Transcript Highlights:

• fact, we don't have anything in our statutes<02:02:07.080><c> that</c><02:02:07.320><c> say</c><02:02
• <02:02:09.800><c> to</c><02:02:09.960><c> or</c><02:02:10.080><c> the</c><02:02:10.200><c> facts</c><
• So<02:02:12.720><c> even</c><02:02:12.960><c> in</c><02:02:13.080><c> that</c><02:02:13.360><c> case,
• There's<02:02:30.920><c> opportunity</c><02:02:31.840><c> for</c><02:02:32.040><c> a</c><02:02:32.080
• ><c> yes,</c><02:02:37.280><c> there</c><02:02:37.400><c> was</c><02:02:37.600><c> a</c><02:02:37.680

Transcript Highlights:

• So,<01:02:24.240><c> while</c><01:02:24.480><c> we've</c><01:02:24.720><c> got</c><01:02:24.799><c> you
• </c><01:02:24.960><c> all</c><01:02:25.200><c> here,</c><01:02:25.680><c> I</c><01:02:25.920><c> know
• is recruiting<01:02:29.040><c> going</c><01:02:29.280><c> for</c><01:02:29.440><c> our</c><01:02:29.680
• ><c> psyche</c><01:02:40.559><c> of</c><01:02:41.119><c> the</c><01:02:41.680><c> teams</c><01:02:42.319
• :02:46.400><c> indicator,</c><01:02:46.880><c> I</c><01:02:47.119><c> would</c><01:02:47.200><c> say<

Summary: The committee first established a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members then received a staff report on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including an annual LOIC evaluation of the panel’s operations, statutory compliance, case management system development, member experience, and written procedures. The report noted recent House Bill 778 expanded the panel’s access to records and to TWIST/I-TWIST, and recommended that staff request access and training promptly to avoid implementation problems. Analysts reported the panel has met statutory membership and meeting requirements, and that agency responses to the panel’s 2025 recommendations improved, with all responses meeting statutory content requirements though some were late. They also said the panel still lacks formal written procedures, so a prior recommendation was reissued. The report discussed the panel’s new case management system, now in testing with the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and a survey of panel members showing generally positive views of meetings and case discussions but recurring concerns about SharePoint access, time demands, virtual meetings, and the panel’s lack of enforcement authority. The report included a matter for legislative consideration suggesting the General Assembly may wish to seek additional testimony from agencies when responses are unclear or more information is needed. Panel staff responded that the work is difficult but important, said they are optimistic about gaining TWIST access, and acknowledged that written procedures have not yet been completed because they wanted to align them with the new system. They said both the system and procedures are hoped to be finished by the end of the year, with the new case management system expected to be implemented by September 1 after further testing and migration. Members also discussed trends in child fatality and near-fatality cases, including increases in reported cases since 2013, substance abuse, safe storage of firearms, and concerns about THC/CBD gummies reaching children. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:28.319><c> file</c><01:02:28.640><c> took</c><01:02:28.799><c> a</c><01:02:28.960><c> long</c> that
• <01:02:30.720><c> each</c><01:02:30.960><c> one</c><01:02:31.119><c> of</c><01:02:31.279><c> those</c
• ><c> would</c><01:02:33.160><c> have</c><01:02:33.279><c> to</c><01:02:33.440><c> be</c><01:02:34.400
• :35.799><c> and</c><01:02:36.000><c> the</c><01:02:36.200><c> information</c><01:02:36.839><c> put</c
• :02:57.839><c> it</c><01:02:57.960><c> from</c><01:02:58.160><c> word</c><01:02:58.520><c> it</c> um

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The committee opened its first hearing of 2025 and announced that all measures heard that day would be deferred to the next committee hearing for decision-making on Thursday, January 30. The agenda centered largely on procurement and government-operations bills, with testimony generally split between state agencies and local governments. On procurement measures, SB 254 and SB 383 would raise small-purchase thresholds; the State Procurement Office opposed both, while county officials, the City and County of Honolulu, the state librarian, and others supported them. SB 382, which would bar disclosure of a competing offeror’s proposal or evaluation score, and SB 462, which would require performance incentive contracts to specify pricing bases, goals, and formulas, drew mostly written comments and some support from agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Department of Education. SB 615, which would treat certain large change orders as new contracts, received opposition from the Comptroller and engineering interests. The committee also heard several bills on vacancies, appointments, and legislative oversight. SB 5 on state legislative vacancies had one supporting testifier, while SB 300 on deadlines for filling certain Senate vacancies drew opposition from several individuals and support from one late testifier. SB 1081, which would create a legislative budget office to provide fiscal analysis and reports on bills, received broad support from advocacy groups, civic organizations, and individuals. SB 711, requiring Senate advice and consent for certain executive-branch appointments, drew written opposition from the Governor’s Office and support from one individual. SB 375, establishing a select commission on government restructuring, had one written supporter. SB 418, which would require the Attorney General’s office to review a portion of administrative rules each year, prompted extended discussion about outdated rules, the difficulty of repealing or amending rules, and whether the bill should be refined; the AG’s office indicated the process is burdensome and could be streamlined. The committee then took up transparency and access measures. SB 55, requiring agency rules to be posted online in a digitally accessible format, received support from several advocacy and civic groups and written comment from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. SB 870 would direct the comptroller to identify state office buildings that could provide equitable telecom access for remote participation in hearings, especially for residents with disabilities; the Comptroller supported the concept, and members discussed using libraries, DAGS facilities, county facilities, and other public buildings, with concerns raised about staffing, bandwidth, and competing public use. SB 270, a sunshine-law measure allowing board members to attend informational meetings and presentations, drew opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued it would create a broad loophole and should be narrowed to existing county-council provisions. SB 45, concerning neighborhood board meetings and third-party presentations, prompted discussion about whether it actually addressed neighborhood boards’ Sunshine Law concerns; the committee was told it was not the right vehicle for that issue. SB 406, which would cap copying fees for government records at 5 cents per page with exceptions, drew support from media and transparency groups but opposition from DAGS, which said its actual per-page cost is much higher; members discussed possible electronic-copy alternatives and asked for more cost information before the next hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:49.440><c> you</c><01:02:49.599><c> can</c><01:02:49.839><c> use</c><01:02:50.000><c> it.
• </c><01:02:50.880><c> Uh</c><01:02:51.200><c> how</c><01:02:51.440><c> do</c><01:02:51.599><c> you</c
• <01:02:52.640><c> Do</c><01:02:52.720><c> you</c><01:02:52.960><c> only</c><01:02:53.200><c> do</c><01
• <01:02:55.440><c> Well,</c><01:02:55.760><c> the</c><01:02:56.000><c> university</c><01:02:56.640><c>
• Well, the university system I haven't<01:02:58.079><c> gone</c><01:02:58.319><c> to</c><01:02:58.559>

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• .<02:02:03.119><c> I</c><02:02:04.080><c> recommend</c><02:02:04.560><c> that</c><02:02:04.880><c> we
• </c><02:02:06.880><c> and</c><02:02:07.040><c> just</c><02:02:07.199><c> defect</c><02:02:07.520><c>
• </c><02:02:17.440><c> Um,</c><02:02:18.719><c> OPSD</c><02:02:19.679><c> did</c><02:02:19.920><c> have
• </c> Uh<02:02:45.360><c> yes,</c><02:02:45.760><c> it</c><02:02:45.920><c> will</c><02:02:46.080><c>
• &gt;&gt; Um<02:02:48.320><c> there</c><02:02:48.480><c> is</c><02:02:48.639><c> separately</c><02:02:

Bills: SB2190 , SB2338 , SB2424 , SB2356 , SB2981 , SB3028 , SB3187 , SB2378 , SB2398 , SB2192 , SB2155 , SB3219 , SB3218

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on a series of housing-related Senate bills. SB 2190 SD2 on inclusionary zoning drew support from HHFDC, Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and Hako Seed Center, with opposition from OHA and Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. SB 2338 SD1, dealing with housing agency personnel authority, received comments from the Attorney General cautioning that the bill should be clarified to avoid conflicts with civil service and collective bargaining laws and recommending removal of a provision limiting employment contracts; HHFDC said its comments addressed those concerns and supported the measure. SB 2424 SD1, concerning HHFDC, received broad support from housing, business, and community groups, with one opposition. Testimony focused on changing the definition of “qualified resident” so people who already own an HHFDC-assisted unit could later purchase another if their housing needs change; HHFDC said the current rule forces people to sell before buying again and that the bill would help people move up the housing ladder and encourage more housing development. SB 2356 on parking also drew broad support from state agencies, housing advocates, business groups, and local officials, with Unite Here Local 5 in opposition. SB 2981 on land use had strong support from many organizations and 67 individuals, with Unite Here Local 5 opposing. SB 3028 SD2 on property conveyance generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Indivisible Hawaii, and others, backed restructuring the conveyance tax into a marginal rate system and urged changes to revenue allocations, including dedicated funding for homeless services, DHHL, and the rental housing revolving fund. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii supported the marginal-rate concept but opposed dedicated special-fund allocations and criticized the bill’s blank sections. Committee members questioned the historical purpose of the conveyance tax, and the Tax Foundation explained it was originally a modest tax tied to property-value tracking when the state still ran the property tax system. The committee also heard SB 3187 SD2 on off-site construction, SB 2378 SD2 on housing permitting, and SB 2398 SD2 on residential housing utilities. OPSD supported SB 3187 but said it preferred the House version and wanted clarification that off-site certification should apply to factories in Hawaii, not out of state, to avoid outsourcing labor; it also suggested starting with a small scope. SB 2378 SD2 drew support from engineering, housing, and labor groups, with testimony that the House version included needed fixes to make the program insurable. On SB 2398 SD2, the Board of Water Supply opposed the bill, saying it could require disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information beyond ordinary water-availability assessments and raise critical-infrastructure and cybersecurity concerns; developers and housing groups supported the measure. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This state<00:02:00.320><c> law</c><00:02:00.640><c> that</c><00:02:00.960><c> we</c><00:02:01.200><c
• > we're</c><00:02:01.439><c> looking</c><00:02:01.680><c> at</c><00:02:01.920><c> now</c> state law that
• :02:03.040><c> mirrors</c><00:02:03.439><c> that</c><00:02:03.759><c> federal</c><00:02:04.159><c> law
• c> um</c><00:02:06.079><c> strengthens</c><00:02:06.719><c> that</c><00:02:06.960><c> for</c><00:02:07.360
• </c><00:04:14.720><c> because</c> put it into our state statutes because put it into our state statutes

Bills: SF0058 , SF0061 , SF0095 , SF0107

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:47.359><c> such</c><01:02:47.599><c> lists</c><01:02:48.079><c> however</c><01:02:48.640><c> these
• ><c> often</c><01:02:49.480><c> been</c><01:02:49.720><c> provided</c><01:02:50.200><c> to</c><01:02:
• :51.319><c> in</c><01:02:51.520><c> a</c><01:02:51.799><c> PDF</c><01:02:52.400><c> format</c><01:02:
• c><01:02:54.480><c> said</c><01:02:55.240><c> to</c><01:02:55.680><c> while</c><01:02:55.839><c> while
• 02:38.120><c> uh</c><04:02:38.239><c> we</c><04:02:38.399><c> will</c><04:02:38.600><c> if</c><04:02:

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• If you went below<02:00:23.040><c> 12,</c><02:00:23.440><c> there</c><02:00:23.599><c> was</c><02:00:
• If you went below<02:00:28.159><c> um</c><02:00:28.560><c> 4%,</c><02:00:29.520><c> it</c><02:00:29.760
• And that is that<02:00:33.040><c> is</c><02:00:33.280><c> something</c><02:00:33.440><c> that</c><02:
• :01:35.760><c> that</c><02:01:35.840><c> I</c><02:01:36.000><c> can</c><02:01:36.159><c> review</c><02
• :02:07.520><c> today</c><02:02:07.760><c> being</c><02:02:08.080><c> complete</c><02:02:08.480><c> we

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• c><02:02:00.480><c> you</c><02:02:00.639><c> understand</c><02:02:00.880><c> where</c><02:02:01.119><
• from the AG's office saying, "Well,<02:29:20.880><c> by</c><02:29:21.040><c> statute,</c><02:29:21.280
• c> into</c> "Well, by statute, it's got to go into "Well, by statute, it's got to go into the<02:29:22.080
• uh required<02:57:01.439><c> in</c><02:57:01.680><c> state</c><02:57:02.000><c> statute</c><02:57:02.399
• statute to take a look required in state statute to take a look at at at um<02:57:05.040><c> these</

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• :12.880><c> Um,</c><01:02:13.760><c> and</c><01:02:14.000><c> we</c><01:02:14.240><c> keep</c><01:02:
• 02:20.720><c> where</c><01:02:21.040><c> they</c><01:02:21.280><c> supposed</c><01:02:21.599><c> to</
• ><c> But</c><01:02:22.960><c> I</c><01:02:23.119><c> did</c><01:02:23.280><c> want</c><01:02:23.359><
• c> to</c><01:02:23.520><c> make</c><01:02:23.599><c> a</c><01:02:23.839><c> couple</c><01:02:23.920><
• ><01:02:37.040><c> a</c><01:02:37.200><c> lot</c><01:02:37.280><c> of</c><01:02:37.440><c> meetings.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Summary: The Environmental Policy Subcommittee took up HB 1621, which would require a baseline environmental impact study before development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities. Members said the concept had merit, but they could not resolve major drafting and implementation issues, including how to define covered facilities, what the study would require, and how enforcement would work at the municipal or county level. Several members expressed concern about unintended consequences and said the proposal was not ready; the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL), and the full committee later adopted that recommendation on a 16-0 roll call vote, placing the bill on consent. The committee then discussed HB 1053, involving electronically submitted pesticide use reports. Representative Comtois presented an amendment creating a department database and protecting confidential information, but said she still needed to check whether it was germane and to review administrative issues with the Department of Agriculture. After hearing from David Russo of the Division of Pesticide Control, the committee agreed to continue work on the amendment and took no action that day. The committee also reviewed HB 1186 on egg labeling and producer exemptions. Representative Comtois offered an amendment exempting small producers from most requirements except labeling, but Commissioner Sean Jasper asked for more time to review the impact and suggested the state might not need the existing egg law at all if federal USDA rules already cover the field. Members agreed to hold action until the following week. Finally, the committee began discussion of HB 1780 on penalties for violations involving seeds, plants, and nursery stock, focusing on labeling rules and germination-date requirements; testimony from industry and department representatives indicated they were working toward a compromise that would allow multiple relabelings, add production dates, and set a 36-month sale limit, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There<00:02:04.640><c> are</c><00:02:04.720><c> no</c><00:02:05.360><c> no</c><00:02:05.520><c> signs
• At<00:02:09.399><c> this</c><00:02:09.600><c> time,</c><00:02:09.920><c> I'd</c><00:02:10.000><c> like
• ><c> as</c><00:02:21.000><c> excited</c><00:02:21.400><c> to</c><00:02:21.480><c> be</c><00:02:21.600
• 21.840><c> you</c><00:02:21.959><c> guys</c><00:02:22.240><c> are,</c><00:02:22.440><c> so</c><00:02:
• </c><00:02:23.840><c> Look</c><00:02:24.040><c> forward</c><00:02:24.280><c> to</c><00:02:24.400><c>

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:21.559><c> a</c><01:02:21.799><c> sense</c><01:02:22.319><c> of</c><01:02:22.680><c> where</c> time
• </c><01:02:27.920><c> um</c><01:02:28.559><c> at</c><01:02:29.000><c> at</c><01:02:29.279><c> any</c>
• point so<01:02:31.240><c> we</c><01:02:31.599><c> have</c><01:02:32.319><c> um</c><01:02:32.599><c>
• the</c><01:02:32.799><c> programs</c><01:02:33.319><c> that</c><01:02:33.440><c> are</c><01:02:33.599
• :02:33.399><c> look</c><03:02:34.080><c> um</c><03:02:34.479><c> we</c><03:02:34.760><c> are</c><03:02

Summary: The House Finance Committee’s Division 3 held a public work session on the Behavioral Health budget on February 27, 2025. The chair opened by explaining the schedule, materials, and deadlines for the budget process, and noted there would be no motions or votes in the division that day. Division of Behavioral Health Director Ktia Fox and DHHS CFO Nathan White then walked the committee through the division’s mission, structure, and budget materials, describing the division’s four bureaus: Mental Health Services, Children’s Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homeless Services, along with the policy unit. They emphasized the division’s role in oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, contracting, and the continuum of care from prevention and early intervention through crisis and residential services. Much of the discussion focused on major programs and funding lines, including the 988 Lifeline contract with Headrest, a technical assistance contract with UNH, Medicaid pass-through payments to New Hampshire Hospital and Glencliff, crisis response services, cold-weather homeless responses, housing supports, and the children’s system of care. Members asked about the UNH contract, the 988 program, crisis stabilization centers, and the peer certification program; Fox explained that the peer certification is a training-and-credentialing pathway for people with lived experience to enter community-based behavioral health work, not a volunteer program. The committee also discussed the “Choose Love” program, which Fox said was created after the Sandy Hook tragedy to build resilience and strength-based emotional regulation in schools and communities. On the children’s side, Fox described the system of care account as the place where many contracted services are budgeted, including community mental health centers, care management entities, rapid response services, and residential programs. Members asked about temporary staffing, and Fox said roughly $500,000 in temporary staff costs shown in the current year would not be spent next year because the money came from a nonlapsing appropriation in HB 1573 for oversight of children’s residential services. She also said provider rate increases were a prioritized need but were not funded in the governor’s current budget, and that the Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was not funded, resulting in about a $1 million reduction. The session ended while the division was still moving through the children’s behavioral health slides, including questions about the Fast Forward high-fidelity wraparound program and medication management.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:23:19.040><c> I</c><02:23:19.200><c> know</c><02:23:19.359><c> it's</c><02:23:19.520><c> a</c><02
• 02:28:09.760><c> be</c><02:28:09.840><c> a</c><02:28:10.000><c> lot</c><02:28:10.080><c> of</c><02:28
• health statute<02:28:18.800><c> and</c><02:28:19.040><c> that</c><02:28:19.200><c> means</c><02:28:19.439
• ><c> it'll</c><02:28:19.840><c> apply</c><02:28:20.160><c> to</c> statute and that means it'll apply
• to statute and that means it'll apply to all<02:28:20.640><c> mental</c><02:28:21.040><c> health</c><

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• that by<01:02:35.839><c> doing</c><01:02:36.079><c> this</c><01:02:37.040><c> um</c><01:02:37.200><c
• 02:38.799><c> a</c><01:02:38.960><c> safety</c><01:02:39.280><c> inspection</c><01:02:39.680><c> was<
• 01:02:42.799><c> um</c><01:02:42.880><c> to</c><01:02:43.200><c> create</c><01:02:43.440><c> a</c><01
• :02:43.760><c> standard</c><01:02:44.079><c> for</c><01:02:44.240><c> when</c> statute um to create a
• standard for when statute um to create a standard for when a<01:02:44.640><c> vehicle</c><01:02:44.880

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• the purpose<02:02:10.880><c> then</c><02:02:12.080><c> would</c><02:02:12.400><c> be</c><02:02:12.639
• putting<02:02:18.320><c> together</c><02:02:18.719><c> the</c><02:02:18.960><c> next</c><02:02:19.360
• :02:32.880><c> and</c><02:02:33.440><c> the</c><02:02:34.000><c> um</c><02:02:35.040><c> one</c><02:02
• ><c> I</c><02:02:42.480><c> do</c><02:02:42.560><c> have</c><02:02:42.719><c> to</c><02:02:42.800><c>
• the</c><02:02:52.800><c> state</c><02:02:53.040><c> agency</c><02:02:53.520><c> or</c><02:02:53.679>

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• :39.120><c> so</c><00:02:39.400><c> just</c><00:02:39.640><c> really</c><00:02:40.040><c> quickly</c>
• into</c><00:02:42.120><c> a</c><00:02:42.360><c> summary</c><00:02:43.000><c> a</c><00:02:43.200><c>
• <c> of</c><00:02:45.000><c> our</c><00:02:45.239><c> budget</c><00:02:45.640><c> requests</c><00:02:46.640
• requests um and as<00:02:47.840><c> noted</c><00:02:48.159><c> in</c><00:02:48.319><c> our</c><00:02:
• 02:53.640><c> of</c><00:02:53.879><c> special</c><00:02:54.519><c> funds</c><00:02:55.519><c> so</c><

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:01.839><c> So</c><01:02:02.000><c> it's</c><01:02:02.160><c> a</c><01:02:02.319><c> nice</
• </c><01:02:06.720><c> I</c><01:02:06.880><c> just</c><01:02:06.960><c> have</c><01:02:07.119><c> a</c
• And stripping all<01:02:27.839><c> that</c><01:02:28.079><c> away,</c><01:02:28.880><c> we</c><01:02:
• c><01:02:30.559><c> just</c><01:02:30.720><c> do</c><01:02:30.880><c> it</c><01:02:30.960><c> with</c
• 02:21:50.479><c> be</c><02:21:50.640><c> used</c><02:21:50.800><c> as</c><02:21:50.960><c> a</c><02:21

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• :30.160><c> as</c><01:02:30.319><c> amended</c><01:02:30.880><c> as</c><01:02:31.119><c> any</c><01:02
• 02:37.599><c> a</c><01:02:37.760><c> term</c><01:02:37.920><c> of</c><01:02:38.079><c> 99</c> the lease
• <02:00:15.119><c> Okay,</c><02:00:15.520><c> Stacy</c><02:00:15.920><c> Alipai,</c><02:00:16.639><c>
• ><c> feet</c><02:02:01.040><c> in</c><02:02:01.360><c> floor</c><02:02:01.760><c> area</c><02:02:02.480
• area and not part<02:02:03.280><c> of</c><02:02:03.440><c> a</c><02:02:03.679><c> larger</c><02:02:04.520

Summary: The committees heard several housing-related bills and resolutions. HB 1298 HD3 would create a government employee housing revolving fund and a government employee 99-year leasehold rent-to-own program; testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC, labor groups, and the Maui Chamber, with the Tax Foundation and Budget and Finance raising concerns about the revolving fund. The committees recommended passage with non-substantive amendments for clarity and consistency, and the motion was adopted. HB 741 H2, which would exempt certain affordable housing projects financed by a certified nonprofit CDFI from prevailing wage requirements, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from several construction unions; the chairs said they were concerned about the labor objections and deferred the measure, with the labor committee agreeing to defer it as well. The housing committee then took up HB 417 HD1, which creates a housing efficiency and innovation subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund and allows HHFDC to transfer funds between the subaccount and the main fund without legislative approval. Testimony was largely supportive. The chair described a series of amendments, including changing the funding-efficiency standard, adding perpetual affordability language, allowing any land tenure type, broadening eligible financing tools, adding priority criteria for mixed-income projects and government-employee projects, and inserting blank appropriations tied to a requested $75 million per year and a $75 million subaccount appropriation for the HCDA 99-year leasehold project. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. HB 422 HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and move remaining balances to the school facilities special fund, drew broad support from housing and taxpayer groups and opposition from the Department of Education and some individuals. The School Facilities Authority and DOE argued the current system had not produced enough usable land or school sites and suggested narrowing the exemption to government housing projects’ construction costs instead of repealing the fee entirely. Members pressed DOE and SFA on how much land had actually been obtained and whether the fee had been effective; the discussion highlighted concerns about unused balances, school overcrowding, and the role of the Land Use Commission and county zoning in securing school sites. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion shown. The committee also heard STR 60/SR 45, urging HHFDC to develop a plan to meet housing demand, and STR 77/SR 60, addressing continued eligibility for housing credits for certain projects after repeal of Act 31; both sets of resolutions had HHFDC support, with DHHL supporting STR 77/SR 60 and Johnny May Perry opposing both.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.080><c> to</c><02:02:00.320><c> a</c><02:02:00.880><c> a</c><02:02:01.119><c> bill</c><02:02:01.360
• a bill on a similar<02:02:02.000><c> subject</c><02:02:02.800><c> uh</c><02:02:03.440><c> House</c><02
• House Bill 114 what<02:02:06.320><c> seems</c><02:02:06.639><c> like</c><02:02:06.880><c> months</c>
• <02:02:07.199><c> ago.
• </c><02:02:08.080><c> Uh</c><02:02:08.320><c> but</c><02:02:08.800><c> it's</c> Code without holding

Transcript Highlights:

• follow<01:02:03.880><c> thank</c><01:02:04.000><c> you</c><01:02:04.160><c> very</c><01:02:04.359><c
• </c><01:02:27.000><c> members</c><01:02:27.279><c> are</c><01:02:27.440><c> there</c><01:02:27.599><c
• <c> seeing</c><01:02:29.920><c> none</c><01:02:30.119><c> we're</c><01:02:30.240><c> going</c><01:02:
• <01:02:33.359><c> measure</c><01:02:34.359><c> which</c><01:02:34.559><c> is</c><01:02:34.839><c> HB<
• :02:37.720><c> Office</c><01:02:37.960><c> on</c><01:02:38.520><c> Aging</c><01:02:39.520><c> it</c>

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness met on February 6, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 44, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to work with community-based organizations on social services needs, drew broad support from nonprofit providers and coalitions that said contracts and reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the actual cost of services, leaving agencies unable to retain staff or meet demand. DHS said it supported the bill’s intent but asked for clarification because the language was broad and did not specify which organizations or how funds should be allocated. Committee members and the bill’s introducer discussed how to make the measure more specific and equitable, including whether to set a percentage increase, use a baseline date, and direct DHS to distribute funds among different program areas; the True Cost Coalition and DHS agreed to follow up in writing with proposed language and a funding number. The committee then heard HB 1349, which would authorize Medicaid/CHIP coverage for income-qualified pregnant persons and children regardless of immigration status. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, Aloha Care, and the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said the bill would improve prenatal and child health, reduce the chilling effect of immigration enforcement on care-seeking, and help prevent premature or underweight births by ensuring earlier access to providers. DHS provided comments and the committee asked where the measure would fit in the budget; the department identified the relevant budget code. Written testimony in support came from multiple advocacy and health organizations and dozens of individuals. Finally, the committee heard HB 613, which would appropriate funds to DHS for emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The Office of the Public Defender, the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, the Office of Youth Services, Rise, the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission, and others supported the bill, emphasizing youth homelessness, the need for coordinated shelter and outreach, and the high share of LGBTQ+ youth among homeless minors. OYS asked that the committee consider funding its existing Safe Spaces pilot rather than creating a new program, while DHS said it supported the intent but wanted clarification because multiple department programs could be implicated. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair instead requested follow-up language and funding information for HB 44 and continued the measures for further consideration.