Transcript Highlights:

• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um what is is question. question share.
• It was never really an administrative policy that was shared.
• It was never really an administrative policy that was shared.
• It was never really an administrative policy that was shared.
• </c> administrative policy that was shared. administrative policy that was shared.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So 3% of our state would be our fair share.
• So 2% would be the majority of that share, with 1% that could still be put on industrial buildings and
• And they need to pay their fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.
• And they need to pay the fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.
• That's just unfair. fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Utilities Committee resumed hearing on House Bills 2402 and 2816, which address utility-scale solar development. The chair asked witnesses to keep comments to informational purposes, and testimony focused on setbacks, taxation, land conversion caps, county authority, decommissioning, and impacts on neighboring landowners and rural communities. Several witnesses said they supported solar in limited settings such as rooftops or industrial sites, but opposed or wanted changes to the bills’ treatment of agricultural land, especially the proposed 4% cap on cropland conversion and the 500-foot setback from homes. Testimony from landowners and farm groups emphasized concerns about property rights, viewshed impacts, fire risk, drainage and floodplain issues, and the loss of agricultural tax base and local economic activity. They argued the proposed $2,500 per megawatt tax was too low and suggested higher rates, with some recommending $6,000 per megawatt or more, along with decommissioning requirements and stronger county-level protections. A Renew Missouri representative supported much of the bill but preferred a smaller setback and raised constitutional concerns about changing solar land from agricultural to commercial assessment. Other witnesses, including a county commissioner, described local regulations already in place in some counties and asked for clearer statewide standards. Industry and utility representatives said the legislation was generally workable but needed further discussion on setbacks and property tax treatment. Clean Grid Alliance and related witnesses argued that tax comparisons with other states should account for total tax burden, not just nameplate taxes, and said higher taxes would raise electricity costs for consumers. Ameren Missouri said it was acceptable with most provisions, but cautioned against overly aggressive real-property assessments and noted its current and planned solar buildout. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee adjourned after taking testimony on both bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to share with you one of the tools, and this is a little screenshot of Ashtoware Safety.
• I know it's a problem, but I thank you all for showing up and wanting to share the information.
• they can share it out into their areas.
• We have 132 miles of I-40, so we shared the last portion with District 3.
• District 1 has a lot of issues, and I think some of the other districts share that.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't share Angie Taylor for the record.
• So some schools, charter schools, or smaller schools share a school social worker.
• So some schools, charter schools, or smaller schools, share a school social worker.
• So if you would wish to have it, he is happy to share.
• So if you would wish to have it, he is happy to share.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, certainly it is different under a power-sharing agreement.
• </c><00:04:57.120><c> agreement,</c><00:04:57.840><c> has</c> Due to the power sharing agreement, has
• </c> different under a power sharing different under a power sharing agreement. agreement. agreement.
• Is it part of the power-sharing agreement to not include policy in budget bills?
• That is not part of the power-sharing agreement.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Green has that in detail if she wishes to share it as part of the discussion.
• Would you like to share a little bit about it and move the amendment?
• Today, however, I'm here to share the stories of Minnesota State students who benefited from the direct
• Shared with you. The reason I'm asking is because Leech Lake Tribal College isn't on this list.
• Director Haugen, as you were sharing, I truly miss being in Austin and teaching with you.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do appreciate and share Representative Wiener's goal of using our tax policy to improve the lives of
• I do appreciate<00:05:06.720><c> and</c><00:05:06.920><c> share</c><00:05:07.280><c> Representative</
• c> appreciate and share Representative appreciate and share Representative Wiener's<00:05:08.080><c>
• And as we've discussed extensively in this committee, when you decrease the share of public services
• And as we've discussed extensively in this committee, when you decrease the share of public services

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so grateful for their support of the legislator and honored to share.
• And now back to share a story of resilience and determination of the community community keeps growing
• The incentive programs that are available such as cost share are really, really important to be able
• And then as the programs become more mature than there's more fully implemented, cost share programs
• And it did involve cost share programs and the partnership that I mentioned.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's really kind of 5 major ones that all I'll share with you this morning.
• The first is our I'll share with you this morning. The first is our career certificate programs.
• The other area that I want to kind of share with you a little bit about is our CTE audit, right?
• And we look forward to sharing more about each program and little further on in the presentation.
• I want to share the exciting most recent schematic layout of this facility.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> This information was used and shared This information was used and shared with<00:09:18.000><c>
• Uh I wanted to share two quick as well.
• </c> and and information not getting shared and and information not getting shared with with with other
• Chair, um, I would share your concerns.
• Chair, um, I would share your concerns.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so, these are Services is um sharing.
• So please proceed. >> Are you sharing screen or will I?
• </c> you give me a moment I can try to share you give me a moment I can try to share from<01:02:58.079
• ,</c><01:21:50.560><c> has</c> uh Judy and Meredith had shared, has uh Judy and Meredith had shared,
• As you as I shared in Medicaid revenue.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I tried to share it as soon as it was drafted last night.
• , shared, shared, um<00:33:30.800><c> the</c><00:33:30.920><c> legislature</c><00:33:31.600><c> has</
• That's why I always try to share my amendments. Everybody knows that.
• </c> always try to share my amendments. always try to share my amendments.
• </c><01:03:48.240><c> in</c> rates and the county cost shares in rates and the county cost shares in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Share with me a little doing that work.
• </c> where we coordinate with them, we share where we coordinate with them, we share treatment<00:38:
• We would share the diagnosis and share the conditions around that diagnosis.
• <00:51:16.640><c> the</c><00:51:16.760><c> diagnosis</c> share the diagnosis share the diagnosis and<
• around</c><00:51:19.640><c> that</c> and share the conditions around that and share the conditions around

Bills: HB1626, HB1643, HB1668, HB1550, HB1974, HB1858, HB1871, HB1966, HB1972, HB1973

Keywords: youth penalties, juvenile justice, community service, fees and fines, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, reform, court costs, cultural connection, pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacy audit, audit reform, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, recoupment, extrapolation, claims audit, pharmacy reimbursement, dispensing fee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 847, which would create a Kauai pilot program allowing qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. The Board of Psychology supported the bill’s intent but asked for amendments to delay the effective date or extend the pilot so rules could be written first, and to clarify the education/training language. Supporters, including the Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Mental Health Coalition, and several psychologists, argued that prescribing psychologists have long safety records in other jurisdictions and that the pilot could improve access to care on Kauai, especially amid ongoing mental health needs and storm-related stress. They cited studies and examples from New Mexico, Louisiana, the Department of Defense, and other places. Opponents, including the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Queen’s Medical Center, and a Department of Health representative, said the bill needed substantial work, raised concerns about training, liability, and workforce impacts, and urged a team-based model with psychiatrist oversight rather than independent prescribing. Some testimony also referenced a GAO report, with witnesses disagreeing over its meaning and cost-effectiveness. No vote was taken during the discussion, and members asked questions about how the bill would address the workforce shortage and whether a psychiatrist on Kauai could already meet the need. The committee then moved to SB 2271 on hospital licensing and SB 2272 on home health care licensing. The Department of Health, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported both measures, which were described as streamlining and clarifying licensing oversight by relying on accreditation or certification reports. A member asked whether the bill language on hospital accreditation reports was duplicative, and the response was that the second provision was intended to strengthen enforcement by requiring hospitals to provide the actual report to DOH. The committee did not take final action in the portion of the hearing provided, and the chair noted that all bills on the agenda would later be considered for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• My colleagues are going to share about Representative Gentry in Fayette County.
• federal court case that came out of Pulaski County, for an example that Representative Roberts will share
• </c><00:08:08.639><c> about</c> colleagues are going to share about colleagues are going to share about
• example that Representative<00:08:21.120><c> Roberts</c><00:08:21.599><c> will</c><00:08:21.759><c> share
• </c><01:20:05.360><c> as</c> training and best practices sharing as training and best practices sharing

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will be sharing more with outcomes. I will be sharing more with you<01:18:22.679><c> today.
• </c> Those are the words that they've shared Those are the words that they've shared with<01:42:50.320
• Chair.<01:43:21.920><c> I</c><01:43:22.159><c> share</c><01:43:22.400><c> I</c><01:43:22.639><c> share
• I share I share that passion for Chair.
• I share I share that passion for for<01:43:24.159><c> our</c><01:43:24.320><c> soldiers</c><01:43:24.639

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And that wasn't a thought that was just shared by us in the House.
• It was also shared by our colleagues in the Senate. That is when you, Mr.
• And that wasn't a thought that was just shared by us in the House.
• It was also shared by our colleagues in the Senate. That is when you, Mr.
• Administrative responsibility for running the committee will be shared equally with the Senate.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House received a gubernatorial message requesting certain fiscal year 2026 appropriations before final action on the general appropriation bill, and referred it to the Committee on Ways and Means. It also adopted several congratulatory and honorary resolutions, including recognitions for retiring members and public servants, and later welcomed a number of guests and honorees to the chamber. The main legislative business was House Bill 423, establishing a sick leave bank for James Caruso of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. After the Public Service Committee reported the bill ought to pass, the House suspended the rules, gave it a second reading, and ordered it to a third reading. Later, the House also took up House No. 1590, a sick leave bank bill for Eric Inakwick of the Trial Court, adopted an amendment adding an emergency preamble, and passed it to be engrossed as amended. A major action of the day was adoption of the conference committee report on the joint rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing reforms intended to improve transparency, public access, committee notice, live streaming, posting of votes and summaries online, and more efficient handling of legislation. The report was adopted by roll call, 147-2. The House also approved an order transferring matters from the Joint Committee on Agriculture to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, and from Elder Affairs to Aging and Independence. The House briefly questioned quorum several times, then recessed and later adjourned to meet Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session. The chamber also recognized the retirement of Chief Court Officer Gene DePersio, with remarks entered into the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• A little bit about Koshika I'd like to share is that she is a budding future astrophysicist as well as
• It is also a time to honor our neighbors, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to recommit ourselves
• This year, we welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy... and shared joy.
• And I just wanted to share some of the things with you all, and feel free to also take any of this.
• Before he completed high school, he shared with his father that he wanted to make movies, a dream he

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you have lawyers working together who can share ideas, collaborate, analyze issues together, share
• We have a criminal justice information-sharing system. So this is what I touched on under statute.
• And last year, you put in place an ability for counties to enter into agreements to share any unused
• So that's just a quick update I wanted to share on that.
• The reason I share that is that is going to the same story we talked about with the SD card.

Summary: The committee met to review the Attorney General’s budget and related agency operations, beginning with Legislative Council staff walking members through compliance reports and a blue-sheet base budget document. Staff highlighted current-biennium items such as FTE changes, one-time appropriations, litigation funding, opioid settlement receipts, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked for clarification on items including the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then gave an overview of the office’s structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal services to state and local government, and concerns about attorney pay lagging behind other agencies. Members discussed whether attorney compensation should be benchmarked more consistently across state government and whether some legal work could be consolidated within the AG’s office. Ness also addressed questions about AG opinion turnaround times, boards-and-commissions training, the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, office leases, and the state’s criminal justice information systems. The crime lab presentation drew significant attention. Director Jennifer Penner described severe space, safety, and infrastructure problems at the current lab, including cramped work areas, glycol leaks, outdated fire and burglar alarms, air-handling limits, and equipment failures that have delayed toxicology work. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that the preferred location would be near the current health department site, but in a new building. Members asked about possible evidence risks, backlog status, and whether the proposed building would solve the current problems; Penner said it would and noted backlogs have improved overall, though some delays remain. The committee also heard from the new Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director, who described the unit’s civil and criminal work, federal-state funding split, and examples of fraud such as billing for services not provided or upcoding. The gaming division reported continued growth in charitable gaming and e-tabs, with members expressing concern about large trust-account balances, site competition, and possible misuse of proceeds. Finally, BCI outlined its caseload, cybercrime work, missing Indigenous persons task force, and the surge in CSAM cyber tips; members asked about AI-generated CSAM, and the AG’s office noted that last session’s law increased penalties and expressly allowed AI-generated CSAM to be prosecuted like other CSAM. No formal votes or actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses today collect, analyze, and share vast... Correct the personal information.
• Businesses today collect, analyze, and share vast amounts of information.
• So this SB 1114 simply provides that state agencies may not share state-level data related to LGBTQI
• Medicaid data, sought detailed immigration data from food assistance programs, shared Medicaid data
• I certainly share the concerns. I certainly share the concerns of the associations in support.

Summary: The committee convened for its first hearing, took roll, and heard several privacy- and AI-related bills. SB 1106 by Senator Cabaldon would shorten the Delete Act data broker deletion deadline from 45 days to 30 days; it drew support from a technology and democracy group, no opposition testimony, and was moved out on a due pass to Appropriations vote. SB 923 by Senator Becker would expand the CCPA deletion right to cover all personal information held by a business and require online-only businesses to offer a web form or similar method for privacy requests; supporters included the California Privacy Protection Agency and privacy advocates, while business groups raised concerns about scope, compliance, and the email/web-form requirement. The bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations, with some members noting they were laying off or wanted further amendments. The committee also heard SB 1142, the Digital Dignity Act, which would regulate digital replicas and deepfakes on large online platforms, including takedown and revocation procedures and penalties. Supporters said it would protect Californians from fraud, harassment, and nonconsensual synthetic likeness use; opponents, including the Motion Picture Association, CCIA, TechNet, and others, raised First Amendment, due process, Section 230, and overbreadth concerns, especially around deceased persons and the 48-hour takedown process. Members said they supported the bill but wanted further work before Judiciary, and it passed 6-0 as amended to Judiciary. The committee also adopted its rules without objection. Later, SB 867 by Senator Padilla would impose a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacture of AI chatbot-powered toys for children, citing research showing unsafe, sexually explicit, or privacy-invasive behavior; child advocacy and consumer groups supported it, while retailers and civil justice groups sought narrower definitions and liability protections. It passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1247 would give child influencers, once adults, a right to request deletion or modification of images and likenesses used in monetized social media content; it drew no support testimony but was opposed by a civil justice group over the creation of a new private right of action, and it passed 7-0 to Judiciary. SB 930, the consent-calendar item, was approved 7-0. The committee then heard SB 1114, which would restrict sharing of state-collected data related to LGBTQ Californians absent an enforceable order, with supporters arguing it would protect sensitive data from misuse by federal agencies and preserve trust in state programs. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 1159 would let local governments treat AI bots and agents differently from people for Brown Act, public records, and related civic participation laws, in response to AI-generated comment floods; supporters from environmental, local government, and nonprofit groups said it was needed to preserve human participation, while opponents argued the bill should focus on fraud rather than AI and warned about overreach. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1050 would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements; labor and consumer advocates supported it as a truth-in-advertising measure, while media and industry groups objected that it was overbroad and should be narrowed to misleading ads and aligned with existing law. Members signaled support for the bill’s goal but also raised concerns about scope and consistency with current false-advertising rules.