Transcript Highlights:

• The next project for the port is the Workforce Training Center Redevelopment.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met to receive public testimony and act on port priority applications for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 Port Priority Construction and Development Priority Program. After approving the March 9, 2026 minutes, the committee heard from Commissioner Andrew Kilshaw of the Office of Multimodal Commerce on two applications from the Avoyelles Harbor and Terminal District: a building addition and waterfront industrial improvements project, and a Workforce Training Center redevelopment project. He said both met program criteria and projected substantial state benefits, jobs, and high benefit-cost ratios. Committee members asked about the projected jobs, the unusually high benefit-cost ratio, and the status of other port projects. Kilshaw and DOTD’s Molly Bergoin said the program has a backlog of more than $200 million, but the department is working through it, with some projects nearing closeout. They also said the annual request cap has been increased and that a tiered funding approach is being considered to help projects compete for federal dollars. Members expressed support for expanding investment in ports and for a statewide strategic plan. Chairman Boriak moved to accept the port priority applications received through March 1, 2026, for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 program. There was no objection, and the committee accepted the projects. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is related to redeveloping commercial buildings.

Bills: HCR1, HCR2, SB2001, SB2002, SB2003, SB2004, SB2005, SB2006, SB2007, SB2008, SB2009, SB2010, SB2011, SB2012, SB2013, SB2014, SB2015, SB2016, SB2017, SB2018, SB2019, SB2020, SB2021, SB2022, SB2023, SB2024, SB2025, SB2026, SB2027, SB2028, SB2029, SB2030, SB2031, SB2032, SB2033, SB2034, SB2035, SB2036, SB2037, SB2038, SB2039, SB2040, SB2041, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2045, SB2046, SB2047, SB2048, SB2049, SB2050, SB2051, SB2052, SB2053, SB2054, SB2055, SB2056, SB2057, SB2058, SB2059, SB2060, SB2061, SB2062, SB2063, SB2064, SB2065, SB2066, SB2067, SB2068, SB2069, SB2070, SB2071, SB2072, SB2073, SB2074, SB2075, SB2076, SB2077, SB2078, SB2079, SB2080, SB2081, SB2082, SB2083, SB2084, SB2085, SB2086, SB2087, SB2088, SB2089, SB2090, SB2091, SB2092, SB2093, SB2094, SB2095, SB2096, SB2097, SB2098, SB2099, SB2100

Keywords: recess, legislative session, Hawaii State Legislature, 2026, Governor address, joint session, legislature, Hawaii, state of the state, Banyan Drive, Waiakea peninsula, Makaokū, Hilo, Hawaii Island, HCDA, Hawaii Community Development Authority, community development district, redevelopment, urban renewal, blight

Transcript Highlights:

• that are being paid on that facility and then what future uses for that site could be, including redevelopment
• Uh, Commissioner Schnell, would that redevelopment be possibly selling it to the private sector so the
• c><00:42:15.200> that Commissioner Schnell, would that Commissioner Schnell, would that redevelopment
• > um<00:42:17.040> possibly<00:42:17.520> selling<00:42:17.760> it redevelopment
• be um possibly selling it redevelopment be um possibly selling it to<00:42:18.079> the<00:42:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These are owned and operated by local public housing authorities, housing and redevelopment authorities
• authorities by local public housing authorities Housing<00:30:28.799> and<00:30:28.960> Redevelopment
• <00:30:29.600> authorities<00:30:30.200> or Housing and Redevelopment authorities or
• Housing and Redevelopment authorities or Community<00:30:30.880> Development<00:30:31.360>
• We work with Minnesota NARO, the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment

Bills: HF919, HF1192, HF212, HF214

Keywords: wastewater, infrastructure, funding, Litchfield, economic development, environmental compliance, Hastings, water treatment, PFAS, nitrates, bonds, capital investment, public health, HF212, Round Lake-Brewster, Independent School District No. 2907, school construction, school building, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, and most of those, I guess part of it is when going back to TOD and urban redevelopment.
• Yeah, and most of those, I guess part of it is when going back to TOD and urban redevelopment.
• Yeah, and most of those, I guess part of it is when going back to TOD and urban redevelopment.
• Yeah, and most of those, I guess part of it is when going back to TOD and urban redevelopment.
• No, just that whole part of the redevelopment part for the village—the campus village.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• master plan highlighting<00:14:19.079> the<00:14:19.240> future<00:14:19.519> Redevelopment
• <00:14:20.399> of highlighting the future Redevelopment of highlighting the future Redevelopment
• focus my comments as an executive director of the state agency that's tasked with planning and redevelopment
• focus my comments as an executive director of the state agency that's tasked with planning and redevelopment
• So unless we're going to redevelop hotels into housing units for kanaka, I strongly urge that we consider

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Water and Land, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing committees on January 29, 2025 focused on SB 534, with the chairs outlining hearing procedures, public testimony limits, and plans to allow extended presentations from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) before moving to other testifiers. The hearing was presented as a public, transparent discussion of OHA’s plans for Kakaʻako Makai, with committee members noting that decision-making would follow if time permitted. OHA testified in strong support of SB 534. The chair of OHA’s Board of Trustees said the bill was a novel proposal for the legislature and emphasized that OHA was bringing together a broad coalition of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from construction, hospitality, education, law enforcement, civil service, and schools, as well as longtime community advocates who have opposed development in Kakaʻako Makai. OHA’s presentation reviewed the history of the area, the creation and role of HCDA, prior master plans, the 2012 land conveyance to OHA, and the argument that OHA has not been able to realize the full economic value of the lands because desired entitlements were not secured. OHA linked the bill to its constitutional mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians and argued that the state’s housing crisis makes additional development, including residential use, especially important. A major theme of the testimony was housing. OHA argued that Hawaiʻi faces severe affordability pressures, out-migration, and workforce shortages, and said that residential development in Kakaʻako Makai would help address those needs while also supporting the value of the trust lands. The presentation described HCDA’s authority over zoning and development in Kakaʻako, the existing reserved housing requirements, and the need for a master plan that could move forward if SB 534 becomes law. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the discussion remained in the presentation and testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, the House has returned to the Senate Senate Bill 721, a bill to amend the Commercial Redevelopment
• The House has returned to the Senate Senate Bill 723, a bill to amend the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing
• Senate Bill 723 is a bill to amend the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act.

Summary: The Senate met with 33 members present and a quorum, then repeatedly recessed and reconvened to take up a large number of House bills and one Senate resolution. Early action included discharging several bills from committee and moving them to the General Orders calendar, including House Bills 4062, 4063, 4064, 5249, 4750, and 4644. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 135, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, after extended remarks by Senator Cherry reflecting on American ideals and the nation’s history. Later, the Senate considered additional bills dealing with political activity, public health, foster care and adoption, the Michigan Vehicle Code, military leave, tax and insurance matters, child care licensing, open meetings, school code, property conveyance, juvenile diversion, and child abduction broadcasts. Most bills advanced with little or no debate, though several members offered amendments or floor substitutes that were adopted, withdrawn, or ruled out of order. Senator McBroom gave multiple no-vote explanations, objecting to the political-activity bills as restrictions on speech and association, and later criticizing piecemeal changes to the Open Meetings Act and a military-leave bill as potentially discouraging employers from hiring reservists. Senator Albert also explained no votes on the military-leave measures, saying the bills could create disincentives for employers and should have included a funding offset. On Senate Bill 22, McBroom offered a humorous amendment about payment methods that failed. On Senate Bill 373, his tie-bar amendment to unrelated “rice generator” bills also failed. The Senate passed and, in many cases, granted immediate effect to numerous bills, including House Bills 4062, 4063, 4064, 4750, 4644, 4189, 4207, 4208, 4309, 4396, 5570, 5571, 5806, 5807, 5995, 6043, 6074, 4100, 4103, 4104, 4517, 5232, 5233, 5249, and 4746, as well as Senate Bills 527, 569, 1052, 22, and 373. Some immediate-effect motions passed by the required two-thirds vote, while others were recorded as passed and then granted immediate effect. The Committee of the Whole reported several bills with amendments and others without amendment, and the Senate concurred in the committee’s recommendations before adjourning to recess again.

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports collaboration with private and nonprofit developers and common redevelopment, finance, and
• It supports collaboration with private and nonprofit developers and common redevelopment, finance, and
• It supports collaboration with private and nonprofit developers and common redevelopment, finance, and

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2191, which would expand the allowable uses of municipal use tax funds. The bill would add sidewalks to the list of eligible projects and remove remaining restrictive language that limited use tax spending to roads and bridges. A senator asked for confirmation that the funds would be limited to publicly owned property of the local government, and the sponsor confirmed that was the intent. The committee approved the bill and reported it out. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2257, the Mississippi Land Bank Act, which would create a local land bank tool for cities and counties to acquire, manage, and return vacant, abandoned, and tax-forfeited properties to productive use. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help address blight, especially properties held at the Secretary of State’s office, and emphasized that land banks would be locally created, subject to public accountability requirements, and barred from using eminent domain. The committee adopted the bill and reported it out. Members also discussed Senate Bill 2828, a committee substitute that would impose a fee on international wire transfers, with a credit available to Mississippi income taxpayers. The sponsor said half of the revenue would go to DPS for 287(g) programs and half to the general fund. An amendment was adopted to exempt certain transactions funded through U.S.-issued debit or credit cards or withdrawn from federally insured accounts. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill out. Later bills included SB 2863, creating a Jackson County industrial zone exempt from municipal annexation, and SB 2862, a related annexation measure brought forward with a reverse repealer; both were advanced after brief discussion. The committee also approved SB 2909, which lowers the unreduced retirement threshold in Tier 5 from 35 years to 30 years, and SB 2885, the Mississippi Work and Save program, a voluntary state-treasurer-run retirement savings option for small employers and employees. Throughout, the committee generally asked limited clarifying questions and then voted to adopt committee substitutes and report the bills out.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have them in my community over in North Birmingham, an area that we cannot redevelop simply because
• I have them in my community over in North Birmingham, an area that we cannot redevelop simply because
• An area that we cannot redevelop simply because we do have those hot spots.

Bills: SB23, SB71, SB105, SB109, SB115, SB131, SB148, SB165

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• committee substitute for Senate Bill 1242, a bill to be entitled an act relating to community redevelopment
• bill committee substitute for Senate bill 1242 a bill to be entitled an act relating to community redevelopment
• agencies show that bill temporarily A bill to be entitled an act relating to community redevelopment

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• As mayor, he was also funding for redeveloping and renovating the downtown, including improving traffic

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several ceremonial recognitions. Members welcomed championship student-athlete teams from Medfield and Georgetown High School, including Georgetown’s 2025 MIAA Division 4 boys basketball champions, and presented citations. The chamber also welcomed former U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, with remarks highlighting her labor and worker-protection record. On formal business, the Senate adopted a Ways and Means report on House No. 4010, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, amended to insert Senate Document No. 2512 and providing $1,283,200,000 in direct appropriations. The Senate also adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for Thursday, May 8, 2025, for immediate consideration, with amendments in order. The Senate then adopted an order to adjourn and reconvene the following Monday at 11:00 a.m. without printing a calendar. Members also approved a motion to adjourn in memory of former state representative, state senator, Amesbury mayor, and civic leader Nicholas J. Costello, followed by a moment of silence in his honor.

Transcript Highlights:

• That area is considered to be a model for redevelopment.
• following: relating to the public peace, health, safety, and welfare, expanding the Metropolitan Redevelopment
• Code to include housing shortage areas, expanding the scope of metropolitan redevelopment projects,
• a housing shortage area from property taxation for up to 20 years pursuant to the Metropolitan Redevelopment

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this exemption include modernizing stormwater infrastructure in City Center that would allow for redevelopment
• would infrastructure in City Center that would allow<00:20:52.360> for<00:20:52.640> redevelopment
• <00:20:53.600> flexibility allow for redevelopment flexibility allow for redevelopment flexibility

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• really frowns upon you making any changes to that, particularly for trying to make it easier to redevelop
• So redevelopment and rebuilding committees are extremely important to making sure accountability is a

Transcript Highlights:

• the Olmsted County housing and planning director, which oversees the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment
• In July of 2024, the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority acquired the residents of Old
• 2024 the Olstead County uh<00:49:57.000> Housing<00:49:57.280> and<00:49:57.440> Redevelopment
• <00:49:58.119> Authority uh Housing and Redevelopment Authority uh Housing and Redevelopment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• District partners for state project documents, including the development of a new stadium and the redevelopment
• 01:21:05.880> stadium<01:21:06.719> and<01:21:07.600> the<01:21:07.719> Redevelopment
• <01:21:08.520> of<01:21:08.719> the new stadium and the Redevelopment of the new stadium
• and the Redevelopment of the new<01:21:09.199> Aloha<01:21:09.600> Stadium<01:21:09.920
• The Halawa Redevelopment District to do this.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture, water, invasive species, and land-use bills. HB 299 and HB 1220, both relating to invasive species, drew broad support from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, C-GAPS, Sierra Club, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and others. Testifiers said HISC funding fills gaps between agency mandates, supports research and technology, and helps respond to both terrestrial and marine invasive threats. On HB 1220, C-GAPS described a marine anemone infestation in Kāneʻohe linked to aquarium release and said control and restoration would be difficult without the bill’s funding. A committee member asked for tracking information on the species, and the Division of Aquatic Resources said it maintains monitoring data and annual reports. No opposition was noted on either measure. HB 506, relating to conservation enforcement, also received support from DLNR and Malama Pu‘u Ma. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope and how the funding would be used. Members asked about a prior boat purchase mentioned in opposition testimony and about whether mainland vendors were being used; the department said it did not buy that boat and that procurement follows the normal state process, with total bid price including delivery, taxes, and other fees. The department explained that the bill’s funding is primarily for marine enforcement work in nearshore fisheries, including herbivore protection around O‘ahu. HB 915, relating to water use, had mixed testimony. DLNR supported alternative water sources and amendments to the water code, while the Department of Agriculture opposed the bill as drafted, saying its irrigation program is designed for non-potable agricultural use and is not structured for residential or mixed-use development. The Department of Health said it needed more information on its reuse guidelines and noted concern about removing the recycled water manager requirement, which it said helps ensure safe operation and maintenance of reuse systems. Members questioned the bill’s preemption language and whether county or state rules would be displaced, and Agriculture suggested county water agencies might be better suited for some of the proposed uses. HB 502, concerning land use, drew support from the Attorney General’s office, the Land Use Commission, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union, with the Department of Agriculture standing on its written testimony. The Attorney General warned that allowing important agricultural lands to be redistricted through a declaratory ruling process could conflict with the state constitution and recommended excluding IAL from the bill. The Land Use Commission said it has an inventory of IAL lands and did not believe the bill would affect them, and it agreed to the suggested protection. Supporters said the bill could help move lands with limited agricultural value into the rural district, reduce pressure on productive farmland, and better align land use with actual farming potential. HB 929, relating to the agricultural land conveyance tax, received comments from the Department of Taxation and opposition from Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Realtors; Farm Bureau said it supports preserving agricultural land but was concerned about unintended consequences and questioned whether speculative flipping of ag land is a current problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• I manage properties for other people as well as redeveloping properties that I own.
• I also own and manage properties for other people as well as redeveloping properties that I own.
• people as manage properties for other people as well<00:32:26.080> as<00:32:26.279> redeveloping
• well as redeveloping well as redeveloping properties<00:32:28.440> that<00:32:28.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• affordable housing properties are sold, they are typically returned to market rate, torn down, or redeveloped
• affordable housing properties are sold, they are typically returned to market rate, torn down, or redeveloped
• established the manufactured home established the manufactured home community<00:45:37.359> redevelopment
• <00:45:38.119> program<00:45:38.720> yes community redevelopment program yes community
• redevelopment program yes another<00:45:39.280> acronym another acronym another acronym mhcr<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• under existing state law, except the power to tax, issue bonds, and the powers of a housing or redevelopment
• <01:58:04.960> authority<01:58:05.280> or housing or redevelopment authority or housing
• or redevelopment authority or the<01:58:05.599> powers<01:58:05.840> of<01:58:06.000><
• <01:58:26.400> Authority<01:58:27.280> as<01:58:27.679> the Redevelopment Authority
• as the Redevelopment Authority as the commissioners<01:58:28.320> of<01:58:28.480> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all