Transcript Highlights:

• We are also at 11:01, and we're at Conference Room 423.
• We have HB 77, and at this time Hawaii Emergency Manager M.
• Is there any other testifiers in the room wishing to testify?
• Is there any other testifiers in the room wishing to testify?
• Is there any other testifiers in the room wishing to testify?

Summary: The joint hearing of the Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Tourism on February 12, 2025, focused on HB 77/HB 1077, a measure related to increasing the transient accommodations tax and directing revenue toward climate mitigation/resiliency and economic development/tourism resiliency. Most testifiers supported the bill, including the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, State Energy Office, Governor’s office, DLNR, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Nature Conservancy, the Hawaii Climate Advisory Team, Care for Aina Now Coalition, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Ocean Legislative Task Force. Supporters emphasized the need for reliable funding for disaster preparedness, environmental restoration, infrastructure resilience, and tourism-related resilience projects; some cited polling and a reported funding gap for natural resource protection and restoration. Opposition or concerns came from the Kohala Coast Resort Association, which argued the state should fully collect existing taxes from short-term vacation rentals and other accommodations before considering any tax increase. The Attorney General and Department of Taxation offered technical comments, noting the bill’s special fund language referred to fees that the chapter did not actually authorize and recommending either deleting that language or authorizing fee collection through rulemaking. The Hawaii Tourism Authority supported the measure but asked that the funding mechanism have a clear nexus to tourism resiliency. After a brief recess, the chair recommended amendments to redirect the proposed 1.75% TAT increase away from the two special funds and into the general fund, while earmarking 7.3% of total revenue for climate mitigation/resiliency and 7.3% for economic development and tourism resiliency, with technical and defect-effective-date amendments. Both committees then voted to pass the measure with amendments; the recommendations were adopted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're holding our committee hearing here in the 1020 O Street, Room 1200.
• And so conceiving this as an emergency fund is really, I mean... ...the time.
• an emergency reserve, and the reserve that we have now, a stabilization fund?
• By emergency, do you mean for like natural disasters?
• The one person I thought might give public testimony is walking out of the room.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee held an informational hearing on California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or Rainy Day Fund, with opening remarks focused on the state’s long history of revenue volatility and the role reserves play in smoothing downturns. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that California’s personal income tax base is highly volatile because high-income earners’ income is tied to capital gains and other fluctuating sources, and that Proposition 2’s current reserve rules set aside 1.5% of General Fund revenues plus a share of excess capital gains, but cap constitutional deposits at 10% of General Fund taxes. The LAO said its analysis evaluates reserve policy over decades and found the current system would cover about 30% of funding shortfalls in a 90th-percentile downturn scenario over 50 years, which is an improvement over no reserve but still inadequate. The LAO recommended raising the reserve cap substantially, ultimately to 50% by 2055, with an immediate increase to 20% and gradual increases thereafter. It also suggested either replacing Proposition 2’s deposit formulas with broader rules that capture volatility across all tax revenues or, alternatively, depositing all excess capital gains rather than only a share. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s prior proposal similarly sought to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exclude reserve deposits and withdrawals from the state appropriations limit, arguing those two constraints limited the state’s ability to save during recent revenue surges. Other panelists and members discussed whether reserves should be paired with broader structural changes, including unemployment insurance reform, safety-net funding, infrastructure reserves, and the projected surplus temporary holding account. The California Budget and Policy Center supported reserve reform but emphasized balancing savings with current needs and noted other tools such as revenue increases, borrowing from special funds, and the new surplus-holding account. Members debated the causes and effects of Proposition 13, the appropriations limit, business departures, and whether reserve policy should be more directly tied to protecting Californians’ access to health care, food assistance, child care, and other core services. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joint Committee hearing in Conference Room 229 at the State Capitol between the Committees on Public
• We have the bills... is SB 696 this is relating to Emergency is SB 696 this is relating to Emergency
• </c> income tax credits relating to Emergency income tax credits relating to Emergency Management<00:
• </c> two oversee the development of Emergency two oversee the development of Emergency Shelters<00:02
• Hearing in conference room 229.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The joint hearing first took up SB 696, which would create an emergency management office and fund tax credits, grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify homes, shelter development, and staffing. Supporters argued Hawaii needs a dedicated preparedness office and funding before the next hurricane season, while the Tax Foundation said the bill was too vague, especially on who would qualify for the tax credits and under what conditions. The Department of the Attorney General and the insurance division offered comments, and both committees recommended deferral of SB 696. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then heard SB 179 on construction defect remedies and the contractor repair act. Builders, Realtors, carpenters, and a mortgage industry witness supported the bill, saying it would reduce abusive litigation, speed repairs, and help housing production and affordability. Homeowner advocates and plaintiff attorneys opposed it, arguing it would weaken consumer protections, shift repair costs to homeowners, and delay or limit legitimate claims. One testifier suggested the Senate focus instead on stronger alternative dispute resolution, and the committee noted 105 written supporters, four opponents, and one comment submission. The committee next heard SB 416 on allowing pets in rental housing, with the Attorney General recommending a non-impairment safeguard because of possible effects on existing contracts. SB 593 on commercial dog breeders drew support from the Hawaii Humane Society and others, with concerns raised that counties would be expected to enforce the new regime without funding. SB 641, creating a tax on low-alcohol-by-volume spirits beverages, drew opposition from the Wine Institute, which said it would create a tax break for one segment and likely reduce state revenue. SB 1048 on online crowdfunding received support from GoFundMe and comments from the Attorney General, with GoFundMe urging changes to reduce burdens on charitable fundraising. SB 1213, allowing businesses to accept service of process by email instead of maintaining a registered agent, drew DCCA comments and opposition from LegalZoom, which warned email service could be unreliable and vulnerable to phishing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think there's definitely room to talk about that and explain more. Thanks. Thank you.
• The addition of workplace emergency savings accounts is a crucial tool for CalSavers participants to
• weather financial emergencies and allows them to put aside a small portion of their paycheck into an
• Despite the success, we have plenty of room for improvement.
• Anyone else in the room in support, please come up. Name, organization. All right, seeing none.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on worker safety, wages, workforce training, and retirement savings. AB 2137 (Chen) would strengthen safety rules and certification for artificial stone fabrication shops to reduce silica exposure; AB 2499 (Gibson) would require Cal/OSHA to develop heat-illness protections for incarcerated workers and staff in correctional facilities; AB 2300 (Arambula) would streamline the disbursement of state and federal workforce funds; AB 2646 (Krell) would establish a minimum wage floor for certain agricultural workers; AB 2227 (Connolly) would tighten licensing and bond requirements for farm labor contractors and add default-judgment procedures for wage claims; AB 1869 (Haney) would create a reporting process for alleged REIT interference in hotel operations; AB 2650 (Pellerin) would expand CalSavers with emergency savings accounts and other updates; AB 2634 (Zbur) would prioritize labor-management partnerships in High Road Training Partnership grants; and AB 1888 would require skilled-and-trained workforce and prevailing wage standards for work under the Safe Home Grant Program. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create California’s approval process for short-term Pell-eligible workforce programs. The committee also took up several consent items, including AB 1904, AB 1980, AB 2550, AB 2078, and AB 2682. Most bills were described as aligning state programs with federal law or improving worker protections and program quality, while opponents generally raised concerns about costs, administrative burden, regulatory uncertainty, or reduced oversight. Testimony was largely split along labor and industry lines. Supporters included labor unions, legal aid groups, workforce boards, and affected workers or family members, who emphasized heat illness, wage theft, silica exposure, poor prison conditions, and the need for higher-quality training and retirement access. Opponents on several bills, especially those affecting agriculture, REITs, and workforce administration, argued the measures would increase costs, create uncertainty, or duplicate existing law. On AB 2227, committee members engaged in extended discussion about Labor Commissioner delays and whether the bill’s default-judgment and bond provisions would meaningfully help workers. On AB 1869, members and witnesses debated whether the bill created new standards or simply improved enforcement of existing REIT rules. The committee voted to pass all of the measures heard, generally with motions to do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Several bills were held open for absent members during the meeting, and later add-on roll calls recorded additional ayes, moving the bills out of committee. The meeting concluded after the consent calendar was approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Extreme heat is becoming more frequent and more severe, and emergency response alone is not enough.
• Extreme heat is becoming more frequent and more severe, and emergency response alone is not enough.
• We need preventative housing. and more severe, and emergency response alone is not enough.
• I grew up with a fan in my living room, no air-conditioning.
• Oh, of note, Curtis Steinhauser from the counties did sign in pro, but I don't see him in the room.

Bills: HB1974 , HB2265 , HB2452

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation, deed restriction, affordability covenant, property tax exemption, excise tax exemption, predevelopment

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been active for six years and are emerging as a global leader in carbon capture.
• Yeah, I see it on mine just in the room.
• go ahead and get started, and we'll try and fix that glitch in terms of being able to see it in the room
• Rostalio, is in the room with you all.
• Scope really... that no one in the room even know how to assign responsibility for.

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Emerging technologies should be studied, but before they're deployed in public elections, the studies
• The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
• Creepy men in women's restrooms and locker rooms getting their jollies.
• There's an emergency clause on this proposal, which I don't understand is necessary. Things, too.
• There's an emergency clause on this proposal, which I don't understand is necessary.

Bills: SB6084 , SB6137 , SCR8406 , SB5892 , SB5863

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• The Republican Caucus will be meeting tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. in room 145. Thank you.
• The Republican Caucus will be meeting tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. in room 145. Thank you.
• </c><00:10:33.440><c> in</c><00:10:33.640><c> room</c><00:10:33.880><c> 145.
• </c> 9:00 a.m. in room 145. 9:00 a.m. in room 145. Thank<00:10:36.120><c> you.
• In room 170. In room 170. Okay, room 170 on Wednesday. >> 170 in the House building. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's definitely room for growth on a major project.
• And I'm sure everybody in the room understands bonding.
• Is there anybody in this room in opposition to this bill?
• So, those in the room who are in favor, by a show of hands, please.
• We have room for one more in the room if you want; otherwise, we will go online.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, they offer emergency loans to individuals.
• to a loss of utilities, a repossession of a vehicle, or an eviction if you do not have access to emergency
• to a loss of utilities, a repossession of a vehicle or an eviction if you do not have access to emergency
• A customer could use the money to pay off an emergency bill, fill their gas tank, pay part of a medical
• She's caught up in another hearing room, but she would echo the comment Amber is caught up in another

Bills: HB1269 , HB2624

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: pawnbroker, fees, interest rates, consumer protection, financial regulation, real estate transactions, nonprofit, land conservancies, unsolicited offers, property rights

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in our new temporary hearing room for several months, maybe as much as a year, while they remodel
• our hearing room.
• While dedicated funding for lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants is critical, the
• Whether they face fire, floods, or droughts, or aging infrastructure and emerging contaminants, water
• as a significant issue in our watersheds, but we're preparing for it as an emerging contaminant and

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, water infrastructure, lead service lines, federal reauthorization, sustainability, cybersecurity

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions surrounding the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and its implications for local water systems. Various witnesses highlighted the transformative impact of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has provided an unprecedented amount of funding to help address long-standing issues in drinking water infrastructure, particularly concerning lead service line replacements and sustainability in water management. The discussions emphasized the urgent need for federal reauthorization to continue supporting these initiatives, as many rural and disadvantaged communities still face substantial barriers in upgrading their water systems. Additionally, cybersecurity risks were noted, raising concerns over the vulnerability of water systems across the nation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas, Governor Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on October 20th, 2025, which allowed the
• Whereas, the emergency funding released by Governor Lujan Grisham was only sufficient to temporarily
• She used her emergency powers and the $30 million billion we appropriated in the last special session
• So we also are here to replenish the emergency account with $30 million.
• And I want the 460,000 people who are in this room to know that we are not a political pawn.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; 804 KAR 130:03, emergency; and 804 KAR 130:04, emergency. 804 KAR 130:01, emergency, establishes the
• 02 emergency 030 emergency and emergency 02 emergency 030 emergency and 040<00:15:25.040><c> emergency
• </c> 040 emergency. 040 emergency. 8041301 8041301 8041301 emergency<00:15:29.120><c> establishes</c>
• </c> existing emergency rags. existing emergency rags.
• </c><01:03:13.040><c> room</c> a co-pay of $250 for the emergency room a co-pay of $250 for the emergency

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then recognized a staff member’s birthday and a guest shadowing Senator Adams. It then moved into informational review of Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education regulation 702 KAR 3:30, which sets insurance coverage requirements for school district buildings and structures. Department of Education officials explained that districts are expected to carry coverage at replacement cost and said they understand some districts participate in self-insurance pools with backup policies, but they deferred detailed insurance questions to the Department of Insurance. Senators raised concerns that pooled coverage could leave districts exposed if claims exceed pool limits, and the chair asked KDE to follow up with DOI to confirm districts are adequately covered, especially for bondholders. No vote was taken on the informational review. The committee then reviewed emergency ABC regulations 804 KAR 130:01 through 130:04 implementing Senate Bill 100’s new licensing requirements for tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product businesses. ABC and Public Protection Cabinet representatives outlined the emergency rules governing enforcement, license applications, denial criteria, and transitional licenses. Retail industry witnesses Shannon Stiglet and Brian Clark said they support licensure in principle but argued the rules add duplicative requirements borrowed from alcohol licensing, create confusion about transitional licenses, and may be too burdensome for the roughly 7,000 affected businesses to meet by the January 1 deadline. They also said guidance has been inconsistent and requested the agency revise the regulations, remove requirements not grounded in law, and provide clearer, separate processes for new and existing businesses. Committee members asked whether the industry had worked directly with ABC and noted the public comment period was still open. Witnesses said they had communicated with ABC and the Public Protection Cabinet, but responses had been uneven and they wanted written guidance. Members expressed concern about the short timeline and the need to avoid disruption so businesses can operate legally on January 1. Representative Marzian asked for clarification that the discussion concerned emergency regulations already in effect while ordinary regulations remain in process. No formal action was taken beyond receiving the informational testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please also note that when representatives step out of committee and into any room, they're still able
• If they're used for the purpose, for example, during COVID, masks were authorized for emergency use.
• During COVID, masks were authorized for emergency use, supposedly to prevent the transmission of COVID
• , national...” “...because we’re just trying to protect a state of emergency, national emergency, pandemic
• So in any type of emergency, emerging type of pandemic or something like that, what is it truly that’

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 and first disposed of several items without hearing them, including HB 1093 and HB 1145, and voluntarily deferring HB 946. The committee then quickly reported HB 1095 favorably without objection. That bill would require nursing facilities to have fuel or another alternative power generation source to maintain power, and supporters said it preserves existing backup-power safety requirements while giving facilities more flexibility as technology changes. The committee then took up HB 926, which concerns vaccination status and admission to public buildings and seeks to prohibit medical mandates. After adopting an amendment set and additional changes clarifying exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities, medical masks, and child welfare/school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters framed it as a civil-liberties measure limiting vaccine-card requirements for public buildings, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures, school immunization rules, and the ability of health care facilities to protect patients. The bill was reported favorably on an 8-4 vote. HB 1220, a cleanup bill for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was then reported favorably after a technical amendment set. HB 1227, which would require complaints involving medical judgment to be reviewed by a three-physician panel before formal disciplinary action, drew extensive testimony from a physician sponsor, a doctor describing his disciplinary experience, and the board’s executive director, who said the board already uses practicing physicians, nurses, and experts in its process and warned the proposed panel system could be impractical because physicians are difficult to recruit for such reviews. At the sponsor’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 1227 for further work. Finally, the committee reported HB 1217 favorably with amendments to a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill, after supporters said it would expose hidden pricing and rebate practices and opponents argued some provisions were duplicative or unnecessary. HB 1028, setting minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation, was reported favorably and referred to Appropriations after supporters described the need for higher rates and members discussed funding. The committee also reported HB 1185 favorably, with amendments preserving the existing Rural Hospital Preservation Act while extending similar protections to additional rural-lookalike hospitals, and adopted HCR 76 to continue the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force for another year.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is 11:35 a.m., and we are at Conference Room 430 at the State Capitol.
• </c> we'll take another question in the room we'll take another question in the room and<00:29:19.200
• Any other questions from the room?
• Any other questions from the room? &gt;&gt; Okay. Any other questions from the room?
• </c><01:06:08.560><c> Go</c> room. Is there any other questions? Go room.

Bills: SCR145 , SCR132 , SCR31 , SCR110

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:59.519><c> response</c> for the purpose of emergency response for the purpose of emergency
• </c> disclo disclosed to local emergency disclo disclosed to local emergency management<00:13:50.880>
• management directors shall be emergency management directors shall be exempt<00:14:09.040><c> from</
• And so the emergency management directors get that data from the utilities.
• 25.839><c> directors</c> so the emergency management directors so the emergency management directors

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• emergency medical technicians, or EMTs.
• It's more what they're seeing, or do I need to go to an emergency vet?
• Emergency vet. So a lot of this is not drug-seeking.
• We're a rural critical access hospital with 25 beds and an emergency room.
• When care is delayed, minor issues can quickly become emergencies.

Bills: HB2340 , HB2155 , HB2531

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: HB 2340, nursing assistants, nurse aide, substance use disorder monitoring program, monitoring program, credentialing, licensure, disciplinary records, enforcement action, public disclosure, privacy, third-party website, stipend program, financial assistance, treatment costs, drug testing, peer support, recovery, rehabilitation, board-approved program

Transcript Highlights:

• Will he take any other me-toos in the room?
• Also, I see Senator Umberg in the room.
• Again, the states of emergency.
• Anyone else in the room here in support? Seeing none.
• All right, anyone else in the room for opposition?

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee protocol is as follows: signs and placards are not permitted in the hearing room.
• Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in removal from the meeting room.
• This committee looked at non-emergency transportation...
• Eric Wagy here, who's the Director of Emergency Management for Hennepin County, Dr.
• So, could you please silence your cell phones in the committee room? Thank you.

Bills: HF1837 , HF361 , HF2725 , HF2566 , HF2744 , HF1685 , HF501 , HF1889 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> The Speaker's Rooms, Washington, D.C., February 23rd, 2026.
• Lieutenant Colonel Parks flew defensive maneuvers, coordinated emergency refueling, and prevented the
• COORDINATED EMERGENCY REFUELING, AND PREVENTED THE LIKELY LOSS OF MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT.
• and Coordination during emergency response activities.
• Now, we do that deliberately to give the agency's investigators the room to pursue every lead, every