud investigations under existing law, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:33:05.120><c> supports</c> clinically trained evaluators supports clinically trained evaluators
• ,</c><00:36:21.040><c> they</c> the other qualified um evaluators, they the other qualified um evaluators
• </c> wanting to be child custody evaluators wanting to be child custody evaluators or<00:36:47.359><c
• </c><00:37:05.920><c> mental</c><00:37:06.240><c> health</c> health evaluator mental health health evaluator
• </c> custody evaluators. custody evaluators.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The HHS committee met in Room 224 and announced the hearing was being streamed live, with a one-minute limit on testimony. The chair explained that written testimony had already been reviewed and that speakers should either add new comments or stand on their written testimony. The committee first heard SB 2211, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including DHS, Aloha United Way, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the importance of maintaining SNAP-related food assistance and emergency food delivery, while Catholic Charities raised a question about whether the bill’s language would also reach food banks serving food-insecure households that are not on SNAP. No opposition was heard and the bill was moved on without questions from members. The committee then heard SB 2025, which would exempt actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses from jury duty. Testimony was broadly supportive from nursing and health organizations, including the Hawaii American Nurses Association, the Hawaii affiliate of the College of Nurse Midwives, the Hawaii State Board of Nursing, and others. One witness from Kaiser Permanente requested an amendment to include physician assistants, and a committee member asked the Board of Nursing to review that request. The bill otherwise drew no opposition and no further member questions. SB 2038, relating to medication labeling, drew the most extended discussion. The measure would change labeling requirements for certain abortion medications, and testimony was split between supporters who framed it as a privacy and access issue and opponents who raised patient safety, ethics, and transparency concerns. The Department of Health supported the intent but requested an amendment to allow quicker access to private information during investigations without a subpoena. The Board of Pharmacy said it supported the written comments but noted operational challenges and possible cost impacts, while Kaiser said compliance would likely require manual workarounds and could slow pharmacy processes. The chair and members questioned whether patients could simply remove labels themselves, but witnesses said there could still be safety and access issues if the patient is not the one receiving the prescription. The committee then moved on to SB 2050, relating to chiropractic, which received support from the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, with no substantive opposition noted. The hearing later turned to SB 201, relating to insurance, which appeared to be a new mandated-benefit measure tied to infertility/IVF coverage. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission provided comments, while Hawaii Family Forum opposed the bill, arguing it went beyond medical infertility and raised ethical and public policy concerns. Kaiser and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans both asked for a study or audit, saying the measure could create new insurance mandates and increase costs for residents and employers. Private Work Hawaii strongly supported the bill as an equity issue. The committee noted there was no quorum for decision-making and deferred action on the measure to a later hearing, then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> programs and and the uh performance programs and and the uh performance metrics<00:16:03.600><c>
• > what</c><00:21:24.279><c> of</c><00:21:24.440><c> what</c><00:21:24.720><c> of</c> vocational evaluation
• of what of what of vocational evaluation of what of what of what<00:21:24.960><c> folks</c><00:21:25.200
• Unfortunately, today the amendment instead says that one cooperative will be able to perform this work
• </c> one Cooperative will be able to perform one Cooperative will be able to perform this<01:31:43.320

Bills: HF1538, HF1965, HF2251, HF2838

Keywords: teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district, cooperative unit, teacher pipeline, alternative licensure, apprenticeship program, labor and industry, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• We support these efforts to re-evaluate the assessment. invite him forward.
• ><00:16:10.480><c> the</c> these efforts to re-evaluate the these efforts to re-evaluate the assessment
• Line 278 is a reduction of $3 million each year for drug recognition evaluator training.
• </c> drug recognition evaluator training. drug recognition evaluator training.
• </c><01:38:16.800><c> standards</c><01:38:17.119><c> and</c> adopt performance standards and adopt performance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health units may operate at more than one facility and allows for short-term care, assessment, evaluation
• c> and allows for short-term care, and allows for short-term care, assessment,<00:02:20.720><c> evaluation
• , evaluation, and stabiliz- stabilization<00:02:23.440><c> for</c><00:02:23.680><c> incarcerated</c><
• This should not limit their ability to evaluate the risk and charge premiums for the type of activity
• their ability to evaluate the risk and<00:36:27.320><c> charge</c><00:36:27.680><c> premiums</c><00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we have right now about 86 grantees, and our research and evaluation division creates performance
• You know, we have right now about 86 grantees, and our research and evaluation division creates performance
• You know, we have right now about 86 grantees, and our research and evaluation division creates performance
• You know, we have right now about 86 grantees, and our research and evaluation division creates performance
• for</c> um creates performance metric tables for um creates performance metric tables for each<05:42:

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:

• It clarifies that for any work performed under the $7,500 exemption, the person performing the work other
• It clarifies that for any work performed under the $7,500 exemption, the person performing the work other
• You're okay if somebody is not on site, but still performing, ultimately performing the same task, correct
• for small businesses, and communities across the state, and I take seriously the responsibility to evaluate
• something that you have in contract, you have the ability to go ahead and, you know, not have to perform

Bills: S0468, S0822, S1234, S1260, S1580, S1706

Keywords: animal cruelty, reporting, veterinary, protection, liability, regulation, community association, management certification, Florida Statutes, certified manager, association governance, building permits, inspections, offsite construction, local government, housing, property regulation, construction standards, state of emergency, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• These three types of radiologic technologists may perform radiologic parenteral procedures when performed
• Radiologic parenteral procedures may be performed under the direct supervision of a physician.
• Under the bill, IV contrast procedures performed by these radiologic technologists may be performed either
• Other parenteral procedures may only be performed under the direct supervision of a physician.
• This bill ensures that PAs and APRNs can order the necessary diagnostic testing to properly evaluate

Bills: HB2110, HB2113, HB2122, HB2152, HB2168

Keywords: ambulance, interfacility transport, specialty care transport, emergency medical services, EMS, registered nurse, nurse staffing, paramedic, emergency medical technician, EMT, patient transfer, hospital transfer, critical care transport, medical transport, workforce shortage, scope of practice, Department of Health, RCW 18.73, first responder, basic life support

Transcript Highlights:

• My family was subject to a child custody evaluation.
• The parents, the parents can agree to an evaluator or the judge can appoint an evaluator.
• 10 evaluations under supervision to be fully qualified to conduct child custody evaluations.
• And does the county pay for the child custody evaluator?
• Who had the, uh, corrupted child custody evaluator, Alyssa Sherry, do an evaluation on him and basically

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• evaluation of it of the server<00:27:33.760><c> room,</c><00:27:34.400><c> which</c><00:27:34.720><c
• The original law required MMB to conduct an evaluation of the reverse auction process.
• We completed that evaluation a month ago, and last week the OA published their own review of it.
• :35.840><c> of</c><01:13:36.000><c> the</c><01:13:36.159><c> reverse</c> conduct an evaluation of the
• reverse conduct an evaluation of the reverse auction<01:13:36.960><c> process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will evaluate that if this becomes law. will evaluate that if this becomes law.
• </c> vote today feels performative at best. vote today feels performative at best.
• Let's stop performing and start protecting.
• ><c> start</c> Let's stop performing and start Let's stop performing and start protecting. protecting
• </c> of performing political theater today. of performing political theater today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The department has many efforts underway through performance-based opportunities in BH Connect and other
• analyses to work with our partners to inform how we prioritize accuracy improvement strategies and evaluate
• And finally, requiring data collection, public reporting, and evaluation to better measure what methods
• So there are, you know, our ability to perform those ex parte determinations depends on the data being
• So our goal is to be able to sort of do that one time and perform exemptions that sort of serve as a

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they're incapable of performing that work, it is documented by a case plan for that individual.
• That Majority Leader Lawson and I are interested in post-21 services and try to evaluate that.

Bills: SB1558, SB1983, SB1796, SB1806, SB1426, SB633

Keywords: child care, licensing, definitions, foster care, child welfare, SB1983, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention