Video & Transcript Research : 'fee structures'
Page 179 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But it doesn't solve the structural problem of public school funding.
- He is an innocent victim of the larger structural issues with public. school finance.
- That those high tuition prices don't cover activity fees, application fees, registration. fees, book
- This amendment doesn't change the program structure or purpose.
- I didn't grow up with a traditional family structure.
Bills:
SB2, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117, SB503, SB2, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB 124, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117
Keywords:
public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, child grooming, sex offender registration, criminal justice, reportable conviction, law enforcement, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We actually have to create a structure that will last beyond the regulatory framework.
- We should also be charging the Navy appropriate fees, and appropriate fees is not $5,000 to miss a meeting
- We should also be charging the Navy appropriate fees. And that's what I think is important.
- We should also be charging the Navy appropriate fees, and appropriate fees is not $5,000 to miss a meeting
- And again, I support H 305 because it provides the structure under which this can be achieved.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 114, concerning employment in the State Historic Preservation Program, drew support from DLNR, which said the measure would help retain qualified archaeologists, architects, and other professionals by preserving current pay levels for a limited number of positions. Members raised concerns about expanding exempt positions and the effect on union coverage, and DLNR said it was also working with DEHRD on longer-term reclassification issues. No vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided.
HB 12, relating to tort liability, drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, which argued the bill would create overly broad immunity for landowners, conflict with Hawaii’s comparative fault framework, and undermine existing recreational liability law. Supporters said it would reduce liability concerns and encourage landowners to allow hiking, hunting, search-and-rescue training, and firearms-related uses on private land. The committee then moved on without any recorded vote in the excerpt.
The committee also discussed HB 29 on counties, but no county representative was present, and members questioned whether the proposal should instead proceed through condemnation if it involved a forced sale. HB 175 on property maintenance received DLNR comments that the bill should be narrowed to noxious weeds and that fire-related provisions were more properly handled by county fire departments and the State Fire Marshal. HB 331 on permits drew support from several state agencies, but the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed it unless “repetitive construction” was defined more clearly; members and agencies discussed narrowing the bill to avoid unintended impacts on water and utility infrastructure. The committee also heard strong support for HB 3 on North Shore beach management, HB 309 on fish ponds, and HB 306 on water code penalties, though the Board of Water Supply raised concerns about increased fines and suggested an alternative governor’s bill and clearer administrative rules.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (01/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:08:19.759>
so <00:08:20.039>I so on or gives it any structure so I so on or gives - it any structure so I thought<00:08:20.599>
I <00:08:20.759>put <00:08:20.919>in - <00:08:32.519>
to <00:08:32.760>it <00:08:33.399>that and and certain structure - to it that and and certain structure to it that towns<00:08:34.120>
can <00:08:34.399>adopt - fee the the<01:44:38.480>
fees <01:44:38.760>you <01:44:38.880>would <01:44:39.080
Summary:
The Public Works and Highways Committee heard testimony on House Bill 375, which would allow municipalities to designate certain road segments for ATV travel, create maps and signage for those routes, set seasonal limits, and require certain equipment on ATVs such as lights, a horn, flashers, and directional signals. The sponsor, Rep. Dan Maguire, said the bill is intended to support tourism and give towns a structured, optional way to permit ATV use on roads, not to override existing uses. Members asked about possible overlap with agricultural vehicle rules, golf carts, speed limits, and whether the bill could allow ATV use on busier roads or expressways; the sponsor said he did not intend to interfere with existing lawful uses and believed golf carts would only be included if they met the relevant statutory requirements.
NHDOT State Maintenance Engineer Alan Hennessy said the department had concerns with language exempting municipalities and the Bureau of Trails from the permitting process, arguing that the existing permit system provides needed review, public notice, and signage requirements. He also raised questions about road funding and maintenance if ATVs were allowed on state highways. Fish and Game Captain Michael Eastman testified that his commission opposed the bill as written, citing concerns about the ATV definition, the distinction between ATVs, UTVs, and other OHRVs, and the potential impact on state highways and road maintenance. He said towns can already open roads to OHRV use under existing law, and he noted that accident data for road use would generally be handled by local police or State Police rather than Fish and Game.
Craig Reny, chief of the Bureau of Trails, said the current Bureau of Trails/DOT permit process for highway crossings and connectors works well and is used to ensure safety through engineering review. He said his bureau was not taking a position on the bill but wanted to clarify that existing procedures already address many of the issues the bill appears to cover. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (01/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- there's some sort of expenditure in it or tax or something—or not expenditure, I should say tax or fee
- related anything that's ATT tax uh fee related anything that's affecting<00:36:13.920>
the <00 - <00:37:01.599>
um expenditure I should say tax or fee um expenditure I should say tax or fee - So there's essentially no set time frame or structure for the questionings other than that?
- for the questionings other structure for the questionings other than<00:43:50.200>
that <00:43
Summary:
The meeting was an introductory Ways and Means Committee orientation led by Chair John Janigian. Members went around the room introducing themselves, with several returning legislators and several freshmen describing their backgrounds in business, education, public service, finance, transportation, journalism, military service, and nonprofit work. Janigian explained his own legislative history and professional background, and other members, including Bill Bolton, Fred Doucette, Mary Ford, Jim Tierney, Scott Brier, Thomas Oppel, Mary Murphy, Representative Spar, Susan Elberger, Dennis Malloy, Jordan Ulery, and Julius Soti, briefly described their prior experience and reasons for serving on the committee.
The chair then outlined the committee’s role. He said Ways and Means is responsible for revenue estimates that Finance will use to determine how much the state can spend over the next biennium, and that the committee would spend the next five to six weeks developing its best revenue estimate, due around February 15. He also explained that the committee hears from state agencies and departments about how taxes are created, collected, and performing against expectations, and that it reviews bills affecting state revenue, including tax increases, tax decreases, tax removals, and fee-related measures.
Janigian noted that the committee had five bills at the time of the meeting and expected more to be referred. He explained that most would be first-committee bills, though some second-committee bills could come over if they involved taxes or fees after passing policy committees. He used marijuana-related legislation as an example of a bill that might first go to another committee and later reach Ways and Means if it had fiscal implications. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational, and members were told how to participate in hearings and follow-up questions during regular committee work.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Second, it creates a clear structure for that review.
- situation where the outcome was unfavorable to the physician, and then he would have to pay back legal fees
- They can layer in fees after that, and well after the fact.
- They can layer in fees after that, and well after the fact.
- allows PBMs to collude with health plans to hide profit and shift money around through 22-plus different fee
Bills:
HB689, HB742, HB926, HB946, HB948, HB1028, HB1095, HB1114, HB1121, HB1155, HB1185, HB1217, HB1220, HB1227, HCR76
Keywords:
public assistance, child welfare, benefit adjustment, DCFS, LDH, fraud detection, household reporting, Medicaid, immunization, healthcare eligibility, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, health policy, vaccination requirements, vaccination status, vaccine mandate, medical freedom, medical autonomy, public buildings, public access, government services
Summary:
The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 with a quorum and first deferred or did not hear several bills, including HB 1093, HB 1145, and HB 946. The committee then quickly advanced HB 1095, which would allow nursing facilities to use alternative power generation sources in addition to fuel-powered backup systems; supporters said it would give nursing homes more flexibility while maintaining existing safety and backup-power requirements. The bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee then took up HB 926, a bill concerning vaccination status and admission to public buildings and related medical-freedom provisions. After adopting a set of amendments, including exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities and clarifications regarding masks and school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the measure. Supporters framed it as a privacy and bodily-autonomy bill, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures and school immunization rules. After extended debate, HB 926 was reported favorably with amendments by an 8-4 vote.
HB 1220, a cleanup bill concerning the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was amended and then reported favorably. HB 1227, which would require physician peer review before certain disciplinary actions against doctors, drew testimony from the sponsor, a physician supporting the bill, and the board’s executive director, who described the board’s current complaint and review process and raised concerns about practicality and staffing; the sponsor asked for more time to work with the board, and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably HB 1217 on pharmacy benefit manager transparency after technical and substantive amendments, and HB 1028 on non-emergency medical transportation reimbursement rates, which was sent to Appropriations. Finally, the committee advanced HB 1185 on rural hospital payment methodologies and HCR 76, which would continue the rural health inequities task force for another year; both were reported favorably.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Plastic bottle excise tax proposed 3/10/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a tax or a fee, and I know that may give heartburn to some people.
- Uh, so, the fee is there that pays for part of that cost.
- This is a tax or a fee, and I know that may give heartburn to some people.
- This is a tax or a fee, and I know that may give heartburn to some people.
- Uh, so, the fee is there that pays for part of that cost.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Actually, they still pay that fee.
- You still have to register, and you still have to pay the fee.
- It's just getting rid of the sticker and the fees based on the license plate, right?
- Their fee for the license plate remains, but they're not having to use a sticker on it.
- I think it's just a structure, is what the city of Pharr has told us.
Bills:
HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695
Keywords:
highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- They'll have a list to select from to choose qualified vendors within a certain pricing structure.
- They'll have a list to select from to choose qualified vendors within a certain pricing structure.
- They'll have a list to select from to choose qualified vendors within a certain pricing structure.
- You'll see they provided the rate structure for 25, 22, The services provided during the gap period.
- This is for public defender attorney fees.
Summary:
The committee met to review a supplemental agenda, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, and a member disclosure. The Office of State Procurement presented rule changes tied to 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, with updates to sole-source definitions, unrealistic bids, protest requirements, debarment procedures, and recodification references; the committee voted to accept the supplemental agenda and approve the rules. Members also approved eight methods of finance covering university repairs, equipment replacement, property purchase, and capital projects, along with a large slate of discretionary grants for courts, health, DHS, historic preservation, and tobacco prevention programs.
The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys, Department of Health costs from an ice-storm-related water leak, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, Veterans Affairs HVAC and medical-service payments, and a UA Little Rock painting contract. The Department of Public Safety ratification drew extended questioning about why the expired Motorola contract had not been renewed sooner and why the issue took months to reach the committee; agency officials said the project was bond-funded, had not been tracked in ASIS, and involved ongoing negotiations and system updates. Despite concerns, the committee approved the ratifications.
Members also reviewed a long list of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including numerous university, DHS, health, corrections, and state agency agreements. Several contracts were discussed in more detail, including an SAU custodial contract question about sales tax and transparency reporting, and Department of Corrections aerial application contracts for Tucker and Cummins farms, which officials said served separate facilities in different parts of the state. The committee approved the contract lists, reviewed reports, and accepted a disclosure from Representative Andrew Collins regarding his investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services before adjourning.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Sep 2nd, 2025
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- ton rather fee.
- I don't know how you could come up with a fee structure And just throw a dart at the wall if you haven't
- So, we need to know what the appropriate fee is.
- You know, we were talking about fees paying for this.
- So I'm reminding myself of how we structured that.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 086 Part 1fix Apr 10th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- But we're not dealing with those structural issues here.
- <01:14:06.239>
issues dealing with those structural issues dealing with those structural issues - <03:27:36.960>
for um center and then reduce our fee for um center and then reduce our fee - want to reduce fees and have certain projects paying for other ones.
- want to reduce fees and have certain projects paying for other ones.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Jan 15th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- Students with waivers do still pay institutions tuition, fees, housing, and food.
- The net tuition plus housing and food and fees collected from students with a waiver was $110.9 million
- So this is for the next... ...and fees, as well as the tuition rates.
- This same structure also works well for employers.
- This same structure also works well for employers.
Summary:
The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources.
The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures.
The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data.
The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But it does not impose any additional fees or bureaucratic duties on the responsible party.
- And what happens a lot of times is people will go to put a second structure in.
- You know, then we never get back to these fees for like 10, 15, 20 years.
- I'm always about allowing the agency to be the setter of the fees so that the fees can go up; they can
- also conceivably go down if the fee is not needed anymore.
Keywords:
translation, environmental quality, complaints, accessibility, multilingual, TCEQ, environmental justice, environmental complaints, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, language access, public information, Texas Commission, multilingual access, administrative actions, environmental regulations, state representatives, state senators, penalty notice, Water Code, legislative notification
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The Secretary of State collects a fee every year, I think, for registrants or for like new new users,
- So I'm wondering has that fee ever been revisited as a revenue opportunity to be able to support the
- and that is an annual fee incurred by all of the active committees.
- I'd be curious to know that or if there's also any kind of just top-line menu of other user fees.
- Yeah, so in addition to the campaign committee annual fee, there's also a lobbying registration fee.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Topics Meeting, March 4, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- How does the structure work best?
- ,<01:08:49.600>
solidifying solidifying structure, solidifying solidifying structure, solidifying - Uh, but what this is trying to do is discuss the governance structure.
- So, this structure that needs to happen.
- ,<01:46:48.240>
those boy, howdy, those trailer fees, those boy, howdy, those trailer fees
Summary:
The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided.
The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic.
The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Mar 17th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR39, HR40, HR41, HCR19, HCR20, HCR21, HB2, HB3, HB15, HB441, HB976, HB977, HB978, HB979, HB980, HB981, HB982, HR19, HR20, HR21, HR22, HR23, HR24, HR25, HR26, HR27, HR28, HR29, HR30, HR31, HR32, HR33, HR34, HR35, HR36, HR37, HR38, HCR15, HCR16, HCR17, HCR18, SCR10, HB115, HB208, HB465, HB964, HB965, HB966, HB967, HB968, HB969, HB970, HB971, HB972, HB973, HB974, HB975, HB474, HB487, HB503, HB606, HB633, HB707, HB720, HB728, HB733, HB846, HB852, HB856, HB868, HB875, HB78, HB112, HB148, HB149, HB190, HB221, HB346, HB354, HB355, HB356, HB358, HB384, HB427, HB657, HB675, HB716, HB207, HB300, HB331, HB428, HB464, HB587, HB618, HB629, HB801, HB853, HB891, HB901
Keywords:
St. Joseph's Day, Saint Joseph's Day, St. Joseph's Altar, Italian American, Italian heritage, Italian immigrants, Louisiana culture, New Orleans, Sicilian heritage, Catholic, Feast of Saint Joseph, cultural resolution, heritage caucus, legislative caucus, ethnic heritage, jazz history, Italian Louisiana, immigrant contributions, cultural recognition, House Resolution 40
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Regulated Industries Mar 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Overhead systems are at risk to direct structural damage caused by wind and also indirect damage caused
- I mentioned the transmission structures.
- We have done more than 40,000 polls and structures since 2021.
- Also, scalable on RCS structure found that beneficial throughout past storms.
- Put a start, a structure team here in the Panhandle to respond to the storm.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (04/16/2025)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not anything that can be fixed quickly, but it certainly should be looked at structurally.
- It's not anything that can be fixed quickly, but it certainly should be looked at structurally.
- um for online would would and structure um for online would would and even<01:03:44.880>
the < - to pay and what has a fee and that fees to pay and what has a fee and that we<01:19:24.640>
think - , certificates of fee schedules, certificates of occupancies,<01:21:11.040>
but <01:21:11.280><
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The way this is structured is it...
- You paid your fee to the bail bondsman? Yes. No, I mean, their task is one.
- Wu, yes, you pay a fee on this hand, and that hurts your pocketbook.
- I think the way that I would structure this or the way I would structure it in my mind is to make the
- The electric monitoring, you talk about, what are some of the fees associated?
Keywords:
family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- planning and provides clearer structure planning and provides clearer structure and<00:35:22.160
- Now, the bill strictly forbids utilities from collecting undercollection fees from nondefault service
- <00:37:47.760>
from collecting undercollection fees from collecting undercollection fees from - The objection from the Brewers Association raised the tier 2 fee from $480 to $720.
- Edna raised the tier 2 fee from $480 to Edna raised the tier 2 fee from $480 to $720. $720. $720.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:55:11.079>
the organization organization structure the organization organization structure - It includes licensing fees, which a lot of states use to administer their sports wagering programs, so
- It includes licensing fees, which a lot of states use to administer their sports wagering programs, so
- 12:17.000>
it <01:12:17.199>includes <01:12:17.840>licensing <01:12:18.480>fees - <01:12:18.920>
which program it includes licensing fees which program it includes licensing
Summary:
The committee heard several measures on agriculture, energy, stadium governance, and hotel consumer protections. On SB 448 relating to agriculture, Agra Business Development Corporation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in support of a proposed conservation easement acquisition in Central Oahu; the chair asked follow-up questions about the exact location, cost, and agricultural potential of the land, and the witness said the parcel had good soil and water and was former pineapple land, with cost still to be provided. On SB 827 relating to meat processing, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the state needs more meat-processing capacity and that any grant program should complement, not compete with, existing efforts; the Attorney General’s office warned the bill lacked legally sufficient standards for grants of public money under the state constitution and offered draft standards. Several industry and chamber witnesses supported the measure, while discussion focused on the need for brick-and-mortar or modular facilities, infrastructure costs, federal inspection needs, and access for hunters and neighbor islands.
The committee then took up SB 1269 relating to geothermal resources, which drew broad support from county officials, energy consultants, utility representatives, and community advocates, with one witness opposing it. Supporters described geothermal as a viable, indigenous, firm baseload energy source that could help reduce Hawaii’s high electricity costs and support clean energy goals; one witness emphasized prior work in New Zealand and another urged the state to move forward with exploration. A DBEDT representative explained that the department is coordinating geothermal-related work with the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Energy Office, noting a prior $3 million appropriation, phase-one community engagement work, and plans to seek a contractor for geoscience and exploration in phase two. Members pressed DBEDT to explain how this bill fits with other geothermal measures moving through different committees, and the chair asked the department to review SB 993 and better coordinate the package of geothermal bills.
On SB 1337 relating to the Stadium Authority, the stadium manager testified in support of clarifying quorum rules, explaining that the authority currently has eight seated voting members out of nine possible voting seats and that the bill would help ensure voting members are counted for quorum; he said meetings have not been delayed. Finally, on SB 883 relating to hotels, the Attorney General’s office raised First Amendment and contract-law concerns and recommended adding a purpose statement and a non-impairment savings clause. Unite Here Local 5 and other supporters said guests should be notified of hotel service disruptions such as construction, closures, or labor disputes, while opponents questioned who would enforce the law, what penalties would apply, and whether the measure could require hotels to pay damages even without a complaint. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.