Video & Transcript : 'regulated waters' :
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WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Environment, Energy & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- The steel, the glass, the impervious surfaces have created urban heat island, water quality problems,
- And what it does is it actually reuses water. It cleans the water. The vapor cools the air.
- Finally, it eliminates the requirement that electric and water utilities report annually on the total
- propane suppliers who entered the market in January 2023 or later will enable Ecology to better regulate
- want to finish by saying I want everyone to remember that it was never the intent of the CCA to regulate
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor (1-22-26)
Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor
Transcript Highlights:
- Kentucky has more running water than any state except Alaska.
- Kentucky has more running water than any state except Alaska.
- Private waters in Kentucky.
- Uh so other states have those definitions, whether waters feed in and out.
- Whether waters feed in and out.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amend. and Intergovernmental Affairs.(1-29-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:24:26.480><c> in</c> promugate administrative regulations in promugate administrative regulations
- trying<00:25:36.159><c> to</c><00:25:36.320><c> muddy</c><00:25:36.640><c> the</c><00:25:36.799><c> waters
- </c><00:25:37.039><c> here,</c><00:25:37.200><c> but</c> trying to muddy the waters here, but trying
- to muddy the waters here, but there<00:25:37.679><c> there</c><00:25:38.000><c> is</c><00:25:38.240><
- The details need to be spelled out with regulations, not in the bill.
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.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
AGR Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Agriculture & Food Systems
Transcript Highlights:
- two more faculty to that place, and the buildings are not even ADA compliant and environmental regulations
- </c> compliant and environmental regulations. compliant and environmental regulations.
- that the water and land committee<00:39:36.480><c> made</c><00:39:36.960><c> to</c><00:39:37.200><c>
- So it wouldn't—the other counties would have the option to kind of opt into these looser regulations
- So it wouldn't—the other counties would have the option to kind of opt into these looser regulations
Keywords:
HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 13 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 2652, authorizing the City of Taunton to establish a separate billing rate for water supplied
- reading of the bills: An act authorizing the city of Taunton to establish a separate billing rate for water
- House No. 4579, an act further regulating the town manager's power of appointment in the city known as
Summary:
The House took up several procedural orders from the Committee on Rules extending reporting deadlines for the Education, Mental Health/Substance Use/Recovery, and Revenue committees, and each order was adopted after suspension of the rules. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including measures on consumer-connected devices, a trail designation in Groton, beach and habitat management, genetic discrimination in insurance, and antitrust enforcement.
The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported a slate of bills for House consideration, including measures on Taunton water billing, public insurance adjusters, electronic filing for property valuation forms, tax payment interest rates, local property tax exemptions in Milton and Marblehead, a tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a Rentham deputy chief, and West Tisbury’s affordable housing trust fund. The House ordered these bills to a third reading after suspending Rule 7A.
The House then passed several engrossed bills to be enacted, including local measures on Boston police age waivers, Bridgewater town council stipends and town manager procedures, and a Cambridge employment and job training trust. Later, the House concurred in a Senate amendment to the Rockland charter bill, passed a Wellesley property tax deferral bill and a Harrell police civil service age-waiver bill to be engrossed, and adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m. before adjourning.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 13 Feb 9th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- House: Senate Bill 2652, authorizing the City of Taunton to establish a separate billing rate for water
- reading of the bills: An act authorizing the city of Taunton to establish a separate billing rate for water
- House No. 4579, an act further regulating the town manager's power of appointment in the city known as
Summary:
The House took up a series of Rules Committee orders extending reporting deadlines for several committees, including Education, Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, and Revenue. Each order was considered under suspension of the rules and adopted. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including proposals on consumer-connected devices, a trail designation in Groton, beach and habitat management, genetic discrimination in insurance, and antitrust enforcement.
The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling recommended a slate of bills for House consideration, largely local or municipal matters involving Taunton water billing, public insurance adjusters, electronic filing of property valuation forms, tax payment interest rules, and various local property tax exemptions and housing trust fund matters. Those bills were read a second time and ordered to a third reading. The House also passed to be enacted several engrossed bills, including police age-waiver measures for Boston officers, Bridgewater town governance bills, and a Cambridge employment and job training trust bill.
Later, the House concurred in a Senate further amendment to the Rockland charter bill, passed a Wellesley property tax deferral bill to be engrossed, and passed a bill allowing Nick Santos to take the civil service exam for a Harrell police officer position despite the age limit. The session ended with an order to adjourn and the House standing adjourned until the next Wednesday morning, with roll calls scheduled for 1 p.m.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
WTL-HWN-HOU Public Hearing 01-29-2025
Transcript Highlights:
- McKelvey. are my members of the water and land are my members of the water and land committee<00:02:47.080
- </c><00:02:56.040><c> and</c> member of the committee on water and member of the committee on water and
- </c> without increasing sewer capacity water without increasing sewer capacity water Capac<01:52:09.159
- I've been with Water and Land, Chair, under Katanas and parts of Lingle, and I am here again as Water
- I've been with Water and Land Chair under Katanas and parts of Lingle, and I am here again as Water and
Summary:
The joint hearing of the Water and Land, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing committees on January 29, 2025 focused on SB 534, with the chairs outlining hearing procedures, public testimony limits, and plans to allow extended presentations from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) before moving to other testifiers. The hearing was presented as a public, transparent discussion of OHA’s plans for Kakaʻako Makai, with committee members noting that decision-making would follow if time permitted.
OHA testified in strong support of SB 534. The chair of OHA’s Board of Trustees said the bill was a novel proposal for the legislature and emphasized that OHA was bringing together a broad coalition of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from construction, hospitality, education, law enforcement, civil service, and schools, as well as longtime community advocates who have opposed development in Kakaʻako Makai. OHA’s presentation reviewed the history of the area, the creation and role of HCDA, prior master plans, the 2012 land conveyance to OHA, and the argument that OHA has not been able to realize the full economic value of the lands because desired entitlements were not secured. OHA linked the bill to its constitutional mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians and argued that the state’s housing crisis makes additional development, including residential use, especially important.
A major theme of the testimony was housing. OHA argued that Hawaiʻi faces severe affordability pressures, out-migration, and workforce shortages, and said that residential development in Kakaʻako Makai would help address those needs while also supporting the value of the trust lands. The presentation described HCDA’s authority over zoning and development in Kakaʻako, the existing reserved housing requirements, and the need for a master plan that could move forward if SB 534 becomes law. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the discussion remained in the presentation and testimony phase.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- They would have the opportunity to do that through common local regulations.
- We also ask these microschools, if they want to be regulated under these potentially new model regulations
- Students tracking and targeting each other with realistic-looking water guns.
- Students tracking and targeting each other with realistic looking water guns.
- What may seem Tracking and targeting each other with realistic-looking water guns.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Mar 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, is it regulations?
- So actually, besides the running water at your house, unrefined oil is the cheapest liquid in the world
- Places to hold highly saturated brine, so they'll use fresh water.
- And so when they inject fresh water into a salt dome, it'll liquefy the surrounding area.
- Basically, the salt dissolves into the fresh water because that's the wall of this porous area, and it's
Summary:
The House Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and first took up several property-transfer bills. House Bill 110, authorizing transfer of certain state property in St. Tammany Parish for a pocket park in Mandeville, was reported favorable without objection. House Bill 634, transferring state property in St. Martin Parish to Brownell Land Company LLC, was also reported favorable. House Bill 677, allowing the Tensaw Parish School Board greater flexibility to exchange school land for property of equal or greater value with certified appraisal requirements, was reported favorable after questions about the location and purpose of the exchange. House Bill 735, a cleanup bill transferring property from DOTD to LSU Health Shreveport to support expansion and parking near Mall St. Vincent, was likewise reported favorable.
The committee then held an informational hearing on the effects of the Iran conflict on Louisiana’s energy sector. Secretary Dustin Davidson said the conflict has driven oil prices sharply higher, with consumers bearing the cost through higher gasoline and especially diesel prices, while producers and refiners may see short-term gains. He warned that diesel increases can signal broader economic slowdown and discussed global shipping disruptions, the Strait of Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia’s response. Members asked about Louisiana’s ability to benefit from higher prices, the timing of increased drilling, and the role of carbon capture and infrastructure investment. Davidson said higher prices could support more drilling and severance tax revenue if sustained long enough.
Industry witnesses Tommy Fochay of LOGA, David Cresson of the Louisiana Chemical Association, Mike Moncla of LOGA, and LSU energy economists Greg Upton and Tyler Gray emphasized Louisiana’s role as a major LNG exporter, refiner, and petrochemical hub. They said geopolitical shocks create volatility, but Louisiana’s abundant natural gas, infrastructure, and export capacity position the state to help meet global demand. They urged stable policy, competitive taxes, pipeline and workforce investment, and caution on regulations. Upton and Gray presented data showing oil price spikes are likely temporary, futures markets expect prices to ease over time, rig counts respond with a lag, and Louisiana natural gas prices have remained relatively insulated so far. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Mar 18th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, is it regulations?
- So actually, besides the running water at your house, unrefined oil is the cheapest liquid in the world
- So they'll use... ...places to hold highly saturated brine, so they'll use fresh water.
- And so when they inject fresh water into a salt dome, it'll liquefy the surrounding area.
- Basically, the salt dissolves into the fresh water because that's the wall of this porous area.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Daughter, granddaughter. water. Daughter, granddaughter.
- Wouldn't it be more appropriate, perhaps, without adding to state law and regulation, to pursue this
- This one is for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
- you mr. speaker and good body another Doge task force code cleanup bill this one is to the soil and water
- from small producers of types of food, meat, homemade goods, that kind of thing, from a lot of the regulations
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- We had some water facilities, gas plants, an ice company, and actually had laundry services and an ice
- The top is representative of some different connections that are more water-resistant.
- Just a brief overview of where we serve: we provide both regulated and unregulated energy to nine states
- So we have a mix of both regulated and unregulated utilities throughout the profile listed above.
- For our regulated operations, from an electric standpoint, I will contend that we have a much smaller
Summary:
The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection.
The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County.
Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- The anchoring limitations bill proposes amendments to Florida's anchoring regulations.
- Ordinances or regulation?
- DOWN AT THE WATER, WONDERING WHEN WE WERE GOING TO SEE OUR FIRST TAR BALL WASH UP.
- ON THE OFFICE OF REGULATION AGENCY BILL, THAT IS THE BILL. QUESTIONS OF THE SPONSOR.
- THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS.
Bills:
SB 2, HB 2, HB 2000, HB 2196, HB 213, HB 222, HB 645, HB 1458, HB 1022, HB 141, HB 502, HB 643, HB 3093, HB 1700, HB 117, SB 503, SB 2, HB 120, HB 20, HB 150, HB 6, HB 100, HB 210, HB 215, HB 1393, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB 142, HB 451, HB 124, HB 2, HB 2000, HB 2196, HB 213, HB 222, HB 645, HB 1458, HB 1022, HB 141, HB 502, HB 643, HB 3093, HB 1700, 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
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Peace, and in this under Waters, um...
- And Senator Waters, this is your baby.
- Senator Waters, Mr.
- CRA Waters Waters. 230. 230. 230. Second, Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir.
- Senator Waters, you got this one. All right, thank you. Senator Waters, seconded by Senator Bell.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Commerce May 20th, 2026
Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm not for over-regulating businesses. I think competition is at the root of things.
- There's so many laws that regulate... Real estate is exempt from this.
- a heavy regulation of business.
- So over the years, I've realized going regulation-wise wasn't really working out in terms of setting
- And to the extent that the businesses should be regulated, yeah, I think that would all be great.
Keywords:
economic development, rural communities, infrastructure, workforce training, Louisiana Economic Development, engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, hidden fees, junk fees, drip pricing, price transparency, mandatory fees, surcharges, consumer protection, unfair trade practices, advertising disclosures, total price
Summary:
The Senate Commerce Committee met on April 20, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a series of bills and resolutions. It first advanced H. CR 66, which directs Louisiana Economic Development, working with the Governor’s Office of Rural Development, to study rural parish economic assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities. The committee also moved HB 387, a clarification allowing the fire marshal to review architectural and engineering plans equally, and HB 1223, which seeks to promote clinical trials in Louisiana by having LED market the state’s research capacity and by adjusting internal review board procedures. HB 1228, a cleanup bill for hearing aid dealers that updates definitions, contracts, testing periods, licensing, and related requirements, was also reported favorably, as was HB 950, which would create an elderly consumer perception program through the Office of Elderly Affairs to help seniors recognize scams and fraud.
The committee spent the most time on HB 617, a broad “hidden fees” consumer transparency bill. The author and supporters said it would require mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing so consumers can make informed choices, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups argued the bill was vague, overly broad, and likely to create compliance burdens and litigation risk. Housing advocates objected to the bill’s housing exemption, warning it could weaken renters’ ability to bring claims over undisclosed fees. After extensive debate over variable pricing, sales taxes, enforcement, and the scope of the bill, Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection.
The committee also heard HB 797, which would create a “Bayou Gold” certification program for certain gold vendors and transactional gold products. The sponsor said the program would encourage vendors to keep gold insured, segregated, and closer to Louisiana consumers, with the Treasury administering the certification through participant fees. Several senators and an outside witness raised concerns that the state seal could be mistaken for an endorsement, could create liability or consumer confusion, and would favor a narrow set of vendors. Despite opposition, the committee reported HB 797 favorably, with members noting it still had to go to Finance. Later, the committee advanced HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, add disciplinary authority, and impose a small permit fee to support the program, and HB 1222, which would let LED develop a grocery initiative to address food deserts and food insecurity. The meeting concluded with the committee hearing HB 1256 on abandoned digital assets, which would require dormant digital assets to be held in original form for three years so owners can reclaim them.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/31/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Our current staff is entirely dedicated to enforcement and regulation.
- Every single city has a different regulation.
- So out of the, let's say, 16 cities in Maricopa County, seven of them are regulated.
- There's 864 towing companies that are regulated by the Department of Public Safety.
- There's 864 towing companies that are regulated by the Department of Public Safety.
Bills:
HB2014, HB2111, HB2156, HB2165, HB2202, HB2305, HB2321, HB2399, HB2403, HB2416, HB2418, HB2446, HB2601, HB2615, HB2620, HB2812, HB2939, HB2940, HB2955, HB2957, HB2960, HB2992, HB4026, HB4049
Keywords:
air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, May 1, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- However, this region faces continual water uncertainty due to drought and ESA-related regulations.
- </c> this region faces continual water this region faces continual water uncertainty<00:24:37.440><c>
- Trying to do in addition to building more water, having more water available for people.
- </c><00:48:58.720><c> Water</c> contractors were complaining. Water contractors were complaining.
- </c> cause California's water challenges. cause California's water challenges.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- , and most important... ...broadens the registry, aligns regulations, and, most importantly, it fills
- The problem is this category in the regulations needs a statutory underpinning, and that's one of the
- The original bill signed after six long years of advocacy needed to be watered dead.
- The original bill signed after six long years of advocacy needed to be watered down enough to be passed
- It is still up to DDS, if we do this, to determine through their regulations how they manage the budgets
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing on a broad slate of disability-related bills. Topics included creating a permanent Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Board (H. 231/S. 134), establishing a system for compensating guardians who serve incapacitated, unbefriended individuals through MassHealth (H. 253/S. 154), expanding Nikki’s Law to require MassHealth day habilitation programs to use the abuse registry (S. 165 and related bills), modernizing and streamlining the Disabled Persons Protection Commission’s statute and procedures (H. 243/S. 139), updating the definition of developmental disability to align more closely with federal law and include people such as those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (H. 276/S. 150), removing outdated and offensive terminology from the General Laws (H. 232/S. 137), and an autism education reform bill (H. 286). Several bills had no sign-ups, and the committee also noted related measures on cueing and prompting in PCA programs (H. 277/S. 157).
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force Feb 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're in the process of doing our hunting regulations right now.
- the process of doing our hunting regulations right now.
- Obviously, there's some deadlines for the upcoming hunting season to establish rules and regulations.
- It tops, everything, people with no electricity, no water.
- It tops, everything, people with no electricity, no water.
Summary:
The task force met to review chronic wasting disease (CWD) developments and related management actions. After adopting an amended agenda and approving prior minutes, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries presented an update on the new CWD control area expansion triggered by a positive deer sample from Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area in Concordia Parish. Staff explained the emergency declaration, the enhanced mitigation zone and buffer zone rules, baiting and feeding restrictions, carcass transport limits, and the taxidermy waiver process. Members asked about where the deer may have been exposed, how sampling and surveillance are targeted, how the control area boundaries were drawn, and how the department tracks harvest and sample data. LDWF said the disease appears to be at low prevalence, that the emergency declaration lasts 180 days unless changed, and that a formal notice of intent will follow; the commission may act on the emergency and later rulemaking in time for the next hunting season.
The committee also heard from the National Deer Association, which stated that CWD is the most serious long-term threat to wild deer and deer hunting and urged hunters, landowners, scientists, and agencies to work together to slow its spread. The task force then discussed its legislatively assigned report under H.R. ACR 75, with staff outlining five required areas: testing and tracking practices, information sharing and public notification, monitoring captive and wild herds, containment protocols, and needed regulatory updates. Members clarified the timing for recommendations and noted the report is due before the 2027 session, though recommendations can be made earlier.
Later, LDWF staff provided retail sales figures showing significant declines in corn and rice bran sales in late 2025 compared with the prior year, attributing the drop to the baiting restrictions in CWD areas and noting impacts on small businesses and local economies. Members discussed the need to present harvest, sample, and DMAP data separately and in map form, while also cautioning that detailed property-level data could create legal or economic concerns; LDWF said it can stratify data by parish, public/private land, and DMAP status without identifying individual hunters or properties. The meeting ended with a public comment thanking Governor Landry for assistance after an ice storm, and the task force adjourned with the next meeting date to be announced.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
TRN Public Hearing - Tue Mar 31, 2026 @ 10:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- Residents provide their own water and electricity.
- <00:10:49.320><c> provide</c><00:10:49.760><c> their</c><00:10:49.920><c> own</c><00:10:50.120><c> water
- </c><00:10:50.360><c> and</c> Residents provide their own water and Residents provide their own water
- </c><00:14:21.079><c> transportation</c> framework to regulate transportation framework to regulate transportation
- [clears throat] under both of regulation [clears throat] under both of you. you. you.
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on March 31 and heard a series of resolutions focused on roadway safety, transportation access, and infrastructure coordination. Early measures included HCR 104/HR 96 on advancing coastal trails on O‘ahu’s North Shore and HCR 63/HR 57 on clarifying responsibility for Honouliuli Bridge and addressing safety, wildfire, and emergency access concerns. The Department of Transportation supported both, and a resident testified that the Honouliuli bridge is a single-lane emergency replacement on state land that has limited access for fire protection, heavy vehicles, permits, and repairs. DOT said it was working with DLNR and that jurisdiction may ultimately lie with the County of Maui, with research ongoing. The committee also heard HCR 62/HR 56 on alternative vegetation management along Hana Highway, HCR 43/HR 39 on raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary, and HCR 52/HR 48 on integrating the safe system approach into county road design; these drew support testimony and no opposition.
The committee then considered HCR 120/HR 112 on regulating transportation network companies under motor carrier law. DOT and the Public Utilities Commission offered comments, while Lyft opposed, arguing the legislature already created a TNC-specific framework in 2022 and that motor carrier law is not a good fit for app-based ride platforms. In questioning, PUC explained that TNCs would fall under both PUC motor carrier jurisdiction and DOT permitting, and DOT said it would follow up on enforcement questions. Members also discussed HCR 119/HR 111 on an indirect traffic disruption grant program, with the chair asking DOT to clarify how it enforces penalties when contractors or others fail to follow road closure requirements.
Other measures discussed included HCR 96/HR 88 on moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system, which DOT supported; HCR 128/HR 120 on coordinating capital improvement planning for Hawaiian Home Lands developments, which DOT and DHHL supported; HCR 127/HR 119 on a state highway police force, which DOT supported; and HCR 125/HR 117 on a statewide plan for derelict utility poles and lines, which drew support from DOT, Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Telcom, with DOT acknowledging it lacks current statutory authority to force immediate removal. The committee also heard HCR 58/HR 54 on school crosswalk safety for Mililani Elementary, HCR 55/HR 51 on using artificial intelligence to mitigate traffic and improve road safety, and HCR 54/HR 146 on expanding the Hele-On Shared Ride program on Hawai‘i Island. Supporters of the Hele-On measure said expanded service would help rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities reach medical appointments and daily activities, while noting cost and technology-access concerns; they said missed or delayed appointments are a real issue in remote areas. The final item discussed in the excerpt was HCR 64/HR 58 on minimizing rumble strip dimensions on Kūhiō Highway on Moloka‘i, with DOT saying it had already removed some strips where large emergency vehicles were affected on narrow curves.