Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hashimoto, Senator K., and Senator FLL vote yes. The recommendation is adopted.
• > Senator<00:20:10.720> FLL<00:20:11.679> hi Hashimoto hi Senator K hi Senator FLL
• Senator Hashimoto voted aye. Senator Fukunaga was excused. Senator Ilagan voted aye.
• Senator Fukunaga was excused. Senator Hashimoto voted aye. Senator F. voted aye.
• Senator Hashimoto, Senator K., and Senator F. were referenced in the vote call.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next item, Senate Bill 10?
• <00:04:56.479> Bill testify next item Senate Bill testify next item Senate Bill 1278<00:04
• Senator Kino aye. Senator Koy? aye. Senator Elefante aye. Senator Hashimoto aye.
• Senator Inouye aye. Senator Kanuha aye. Senator Kidani aye. Senator Kim aye. Senator Lee aye.
• Senator Wakai yes. Senator Fevella aye. Recommendation adopted. Thank you. Next item, SB 326.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of tax, budget, and policy bills. On SB 325 and SB 326, the Tax Foundation testified and the committee later recommended passage with amendments. SB 721, SB 1278, and SB 1465 also drew Tax Foundation testimony focused on technical corrections and effective-date issues; SB 1278 was strongly supported by the Hawaii Restaurant Association and other restaurant and business groups, who argued the bill should extend tax relief to the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund because it served the same purpose as earlier COVID relief programs. A bar owner also testified in support, describing severe pandemic-related losses and lack of government assistance. The Department of Taxation asked about the estimated fiscal impact of SB 1278, which was stated to be about $16.8 million and not including interest. The committee also considered SB 1464 through SB 1470, with the Tax Foundation supporting most of the conformity and tax measures and opposing SB 1465 as unnecessary. SB 1464 was recommended for passage unamended, SB 1465 with amendments, and SB 1466, SB 1467, and SB 1470 unamended. SB 1362 and SB 1363 were deferred so the administration could explore moving funds within the existing budget instead of using emergency appropriations. SB 1044 was amended to create a condominium loan program and special fund to finance essential repairs and improve insurability of condominium properties, with loans repaid over 20 years and the fund eventually sunsetted. The committee also acted on several other measures: SB 533 was amended to remove an appropriation and require a local investor-owned utility to support schools affected by a planned public safety power shutoff program; SB 1117 was amended to define electric motorcycles and prohibit operation by those under 18; SB 1186 was amended to move a food-production working group to the Agribusiness Development Corporation and remove an appropriation; SB 1391 was amended to require a one-to-one match of state funds with private donations; and SB 1669 was amended with committee-report language noting concerns about jurisdictional definitions and board qualifications. Later, the committee recommitted SB 933 and SB 938 to Ways and Means after adopting proposed SD1 versions. Most measures were adopted unanimously, often with members voting no with reservation.

Transcript Highlights:

• is<00:15:55.519> excuse Senator Chang Senator melie is excuse Senator Chang Senator melie
• Senator<00:22:13.840> Dort Senator elanti Senator canu Senator Dort Senator elanti Senator
• Senator DeCoite is excused. Senator Rhoads? Senator Awa? In favor.
• Senator DeCoite is excused. Senator Rhoads? Senator Awa?
• rhs<02:03:51.800> Senator Senator CO's excused senator rhs Senator Senator CO's excused senator

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees first heard SB 1146, which would appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi to develop an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan for debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai Watershed. Testimony was largely supportive from DLNR, a UH student, and a special improvement district representative, while one speaker suggested the work should be coordinated with existing efforts to avoid duplication. Committee discussion focused on the multi-jurisdictional nature of the watershed, existing debris-trap work that captures only about 20 to 30 percent of debris, the role of the university in capstone projects and recommendations, and the relationship to the existing Geni project and other community efforts. Members also asked about costs, tracking progress, and the difference between water-quality improvements and the larger debris problem. The committees then voted to pass SB 1146 with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation and deferring the effective date to July 31, 2050. The motion passed in both committees, with votes recorded in support and no opposition noted during the decision-making. The committees also heard SB 321, which would deem certain fee simple privately owned lands transferred to adjacent property owners or community associations if specified conditions are met. Testimony was in support from several individuals, but members raised concerns about the lack of input from counties and the state, and about how the bill might affect roads already used by the public or maintained by local governments. After discussion, the committees voted to advance SB 321 unamended to the next committees, with the measure adopted in both committees despite one recorded no vote in the Water and Land committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Melby, excuse Senator Richards, aye. Senator Awa, aye. The measure is adopted. Thank you.
• :06.159> Senator<00:02:06.640> AWA<00:02:07.200> I excuse Senator Richards hi Senator
• Senator Hashimoto, I. Senator K. K. I. Senator Filla, no recommendation is adopted.
• Senator Melie is excused. Senator Richards I. Senator Awa no. Thank you, your measure is adopted.
• Senator Hashimoto aye. Senator K.K. aye. Senator Filla no. Recommendation is adopted.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making on SB 146, SB 147, and SB 1166. SB 146 and SB 147, both relating to condominiums, were recommended to pass with amendments. The committee adopted amendments based on testimony from Anne Anderson, including mediator/arbitrator qualifications, clarifications about disputes involving managing agents, small claims timing, lien rights, and refund determinations by an early neutral evaluator. For both bills, the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050 for further discussion. Each measure was adopted with no objections. SB 1166, relating to insurance, was also passed with amendments. The committee removed language that would have required insurers to bring claims and condition rates on doing so, replacing it with encouraging language. The amended bill adds a private cause of action against responsible parties, authorizes insurer actions under certain conditions, defines terms tied to climate-related events and fossil fuel products, and requires HPIA to report to the insurance commissioner on whether it exercised direct action rights. The effective date was likewise deferred to July 1, 2050, and the measure was adopted without objection. The committee then heard SB 985, relating to consumer protection and gift card fraud, and SB 1525, relating to electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. SB 985 drew support from a consumer fraud victim and others who said gift card scams disproportionately harm kupuna, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed the bill’s packaging/display requirements and suggested stronger penalties instead. The committee voted to pass SB 985 with amendments, deferring its effective date to July 1, 2050, and noted it would move on to Judiciary next. SB 1525 drew significant opposition from the Attorney General’s office, Department of Taxation, Department of Health, and public health groups, who argued it conflicted with federal tobacco law, was hard for Tax to administer, and would not effectively remove unauthorized vape products. After testimony, the committee recommended deferral of SB 1525 without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator Rhoads, aye. Senator Tork? No.
• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator Rhoads, aye. Senator Tork? No.
• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator Rhoads, aye. Senator Tork? No.
• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator Rhoads, aye. Senator Tork? No.
• <01:22:20.120> hi<01:22:20.360> Senator Senator faga hi Senator Rose hi Senator Senator

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 547 on water conservation, a deferred agenda item that had already been considered by the other joint committees and received no public testimony. The chair recommended adopting Department of Taxation and Department of Health amendments, passing the bill, and adding a defective date of July 1, 2050. The committee voted to adopt the recommendation; the vice chair voted yes, two senators were excused, and the recommendation was adopted. The main hearing focused on SB 1030, which would define election fraud intimidation to include carrying any firearm or weapon at or near a voter service center, place of deposit, or polling place. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill duplicated existing sensitive-places law, raised Second Amendment concerns, and could create confusion for lawful concealed carry holders using ballot drop boxes. A smaller number of supporters, including gun violence prevention advocates and labor representatives, argued the measure would improve voter safety. The committee heard more than 1,560 total testimonies for the hearing overall, and for SB 1030 staff noted over 10 in support and over 80 in opposition; no vote on SB 1030 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard SB 38, which would extend Hawaii’s ban on high-capacity magazines from pistols to any firearm with a detachable magazine over 10 rounds. Supporters, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Brady, and other gun violence prevention advocates, said the bill would close a loophole, improve consistency in the law, and reduce the harm caused by mass shootings. Opponents, including gun owners, veterans, and Second Amendment advocates, argued the bill would criminalize lawful owners, be difficult to enforce, and would not reduce crime. The committee reported receiving over 40 testimonies in support and over 400 in opposition. Finally, the committee began SB 401, which would add rifles capable of firing .50 caliber or higher ammunition to the list of prohibited weapons, excluding antiques and muzzle loaders. HPD and Everytown testified in support, describing the weapons as military-grade and dangerous, while Jerry Yuan and others opposed the bill, saying it was overbroad and would sweep in firearms and ammunition types that are not used in crime. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 401, before any committee action or vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Fukunaga: excused. Senator Kim: excused. Your recommendation is adopted.
• Kim Senator fukunaga excuse Senator Kim Senator fukunaga excuse Senator Kim excuse<00:02:07.920
• > recommendation excuse Senator a sh your recommendation excuse Senator a sh your recommendation
• Senator DeCoite votes aye. Senator Rhodes votes aye. Chair votes aye. Five in favor.
• > Senator<00:07:45.919> I<00:07:46.680> Char decoit I Senator rhods I Senator I

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 in Room 224 and via videoconference to consider several measures. First, it heard Senate Bill 547 on water conservation, which would create an income tax credit for gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators, along with a rebate program and building code standards. The chair recommended passing the bill with amendments from DOA and the Department of Health and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050; the recommendation was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1633, a Green Building tax credit measure tied to the use of Hawaii-grown hemp in primary structures, and also addressing hemp and cannabinoid product regulation, including age limits, packaging requirements, THC limits, and a separate hemp program within the Department of Health. The chair recommended passing the bill with DOA amendments and a further amendment allowing hemp processors to sell certain edible or beverage cannabinoid products with limited THC content, plus a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. The motion passed with five votes in favor. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 391 on recycling, which would expand the Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Act to cover certain lithium-ion batteries and require manufacturers to ensure their safe collection and recycling. The chair instead recommended amending the bill into a working group under the Hawaii State Energy Office to study battery end-of-life management, costs, safety, environmental impacts, in-state versus out-of-state recycling options, and related feasibility questions, with a report due before the 2026 regular session and dissolution on June 30, 2026. That amended approach was adopted unanimously, and the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:54.039> green Senator seberger and uh uh Senator green Senator seberger and uh uh Senator
• Senator Green: Okay.
• Senator Duckworth, thank you.
• Next up we have Senator Latz. Senate File 258 is before the committee.
• Senator rasman at this point Senator Senator rasman at this point Senator rasmon<02:08:37.079>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Chang. Senator DeCoite. Senator Dela Cruz here. Senator Elefante. Senator Fevella here.
• Senator Fukunaga. Senator Gabbard. Senator Hashimoto. Senator Ihara present.
• Senator Inouye present. Senator Kanuha. Senator Kidani. Senator Kim. Senator Lee.
• Senator McKelvey hi. Senator Moriwaki. President Rhoads. Senator Richards.
• Senator McKelvey hi. Senator Moriwaki. President Rhoads. Senator Richards.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , including me, Senator Westrom, Senator Putnam, and Madam Chair McEwen, and also co-chair from the Senate
• senates uh it's including me uh Senator senates uh it's including me uh Senator Westrom<00:02:01.680
• Thank you, Senator Green.
• Senator Hawj also wanted to thank Senator Green for serving as a co-chair as well, and Senator Green
• c><00:41:26.280> green<00:41:26.599> thank Senator mun um and Senator green thank Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• members seeing not I'm Senator members seeing not I'm Senator put<00:46:42.520> thank<00:
• dollars Senator dollars Senator B<01:12:20.960> thank<01:12:21.199> you<01:12:21.600
• Chair and Senator Rarick?
• Chair, and Senator Rover Baon?
• <01:38:49.040> and coming thank you so much Senator and coming thank you so much Senator and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, can you just give us one moment? The Senate Judiciary is now in session.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Evil exists, Senator.
• <03:26:27.319> go thank you Senator uh yes Senator oer go thank you Senator uh yes Senator

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Weber next brings us Senate File 152. There is an A1 amendment.
• The next bill is Senate File 154. Senator Weber, thank you, Madam Chair.
• The next bill is Senate File 155. Senator Weber, thank you, Madam Chair.
• <00:39:53.720> Weber uh Senate file one 55 Senator Weber uh Senate file one 55 Senator Weber
• <00:40:36.000> uh<00:40:37.000> Senator adopted Senator uh Senator adopted Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank my co-authors on this bill: Senators Kunish, Senator French, Senator Pratt, and Senator Coleman
• 00:26:33.919> and Klein Senator Pratt Senator Miller and Klein Senator Pratt Senator Miller and
• c> I<00:45:52.119> think you Senator Klein Senator Klein I think you Senator Klein Senator
• <00:51:47.400> G Senator Klein uh chair and Senator G Senator Klein uh chair and Senator G
• Senator Bahr: no. Senator Carlson: yes. Senator Drazkowski: yes. Senator Koran: no.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > Matthews you Senator Lucero Senator ma Matthews you Senator Lucero Senator ma Matthews Senator
• Senator Carlson: yes. Senator Koran: no. Senator Westlin: yes. Senator Bahr: no.
• Senator Boldon: yes. Senator Cwodzinski: yes. Senator Limmer: no. Senator Lucero: no.
• /c> role Senator Carlson yes senator Karan role Senator Carlson yes senator Karan no<01:21:56.239>
• Senator<01:22:08.360> Lucero yep Senator limmer nope Senator Lucero yep Senator limmer

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, before we do that, we're going to do Senate Resolution 12.
• Senate Resolution 12 will be referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
• Senate Senate resolution number 12 Senate Senate resolution number 12 Senate resolution<00:12:24.000
• Fateh, Senator Frentz, Senator Port, Senator Anderson, and Senator Howley.
• Fateh, Senator Frentz, Senator Port, Senator Anderson, and Senator Howley.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• yes Senator inis yes Senator Ward yes<01:27:42.960> Senator yes Senator yes Senator rardy<01:
• Rosenwald yes Senator avar yes Senator Rosenwald no<01:27:53.480> senator no senator no senator
• > no Senator Murphy yes Senator Pearl yes no Senator Murphy yes Senator Pearl yes Senator<01:28:08.679
• no Senator long no Senator Perkins quoka no Senator<01:28:18.679> abbis Senator abbis Senator
• <01:54:31.440> Senator Senator Senator Senator Senator Waters<01:54:33.639> thank<01:54

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to testify in support of Senate Bill 1231.
• I stand opposed to this Senate 319.
• I stand opposed to this Senate 319.
• If not, Senator Gabbard, for the vote.
• Senator Chang is excused. Senator Sand Matur is excused. Thank you.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 1231, which would repeal the Parentage Uniform Act of 1973 and update Hawaii’s parentage laws, including parts of the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017. Supporters said the current statutes are outdated and do not adequately address assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and modern family formation. The Attorney General’s office supported the bill with technical amendments, including conforming changes to the Probate Code and child support provisions, and several testifiers urged passage as a needed modernization of the law. A major point of disagreement was Part 10, which concerns donor anonymity. Some supporters, including members of the task force, the Uniform Law Commission, fertility and family law practitioners, and LGBTQ+ advocates, backed the bill as written or said it should move forward even if Part 10 is removed. Others, including donor-conceived adults, parents, and advocacy groups, opposed Part 10 and urged the committee to adopt the 2024 version of Article 9 or delete Part 10 entirely, arguing that anonymous donation harms donor-conceived people’s access to genetic, medical, and identity information and that anonymity is not realistic in the DNA-testing era. One task force member and attorney said she supported the bill but preferred removing Part 10 if necessary to pass the rest. The hearing included extensive public testimony both in support and opposition, with many individuals describing personal experiences with adoption, IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception. No committee vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we do have Senator Eort here as well.
• We are here, the Committee on Water and Land, and my vice chair is Senator Alfante, and we do have Senator
• walked in and you are first up on Senate walked in and you are first up on Senate bill<00:01:54.960
• Senator KY, thank you for OHA.
• Senators, any other questions?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on Senate Bill 4, which would transfer stewardship of Mauna ʻAla from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Committee chairs opened the meeting with housekeeping and noted the hearing was live-streamed, with a two-minute limit for testimony. Director Don Chang of the Board of Land and Natural Resources said DLNR had been working with OHA and had agreed to transfer certain lands subject to due diligence, including Kahana Valley and a parcel in Waimānalo, but urged the committee to finalize those mutually agreed parcels before taking on something new. He also described the current arrangement at Mauna ʻAla as a collaborative one involving the state and the royal trusts, with the state handling routine maintenance and the trusts contributing to larger repairs and improvements on a project-by-project basis rather than through direct annual appropriations. Testimony was mixed. Supporters argued that OHA is better positioned to steward the site because of its cultural mission, Native Hawaiian governance, and ability to protect sacred places with greater cultural competency and accountability. Several speakers emphasized that Mauna ʻAla is not a state park and should be cared for by those with direct cultural ties and experience, and some cited OHA’s recent financial reforms and partnerships as reasons for confidence. Others, including representatives of the Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors Makakoa, opposed the bill, citing concerns about OHA’s past financial management, transparency, and the need for more public information and testimony before any transfer. One testifier also argued the land transfer itself was unlawful and rooted in the history of the overthrow and annexation. Members and testifiers also discussed the historical role of the royal trusts and family caretakers at Mauna ʻAla, with one descendant describing a long family stewardship and supporting OHA only if amended language preserved checks and balances and protected iwi and burial grounds. Another speaker said the family recognized James Mayo as kahu of Mauna ʻAla and supported the bill because prior DLNR efforts had not sufficiently protected traditional and customary rights. The hearing ended after public testimony and committee questions, with no vote or final action taken in the portion provided.