Transcript Highlights:

• They provide essential electricity, water, and natural gas service. We have...
• Meek and Murray with the Whiteman Group on behalf of Cal Water and strong support.
• I'm a 17-year employee of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
• There's no water. There's no rain.
• There's no water. There's no rain.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a problem in another community that the limestone could supply water to if they had a treatment
• My experience was water county. You know, they were six-year, and mine was four years.
• Rogers will run out of water. >> And yeah, we're having... Well, well, I think I've got a group.
• </c> &gt;&gt; My thing experience was water &gt;&gt; My thing experience was water county.<00:54:55.760
• Rogers will run out of water. Rogers. Rogers will run out of water.

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I appreciate the comments about the river and the water issues. We help.
• The comments about the river and the water issues.
• Your water rights, you will have no water. We know this because we educated ourselves.
• And I say that because water is the big issue.
• No, that water don't belong to me now, you know, send it that way.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs held a historic hearing at Table Mountain Rancheria focused on tribal education, culture, resilience, leadership, and trust. The opening prayer and remarks emphasized the significance of holding the first committee hearing on tribal land. Members said the hearing was intended both to hear testimony about ongoing problems in schools and to identify next steps for legislation and policy, especially as the session neared its end. The committee also referenced recent efforts supporting Native students’ right to wear regalia at graduation and broader concerns about representation in education and state institutions. The first panel centered on Native students’ experiences in public schools. Bella Garcia described a two-year fight with Clovis Unified over wearing tribal regalia at graduation, including a restrictive approval form and administrators who she said denied Native identity and made her feel invisible. Morningstar Ghali connected those experiences to the legacy of boarding schools, racial profiling, suspensions, and the “boarding school to prison pipeline,” and called for culturally responsive education, Native educators, counselors, Native studies, and restorative justice. Janet K. Bill, from the Attorney General’s Office of Native American Affairs, described her own path from tribal Head Start to Stanford, law school, tribal council, and state service, and said education, justice, and sovereignty are linked. Members asked about restorative justice, representation, and how to build pipelines into leadership and education roles. The second panel focused on solutions. Chairwoman Michelle Heredia Cordova urged a reimagined education system that is more personalized, experiential, culturally grounded, and balanced with land-based learning, while also recruiting Native teachers and creating stronger tribal partnerships. Chairman Leo Sisku said schools should educate educators, stop tokenizing Native students, and create accountability and consequences for discriminatory behavior; he also supported stronger tribal-school partnerships and more positive outreach. Chairman Fred Bean emphasized consistent engagement from tribal leaders at every level of schooling, stronger transitions from elementary to college, and programs that prepare Native youth for leadership, trades, and higher education. Chairman Shaineto of Tule River argued that schools and administrators should face consequences for violating Native students’ rights, and that Native people should not have to keep educating institutions about basic cultural respect. Committee members responded by discussing possible statewide solutions, including regional tribal boards, better enforcement of existing laws, stronger pipelines into teaching and leadership, and improved representation on boards and in state agencies. Several members raised the need to implement existing laws, fill vacant Native appointments, and consider broader protections for Native regalia and cultural expression. No formal vote was taken in the transcript, but the hearing concluded with a clear call for continued collaboration, accountability, and legislation driven by Native voices.

Transcript Highlights:

• residents must also be used for a homestead by the owner, and the property must be adjacent to public waters
• adjacent owner and the property must be adjacent to<00:02:49.120><c> public</c><00:02:49.360><c> Waters
• </c><00:02:49.680><c> or</c><00:02:49.800><c> state</c><00:02:50.040><c> Trails</c> to public Waters
• or state Trails to public Waters or state Trails administered<00:02:50.879><c> by</c><00:02:51.000><c
• There's less than 600 resorts left in Minnesota from our high-water mark of 3,000, and so many of these

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Colorado River is an essential water resource supplying water for municipal and agricultural uses
• The Colorado River is an essential water resource supplying water for municipal and agricultural uses
• The Colorado River is an essential water resource supplying water for municipal and agricultural uses
• </c><05:07:56.080><c> for</c> independently through the water for independently through the water for
• </c> America's last true distant water America's last true distant water fishing<05:10:44.638><c> fleet

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, water would be pulled from the Missouri River.
• When we had 20,000 people there, now we have 100,000 pulling water out of that river.
• So those are examples just to show how important water is. We need to have data centers.
• It has also been brought to my attention the concerns about water trucks hauling water to data centers
• I just went on a water tour in Lake Oahu, sorry, is very low.

Committee: Joint Legislative Management

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to make sure that all those who want to boat—I don't live on the water.
• I want to make sure that I have access to the water personally.
• I want to make sure that everybody has access to the waters in Florida.
• I like to go look at the water. I like to stick my toes in every now and then.
• and whatever's in the water out to our beaches.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and heard several member introductions and recognitions. The Rules Chair moved CS/CS/SB 622 to the end of the special order calendar, which was adopted without objection. SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed, as were later bills SB 716 and CS/CS/CS/SB 1348. The chamber then took up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and adopting amendments before final passage. Measures approved included a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan (HB 295, 38-0), mitigation banking and land development changes with a phosphate mining lands amendment (CS/CS/SB 492, 35-3), aggravated animal cruelty with a searchable FDLE database and sentencing multiplier (HB 255, 37-0), the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism and related training/funding (HB 711, 37-0), newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (CS/CS/HB 1089, 36-0), and revisions to the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects and adjust approval thresholds (CS/CS/HB 393, 37-0). The Senate also passed workforce education legislation allowing charter schools access to grant funding and expanding money-back guarantees (HB 1145, 37-0), a statewide study on automation and workforce impact (HB 827, 35-0), parole guideline revisions (HB 181, 37-0), court-appointed psychologist procedures in family law cases (HB 901, 37-0), sexual cyber harassment protections covering digitally forged intimate images (HB 1451, 37-0), a home health aide program for medically fragile children with training and reimbursement provisions (CS/CS/SB 1156, 37-0), substance abuse and mental health care changes including 988 oversight and involuntary examination procedures (HB 1091, 37-0), a feasibility study for a statewide pond data database (HB 1359, 37-0), and Department of Law Enforcement housekeeping changes and retired police dog reimbursements (HB 1053, 37-0). The most extensive debate centered on the charter schools bill (HB 443), which expanded charter autonomy, reporting parity, enrollment flexibility, and governance rules; after a delete-all amendment and a friendly amendment, it was placed on the third-reading calendar rather than immediately voted on. Several bills were briefly discussed with concerns about transparency, accountability, funding, and constitutional issues, but all bills brought to a vote during this segment passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mayflower in the lead flotilla that will meet Constitution at Castle Island, whereupon we'll have fireboat water
• we're dealing with 67 different public safety agencies, so it's an extremely complex blending of our water
• and we're dealing with 67 different public safety agencies so it's extremely complex blending of our water
• resources our air resorts blending of our water resources, our air resources, and our land resources
• only reenactments I can think of where the first component of the day is taking place entirely on the water

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without quorum, but proceeded with updates on major upcoming 250th events. Chair Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting, then Dusty Rhodes gave a detailed overview of Sail Boston and the Tall Ships festivities, including ship arrivals on July 9-10, the opening ceremony on July 10, the parade of sail on July 11, public boarding, harbor fireworks, and the Sail Boston festival. He noted the event will involve 20 countries, about 60 ships, multiple anchorages, and significant coordination with pilots, tugboats, and public safety agencies, with a budget of more than $5 million. Director Kate Fox and Sheila Green reported on Massachusetts 250 campaign efforts, including website and social media performance, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, multicultural outreach, and July 4th programming tied to the Boston Pops Spectacular. They highlighted a series of MA 250 promotional videos, the I-Civics “We Declare” student reading project, the America 250 time capsule submission, the national reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, the Great American Block Party in Boston, and the flag sojourn that will bring a ceremonial flag to several Massachusetts sites before it is sent to Washington, D.C. They also mentioned upcoming MA 250 signage at MassDOT service plazas and a new schools-and-farms partnership announced by state secretaries. Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill-related events, the Gloucester battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the Declaration of Independence project. He said Revolution 250 secured funding to reprint the Ezekiel Russell Declaration of Independence for distribution to all Massachusetts cities and towns, using an 18th-century press and handmade paper. The commission then discussed creating a Massachusetts-specific time capsule, with members offering to help identify objects and suggesting it include both historic and contemporary items. The meeting ended with general thanks, an invitation to an upcoming Mass Humanities screening, and a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is do pass to Senate Natural Resources and Water. Please call the absent members.
• Motion is do pass as to Natural Resources and Water. Please call the absent members.
• Motion is do pass to Natural Resources and Water. Please call the absent members.
• The motion is do pass and send to Natural Resources and Water. Please call the absent member.
• And send to Natural Resources and Water. Please call the absent member. Senator Blake Spear. Aye.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you'll see over in the Oklahoma Water Sources Board a $35 million for a revolving loan fund to be
• You talk about over $0 million dollars going to a water infrastructure need here in the state of Oklahoma
• that exceeds $34 billion today, coming from the Oklahoma Water Resource Board.
• This is a budget that we've worked Extremely hard on 82% of the new spending in this budget is water,
• education, and healthcare. 82% of the new spending in this budget is water, education, and Health care

Bills: SB1177

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are exhorted to fast and pray unto Almighty God for abundant moisture to replenish our state's vital water
• supplies, that our mountains may be crowned with snow and our rivers flow with life-giving waters.
• We all know the importance of water in this state and across the country, and we know what role our agricultural
• Representatives, House Bill 676 by the Resources and Conservation Committee, an act relating to geothermal water
• , to revise provisions regarding applications to appropriate water and change of point of use.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill does is say that law enforcement, in order to stop you while you are operating your boat on the water
• have reasonable suspicion when they're checking for things, because for a boat to be legal on the water
• .. ...reasonable suspicion when they're checking for things, because for a boat to be legal on the water
• They don't need to stop you on the water unless they see you pounding beers driving your boat.
• Arguably, now they are not inspecting every boat that's on the water.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee heard and introduced several RSs and one bill, with most of the discussion focused on election administration, agency structure, business privacy, and parental notification around gender-related issues. RS 332-31 would require in-person canvassers to be qualified electors and wear name badges, with exceptions for volunteers, campaign workers, and phone banking. RS 333-75 would lower the threshold for ballot name rotation from political entities with more than 100,000 voters to those with more than 25,000 voters. RS 334-29 would merge the Office of Species Conservation and the energy and minerals coordinating agency, and members asked for more information later about preserving each agency’s mission. RS 334-38 would allow LLC filers to use an Idaho commercial registered agent address instead of a home address, while still requiring the residential address and consent from the registered agent. All four RSs were moved to introduction and approved by voice vote. The committee then considered RS 3349, a revised version of a bill restricting what the sponsor described as social transitioning of minors without parental knowledge. The sponsor said the changes narrowed the civil cause of action and shifted any recovered funds to the state general fund, but members raised concerns about the breadth of terms like “appearance,” “dress,” and “social transition,” possible conflicts with confidentiality duties for educators and health providers, and the risk of litigation. Despite those concerns, the motion to introduce the RS passed, with Representatives Church and Haas recorded as voting no. House Bill 548, a Fourth Amendment bill, was then debated and sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The bill would require reasonable suspicion before law enforcement can stop and board a boat on the water, while still allowing safety and related inspections at boat launches. Supporters said it protects constitutional rights without preventing inspections, and the motion passed by voice vote. Finally, RS 33-408 was returned to sponsor at the sponsor’s request, and the committee ended by thanking its page and adjourning for the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those diversions could impact the account's ability to fund water, sewer and wastewater, and solid
• And those diversions could impact the account's ability to fund water, sewer and wastewater, and solid
• And then now Kevin Waters was able to successfully why it was initially set up through Public Works Board
• And then now Kevin Waters was able to successfully And then now Kevin Waters was able to successfully

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stonier, Street, Steeby, Taylor, Ty, Tharinger, Thomas, Timmons, Valdez, Volz, Wellman, Walsh, Walsh, Waters
• May they get enough sleep and drink enough water.
• pack-heavied step over sandhoppers and weed-slicked rocks, through driftwood scatters and the chill of tide waters
• the otter's tail as she rises and dives into clear shallows, a pliable needle threading us and them, water
• found themselves in life-threatening situations, in the dark of night, at a home suddenly filling with water

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The joint session of the Washington Legislature convened to receive Governor Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address, with the House and Senate roll called and a quorum confirmed. The chamber recognized Supreme Court justices, statewide elected officials, tribal leaders, consular corps members, and other guests before the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem by the Wapato High School Choir, a prayer by Reverend Indiana Driver Gimmer, and a poem by State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield. The governor opened by thanking those present and highlighting recent flooding as a major test of the state’s resilience, praising first responders, National Guard members, WSDOT crews, and local leaders for their response and recovery efforts. In his address, Ferguson said Washington’s economy remains strong but argued the state must make major investments in transportation, ferries, housing, and affordability. He proposed more than a billion dollars for bridge repairs, $164 million for road paving this summer, another billion dollars for three new ferries, and a $244 million housing investment. He also called for a millionaire’s tax to fund expanded Working Families Tax Credit benefits, tax relief for small businesses, more K-12 funding, and affordability measures such as utility bill credits and expanded energy assistance. He criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics and changes at the CDC, urged action on a bill limiting masked law enforcement, and said Washington should rely on science-based public health guidance through state-led efforts. The governor also highlighted several bills and proposals he said he would support, including expanded early learning for military families, modular housing standards, reckless driving changes, improved crash data access, wildfire air support for local fire departments, fee refunds when agencies miss processing deadlines, and a campaign to improve FAFSA completion rates. He said his administration has already reduced processing times for several licenses and wants government to be more responsive. After the address, the joint session was dissolved by motion and vote, and the House then adjourned until January 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stonier, Street, Stearns, Taylor, Thai, Tharinger, Thomas, Timmons, Valdez, Volz, Walen, Walsh, Walsh, Waters
• May they get enough sleep and drink enough water.
• pack-heavied step over sandhoppers and weed-slicked rocks, through driftwood scatters and the chill of tide waters
• the otter's tail as she rises and dives into clear shallows, a pliable needle threading us and them, water
• found themselves in life-threatening situations, in the dark of night, at a home suddenly filling with water

Summary: The joint session of the Washington Legislature convened to receive Governor Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address, with the House and Senate, Supreme Court justices, statewide elected officials, tribal leaders, consular representatives, and other guests formally introduced. The meeting also included the Pledge of Allegiance, a performance by the Wapato High School Choir, a prayer by Reverend Indiana Driver Gimmer, and a poem by State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield. In his address, Governor Ferguson said the state remains strong economically but faces major challenges from recent historic flooding, aging transportation infrastructure, ferry reliability problems, the housing shortage, and affordability concerns. He proposed major budget priorities including more than a billion dollars for bridge and road maintenance without raising taxes, another billion dollars for ferries, and a record housing investment. He also called for a millionaire’s tax to fund expanded Working Families Tax Credit benefits, tax relief for small businesses, and more support for K-12 education, along with utility assistance and early learning expansion funded in part by a large private gift. The governor also criticized federal immigration enforcement practices and changes at the CDC, urged action on a bill to prohibit masked law enforcement and require identifying information, and backed shifting vaccine recommendations to the state health department. He highlighted several bipartisan proposals he said he would sign, including expanded early learning for military families, modular housing standards, reckless driving changes, crash review access to medical information, wildfire air resources for local fire departments, and fee refunds for missed agency deadlines. After the governor’s remarks, the joint session was dissolved by motion and the House adjourned until the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3486 defines a Texas farm-raised oyster as a It's an oyster cultivated in Texas waters in
• We'll call up Bradley Lomax, owner of the Water Street Oyster Bar, Huntsberger, and Madison Gessner.
• And operate the Water Street Oyster Bar since 1983, and I'm also a permitted oyster farmer.
• Good morning again, Brad Lomax, owner of the Water Street Oyster Bar in Corpus Christi, Texas.
• always come through for us, even if it's at the last minute when we've planned a food distribution or water

Bills: HB104 , HB2434 , HB2529 , HB2688 , HB3161 , HB3486 , HB3487 , HB3745 , HB4044 , HB4226 , HB4945 , HB104

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: Texas Future Fund, investment review board, economic stabilization, innovative technology, national defense, retirement, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3486 defines a Texas farm-raised oyster as an oyster cultivated in Texas waters in full compliance
• Uh, call up Bradley Lomax, owner of the Water Street Oyster Bar, Carol Huntzberger.
• Um, I'm gonna tell you my name is Brad Lomax and, and I do own and operate the Water Street Oyster Bar
• Good morning again, Brad Lomax, owner of Texas, I, I mean, owner of Texas, owner of the Water Street
• always come through for us, even if it's at the last minute where we've planned a food distribution or water

Bills: HB104

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• requested an environmental health and safety officer staff position due to some challenges with the border water
• due to some challenges with<00:08:08.720><c> the</c><00:08:08.879><c> border</c><00:08:09.280><c> water
• </c> with the border water contract for that. with the border water contract for that.
• It's another water bill that's in the budget, not this one.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> residents who are living on water residents who are living on water catchments<00:17:27.439><c>
• </c> and in their water catchment systems. and in their water catchment systems.
• </c> another in ensuring that their water another in ensuring that their water catchment<00:18:00.559
• , understanding where are they water, understanding where are they going<00:25:44.960><c> to</c><00:25
• ,</c> to support with reliable energy, water, to support with reliable energy, water, gardens,<00:39:

Bills: HB2437 , HB1815 , HB1614 , HB1613 , HB1612 , HB2411 , HB2597 , HB2583 , HB2474 , HB1863 , HB2590 , HB1813 , HB1838 , HB2138 , HB1967 , HB1576 , HB2139 , HB1605 , HB2113 , HB812 , HB1831 , HB1707 , HB2561 , HB1805 , HB2469 , HB2472 , HB2387 , HB1658 , HB1661 , HB1664 , HB1859 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2116 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2340 , HB2158 , HB2339 , HB2489 , HB2159 , HB2171 , HB2338 , HB2005 , HB1952 , HB1872 , HB1676 , HB2384 , HB2614 , HB20 , HB1776 , HB1565 , HB2310 , HB1975 , HB1801 , HB1668 , HB2114 , HB1972 , HB1546 , HB1518 , HB1131 , HB2208 , HB2156 , HB2268 , HB2622 , HB2581 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB1577 , HB2033 , HB2031 , HB2023 , HB1969 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB2315 , HB2343 , HB2501 , HB2505 , HB816 , HB1562 , HB1591 , HB1853 , HB1854 , HB1871 , HB1965 , HB1966 , HB1537 , HB1541 , HB276 , HB2606 , HB2270 , HB1920 , HB1756 , HB1727 , HB1718 , HB1715 , HB1713 , HB1711

Keywords: arts education, student engagement, cultural literacy, public schools, funding, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, SFCA, Performing Arts Grants Program, arts grants, culture and the arts, history and the humanities, King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, Works of Art Special Fund, one percent for art, public art, art in public places, relocatable works of art, DBEDT, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, DAGS

Transcript Highlights:

• building roof project due to additional structural deterioration and exterior damage to areas causing water
• damage to deterioration and exterior damage to areas<00:03:54.519><c> causing</c><00:03:54.920><c> water
• /c><00:03:55.239><c> intrusion</c><00:03:56.000><c> that</c><00:03:56.159><c> we</c> areas causing water
• </c><00:49:18.880><c> carrier</c><00:49:19.359><c> right</c> Heek who's the other water carrier right
• If the building has bad water pipes, that doesn't necessarily affect the hurricane coverage.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.