Transcript Highlights:

• have a functioning fire protection sprinkler system, and if the owner or operator does not carry liability
• have a functioning fire protection sprinkler system, and if the owner or operator does not carry liability
• have a functioning fire protection sprinkler system, and if the owner or operator does not carry liability
• have a functioning fire protection sprinkler system, and if the owner or operator does not carry liability
• have a functioning fire protection sprinkler system, and if the owner or operator does not carry liability

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would uh want to direct to just generally uh these facilities carry a substantial amount of liability
• Um so I don't know that that creates any new liabilities that don't already exist.
• Senator Utky's comments about liability. Senator Utky's comments about liability.
• carry a substantial amount of liability carry a substantial amount of liability insurance<01:38:
• any new liabilities that don't already<01:38:31.119> exist.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:49.919> or of their property tax um liabilities or of their property tax um liabilities
• or sorry<00:31:50.320> their<00:31:50.480> tax<00:31:50.720> liabilities<00:31:
• 51.559> so<00:31:51.840> it<00:31:51.960> hurts sorry their tax liabilities so it
• hurts sorry their tax liabilities so it hurts seniors<00:31:52.760> too<00:31:53.080> in
• it be if I what would my tax liability it be if I what would my tax liability federal<01:04:47.640

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• short time ago by the Supreme Court regarding the limits we have on our authority in invading the judicial
• And the court made it very clear that they have authority over their judicial branch, and that should
• <02:06:35.840> in<02:06:36.079> invading<02:06:36.719> the<02:06:36.960> judicial
• authority in invading the judicial authority in invading the judicial branch.<02:06:38.320> And
• branch uh and that and their judicial branch uh and that and that<02:06:46.719> that<02:06:46.800

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're there, they advocate for what they want to do, but it more sits in the judicial space.
• But that can't be the reason why we don't strengthen our community. our judicial system.
• HDR 15 is the tool that you could provide judges that they can judicially use in cases like this to keep
• The judicial branch of government operates independently from the executive branch.
• In our opinion, the executive branch should not have an immediate. overriding the judicial branch in

Bills: HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HB799, HB 1135, HJR15, HJR16, HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HJR15, HJR16

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

Transcript Highlights:

• detailed safety assessments for each companion chatbot could create operational, competitive, and liability
• private right of action in 1414.8A, which we think exposes businesses and others to significant liability
• My concerns with the bill deal with, frankly, sort of the performance and liability construct that’s
• “This bill to define conduct for which there’s substantial liability.
• The new definition that exposes liability, the inability, the non-requirement that a potential plaintiff

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There would be some liability issues that need to be addressed, perhaps an expansion of chapter 185,
• There would be some liability issues that need to be addressed, perhaps an expansion of chapter 185,
• be some liability issues that need<00:41:09.000> to<00:41:09.119> be<00:41:09.319>
• <00:41:26.119> and<00:41:26.240> the regards of the the liability and the regards of
• the the liability and the responsibility<00:41:27.119> of<00:41:27.400> performing<00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 534, a measure concerning development in Kakaʻako Makai involving the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The chairs explained that the hearing was decision-making only and no testimony would be accepted, though members could ask clarifying questions. The chair outlined amendments to clarify HCDA’s approval process, require an environmental impact statement before residential development proposals are submitted, require Department of Health documentation on hazardous substances, and specify that only OHA-owned parcels would be eligible for certain residential development with a 400-foot height limit and maximum floor area ratio of 10.0. The amendments also addressed affordability, owner-occupancy, association fees, and a special fund, while noting Attorney General concerns that the fee could be construed as a tax and suggesting further review by Judiciary and Ways and Means. Members discussed the affordability threshold, with one senator suggesting 160% AMI instead of 140% due to high housing costs and concern that essential workers could be priced out. Others raised concerns about Native Hawaiian affordability, the long-term effect of perpetuity restrictions, and whether the process would protect OHA’s interests. An HCDA representative said 140% AMI was used in existing reserve housing rules and that lower thresholds could make development economically infeasible. OHA and other supporters said the proposal was still early in planning and emphasized the need for public hearings, community input, and compliance with environmental and remediation standards. The committees voted to pass SB 534 with amendments: Water and Land approved it 4-1, and Hawaiian Affairs also adopted the chair’s recommendation, with one member excused and one voting no. The meeting then moved to SB 3, relating to water resource management. The bill would authorize the Commission on Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel, create an executive director position, allow challenges to emergency orders under certain conditions, establish fines for water use offenses, and revise emergency and shortage declaration procedures; Red Hill-related provisions were noted as removed from this version. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, the Board of Water Supply, OHA, and Sierra Club, with OHA stressing the measure’s importance to Native Hawaiian water rights and past litigation. A Department of Hawaiian Home Lands representative supported the bill with amendments and recommended explicit language directing the commission chair or designee to advocate for water rights and reservations for homelands. The chair indicated the committees would use the prior Senate-passed version as the basis for further action, and the discussion then moved on to SB 130, a search-and-rescue reimbursement bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• mitigation funding has been spent by utilities on minimizing their risk, given their very unique liability
• it, 12% of the fires actually involved utility-type infrastructure, and because of their strict liability
• clauses, that's where their liability is happening.
• But you have to have something around it, and you have to have, you know, because the liability of letting
• on the record as well that, again, we need to make those changes first before we can talk about liability

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Types and amounts of insurance liability coverage that the charter must obtain.
• A provision to indemnify and hold harmless from any suit, claim, or liability arising from a charter
• Um types and amounts of insurance<00:14:48.880> liability<00:14:49.519> coverage<00:14:
• 50.000> that<00:14:50.240> the insurance liability coverage that the insurance liability
• arising from a charter school liability arising from a charter school operation.<00:15:00.800> Um

Bills: HF3487, HF3421

Keywords: anonymous reporting, school safety, education, crisis intervention, threat reporting, early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers

Transcript Highlights:

• There's never been a liability issue any of our hospitals have faced regarding our systems, including
• How do you cover the liability for this?
• And so we want to provide that opportunity to have those standards for them. >> But legally, liability
• issues<00:51:18.400> has<00:51:18.640> kind<00:51:18.720> of triage and liability
• issues has kind of triage and liability issues has kind of been<00:51:19.040> discussed.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: A presenter from Fast Health Corporation described a proposed Kentucky Health Command System tied to Senate Bill 175, which would create a state-sanctioned AI platform for rural hospitals and telehealth. The company said the system would help rural residents get health information remotely, triage minor issues, and escalate more serious cases to Kentucky providers, with use cases including blood pressure, diabetes, maternity care, smoking cessation, and other preventive-care topics. The presenter argued the system would help rural hospitals compete with out-of-state telehealth companies and keep patients connected to local care. The presentation also emphasized a commercial model the sponsor said would generate new revenue through ads and branded interactions, with the bill reportedly directing 80% of that revenue to rural hospitals and 20% to the state to maintain the system. The presenter said the technology would augment, not replace, doctors and nurses, and claimed it could improve access and convenience in underserved areas. Committee members raised concerns about liability, whether the AI could provide medical advice, and whether there was evidence it had reduced emergency room visits; the presenter said the system could not give medical advice and acknowledged the technology is still very new. The sponsor of the bill said the goal was to help transform rural health care, reduce unnecessary ER use, and capture revenue that would otherwise go to commercial search engines and out-of-state companies. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion ended with questions about branding, loyalty, and the legal limits of the AI system.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the agreed-upon changes to the bill to ensure that counties and cities were protected from any liability
• Those funds that aren't loaned out are invested in different ways, and so the asset liability management
• Those funds that aren't loaned out are invested in different ways, and so the asset liability management
• Those funds that aren't loaned out are invested in different ways, and so the asset liability management
• Those funds that aren't loaned out are invested in different ways, and so the asset liability management

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve on a public school board, so I'm very familiar with how liability comes in, and it happens all
• First of all, there's no liability that goes to the districts. Nothing.
• First of all, there's no liability that goes to the districts. Nothing.
• First of all, there's no liability that goes to the districts. Nothing.
• Furthermore, I mentioned that this will expose districts to litigation and attorney fee liability.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh they'll review risk mitigation, liability, enforcement and oversight, possibilities of reinsurance
• There's a portion talking about liability laws, which we certainly have added some.
• There's a portion talking<00:05:14.160> about<00:05:14.400> liability<00:05:15.039>
• laws,<00:05:16.000> uh,<00:05:16.160> which talking about liability laws, uh, which
• talking about liability laws, uh, which we<00:05:17.039> certainly<00:05:17.440> have<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the only industry I can think of that can cause foreseeable harm and have no liability for it
• Unlike brick-and-mortar businesses, which can face significant liability for those foreseeable harms
• And the response those parents received was, 'We have no liability here because of Section 230.'
• And the response to those parents received was, we have no liability here because of Section 230.
• Manufacturers may face liability for inadvertent or technical violations.

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the concerns is always about liability.
• Regarding liability, malpractice insurance would be required, and rates for dental hygienists are very
• And again, they would be required to carry malpractice insurance to cover any liability issues.
• So we have addressed that in our model, along with the liability issue.
• We do not do foster care for liability issues. I understand. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• SP 1411, SD2 HD1, relating to Medicaid third-party liability.
• Next up, HMSA with comments. party liability. First up, only one up. party liability.
• 46:27.680> party SD2 relating to Medicaid third party SD2 relating to Medicaid third party liability
• Uh<00:46:29.359> chair's<00:46:29.680> recommendation<00:46:30.240> is liability
• Uh chair's recommendation is liability.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard testimony on several measures. SB 1402, relating to vessels in state commercial harbors, drew opposition from Captain Andy Sailing Incorporated, and later the committee agreed to amend the bill to exempt tour boat operators before passing it. SB 1411, relating to Medicaid third-party liability, received strong support from the Department of Human Services, which asked that the effective date be restored to upon approval. SB 1438, relating to home care agencies, was supported by the Department of Health and one individual testifier, with the department arguing that unlicensed personnel performing skilled nursing services puts kupuna at risk. The committee later moved that bill forward with a clean date. SB 1449, relating to prior authorization of health care services, drew support from the Hawaii Medical Association and comments from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans and HMSA. Health plans asked that reporting requirements align with upcoming CMS regulations, and HMSA noted the work of the stakeholder process. The committee discussed the bill as consumer-focused and adopted amendments to add laboratory and diagnostic tests and to require the working group’s first report before the 2026 session and before each session thereafter. SB 1291, relating to certified public accountants, received support from the Board of Public Accountancy, the Hawaii Society of CPAs, Hong Consulting LLC, and Ron Heler, who said it was substantially the same as a previously passed House bill and would help increase the CPA pipeline in Hawaii. The committee also heard SB 752, relating to insurance, with opposition and comments from the Hawaii Insurance Council and Liberty Mutual, which requested amendments on non-payment of premiums, material misrepresentation, and limiting the bill to homeowners insurance. Greg Mskian testified in support but urged clearer notice and denial explanations for homeowners. SB 385, relating to condominiums, drew support from Hawaii Realtors and detailed comments from Ray Tenno and Greg Mskian about making governing documents available online or by email to owners and agents, with discussion of website costs and access. Finally, SB 140, relating to invasive species, received support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and CAPS, while the Department of Agriculture offered comments and proposed streamlining language; supporters emphasized firewood treatment standards and the need to prevent invasive pests. After a brief recess, the committee took votes on several measures, adopting the chair’s recommendations on SB 1402, SB 1411, SB 1438, SB 1449, and SB 1291.

Transcript Highlights:

• you also go on to express that Part III cannot be implemented as written; the mandate would be a liability
• The mandate would be a liability.
• have the authority to work outside of the division's lands, and if we did, there would be a certain liability
• That's done by us, and so it really does address that, and I think takes away the liability issue.
• Seeing none, Chair, your recommendation is adopted. liability issue we can still examine liability issue

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures before taking up decision-making. Senate Bill 1381, relating to the Hawaii National Guard, received support from the Department of Defense and other testifiers and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 422, relating to education and high school diplomas for veterans, also drew support from the Department of Education, the Military Affairs Council, and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 414, relating to restoring access to disaster-affected areas in Lahaina, was discussed with testimony from HHFDC and others; members agreed to amend the bill to refer to the Department of Transportation as the acquiring agency, and the measure was recommended to pass with amendments. The committee then considered Senate Bill 223, relating to fire prevention. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the bill but recommended changes to make the wildland-urban interface code a matter for the State Fire Council/State Fire Marshal rather than statute, and noted it lacked authority to mandate fuel reduction work on lands outside its control. Members also discussed community fuel reduction funding, with DLNR indicating that $10 million would be an effective amount and describing current funding for equipment, outreach, and positions. The chair proposed amendments to make fuel reduction on non-set-aside lands permissive rather than mandatory, to allow the State Fire Council to amend the state fire code to include easement holders, and to note a defective date and the funding request in the committee report. The bill was recommended to pass with amendments, with one member voting with reservations. In a later decision-making session, the committee considered Senate Bill 1379, relating to emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers, and Senate Bill 371, relating to property damage of critical infrastructure facilities. For SB 1379, the chair proposed an HD1 incorporating the Hawaii Advisory Council on Emergency Management and county emergency management in site-selection criteria, adding geographic resilience considerations, changing the defective date, and noting $10.8 million for site design plus $1.2 million for contract support; the bill passed with amendments, with reservations from some members over county input and funding. For SB 371, the chair amended the bill to remove recklessly/negligently causing damage and require intentional conduct throughout, while leaving other issues for Judiciary review; the bill passed with amendments, with at least one member voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• to us, knowing that if they simply send an email, for example, expressing their opinion about a judicial

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance met for its first meeting of the year on March 4 at noon, with Chair Shelley Mayer and Ranking Member Steve Rhoads emphasizing a collegial approach and a shared interest in transparency, efficiency, and effective government. The committee then considered several ethics and lobbying-related bills. On S-374, relating to lobbying for the confirmation of persons to state office, Senator Rhoads raised concern that the bill could chill individual citizens from sending emails or letters about nominees if such activity triggered lobbyist registration. The chair said the bill was intended to target organizations and entities spending significant time and money to influence nominations, and noted the sponsor might refine the language. The bill was moved forward, with Mayer voting aye and Rhoads voting nay. The committee also advanced S-224A, which would raise the threshold for small not-for-profits subject to lobbying reporting requirements from $5,000 to $10,000, and S4039A, which would prohibit certain persons from receiving compensation for legal, consulting, or similar work for industrial development agencies, economic assistance corporations, or state and local authorities, while also addressing consultant disclosure. Rhoads supported S-224A and opposed S4039A. Finally, the committee approved S5843, which would require all lobbying filings to be submitted electronically; Rhoads opposed it, saying filing rules should allow as many compliance options as possible, while Mayer said most filers can already do so electronically. All bills were moved to the floor, and the meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.

Transcript Highlights:

• this fix during the busy time in the special session, which will assist the workflow of the second judicial

Transcript Highlights:

• I think for a very complex it projects they've addressed limitation of liability, sometimes are used
• to be unlimited liability.
• And so that was always a concern for things outside of, you know, our control to have unlimited liability
• The liability requirements are too high. >> Not from a agency perspective, but I actually >> Not from
• So before we modified that and reduce the limitations liability and indemnification language, we actually