Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cwodzinski, thank you, Madam Chair. Thanks, Senator Duckworth.
• Senator Duckworth, thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Senator Cwodzinski.
• Senator Duckworth, Senator Wesenberg, Madam Chair—can I? Oh, Senator Wesenberg, my apologies.
• <01:20:10.840> Senator I've got Madam chair Senator Senator I've got Madam chair Senator Senator
• Thank you, Senator Suski.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Seberger, Senator Cek, Senator Lang, Senator Dahms, Senator Johnson, and then we have a presentation
• Senator Westrom: Mr. Chair, um, got laid by Senator her—um, got laid by Senator her.
• Senator Dahms, thank you, Mr. Chair. And Senator Seeberger, there's 67 senators.
• Senator Dahms, thank you, Mr. Chair. And Senator Seeberger, there's 67 senators.
• thank you Senator dor um Senator Dames thank you Senator dor um Senator Dames or<01:11:47.520>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a quorum, and we will begin with Senate Resolution 15. Senate Resolution 15.
• Chair, I wonder if Senator Latz could yield for—or would Senator Latz— Um, this resolution seems to be
• Chair, Senator Westrom, Senator Latz, what is your intention if this resolution would pass out of committee
• > resolution<00:48:52.960> 15<00:48:53.520> be has moved that Senate resolution
• Senate resolution 15 will extensions uh Senate resolution 15 will move<00:50:04.040> to<00:50:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be hearing Senate File 2057 from Senator Putnam.
• We also have Senate File 2227 from Senator Her, as well as Senate File 2112 and 2159 from Senator Mohamed
• Senate File 2227 from Senator Her, as well as Senate File 2112 and 2159 from Senator Mohamed, and Senate
• <00:01:59.520> putner have senator putner have senator putner with<00:02:01.000> Senate
• yeah Senator Champion to your Senate yeah Senator Champion to your Senate file<00:57:12.720>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 1385 is laid over. And Senator Dibble, you have Senate File 1918? Yes, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Senator Abeler.
• Senator Dre Heim is...
• <02:03:06.679> file um Senator man moves that Senate file um Senator man moves that Senate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the Senate come to order, Madame Clerk? Please call the roll. Senator Awa here. Senator Chang.
• Senator DeCoite here. Senator Dela Cruz here. Senator Elefante here. Senator Fevella here.
• Senator Fukunaga. Senator Gabbard. Senator Hashimoto. Senator Ihara, President.
• Senator Inouye present. Senator Kanuha. Senator Keohokalole. Senator excused.
• Senator Sanu Aventura Senator Wai pres Senator Sanu Aventura Senator Wai pres Mr<00:01:02.719> President

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Harrell Senator Rouson yet. Senator Sheree. Yes.
• Yes, Senator Harrell Senator Rouson and senator jury. Yes.
• Grall Senator Grall.
• Senator Harrell senator Rouson on senator Sheree. Yes, senator Simon. Yes. Vice chair Garcia.
• Senator Harrell. Yes. Senator rouson senator Sheree. Yes. Senator Simon. >> Vice chair Garcia, yes.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Jones here, Senator Avila, Senator Berman, Senator Boyd, Senator Bradley Senator Brodeur,
• Senator Burgess, Senator Burton, Senator Davis, Senator Deciglie Senator Gaetz Senator Garcia Senator
• Senator Ingoglia Senator Martin Senator Osgood Senator Pizzo Senator Rodriguez, Senator Rouson Senator
• , Senator Davis, Senator Deciglie Senator Gaetz Senator Garcia Senator Gruters Senator Harrell Senator
• Senator Ingoglia Senator Martin Senator Osgood Senator Pizzo Senator Rodriguez, Senator Rouson Senator

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, Senator Boyd, Senator Burgess Senator Calatayud Sen fun.
• Bernard, yes, senator Boyd, Senator Burgess Senator Calatayud Senator Fine.
• Yes, Senator Burgess Senator Calatayud senator find Senator Gruters. Yes.
• Senator Boyd, Senator Burgess Senator Calatayud Senate fun Senator Gruters Senator Ingoglia vice chair
• Yes, Senator Boyd, Senator Burgess Senator Calatayud Center fi Senator Gruters Senator Ingoglia vice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator DiCeglie. Senator Gaetz. Senator Hooper. Senator Leek. Senator Osgood. Senator Passidomo.
• Senator Gaetz. Senator Hooper. Senator Leek. Senator Osgood. Senator Osgood: Yes.
• Senator Leek. Senator Osgood. Senator Passidomo. Senator Polsky. Senator Trumbull. Senator Burton.
• Senator Gaetz. Senator Hooper. Senator Leek. Senator Osgood. Senator Passidomo. Senator Polsky.
• Senator Berman. Senator DiCeglie. Senator Gaetz. Senator Hooper. Senator Leek. Senator Osgood.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, Senator Davis, Senator Jones, Senator Martin Senator Maclean. Yes, senator, true.
• Senator Jones, Senator Martin Senator Maclean yes to truenow yet.
• Yes, Senator Davis. Yes, Senator Jones, Senator Martin Senator MacLEAN Senator Truenow.
• Yes, Senator Davis, Senator Jones, senator Martin. Yes, senator Maclean.
• Yes, Senator Davis. Yes, Senator Jones, Senator Martin Senator MacLEAN.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• gustofson Senate file is Senator gustofson Senate file 1323<00:00:27.560> uh<00:00:27.640>
• and Senator Clark, Senator Duckworth.
• um Senate file with that Senator um Senate file 1275<00:43:03.040> is<00:43:03.680> as<
• Senator weson Madam chair Senator Senator weson Madam chair Senator Farnsworth<01:26:03.480>
• reside Senator weson Madam chair Senator reside Senator weson Madam chair Senator lero<01:27:42.679

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome, um, just a quick announcement: much of the Senate and Senate staff need to
• announcement the uh much of the Senate and<00:03:30.080> Senate<00:03:30.680> staff<00
• , I worked with Senator Burdell and Senator Bradley on HB 500, as well as another Senate bill where we
• support of Senate Bill 254 as Senator support of Senate Bill 254 as Senator Roser<00:46:18.839><
• I represent Senate District One.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:50.960> Lee one Senator de followed by Senator Lee one Senator de followed by Senator
• Senator Alanti, Senator Kuha, Senator Dort, hi. Measure is adopted. Mr.
• Senator alanti Senator kuha chair goes I Senator alanti Senator kuha Senator<00:46:51.880> Dort
• If not, Senator Kai, for the vote. uh I Senator alante I Senator uh I Senator alante I Senator kuha<00
• Senator forag Senator BRS hi Senator hi Senator forag Senator BRS hi Senator hi CH<00:51:08.119> recommendations

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:48.240> Bill Senate Bill Senate Bill 1449<00:19:50.360> any<00:19:50.679> different
• Thank you for that question, Senator.
• Good afternoon, Senator Vice Chair and Senator Hashimoto. Thank you so much for hearing this bill.
• Thank you, Chair, Senator, Vice Chair, and Senator Hashimoto.
• Senator Hashimoto is excused. Senator K. Colia is excused. Recommendation is adopted. Thank you.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 72 on pharmacy drew only support, with testimony from the University of Hawaiʻi system, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, and others; no questions were raised. HB 237 on peer support programs also received broad support from the Department of Health, DHS, early learning officials, families, and advocates, with testimony emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentoring and support for parents, youth, and people with disabilities; no opposition or questions were noted. HB 250, the prior authorization bill, generated the most discussion. SHPDA supported a revised version focused on reporting prior authorization practices and creating a nonbinding working group to develop automation standards, while PCMA, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, and others raised concerns about duplicative pharmacy requirements, unintended consequences, and alignment with federal timelines and reporting. Several medical groups and individual patients supported the measure, describing delays and burdens caused by prior authorization. A committee member asked whether the bill’s working group differed from a similar group in Senate Bill 1449, and the witness said it was intended to be the same. HB 303 on health care preceptors was supported by the Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi, nursing and health care organizations, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, which asked that pharmacists’ residency programs be specifically tied to national accreditation standards. HB 341, relating to issuance of SPURS to assist the Hawaii Island Community Health Association, drew support from the health center and related groups. HB 692 on Preschool Open Doors received extensive support from early learning, education, family, labor, and community organizations; testimony stressed the shortage of child care and preschool slots, especially on Kauai, and the need to expand access for families. Committee members asked about adding family child care providers and about licensing/certification barriers, and DHS said the bill was focused on current licensed child care facilities and that certification issues were a separate, broader problem. HB 700 on cognitive assessments also drew strong support, with the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, disability advocates, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregivers, and others urging use of a validated cognitive assessment tool during annual wellness visits and asking that the age 65 threshold be removed; some witnesses supported keeping the data-collection portion as a pilot and emphasized early detection and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kino excused. Senator K. U. H. A. excused. Senator F. L. A. excused.
• 41.040> flla Kino excuse Senator kuha Senator flla Kino excuse Senator kuha Senator flla excuse
• 53.079> a<01:07:53.599> hi Senator rhs is excused Senator a hi Senator rhs is excused Senator
• decoy I Senator rhods is excused Senator decoy I Senator rhods is excused Senator AWA<01:08:29.880
• > CH Senator rhods is excused Senator a i CH Senator rhods is excused Senator a i CH you<01:10

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1294 HD2, which would create a workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture to address agricultural workforce housing shortages. The Department of Agriculture supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the first step should be a study to determine actual housing demand, noting many farmers have very low incomes and may not be able to support housing costs. A DHHL representative said the department supports the measure as a first step but does not currently plan to expand housing on its agricultural lands; members also discussed the distinction between agricultural and pastoral leases and asked for follow-up information on lease numbers and ranchers growing feed. Testimony on HB 1294 was overwhelmingly supportive, with farm and farmers’ organizations saying housing is critical to sustaining agriculture and should be located near farm operations when possible. Members questioned how housing eligibility would be enforced and whether federal housing funds could be used. The committee reported 38 testimonies in support, none opposed, and two comments, then voted to pass HB 1294 HD2 with amendments, including a date defect to July 1, 2050; the motion carried with five in favor and the recommendations were adopted. The committee then took up HB 428 HD1, establishing the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to address food shortages and requiring reports before the 2026 regular session. The Department of Agriculture urged the bill’s continuation and appropriations, citing rescinded federal grant programs and a planned $1.1 million application to support food banks and kalo production. Food banks, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and other groups strongly supported the measure, describing rising demand for charitable food assistance, especially for fresh produce and protein, and noting that many families are struggling despite working multiple jobs. Witnesses also described school pantry and backpack programs, food rescue partnerships with retailers, and the need for more stable state support; one witness asked for at least $5 million in funding for farm families. Committee members asked about food insecurity levels, food safety, abuse of food assistance, and how the program would connect farmers with schools and food banks. Food bank representatives said they already work with DOE school pantry programs and inspect all donated food for safety, and they suggested a grant or escrow-style payment model could help farmers by reducing reimbursement delays. The transcript does not show a final vote on HB 428 before the excerpt ends.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several bills, mostly related to workers’ compensation, labor relations, retirement, and employment exemptions. HB 423 would clarify selection of certified rehabilitation providers and require automatic approval of vocational rehabilitation services when likely needed for suitable gainful employment; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested timeline amendments, including advancing the plan within 90 days of the initial evaluation and filing it with the employer, employee, and director within two days. HB 480 would let an attending physician request a functional capacity exam without employer permission and deem licensed occupational and physical therapists qualified to perform such exams; it drew support from the department, the Hawaii Insurance Council, and the Hawaii Medical Association. HB 162 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators for collective bargaining disputes by allowing the HLRB to request a list from FMCS as well as the ABA, and testimony from labor groups supported that change. HB 164 concerned indebtedness to the state and wage deductions; HGA supported it with comments, while the Department of Accounting and General Services raised concerns about the percentage structure but said it could implement the requested changes. The committee also heard HB 1152, which would permanently exempt three specialized Department of Taxation positions from civil service; the department supported the measure and said the positions are not currently civil service positions. HB 214 would allow certain retirees to work in school resource officer or investigator roles without losing retirement benefits, subject to conditions; ERS expressed concerns about shortening the required separation period from 12 months to 6 months and about uniform administration and cost implications, while the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education supported the bill, and the Department of Law Enforcement asked to include its investigators as well. HB 874 would amend the Uniform Custodial Trust Act for child performers, requiring trust accounts for minors meeting certain earnings thresholds and making misuse of funds a fiduciary breach; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii Nurses Association supported it, and members discussed that enforcement would likely need further research, possibly through labor or the film office. HB 159 would cap the civil service exemption for personal service contracts with qualified community rehabilitation programs at $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity; United Public Workers, HGEA, and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported it. No final votes were taken because the committee lacked quorum. After recessing and reconvening, the chair announced that decision-making on the agenda would be deferred to Wednesday, March 12 at 3:01 p.m. in Room 224.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kolkhoz, Senator Perry, Senator Hancock, Senator Hall, Senator Miles.
• Senator Hughes, Senator Blanco, Senator Sparks.
• Senator Hancock.
• Senator Cook.
• Senator Cook.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was recently introduced in both the House and the Senate.
• Unfortunately, Senator Liz Boldon was not able to join us today, but we have Senator Jim Abeler and Representative
• Representative Liz Reyer to talk more about this new legislation, and then we will hear from Senator
• Senate and um 46e chiropractor and I Senate and um 46e chiropractor and I have<00:05:05.280> um
• all of your representatives and senators all of your representatives and senators and<00:15:19.959

Keywords: 1187, senate, all