Transcript Highlights:

• His 34-year career in city government included service as a public safety director, supply commissioner
• At home, I make sure, and some of you in the building have heard me say this, that we pay the electric

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 43rd day by roll call vote, 122-1. Members also used points of personal privilege to honor former state representative and St. Louis public servant Edward L. Bushmeyer with a moment of silence, and to recognize Jean Carnahan during Women’s History Month. The chamber then welcomed numerous guests, including students from California Middle School, Missouri Centers for Independent Living, Southern Boone cheer teams, Conservation Day participants, Project Home woodworking students and veterans, Coro Fellows, YMCA advocacy day participants, Easter Seals guests, and others. The House then took up several appropriations bills. House Bill 2017, the reappropriations bill, was explained as carrying forward previously approved capital and other projects into a new fiscal year; members raised concerns about unspent general revenue and the large $186 million storm-recovery item for St. Louis, but the bill was adopted and perfected. House Bill 2018, the maintenance and repair bill for state facilities, was described as routine upkeep of state buildings and was also adopted and perfected. House Bill 2019, the capital improvements bill, drew more debate over new projects, the $104 million transfer from the Capital Commission Fund, and whether some projects had been adequately vetted; an amendment by the gentleman from Texas to shift $3 million from the Conservation Commission Fund to help repair a state-owned road to the George O. White Nursery was adopted, and the bill then passed through committee substitute adoption and perfection. House Bill 2020, the ARPA spending bill, was described as the final year for spending federal pandemic funds, with any unspent amounts to flow to the foundation formula; members discussed how much might remain and whether funds could be used to offset education costs, and the bill was adopted and perfected. The House also considered House Bill 2760, the “Praise Act,” which would bar government from imposing stricter emergency restrictions on houses of worship than on comparable private entities, while preserving emergency carve-outs for disasters, terrorism, and civil unrest. Supporters framed it as a religious liberty bill and argued it would prevent unequal treatment during emergencies; opponents warned it could undermine public health protections during pandemics and noted past restrictions on church gatherings. The debate included extended exchanges over whether churches were treated differently from airports and other venues during COVID-19. The transcript ends during continued discussion of House Bill 2760, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• back to school who can't afford to buy the backpacks. ...to buy the backpacks, and it was full of supplies
• some land that I believe they have, which is south of Rincon Exit and gives them good proximity to electric

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Storage Association would urge full funding of the demand-side grid support program and distributed electricity
• there is sufficient water for wildlife and the environment, all while maintaining a sustainable water supply

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment authorizes local governments To impose certain regulations regarding electric bicycles
• the State of Florida, because in my opinion, local governments are artificially... constraining the supply

Bills: SJR85 , SCR29 , SCR38 , SCR42 , SB23 , SB39 , SB209 , SB227 , SB240 , SB330 , SB527 , SB584 , SB618 , SB619 , SB636 , SB663 , SB715 , SB732 , SB758 , SB801 , SB825 , SB826 , SB843 , SB844 , SB847 , SB870 , SB884 , SB912 , SB957 , SB1013 , SB1020 , SB1065 , SB1143 , SB1152 , SB1164 , SB1183 , SB1257 , SB1299 , SB1325 , SB1349 , SB1413 , SB1455 , SB1539 , SB1558 , SB1574 , SB1583 , SB1624 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1667 , SB1717 , SB1718 , SB1727 , SB1734 , SB1756 , SB1757 , SB1784 , SB1789 , SB1832 , SB1868 , SB1870 , SB1883 , SB1896 , SB1920 , SB1924 , SB1963 , SB2010 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2037 , SB2052 , SB2073 , SB2111 , SB2161 , SB2196 , SB2207 , SB2253 , SB2268 , SB2322 , SB2323 , SB2332 , SB2349 , SB2371 , SB2533 , SB2570 , SB2601 , SB2626 , SB2692 , SB2705 , SB2717 , SB2774 , SB2788 , SB2877 , SB2920 , SB2 , SB260 , SB1786 , SB1 , HJR4 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR85 , SJR84 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR38 , SCR42 , SCR29 , SCR4 , SCR18 , SCR43 , SCR46 , SB2023 , SB825 , SB2010 , SB1870 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB957 , SB1502 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1376 , SB1585 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1163 , SB619 , SB1122 , SB732 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB261 , SB1882 , SB618 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB826 , SB1257 , SB870 , SB529 , SB209 , SB1883 , SB2024 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB510 , SB1860 , SB2037 , SB1924 , SB2253 , SB2018 , SB2206 , SB1963 , SB1643 , SB1299 , SB841 , SB668 , SB584 , SB1085 , SB2431 , SB1490 , SB1868 , SB2314 , SB434 , SB2046 , SB1667 , SB1727 , SB2127 , SB1975 , SB1760 , SB1734 , SB1335 , SB2246 , SB2439 , SB1624 , SB1244 , SB1468 , SB2717 , SB1612 , SB1262 , SB604 , SB2395 , SB1832 , SB1745 , SB1746 , SB2207 , SB1784 , SB1524 , SB528 , SB437 , SB269 , SB1137 , SB968 , SB636 , SB747 , SB1325 , SB1789 , SB1455 , SB2056 , SB1940 , SB2052 , SB1579 , SB2068 , SB3034 , SB844 , SB1920 , SB1558 , SB1236 , SB1044 , SB884 , SB463 , SB227 , SB240 , SB517 , SB1200 , SB1410 , SB1626 , SB1845 , SB1863 , SB2216 , SB2681 , SB1717 , SB2141 , SB2323 , SB2200 , SB2332 , SB2199 , SB1642 , SB1757 , SB2050 , SB1138 , SB2626 , SB2458 , SB1864 , SB2201 , SB1862 , SB1583 , SB1055 , SB2660 , SB1898 , SB2662 , SB2161 , SB2964 , SB2881 , SB1065 , SB801 , SB2743 , SB2533 , SB1413 , SB2073 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB2774 , SB2702 , SB2629 , SB2443 , SB2349 , SB2167 , SB2145 , SB2121 , SB758 , SB648 , SB647 , SB512 , SB438 , SB1721 , SB2268 , SB1495 , SB2705 , SB2366 , SB1422 , SB1369 , SB1013 , SB682 , SB2692 , SB2570 , SB2797 , SB2111 , SB1896 , SB1164 , SB1020 , SB663 , SB2371 , SB1152 , SB2196 , SB2383 , SB2581 , SB2798 , SB330 , SB646 , SB843 , SB1998 , SB1418 , SB2788 , SB1169 , SB2873 , SB1754 , SB1534 , SB1718 , SB2779 , SB2004 , SB1143 , SB1756 , SB912 , SB2119 , SB2032 , SB527 , SB1580 , SB1952 , SB2601 , SB2322 , SB2448 , SB1777 , SB1283 , SB407 , SB2392 , SB2076 , SB2786 , SB3031 , SB2877 , SB2876 , SB2284 , SB2225 , SB1540 , SB2920 , SB2929 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB1183 , SB2742 , SB2595 , SB2217 , SB2117 , SB715 , SB2330 , SB1964 , SB1383 , SB500 , SB1640 , SB39 , SB2001 , SB2080 , SB2722 , SB506 , SB2514 , SB2623 , SB2658 , SB1574 , SB2900 , SB23 , SB2753 , SB2398 , SB401 , SB1241 , SB2927 , SB2173 , SB2538 , SB898 , SB467 , SB1449 , SB2529 , SB1531 , SB2846 , SB2476 , SB2031 , SB986 , SB1181 , SB2075 , SB2154 , SB2864 , HB135 , HB 1109 , SCR48 , SB31 , SB2880 , SB1359 , SB2386 , SB771 , SB2844 , SB2550 , SB1351 , SB1423 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB2351 , SB410 , SB659 , SB816 , SB2776 , SB2693 , SB2580 , SB1980 , SB1886 , SB1234 , SB739 , SB482 , SB456 , SB127 , SB1666 , SJR85 , SB23 , SB826 , SB844 , SB957 , SB1413 , SB1539 , SB1583 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1789 , SB1883 , SB1963 , SB2024 , SB2626 , SB2774 , SB825 , SB1870 , SB2010 , SB240 , SB618 , SB870 , SB1257 , SB1727 , SR424 , SR428 , SCR29 , SCR42 , SCR49 , SB3056 , SB3057 , HB2 , HB20 , HB 120 , HB142 , HB210 , HB215 , HB451 , HB 1022 , HB 1151 , HB1458 , HB1700 , HB2000 , HB3093 , SB3056 , SB3057 , HB2 , HB20 , HB 120 , HB142 , HB210 , HB215 , HB451 , HB 1022 , HB 1151 , HB1458 , HB1700 , HB2000 , HB3093

Keywords: Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval, school district revenue, tax rollback, disabled persons exemption, El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• companies around this include both existing companies and new companies bringing the technologies in the supply
• And then I think one that really is significant in Maysville and Mason County was Mitsubishi Electric

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:34 Economic Development Cabinet 27:51 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum, so the minutes from the last two meetings were not approved. Secretary Noel of the Cabinet for Economic Development then gave a broad overview of the cabinet’s work and an update on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPD), with Deputy Secretary Katie Smith and General Counsel Matt also present. He said the cabinet’s strategy is to focus on high-wage job creation, especially in automotive transformation, business and financial professional services, tourism, logistics, agri-tech, aerospace, and other high-tech sectors, while also supporting small and medium-sized businesses and existing employers. Noel highlighted several program results and examples, including average incentivized wages approaching $27 per hour, 877 jobs and $346 million in investment through hub operations, $90 million through Commonwealth Ventures, help for hundreds of companies through the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, work with 220 companies through the Kentucky Science and Technology Council, nearly 3,000 students in Advanced Kentucky, and more than 1,100 participants in Kentucky Valor. He also cited 35,000 workers trained through Bluegrass State Skills, 177 businesses helped by the small business tax credit, and 77 entertainment incentive transactions totaling about $200 million and 7,400 jobs. On the grant side, he said the cabinet had approved 155 projects under a federal grant program, committing $99 million, with outreach aimed at smaller communities and all 120 counties. The main focus of the second half was KPD. Noel described it as a program that requires more than basic due diligence, emphasizing community readiness, local vision, title and mineral-rights review, sewer validation, and consultant review. He said 109 projects had been awarded in the earlier rounds, and in 2024 there were 45 requests for information seeking $81 million against $35 million in available funding, showing strong demand. He also said the cabinet has worked with local economic developers through five regions aligned with area development districts, and that the secretary, deputy secretary, or commissioner of business development must attend the regional meetings, with 100% attendance reported for the key three last year. In response to questions, he said Jefferson County’s lack of KPD projects so far likely reflects where local land and development strategies are in the process rather than a lack of interest, and he said the cabinet has not heard that Kentucky’s occupational safety and health rules are clearly helping or hurting competitiveness, though he offered to look into it further.

Transcript Highlights:

• only ones in the state of California that can perform avian flu testing for the state's egg and milk supply
• I'm so grateful to have co-TAs and support staff because, two weeks ago, when there was an electrical

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That statute established minimum setback requirements for merchant electric generating facilities, and
• That statute established minimum setback requirements for merchant electric generating facilities, and
• Section six of the bill provided that the provisions governing merchant electric generating facilities
• Section six of the bill provided that the provisions governing merchant electric generating facilities
• </c><00:20:44.080><c> generating</c> to merchant electric generating to merchant electric generating

Committee: Joint Local Government

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:08 Roll Call 00:00:29 Discussion of Large Project Siting in Local Governments Following Clover Creek Solar v. Breckinridge County 00:03:34 Discussion of Coroners’ Issues 00:24:49 Adjournment 01:01:11, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, there's an increase in electric mopeds, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, which
• there's<00:50:48.040><c> an</c><00:50:48.240><c> increase</c><00:50:48.640><c> in</c><00:50:48.839><c> electric
• </c><00:50:49.280><c> mopeds</c> there's an increase in electric mopeds there's an increase in electric
• mopeds electric<00:50:50.680><c> motorcycles</c><00:50:51.599><c> and</c><00:50:51.799><c> electric<
• /c><00:50:52.240><c> cars</c> electric motorcycles and electric cars electric motorcycles and electric

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The meeting included a joint public hearing of the House Housing and Transportation committees, followed by a Transportation Committee hearing. In the joint hearing, members considered SB 662 SD1, which concerned transportation and included two parts: transferring certain streets to the city and clarifying police authority on state streets. The chair recommended moving the bill out as an HD1 with Part One removed, explaining that the street-transfer issue should be worked out by the county and state and that removing it would improve the bill’s chances. The committees voted to pass the measure with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The Transportation Committee then heard several bills. SB 1095, relating to license plates, would increase decal size restrictions for special number plates; the Department of Transportation offered written comments, with testimony split between two individuals in opposition and one in support, and no questions were raised. SB 344 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets; DOT supported the bill, as did TRIAA Hawaii, the Injury Prevention Coalition, and other individuals, while two individuals opposed it. SB 30 would require all moped riders to wear helmets regardless of age; DOT supported it, but Moped Doctors and Hawaiian Style Rentals and Sales opposed it, arguing the bill was overreaching, could be hard to enforce, and should be more narrowly targeted or replaced with education efforts. The committee also heard SB 1216, which would tighten noisy muffler and exhaust enforcement by conditioning inspection certificates, adding inspection-station penalties, increasing fines, and prohibiting repair or installation of noisy systems. DOT supported the measure, and Waiʻanae Neighborhood Board testified in support, while Moped Doctors and the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed it, saying the bill would burden inspection stations, create liability concerns, and raise questions about insurance-related language as applied to mopeds. The hearing included discussion of enforcement, inspection burdens, and whether the bill’s insurance references applied to mopeds. No final vote was taken on the Transportation Committee bills in the portion provided, and the hearing adjourned after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will continue to work on issues to ensure that Hawaiian Electric is able to deliver power to all of
• is able to deliver Hawaiian Electric is able to deliver power<00:36:28.760><c> to</c><00:36:29.079><
• through Hawaiian Electric but it's critically<00:36:47.640><c> important</c><00:36:48.640><c> that</
• If we start using fresh food, refrigeration costs less electricity than freezers.
• <00:50:04.680><c> then</c><00:50:04.839><c> freezers</c> electricity then freezers electricity then freezers

Keywords: Order of the Day: PENDING, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was some concern in this committee related to water usage and electricity usage by data centers
• new items three and four there on page three talk about having a data center that has to receive electricity
• service under an electricity rate schedule or energy service agreement that would fully recapture the
• otherwise do other things specifically related to data centers or other large load users related to electricity
• Chairman, members of the committee, so the new criteria specific to the water usage and electricity usage

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 897, which revises Idaho’s data center sales tax exemption. The sponsor said the bill adds new eligibility criteria tied to electricity service agreements that fully recapture costs and to efficient water use, narrows the exemption so it applies only to internal server equipment rather than construction materials, limits the exemption to 20 years instead of indefinitely, and requires annual Tax Commission reporting on foregone revenue. He also noted the bill’s property tax provisions may need more work because they could affect existing entities not involved in drafting, and he asked that the bill be sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. The committee agreed and adopted that motion. The committee then heard House Bill 926, which expands the community infrastructure district tool so counties can create CIDs outside a city’s comprehensive plan. The sponsor said the goal is to ensure infrastructure is built before growth and that new development pays its own costs rather than shifting them to existing property owners. A representative from Tamarack Resort testified in support, explaining that the change would allow a large development outside city planning areas to finance roads, utilities, and other off-site improvements through district bonds and special assessments. After questions about how CID financing works and how obligations are allocated over time, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 934, a technical cleanup bill for last year’s education tax credit law. The sponsor explained that the changes clarify student age eligibility, define tutoring as academic instruction, allow curriculum from multiple vendors, prevent families from combining the advance payment with a prior-year look-back credit, and clarify that students participating only in non-credit extracurricular activities such as sports are not considered enrolled for purposes of the credit. Members asked about impacts on public schools and extracurricular fees, and the sponsor said sports fees are not reimbursable under the credit and that the bill is intended to avoid double payment. The committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Afterward, the committee approved several sets of minutes and thanked its page, Grace Louder, for her service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, what we know about lab-grown meat, it is grown in a lab in metal vats, uh, using a lot of electricity
• using<00:05:23.360><c> a</c><00:05:23.520><c> lot</c><00:05:23.600><c> of</c><00:05:23.759><c> electricity
• ,</c><00:05:24.479><c> using</c><00:05:24.800><c> cell</c> using a lot of electricity, using cell using
• a lot of electricity, using cell cultures.<00:05:26.000><c> And</c><00:05:26.240><c> so</c><00:05:26.479
• responded: “Well, what we know about lab-grown meat, it is grown in a lab in metal vats, using a lot of electricity

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:25 HB 309 Discussion: 00:49 HB 308 Roll Call Vote: 11:34, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, like, if the building doesn't have working electricity and the state's going to come in and they're
• because of where it's located, but at that moment in time, if it doesn't have, you know, functioning electrical
• you moment in time if it doesn't have you know<00:05:43.319><c> functioning</c><00:05:43.919><c> electrical
• </c><00:05:44.520><c> or</c><00:05:44.840><c> water</c> know functioning electrical or water know functioning
• electrical or water sewer<00:05:45.720><c> or</c><00:05:45.840><c> something</c><00:05:46.199><c> like

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee discussed HB 694, focusing on how to set fair market rates for lease renewals involving state agencies and political subdivisions. Members and the New Hampshire Association of Counties worked through draft language defining fair market value, including how appraisals, depreciation, and building deficiencies should be considered. Testimony emphasized that market value and appraised value can differ significantly, and that the bill should allow flexibility rather than require a rigid formula. The group also debated what expenses should be included in lease terms. After discussion of examples such as utilities, custodial services, insurance, maintenance, and newer needs like communications or internet service, members agreed not to create an overly specific list. They settled on language stating that additional expenses, including but not limited to utilities and custodial services, would be negotiated separately. The final amendment was revised to apply to lease renewals for land, buildings, or space between a political subdivision and the State of New Hampshire, with renewals at fair market rate unless otherwise agreed by the lessor. The subcommittee agreed to have the amendment drafted at OLS and then closed the public subcommittee meeting on HB 694.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, electrical energy. We do have this thing exempting a video game console.
• Um, and<00:10:21.040><c> um,</c> and um, and um, electrical<00:10:23.760><c> energy.
• Um, we do have this electrical energy.
• You have, like, electric toothbrushes.
• If you want to get electric toothbrushes, lobbyists here, um, maybe you strike that.

Bills: SF0052 , SF0024

Committee: House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: wildlife management, environmental restoration, funding, invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, native fish, habitat conservation, lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But, like, for instance, I have a farm supply store. We sell salt.
• </c><00:16:04.320><c> So</c><00:16:04.480><c> in</c><00:16:04.720><c> the</c> supply store.
• So in the supply store. We sell salt.
• ,</c><00:49:24.160><c> and</c> minimum equipment, supplies, and minimum equipment, supplies, and medication
• It is similar to existing requirements for gas and electric submeters.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1424, sales and use taxes, electric vehicle fueling. The motion is do pass.
• We have SB 905, electricity. The motion is do pass as amended to remove the power program.
• SB 943, electricity industrial transition usage. SB 943, electricity industrial transition usage.
• SB 1167, vehicle electric bicycles.
• SB 1350, Renewable Electrical Generation Facilities.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing and voted only on measures already heard previously, with no public testimony. The chair explained that bills were taken up quickly in author order, with amended bills to be followed by addendum analyses. The committee considered a very large slate of Senate bills and two Assembly measures covering wildfire resilience, housing, insurance, energy, transportation, public safety, elections, health care, labor, environmental regulation, and various administrative and tax issues. Most measures were approved, many on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 party-line votes with Republicans generally voting no. Several bills were amended before passage, including changes to funding contingencies, timelines, reporting requirements, definitions, and removal of certain enforcement or private-right-of-action provisions. A few members noted concerns on specific bills, including Senator Richardson on SB 1203 (private security training), though he said he would vote for it at this stage. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on wildfire smoke, wildfire recovery, mobile home parks, insurance nonrenewals, AI transparency, data center energy issues, Medi-Cal and health coverage, criminal justice, election administration, housing, and labor/workforce standards. The committee also approved AB 46 and AB 736. No bills were held for testimony because the hearing was vote-only, and the meeting adjourned after all items on the agenda were disposed of.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1424, sales and use taxes, electric vehicle fueling. The motion is do pass.
• SB 943, electricity industrial transition usage. The motion is do pass. Roll call vote.
• SB 1167, vehicle electric bicycles.
• SB 1350, Renewable Electrical Generation Facilities.
• SB 1350, Renewable Electrical Generation Facilities.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicles in uh in in work for electric vehicles in uh in in the<00:25:01.120><c> US</c><00:25:01.880
• </c><00:25:33.279><c> as</c><00:25:33.399><c> a</c> electrification to electricity as a electrification
• to electricity as a transportation<00:25:34.799><c> fuel</c><00:25:35.799><c> that</c><00:25:36.440>
• Um, I'm not sure we have the technology yet, and I've asked the different suppliers of electric ranch
• I'm not sure we have the technology yet, and I've asked the different suppliers of electric ranch trucks

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone here from Hawaiian Electric? I don't think so.
• Sorry. a Hawaiian electric um testifier if a Hawaiian electric um testifier if available.<00:38:11.760
• Is there anyone here from Hawaii Electric?
• I don't think so. uh they Electric?
• down</c><00:48:37.040><c> instead</c> electric vehicles further down instead electric vehicles further

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3322 relating to law enforcement. Chairs recommended adopting amendments from the Department of Law Enforcement that would exempt plainclothes officers from identification requirements, limit conspicuous agency markings to vehicles used in immigration enforcement operations, and allow a plainclothes officer to wear a mask when within eyesight of an unmasked officer from the same agency while performing official duties. Although there was an initial quorum issue, both committees ultimately voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation and advance the bill as amended. The next major item was SB 3333 relating to property tax treatment for certain housing. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from a Maui County real property tax board member and a representative of Nali Maui, who described homeowners in affordable housing being taxed at much higher rates when exemptions were missed or when resale restrictions kept values below market. The committees recommended passing the bill with amendments, including a deferred effective date of April 19, 2042, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also heard SB 2422 on a pro housing score program for counties, SB 2981 on eliminating minimum off-street parking requirements in urban districts, SB 2007 on county land use boundary amendments, SB 3028 on restructuring the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system, SB 3033 on public petitions for review of beach structures, and SB 2434 on electric vehicle infrastructure. SB 2422 drew support with a request for flexibility and an appeals process for counties facing extraordinary circumstances; the chair’s recommendation was to pass it with amendments and note a $200,000 implementation study request, which was adopted. SB 2981 received strong support from housing and transportation advocates and was advanced unamended, while SB 2007 drew opposition from the Sierra Club and discussion about the Land Use Commission’s limited enforcement tools and the number of approved but unbuilt units. SB 3028 received mixed testimony, with support for the marginal-rate change but concerns about earmarking and blanks in the bill, and SB 3033 was supported as an early-warning mechanism for erosion-threatened coastal structures, though OPSD said it should not be the regulatory decision-maker. SB 2434 prompted concern about whether utility capacity can support EV infrastructure goals, with the chair citing a recent report suggesting transmission and distribution constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicle in a space designated and marked as reserved for electric vehicles.
• vehicle in a space designated and marked as reserved for electric vehicles.
• </c> any person who Parks a non-electric any person who Parks a non-electric vehicle<01:04:10.200><c>
• </c> as reserved for electric as reserved for electric vehicles<01:04:15.839><c> first</c><01:04:16.119
• vehicles if the as reserved for electric vehicles if the electric<01:54:33.920><c> vehicle</c><01:54

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 104, which would restrict the use of restrictive housing or solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with specified exceptions. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation strongly opposed the bill, saying its existing policy already meets or exceeds ACA and National Institute of Corrections standards, and objecting to language they said would give the oversight commission operational decision-making authority. The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission supported the bill, but also said it was not intended to run operations and described concerns about restrictive housing practices, including CoreCivic’s SHIP program at Saguaro. Supporters included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the Disability Rights Center, ACLU Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and individual testifiers. They argued that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately impacted by incarceration, that solitary confinement is harmful and linked to depression, anxiety, suicidality, and poor reentry outcomes, and that confinement beyond 15 days is widely condemned under international standards. Several testifiers cited suicides and deaths in custody as reasons to codify limits in statute rather than rely on policy alone. The department responded that it already has 24/7 medical care, though not 24/7 mental health coverage at one facility, and explained that it uses four custody categories: disciplinary segregation, administrative segregation, protective custody, and placements for inmates seeking separation for safety reasons. Members questioned the department and commission about the SHIP program, whether the bill was based on other states’ laws, and how current policies compare with national standards. The director said the bill was too ambiguous in places and that the department was willing to work with the commission on policy changes, but still opposed the measure as written. The committee took testimony and questions; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

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• In summary, the bill would adopt the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code.
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• I only said electricity, but I meant to include heat as well.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 216, which Representative Carol Maguire described as a fix to a workers’ compensation/retirement “glitch.” The bill would remove the current limit that only one year of workers’ compensation time can be credited as retirement service time. Maguire argued the limit is arbitrary and affects only a very small number of grievously injured workers, while committee members asked about the fiscal impact, available data, and whether the change could affect workers’ compensation rates or incentives. Mark Kavar of the New Hampshire Retirement System said Labor could not provide data on how many people exceed a year on weekly indemnity benefits, so the fiscal note used a conservative estimate that could be scaled down; he also explained that workers’ comp is not earnable compensation, which is why service credit stops after a year, and noted that many long-term cases move into disability retirement or lump-sum settlements. The committee closed the hearing, entered executive session, and voted ought to pass on HB 216 by a 13-0 roll call, sending it to consent and noting it would also go to Finance. The committee then acted on House Bill 85, adopting Amendment 0037 and then voting ought to pass as amended by another 13-0 roll call. The bill was described as allowing second-year respiratory therapy students to work under supervision using the skills they have already learned, with support from the Hospital Association and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 267, the animal chiropractors bill. Members said the bill had been approved previously but was vetoed because of a defect; the problem has now been corrected, and the bill is intended to reduce delays caused by requiring veterinary referrals before chiropractors can treat animals. The committee voted ought to pass 13-0 and placed the bill on consent.