Video & Transcript Research : 'harm reduction'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee May 21st, 2025
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- to improve their health care services. allow for more rapid identification of potential exposures harmful
- ecological impacts and banned up and down the coast of California for its ecological and economic harm
- While a reduction in renewal or transfer fee revenue is expected over time, it is offset by. reduced
- The reduction in sales by utilities to rooftop solar customers are not an expense for the utilities.
- Senior Fellow with Do No Harm Medicine.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a 17% reduction in nitrogen. So they're doing something.
- Where are we going to get the greatest nutrient reduction?
- As more area becomes infested or taken over by a harmful invasive species, the less likely the species
- As more area becomes infested or taken over by a harmful invasive species, the less likely the species
- Risk screenings help our staff evaluate the likelihood that a species will cause harm to Florida, and
Summary:
The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures.
Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP.
Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home.
Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Jun 22nd, 2026
Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- These harms are not experienced equally.
- The current EPR law, SB 54, does contain a component of source reduction.
- Source reduction is important too, as a big part of SB 54.
- So what would be the harm in fixing that in this bill?
- What is the environmental or public safety or public health harm in fixing it?
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- :42.080>
proposal <00:19:43.520>um reductions in the governor's proposal um reductions - net effect of those um the reduction net effect of those um the reduction associated<00:21:30.640
- <00:26:27.279>
in costs uh causes the reduction in costs uh causes the reduction in staffing - the governor are um just really harmful the governor are um just really harmful and<01:40:10.480
- Ducker: So, like when you think of harm reduction, for example, working with the Department of Human
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Working Group on Omnibus Human Services Appropriations - 05/22/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- One is a repeal of safe recovery sites, cancellation of a harm reduction grant, a reduction in the human
- <00:44:18.079>
harm <00:44:18.400>reduction Uh cancellation of a harm harm reduction - Uh cancellation of a harm harm reduction grant.<00:44:19.920>
um <00:44:20.240>a <00:44 - It's a reduction.
- It's a reduction. perfect place to be. It's a reduction.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/2/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- In recent years, the Minnesota legislature has taken important steps to reduce firearm-related harm,
- <01:09:02.799>
of exposed to the benefits or the harms of exposed to the benefits or the harms - Workforce reductions contribute ... care. Private equity investors seek high care.
- essential guardrail preventing harmful essential guardrail preventing harmful extraction.<01:19:
- , cutting, workforce reductions, cutting, workforce reductions, operational<01:19:33.840>
instability
Keywords:
gun violence, public health, Department of Health, prevention, criminal justice, health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration
Summary:
The House Finance and Policy Committee met on March 2 with a quorum present and heard House File 3668, which would create a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The bill author argued the office would treat gun violence as a public health crisis, improve research and coordination, and help reduce deaths and trauma, especially among children. Several supporters testified, including representatives from the Minnesota Medical Association, Protect Minnesota, family medicine, public health, and obstetrics/gynecology, all emphasizing firearm injury and suicide as major public health problems and urging a coordinated, data-driven response. Multiple testifiers shared personal accounts of shootings and their effects on children and families, including the Annunciation shooting, and said the office could help align prevention efforts across health care, law enforcement, and community organizations.
Opposition came from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which argued the bill would create a permanent taxpayer-funded bureaucracy that could be used to shape firearm policy and restrict a constitutional right. The group said Minnesota should focus instead on enforcing existing laws, prosecuting violent offenders, and providing direct victim services. During committee discussion, Vice Chair Nadeau offered an A2 amendment to move the proposed office from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, citing data-sharing, accountability, and examples from other cities and states; after discussion with the bill author, he withdrew the amendment. Chair Becker then noted existing state and local spending on violence prevention and public safety programs and raised concerns about duplication of effort.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe that the reduction over that period was about 40%. Okay, 40% in resin loss. Correct.
- The question is, is it harmful?
- So, exposure to those concentrations won't cause harm to human health or the environment.
- vector reduction.
- , vector reduction, and so that's part of producing biosolids.
Keywords:
hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Feb 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- By far, the largest component of that $4 billion in ongoing reductions was the $2 billion in reductions
- So moving into 2025-26, there's a $300 million reduction proposed for CSU and a $272 million reduction
- a reduction; that's what is left.
- A reduction of what is a reduction for UC and for CSU. CSU from your standpoint.
- The reduction is $375.2 million.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We have pulled back a lot of our one-time investments as well as made other reductions with the goal
- This is in relation to a 3% reduction that was proposed at the May revision.
- provisions that restrict monetary penalties by homeowners associations and protect homeowners from harm
- We're also grateful for limiting the use of greenhouse gas reduction fund dollars.
- This proposal will ultimately lower wages and harm hundreds of thousands of workers in California.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- That means what we're doing is working, and what we're doing is harm reduction, treatment, and prevention
- That means what we're doing is working, and what we're doing is harm reduction, treatment, and prevention
- What decreases the number of overdoses is a commitment to prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.
- to um prevention treatment and harm to um prevention treatment and harm reduction<01:32:37.119><
- If it's not a death, I'm all about the harm reduction.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF2431 5/8/25
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a $90,000 reduction in FY2026-27 and the same reduction in the tails.
- <00:04:32.000>
of house only change of a a reduction of house only change of a a reduction - So the reduction um in the tales.
- It's a $400,000 reduction in 26 and 27 and a $400,000 reduction in FY28-29.
- reduction of neuropathic pain, reduction reduction of neuropathic pain, reduction of<02:19:02.439
Summary:
The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward.
Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included.
The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- Property insurance coverage and trying to address the enormous gaps in insurance that have really harmed
- achieved can be more than double the risk reduction for an uncoordinated approach.
- And corporations that repeatedly cause catastrophic harm should be held accountable.
- weakened utility directly harms our customers and the state's broader goals.
- Wildfire risk harms utility finances, and a financially weakened utility directly harms our customers
Summary:
The committee held the first of several informational hearings on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study, focused on wildfire risk, utility liability, and how to finance catastrophic losses. Chair Allen opened by describing California’s recent utility-ignited wildfires, the creation of the wildfire fund under AB 1054, and SB 254’s extension of that fund and requirement for a study. The California Earthquake Authority, as wildfire fund administrator, presented the report’s process and findings, emphasizing that the study was intended to be neutral and broad, based on extensive stakeholder outreach, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, communities, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities.
CEA’s report organized recommendations into three policy pathways: continued mitigation investment, more equitable allocation of catastrophe burdens, and expanded state roles in catastrophe financing. For utilities, the report discussed options such as setting a binding risk-tolerance standard, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, creating confidential reporting with safe-harbor protections, reforming utility liability including possible changes to inverse condemnation, limiting damages, reducing insurance subrogation, and creating a fast-pay facility for survivors. The financing analysis compared a more durable wildfire fund, risk transfer/reinsurance, liability reforms, and state-backed mechanisms such as a state insurer, a state backstop, and broader funding for community wildfire mitigation.
The CPUC said wildfire mitigation oversight has improved, but wildfire-related costs are driving electricity bills higher and creating an affordability crisis. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan review and field inspections, and recommended stronger safety reporting and more safety-weighted executive compensation. In member discussion, senators and assemblymembers focused on the cost of the status quo, whether the burden should be shared by ratepayers, utilities, the state, or other parties, and whether California should consider broader disaster-financing approaches. Several members raised concerns about inverse condemnation, the pace of survivor compensation, local land-use responsibility, and the need for a more comprehensive statewide solution rather than piecemeal bills. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/25 - Part 1
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Inmate-on-staff assaults causing significant harm increased by 80% over 2023.
- Inmate-on-inmate assaults causing significant harm increased by 137%.
- Inmate-on-staff assaults causing significant harm increased by 80% over 2023.
- Inmate-on-inmate assaults causing significant harm increased by 137%.
- <01:16:24.000>
that is precisely the type of harm that is precisely the type of harm that
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Apr 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The federal funding reductions that have already occurred and the additional cuts that are planned will
- One related to the VITA program and are we expecting reductions from the federal government?
- And are we expecting reductions from the federal government in terms of this program?
- That F&A rate reduction was also halted by a district court earlier this month.
- We are taking curtailments and budget reductions.
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action.
The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed.
The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 052 Mar 7th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, I want to recognize the advocates who are here with us today for HIV and Harm Reduction Advocacy
- reduction providers from across the state.
- reduction providers from across the state.
- Coalition, as well as individual HIV and Coalition, as well as individual HIV and harm<00:43:55.359><
- <00:43:56.960>
the harm reduction providers from across the harm reduction providers from across
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the March 5, 2026 journal as corrected, and received several committee reports and Senate Services notices. Health and Human Services recommended Senate Bill 41 be postponed indefinitely and reported confirmations for James Vandenberg to the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board and multiple nominees to the Air Quality Control Commission. State, Veterans, and Military Affairs reported Senate Bills 47, 106, and 107, with SB 47 amended and sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, while SBs 106 and 107 were postponed indefinitely. Local Government and Housing reported Senate Bills 109 and 92, both amended and sent to the Committee of the Whole, with SB 92 also recommended for the consent calendar.
On the floor, Senate Joint Memorial 003 was read and then laid over until March 17, 2026. The Senate passed House Bill 1020, concerning calorimetric field drug tests in drug possession cases, and Senate Bill 95, concerning support for victim survivors of certain crimes, both on third reading and final passage by unanimous 33-0 votes. The Senate then went into Committee of the Whole on consent-calendar and general-order bills, where House Bill 1115 was advanced on second reading, and House Bill 1068, concerning remote participation policies for certain legislative committee meetings, was amended and advanced on second reading. Senate Bills 40 and 87 were laid over until March 9, 2026.
The Senate also laid over Senate Resolution 004, recognizing October 26, 2026 as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado, until March 9, 2026. The chamber confirmed appointments on the consent calendar to the Board of Commissioners of Veterans Community Living Centers, the State Personnel Board, and the Colorado Racing Commission by a 34-0 vote with one excused. During announcements and personal privilege remarks, senators recognized HIV and Harm Reduction Advocacy Day, the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado, Jack and Jill of America, and the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. The Senate later recessed until 11 a.m. that day.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation May 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So physical security, information security, fraud, benefit from the project or harm the project.
- Since 2020, the department has absorbed $29.1 million in those reductions.
- So when considering those reductions, the department has effectively received only $5.3 million since
- Second, this information about the base efficiency reductions that the department has taken over the
- We should not be complicit in these harms. We respectfully urge you to consider guardrails. Hello.
Summary:
The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled.
The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision.
Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force
Transcript Highlights:
- One is to reduce overdose and drug-related harms across Missouri.
- It ends up actually increasing overdoses and other related harms.
- First of all, because it doesn't always cause harm. What we want to do is eliminate the harms.
- What we want to do is eliminate the harms.
- We decrease the harm associated with those conditions.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 04/08/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a reduction from base one-time of 64,000.
- >
appropriations these are reductions of appropriations these are reductions of appropriations - On line 52 is a reduction to bianium.
- And so, I'm just looking for clarity that those reductions aren't necessarily overall reductions to the
- <00:52:53.119>
to conversations regarding reductions to conversations regarding reductions
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-EIG, CPN-HHS, CPN DEFER Public Hearings 02-11-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- harm reduction and support health and harm reduction and support Nichols<01:38:57.119>
you <01: - reduction Center in health and harm reduction Center in strong<01:39:03.360>
support <01:39:04.159 - Rick Ramirez, Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center, in support.
- Hawaii health and harm reduction Center Hawaii health and harm reduction Center and<01:41:07.719>
- <01:41:16.040>
reduction <01:41:16.400>Center Hawaii health and harm reduction Center
Summary:
The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted.
The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Thu Feb 5, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Reduction Center.
- Reduction Center.
- Reduction Center.
- Now, I've also have you listed here to provide testimony on behalf of Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction
- No, I will testify on both drug cost reform of Hawaii is a now a project of Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction
Summary:
The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided.
Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions.
The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.