Transcript Highlights:

• If it's unanimous vote out of committee, let's do the short, quick explanation.
• You can see the split vote there.
• It looks like it was a unanimous vote. Any questions?
• Okay, Ranking Member, um, Madam Chair, you can see the vote.
• Okay, we can note that vote, and let's move to SB 1145, Noah.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus review of a large slate of House and Senate bills, with staff giving short descriptions and members flagging a few concerns. Topics included veterans’ services and courts, child care grants, midwife medication authority, home- and community-based services funding, EMS reciprocity, prescription monitoring, electronic monitoring in care facilities, pregnancy resource center funding, mental health transportation, Access coverage for mild obstructive sleep apnea, school spending requirements, mobile home park training, local government investment pools, task order contract posting, tourism improvement areas, child welfare and kinship placement, neglect standards, family court evidence, prostate cancer cost sharing, assisted living hearings, manufactured home installer licensing, supervised parenting time, vulnerable adult trespass penalties, uranium contamination monitoring, a gas and petroleum refinery study committee, and state park fee exemptions for veterans. Several bills were described as unanimous or on consent, while others drew objections or were noted as controversial. Members raised privacy concerns about electronic monitoring in nursing homes, due process and rural capacity concerns about restricting police transport for mental health patients, opposition to pregnancy resource center appropriations, concerns about environmental review for power plant replacement, and questions about the Access sleep apnea mandate as potentially favoring vendors. Some bills were noted as having committee amendments, including changes to appropriations, eligibility criteria, reporting requirements, and definitions. No floor votes were taken in the transcript itself; instead, the chair repeatedly noted whether bills were unanimous, on consent, or had split votes in committee. The caucus also heard brief announcements about an upcoming breakfast with the CAP director, a Latino Caucus meeting, and an Affordability Award presented to Representative Volk, after which the caucus adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any no votes? Any without recs? No vote. One no vote? Do we have enough to... I do.
• Any no vote? Any without rec? No. No vote. We have enough to advance the bill.
• Any no votes, any no votes? No votes. We have enough to advance the bill.
• Any no votes, any without recs? No. Two no votes. We have enough to advance.
• Any no votes, any without recs? No. We have one no vote.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• it to the will of the body, and that's just going to be your no vote.
• And that would be the vote. It does require two-thirds of a vote. Correct. Of the body.
• I just think for all of those reasons that I'm going to vote no.
• And of course it's up to each committee member how they wish to vote.
• I'm going to vote against the motion.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we ready for the vote? Representative Morikawa for the vote.
• No vote. vote. vote. So<01:09:03.640> ordered. Representative<01:09:07.960> Yamashita.
• Are we ready for the vote? Okay. Are we ready for the vote?
• all majority members vote aye. all majority members vote aye.
• Have all votes been cast? Have all votes been cast?

Bills: HR203, SB2802, SB3081, SB2902, SB2005, SB3252, SB2096, SB2095, SB2046, SB2999, SB3103, SB83, SB2041, SB3234, SB3156, SB3154, SB2146, SB2053, SB2010, SB2009, SB2667, SB3215, SB2698, SB2363, SB2372, SB2673, SB2948, SB2277, SB2057, SB3085, SB3025, SB2761

Keywords: H.R. 203, House Resolution, Hawaii education, teacher of the year, educator recognition, Jessica Canyon, Natsumi Yamasato, Jodi Kadoyama, Mānana Elementary School, National Blue Ribbon School, Teach For America Hawaiʻi, public education, K-12, elementary school, STEM education, literacy, teacher appreciation, school excellence, Hawaiʻi Legislature, keiki

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Branskum, explain my vote. Mr. Chairman, explain my vote. All right. Thank you.
• vote forecasted. vote forecasted.
• >> explain my vote. >> explain my vote. >> Yes,<00:31:57.919> ma'am.
• >> explain my vote, please. >> explain my vote, please. >> Yes.
• Vote yes. Representative Lewis, Representative Lockett, explain my vote, please.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 139 -- 00:03:15 Consideration of HB 356 -- 00:08:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee first adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 139, which would allow a political party to replace a candidate who dies or withdraws after the filing deadline but before ballot certification. Representative Decker explained the substitute as a narrow election-related fix, and the bill was then passed by the committee on an 11-yes, 1-pass vote and sent to the full House. The committee then heard House Bill 356, which would move the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) qualification test from a once-every-four-years, Frankfort-based format to administration through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System at multiple locations and times. Representative Bridges said the Department of Revenue would still write and control the exam, KCTCS would only administer it, the fiscal note was zero, and the change would improve access and convenience without weakening standards. KCTCS said it was prepared to help if directed. Members generally agreed PVAs should be tested, but some raised concerns about test integrity, whether a broader testing network could create uneven conditions, and whether the change should instead use a smaller number of regional test sites. Others supported the bill as a common-sense way to expand access and avoid forcing candidates to wait years after missing a single test date. The committee also discussed the lack of a study guide for the exam and whether that should be addressed separately. No final vote on House Bill 356 is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Clerk vote.
• >> Clerk vote.
• Therefore, I'm voting<00:32:28.320> no. voting no. voting no.
• >> The vote is tonight. >> The vote is tonight.
• A no vote a yes vote supports it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, chair for the vote. >> Thanks. We are voting on HR 192, HCR 202.
• Seeing none, ready for vote. >> All right, we are voting on HR 194, HCR 204.
• none, um chair for the vote. none, um chair for the vote.
• Seeing none, ready for vote. Seeing none, ready for vote.
• Seeing none, chair for the vote. vote. vote. >> Thank<00:41:16.160> you.

Bills: SB3253, SB3154, SB3254

Keywords: conservation, endangered species, wildlife preservation, native birds, biodiversity, sanctuary, nonprofit, DLNR, agricultural district, land use, chapter 195D, chapter 205, chapter 42F, state funding, public purpose, habitat restoration, predator-free sanctuary, ecosystem restoration, Zealandia, wildlife refuge

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard a long series of resolutions focused largely on waste reduction, energy planning, and environmental protection. Early measures included HR 12/HCR 10 on a permanent landfill host benefits program for Honolulu, HCR 148/HCR 157 on a demolition waste reduction working group, and HR 184/HCR 194 on a mattress stewardship program working group. Testimony on these waste-related measures was generally supportive from environmental groups and some individuals, while the Department of Health supported the mattress stewardship proposal. The Department of Health also commented that a proposed study on recyclable/biodegradable/compostable labeling was very broad and would require additional resources to carry out effectively. The committee then took up several energy-related resolutions. HR 192/HCR 202 would create a task force on Hawaii’s future energy pathways, and HR 194/HCR 204 would ask the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cost reductions and financial risk. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the PUC offered support or comments on these measures, with environmental and industry groups also submitting testimony. Members questioned the Energy Office and PUC at length about errors in prior analyses, competitive bidding, and whether utility proposals could proceed through waiver processes; the PUC said any proposal would still be reviewed and that it generally prefers competitive bidding, while the Energy Office said some issues were being characterized differently and would follow up on waiver standards. Additional measures addressed data centers, liquefied natural gas, and utility oversight. HR 196/HCR 206 would convene a working group on the impacts of large data centers, and HR 197/HCR 207 would require conditions before the PUC approves LNG-related costs; testimony on LNG was split, with supporters urging caution and opponents arguing LNG should not be pursued. HR 193/HCR 2003 sought a written status update on implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, and HR 191/HCR 201 and HR 33/HCR 33 dealt with sewage and wastewater issues, both drawing support from environmental and community groups. The committee also heard strong support for HR 141/HCR 149 on Red Hill remediation meetings and HR 190/HCR 200 on reassessing military PFAS cleanup decisions; the Board of Water Supply testified in support and described ongoing PFAS testing and concerns beyond Red Hill. The transcript ends as the committee moved into decision-making, with the chair indicating a recommendation to pass HR 12/HCR 10.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair, for the vote. Okay, voting on SB 1553.
• Vice Chair, for the vote. Okay, voting on SB 1553.
• Vice Chair, for the vote. Okay, voting on SB 1405.
• Chair votes I; any members voting with reservations? Any members voting no?
• <01:01:19.000> with chair votes I any members voting with chair votes I any members voting

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused primarily on Senate Bill 1409, which would cap county user fees charged to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the measure, arguing it would reduce monthly housing-related costs for lower-income beneficiaries and help make homesteading more affordable. Several testifiers, including the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and some individuals, also submitted comments or support. County and city water and sewer agencies, including the County of Kauai Department of Water, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the City and County Department of Environmental Services, strongly opposed the bill, saying it would shift substantial costs to other ratepayers, create lost revenue, and could force fee increases for everyone else. They also raised concerns about the bill’s cap structure and potential misuse, while noting their systems are funded by user fees rather than taxes. During committee discussion, Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials estimated about 4,500 DHHL customers on Oʻahu and projected lost revenue of roughly $30 million to $36 million over five years, with larger cumulative impacts over time; they said any waiver would be absorbed by other customers. The County of Hawaiʻi representative estimated nearly 2,000 DHHL customers on the Big Island and about $2.4 million in annual lost revenue. DHHL responded that it is pursuing revenue-generating projects on unused lands, but members questioned whether the department should do more to generate its own revenue and suggested looking at other affordability mechanisms, including market rent on commercial properties or a similar cap on other beneficiary fees. After hearing the testimony and discussion, the committee chair announced the recommendation to defer SB 1409 indefinitely, and the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs agreed with that decision. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 1408, a housekeeping measure. DHHL testified in support, saying the bill was part of an effort to lower housing costs through a modular manufacturing approach. DHHL described plans to use an unused hangar at Kalaeloa for a potential modular housing manufacturing plant, including discussions with the University of Hawaiʻi and a Denver-based company, and said it was also exploring a pilot project with Habitat for Humanity on Maui. No vote or final action on SB 1408 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Explain my vote. Senator Epstein? Explain my vote. This is simply minority rule.
• I vote no. That's not right. I vote no. Senator Fernandez? No. Senator Hoffman?
• And so for that reason, I'm a vote no. Briefly explain my vote.
• I vote aye. Six ayes, one no, zero not voting. Members by vote is six to one.
• I vote nay.

Bills: SB1180, SB1215, SB1270, SB1290, SB1292, SB1294, SB1430, SCR1028

Keywords: income tax, conformity, Arizona Revised Statutes, taxpayer, federal regulations, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the January 26, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills dealing with tax, retirement, and property assessment issues. SB 1215, as amended, was described as a technical “comma bill” that reorganizes the list of firefighter cancer conditions presumed work-related and removes mistakenly included peace officer language; it passed 6-1. SB 1180 would codify Arizona Department of Revenue’s practice of assuming federal conformity for above-the-line income tax items when preparing forms, with supplemental instructions if the legislature later acts differently; it passed 7-0 after discussion about whether it would affect executive-ordered changes. SCR 1028, a voter-referral measure to narrow the statutory exception allowing agencies to set certain fees and assessments without a two-thirds vote, drew sharp debate over majority rule versus limits on delegated fee authority and passed 4-3. The committee also advanced SB 1292, which clarifies that the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System’s 5% ownership cap applies only to publicly traded corporations; PSPRS said the change would avoid compliance problems and unnecessary costs, and it passed 7-0. SB 1294, restoring county assessors’ authority to prorate property values for property destroyed in any manner while preserving a five-year classification benefit only for property destroyed by verifiable accident, passed 6-1. SB 1430, the annual tax corrections act, passed unanimously after DOR said it mainly removes redundant language, fixes a cross-reference, and codifies current practice. The committee then considered SB 1270, which would let CORP employers make optional supplemental retirement contributions of up to $5,000 to Tier 3 correctional officers and related employees at specified service intervals. Supporters from the FOP said it is a flexible retention tool for hard-to-staff correctional jobs, while some members worried it could add costs for counties and not solve the underlying retention problem; it passed 6-1. Finally, SB 1290, which requires advance notice and inspection reports for certain property inspections and bars repeat agricultural inspections for three years, drew strong support from farm groups and strong opposition from county assessors, who argued it would create costs, limit their ability to verify new construction, and interfere with annual valuation duties. The bill passed 4-2 with one member not voting, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• on to vote.
• And then we will move to the vote. If you will move to the vote.
• So with that, I vote aye. Thank you all.
• And I feel that if this vote, if this were to come up, I also would be a yes vote.
• And with that, I vote aye.

Bills: HB2155, HB2156, HB2162, HB2762, HB2791

Keywords: Arizona Beef Council, agriculture, market development, beef products, terminating council, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, game and fish commission, wildlife, appointment, commission membership, Arizona Revised Statutes, food labeling, cultivated cells, cell-cultured products, consumer information, food safety, cell-cultured protein

Summary: The House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met for its first session, with members and staff introducing themselves before taking up committee-of-reference business and several bills. The committee first heard a presentation from the Arizona Beef Council, which described its checkoff-funded promotion, education, and research work for Arizona beef producers, including classroom materials, nutrition outreach, and ranch tours. After questions about how the program is funded and whether the state would lose its Arizona-retained share if the council were not continued, the committee voted to recommend continuing the council for eight years, until July 1, 2034. The committee then considered HB 2155, which also continued the Arizona Beef Council for eight years, and advanced it on a 7-1 vote. HB 2156, which appropriates money to the livestock compensation fund for wolf depredation losses, was amended to set the appropriation at $250,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027 and then passed 5-2, with supporters emphasizing rancher compensation and opponents questioning use of general funds and noting unused prior funding. HB 2162, which would require at least one Arizona Game and Fish Commission member to be a cattleman or rancher, drew testimony for and against but was ultimately held by the chair after discussion about representation, existing appointment structures, and rural interests. The committee also advanced two cell-cultured protein bills. HB 2762 would require a disclaimer on packaging for food derived from cultivated cells; supporters argued for consumer transparency and opponents said federal labeling rules already apply and state-specific requirements could create confusion. It passed 5-3. HB 2791 would prohibit the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption and make violations a felony; supporters raised safety, innovation, and agricultural concerns, while opponents argued it would criminalize federally approved products and restrict consumer choice. That bill also passed 5-3. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm fine suggesting my members vote yes on this amendment since it is something of a clarification
• Members, I'd say vote yes.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Gander votes aye. Hicks votes aye.
• members voting members voting remotely Gander<00:20:10.000> Gander<00:20:10.520> votes
• Gander Gander votes I Gander votes I Gander Gander votes I Gander votes I Hicks<00:20:16.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I vote no. Senator Inget? Aye. Senator Epstein? Explain my vote.
• I vote no.
• I vote aye. Changing that much. Rest assured. I vote aye.
• I voted no last time.
• I vote aye.

Summary: The joint appropriations committee met on April 28 to review the FY 2027 budget package, including the general appropriations feed bills (HB 4138 and SB 1831) and related budget reconciliation measures. Staff described the budget as including about $17.96 billion in general fund appropriations, a one-time transfer of state monies to increase revenues, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general fund budgets, and several one-time restorations or continuations for items such as school facilities, child care, child safety, corrections stipends, and public safety operating costs. Members spent much of the meeting debating how the across-the-board cuts would be implemented, which programs might be affected, and how fund sweeps from prior-year appropriations and special funds would work, including questions about universities, public safety, rural hospitals, transportation grants, the Corporation Commission, and health insurance costs for state employees and troopers. A major point of discussion was the impact on universities and higher education. Arizona Board of Regents representatives said the proposed reductions and fund sweeps would affect already obligated dollars, research, staffing, and student aid programs, and could force difficult decisions about programs such as the Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and other pass-through funds. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the cuts could lead to tuition increases or reductions in services, while majority members emphasized that agencies and the executive branch should decide how to absorb the reductions. Another major topic was health care and the state employee health plan: staff explained that the budget includes a $228 million general fund infusion to stabilize the plan, while a separate reconciliation bill would raise employee premiums over three years. Members also discussed whether the budget’s changes to AHCCCS/Access and hospital eligibility rules could increase costs for hospitals and reduce coverage. Public testimony largely opposed the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, and local governments argued that the proposal would shift costs onto working families, reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care, and rural infrastructure, and protect tax benefits for data centers and higher-income taxpayers. A mayor from Globe asked for state help after severe flooding damaged roads, water lines, and homes, while a motorcycle safety advocate asked the committee to review a DPS motorcycle safety fund appropriation. Committee members and staff repeatedly clarified that some items discussed were one-time appropriations not continued into FY 2027, that some fund sweeps were from unspent or unencumbered balances, and that the committee planned to take a mass roll-call vote on the budget bills at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the vote chair bullseye. I vote yes. the vote chair bullseye. I vote yes.
• No vote. reservations? Any no votes? No vote.
• Chair goes I I vote with for the vote.
• I vote for the vote. Chair goes eye.
• chair for the vote. Chair go I vote yes. chair for the vote. Chair go I vote yes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism heard three measures. HB 450, which would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, drew support from DBEDT, the State Foundation, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, DAGs, and individuals. Members asked about the bill’s purpose and the relationship between arts administration and international/cultural considerations. The committees voted to pass HB 450 with amendments, including a housekeeping change allowing specific legislative direction in narrow cases; the measure was adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 437, relating to out-of-state offices, received testimony in support from DBEDT and representatives of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and another individual. The discussion focused on whether an overseas office in the Philippines was the best use of funds, given existing offices and trade relationships in places like Beijing and Taiwan. Members questioned the return on investment, fiscal priorities, and whether DBEDT had a broader strategic plan for selecting markets. The committees ultimately passed HB 437 with a Senate Draft 1 and technical amendments, with some members voting with reservations. HB 1391, relating to trade and creating a Hawaii-Ireland trade commission, also advanced after a lengthy discussion. DBEDT said it offered comments rather than a firm recommendation and explained that the bill appeared intended to build economic ties with Europe through Ireland, but members questioned why a commission was needed, how it would be structured, and whether similar efforts should focus on other countries. DBEDT said it would provide reports on sister-state relationships and office performance, and noted that trade initiatives would likely require private-sector participation. The committees passed HB 1391 with amendments and reservations from some members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the vote is, uh, looks like one absent and one no. So the vote is 23 to 20 to 1.
• So the vote is 23 to absent and one no. So the vote is 23 to 20<00:06:20.720> to1.
• The vote is 14 to 10. Chair Wiler, yes. The vote is 14 to 10.
• The vote is 18 to 7. Vote being 18 to 7.
• Vote being 18 to 7. The motion passes 7. Vote being 18 to 7.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee first took up Senate Bill 63, which Representative Maguire described as a straightforward bill setting funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism. He said it was not controversial. The committee voted to retain the bill by roll call, with one no vote and one member absent, and the motion passed 23-1-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 74, dealing with annual reporting requirements for state departments that issue permits. Representative Maguire explained Amendment 2282 would shorten the reporting burden by requiring summary data on delayed permits rather than listing every permit, and would delay the first report until 2027 so agencies would not have to reconstruct old data. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then approved as amended by a 24-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 241 on construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Representative Sweeney moved inexpedient to legislate, saying the project was ambitious and lacked public support. The motion passed unanimously 25-0, sending the bill to consent. Division Two then took up Senate Bill 145, a replace-all amendment to the education freedom account bill. Supporters said the amendment clarified the bill, kept the policy intact, removed a reimbursement program and an open-ended appropriation, and established a cap of 10,000 students with priority for current students and certain other groups. Opponents argued the measure was still a major expansion, would increase spending after crossover, and that the cap was not meaningful. After discussion, Amendment 2301H was adopted and the bill was approved as amended by a 25-0 vote, with members noting it could go on consent because no money remained in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• override this by a simple majority vote override this by a simple majority vote so<00:13:09.480>
• <00:30:45.919> to even though a super majority voted to even though a super majority voted
• <00:30:48.760> to have it a simple majority can vote to have it a simple majority can vote
• So that's what you're voting on.
• <01:50:01.400> for enough fiscally to know if I vote for enough fiscally to know if I vote

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Gonzales votes yes. Senator Lanier? No. Senator Lanier votes no. Senator Padilla? Yes.
• Senator Tobiassen votes no. Senator Trujillo votes no. Senator Woods? No. Senator Woods votes yes.
• Senator Padilla votes yes. Senator Steinborn? Yes. Senator Steinborn votes yes.
• Senator Tobiassen votes no. Senator Trujillo? Senator Woods votes no. Senator Shendo? Yes.
• Senator Shendo votes yes. Senator Munoz? Yes. Senator Munoz votes yes.

Bills: SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill has 6-0 votes, and we'll leave the roll open for votes. Thank you.
• And I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Good afternoon.
• So with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• Voting? Aaron's? Aaron's aye. Bonta. Castillo. Castillo not voting. Garcia. Lowenthal.
• The vote is 8-0; the bill is out. File item 5, SB 965.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, Vice Chair, for the vote. Okay, voting on SB 614 SD1 with amendments.
• Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Garrett: aye. Representative Lee: aye.
• <00:04:58.039> SP chair for the vote okay voting on S SP chair for the vote okay voting on
• <00:05:42.039> okay<00:05:42.440> voting<00:05:42.720> on the vote okay voting
• on the vote okay voting on sb1051<00:05:45.000> sd1<00:05:46.000> with<00:05:46.600>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts met on March 12 at 10:00 a.m. and heard two measures concerning Hawaiian observances. SB 614 SD1 would establish La Kua as Hawaiian Independence Day and SB 1051 SD1 would relate to Hawaiian History Month. No members of the public testified in person or on Zoom for either bill, but the chair read into the record written testimony and comments, including support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kingdom of Hawaiian Islands, Kumukahi Health and Wellness, the Hawaiian Civics Club, and several individuals, along with comments from state departments such as Human Resources and Budget and Finance. After recessing for decision-making, the committee voted to advance SB 614 SD1 with amendments and to further adjust the date to July 1st. The vote was unanimous among members present, with Chair and Vice Chair voting aye and Representatives Garrett and Lee also voting aye; Representatives Sayama and Roda were excused. The committee then took up SB 1051 SD1 and similarly recommended it be passed with amendments, also changing the date to July 1st. The vote on SB 1051 SD1 was likewise adopted without opposition, with the same excused members noted. After both measures were approved for advancement, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to get people to vote, vote, vote, but to vote as a citizen is our privilege.
• We need to get people to vote, vote, vote, but to vote as a citizen is our privilege.
• We need to get people to vote, vote, vote, but to vote as a citizen is our privilege.
• chair for the vote. chair for the vote.
• for the vote. for the vote.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator May to explain her vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
• And I vote aye. Senator May to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
• And I vote aye. Senator May to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
• AND I VOTE AYE. >> SENATOR MAY TO BE RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
• So, I do hope that people will vote for the bill. Thank you, Mr. President.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 6, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then proceeded through the day’s calendar of bills. A number of measures were passed, including bills amending the Corporation Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Public Officers Law, Executive Law, Cannabis Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Penal Law, Labor Law, Public Health Law, Real Property and Actions and Proceedings Law, General Business Law, and Agriculture and Markets Law. Most passed with broad support, though several had recorded negative votes from a small group of senators. One bill on the Legislative Law, Calendar 340, was initially set aside for the controversial calendar. During consideration of Calendar 340, Senator Lanza raised a non-germane amendment offered by Senator Rolison that would have created utility bill tax and surcharge holidays and a green energy tax holiday. The Chair ruled the amendment non-germane, and the Senate upheld that ruling by a show of hands, with 22 in favor of overruling the Chair. The bill in chief was then restored to the non-controversial calendar. Senators May and Krueger spoke in support of the underlying Legislative Law bill, describing it as a procedural reform to make it easier for the Senate and Assembly to reconcile differences between versions of bills, similar to congressional practice. The bill passed 42-1, with several senators recorded in the negative. The Senate then completed the calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, March 10 at 3:00 p.m.